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Daimler eMERGE2 test proves ignorance breeds dislike of EVs

Out with the old EVs, in with the new. Daimler announced today that it has finished up the eMERGE electric vehicle project that used Smart Fortwo Electric Drive cars and will now start up eMERGE2, which will use Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive and PHEV vehicles. As before, the tests will take place in Germany. The first, just-finished eMERGE program ran from May 2013 to June 2015 and put over a million kilometers (621,000 miles) onto 146 Smart Fortwo EDs. Daimler said that over the two years, the vehicle with the most efficient annual energy consumption used just 10.4 kWh for all of its 100 kilometers. The best full-charge range over the year was 161 kilometers (100 miles). Perhaps most interesting, though, was one of the projects findings: "the less an interviewee knew about electric mobility, the more negative their opinion" about the technology. In other words, here's some more proof that getting "butts in seats," as it were, is one reasonable way to promote electric driving. eMERGE: key contribution to developing the mobility of the future Stuttgart/Berlin, Jul 30, 2015 Broad-based real-world trial of eMERGE project completed Especially for daily distances of 50 km or over the E-car is financially attractive eMERGE2 fleet project now launching with 200 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive and plug-in hybrid models Stuttgart/Berlin – After more than one million kilometres in two years – from May 2013 to June 2015 – the real-world trial of electric cars known as eMERGE has been completed. Those taking part in the project were private and business customers with 146 smart fortwo electric drive cars from Berlin, Potsdam and North Rhine-Westphalia. Some of them set records: the lowest average energy consumption over one year was 10.4 kWh/100 km, while the longest range was 161 kilometres. The smart fortwo electric drive is certified with a consumption of 16.3 kWh/100 km and a range of 145 kilometres. The broad-based field trial within the framework of the eMERGE project has not only provided information on user behaviour and e-car technology; it also studied intelligent charging systems for improving the utilisation of the power supply as well as various pricing systems with regard to customer acceptance. Based on transport models, the project partners examined the need for a publicly available charging infrastructure. Within the project Daimler was responsible for collecting the driving and charging data required for evaluation of the field trial.

Did BMW really win the luxury car sales race?

As anyone who follows our monthly By The Numbers series already knows, the luxury car sales race in the United States was close all of last year as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz seesawed up and down for sales supremacy. At the end of the year, it was BMW on top of the standings with 346,023 total sales. Or was it? According to data released by Polk, comparing the actual number of vehicles registered between the three top luxury players in the US paints a slightly different picture. Polk's data suggests that only 335,259 BMWs were registered in 2015, compared to 340,392 Lexus models. Why the disparity? It's all a matter of timing. Actual end consumers buy new cars, in almost all cases, from a franchised dealer. BMW delivered 346,023 vehicles in 2015, but only 335,259 of them were registered by their new owners. Presumably, those 11,000 BMWs did (or will) end up registered in the driveways of consumers, but they hadn't before January 1, 2016. Lexus General Manager Jeff Bracken wrote in an email to Automotive News, "Luxury sales leadership as measured by vehicle registrations is important to Lexus as it represents actual consumers engaging directly with our dealers." Of course, it goes without saying that we'll be paying keen attention to the 2016 luxury car sales race as it unfolds. If it's anything like it was in 2015, it'll come down to the wire, and even then may not be entirely clear. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty BMW Lexus Mercedes-Benz Car Buying Car Dealers Luxury luxury cars

2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 Quick Spin [w/video]

If there ever was an automotive embodiment of the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," that'd be the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The G-Wagen has carried on largely unchanged since the 1970s, with only small updates throughout the decades. Today, it's the halo vehicle for Mercedes' entire SUV range, and while it's more luxurious and efficient than ever, it'll still climb a mountain if asked. "Our legend has a bright future," says Dr. Gunnar Guthenke, Mercedes' G-Class boss. And for now, that means the addition of a new base engine for the 2016 model year, as well as other small updates. The powerplant in question is Merc's new twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 – you know, the one from the AMG GT – tuned to produce 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque in the G550. Compared to the outgoing, naturally aspirated, 5.5-liter V8, the new engine is stronger by 34 hp and 59 lb-ft. And while official fuel economy numbers are still pending, Mercedes says the G550 is 17-percent more fuel efficient with this smaller, more powerful engine. Win-win. As for the rest of the G-Class, the 2016 model year changes are limited to a new front bumper with more pronounced air intakes (and the removal of the cow catcher bars), wider wheel arches, a few new colors (including some seriously bright hues), and a redesigned instrument cluster. Those are all well and good, but the star of the show is that 4.0-liter V8. It's a honey in the AMG GT, and it's a perfect fit under the hood of the G550. Driving Notes I'm kicking myself for not taking video of the exhaust note, because holy crap, the G550 sounds amazing. Mercedes' engineers should be applauded for the exhaust tuning on the updated G-Class. The result is a low, burbly, throaty V8 noise that comes bellowing out the SUV's side pipes. The extra 59 lb-ft of torque is really noticeable off the line. And like in the AMG GT and C63, the 4.0-liter V8 provides linear power delivery with no noticeable turbo lag. Mercedes says the 2016 G550 will do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, compared to 6.0 seconds in the 2015 model. That's right, it's a 5,724-pound, box-shaped SUV that'll run nearly neck and neck with a base Porsche Boxster. In terms of on-road refinement, the G-Class is the same as it ever was. There's an optional, adjustable suspension for 2016, with Comfort and Sport modes, but the difference between the two settings is negligible.