Comments on: Engineered to Popular Perception http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/engineered-to-popular-perception/ Covering the worlds greatest cars Sun, 06 May 2012 09:15:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Sybarite http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/engineered-to-popular-perception/#comment-5624 Sybarite Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:31:10 +0000 http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/?p=4984#comment-5624 Definitely perception is a key thing, and certainly the points made about the Escalade hybrid, even the Infiniti 0-60 emphasis are well made. However, when it comes to diesel vs. hybrid, that is rather complex. Assuming the 650-mi range for the E320 Bluetec in the U.S., that's with a 21 gallon tank and an EPA rating of 23/32; the RX 400h with a 450-mi range is with a 17 gallon tank and an EPA rating of 26/24. Moreover, concerning the phrase "less clean"...when looking at 2008 EPA stats, the RX 400h AWD produced 7.3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 etc.) a year, while the E320 Bluetec produced 8.1 tons. The 400h is also listed at Bin-3 emissions (0.03) while the E320 Bluetec was at Bin-8 (0.20). Anyhow, the debate continues, and while I think a melding of the minds, diesel-hybrid, is conceptually interesting, not to mention improved models (new E250 Bluetec concept, new RX 450h) promising leaps of efficiency and lower emissions, it seems that new tech will be at the forefront: Mercedes is looking at future Euro emission standards to move the focus off diesels and onto alternative tech such as hydrogen fuel cells: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/cost-of-diesel-cars-to-rocket/245767 Definitely perception is a key thing, and certainly the points made about the Escalade hybrid, even the Infiniti 0-60 emphasis are well made. However, when it comes to diesel vs. hybrid, that is rather complex. Assuming the 650-mi range for the E320 Bluetec in the U.S., that’s with a 21 gallon tank and an EPA rating of 23/32; the RX 400h with a 450-mi range is with a 17 gallon tank and an EPA rating of 26/24. Moreover, concerning the phrase “less clean”…when looking at 2008 EPA stats, the RX 400h AWD produced 7.3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 etc.) a year, while the E320 Bluetec produced 8.1 tons. The 400h is also listed at Bin-3 emissions (0.03) while the E320 Bluetec was at Bin-8 (0.20). Anyhow, the debate continues, and while I think a melding of the minds, diesel-hybrid, is conceptually interesting, not to mention improved models (new E250 Bluetec concept, new RX 450h) promising leaps of efficiency and lower emissions, it seems that new tech will be at the forefront: Mercedes is looking at future Euro emission standards to move the focus off diesels and onto alternative tech such as hydrogen fuel cells:

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/cost-of-diesel-cars-to-rocket/245767

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