Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Diesel

Mercedes Delivers 1.5 Million E-Class Models

By Colin Mathews, December 20th, 2008

As the seventh generation of Mercedes-Benz's venerable mid-size, mid-luxury sedan winds down, the firm is proud to announce that it's produced 1.5 million units of the E-Class since its introduction six years ago. Broken down by body style, there were 1,270,000 sedans delivered to customers and 230,000 wagons. Germany and the U.S. represented the strongest market for the latest generation E-Class, with each country taking approximately 25 percent of total production. Most popular models were the E 220 CDI and E350. Mercedes launched its clean diesel BlueTEC technology in this E-Class, specifically the '07 E 300 BlueTEC available in Europe.... Read More

Tags: Europe, Marketing, Driving, Industry, Cars We Love

Posted in: 2009, Mercedes Benz, Sedans, Wagons, Luxury, Diesel

Dodge Sticking with Small Diesel for New Ram

By Colin Mathews, December 19th, 2008

This quote from pickuptrucks.com makes my oil-burning heart beat just a little bit faster: "Slow truck sales, the fact that diesel fuel still costs more than gasoline, and tougher emissions standards driving costs up won’t stop Chrysler from offering a light-duty diesel engine in the Dodge Ram 1500." That's a bold move from a company shuttering its entire production infrastructure for one month, but I think it's a smart move. And not just because I'm a diesel nut. It could also give the Ram a distinct edge over half-tons made by Toyota and Ford, both of whom have put their light-duty diesel engine projects on hold. Just like GM doing the... Read More

Tags: North America, Pickups, Industry, Enthusiasts

Posted in: Chrysler, Dodge, Diesel

Finalists Announced: N. American Car and Truck of the Year

By Colin Mathews, December 18th, 2008

Today at Cobo Center, the six finalists for North American Car and Truck of the Year were unveiled. A panel of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada selected the finalists, according to the Detroit News. The three car finalists are the Ford Flex, the Hyundai Genesis, and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Ford's Flex shows much promise for domestics in the land of the crossover; Marty Padgett was suitably impressed ferrying it around the traffic-clogged hills of suburban Atlanta. Despite a few journalistic jeers due to its softie suspension tuning, Hyundai worked hard on its Genesis sedan, and its Tau V-8 and interior do nothing... Read More

Tags: North America, Marketing, Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Cars We Love

Posted in: 2009, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Green, Diesel