03/15/2007 - In April, The Robb Report Collection Goes Green As Special “Green Machines” Issue Spotlights The Future Of Alternative Fuels
Monthly supplement to Robb Report magazine highlights Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, BMW, Audi and other automakers for leading the luxury pack in the transition to alternative fuels
March 16, 2007, New York - Editors at The Robb Report Collection have
announced the debut of their first annual “green” issue. April’s “Green
Machines” special edition showcases more than 20 luxury concept and consumer
cars from some of the auto industry’s biggest names. These select companies are
leading the charge in innovating eco-minded fueling
technologies.
“Robb Report Collection offers a compendium of fast,
alternative fuel vehicles—from hybrid-powered sports and luxury cars that
substantially reduce carbon output, to hydrogen concepts and powerful prototypes
that promise to eliminate emissions altogether,” said Gregory Anderson, Senior
Automotive Editor of Robb Report, adding that because no other consumer car
magazine has devoted such detailed attention to the topic, “this issue serves as
a green guide to the future of fuel, a trend that will likely be led by the
upper end of the market.” He continued, “The number of green luxury and
sports cars only seems to be growing, as does consumer awareness of the need to
wean ourselves away from petroleum.”
The luxury auto market leaders profiled in this special issue set out to
prove that horsepower, miles per gallon and aesthetic excellence need not be
compromised in the name of a greener earth.
Mercedes-Benz is
utilizing the Bluetec system in a new line of diesel-engines which significantly
reduce emissions while keeping an impressive range of 700+ miles on a single
tank. Powered by ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) fuel, the $52,325 Mercedes E320
Bluetec delivers on looks, speed and performance. The vehicle has a top speed of
155 mph and gets 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
A fast, sleek sports car that even Greenpeace members can love, the Lotus
Exige 265E combines beauty and brains with an eco conscience. Lotus
developed the Exige 265E in order to comply with new laws requiring that all
cars sold in the United States be compatible with ethanol-based fuels by
2017. The car runs on E85 – a fuel comprising of 85 percent bioethanol and
15 percent unleaded gasoline, which emits approximately 70 percent fewer harmful
carbons than cars using unleaded gasoline. The Lotus Exige 265E also has
impressive power: Its 264 horsepower takes it from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds
and achieves a top seed of 158 mph.
For the moment, BMW’s Hydrogen engineering is priceless. The new Hydrogen 7
is not for sale to the general public; instead BMW will loan 100 of these models
to influential individuals worldwide, half of them in the United States. The
Hydrogen 7 engine switches the standard petroleum power source to a liquid
hydrogen auxiliary, achieving a 435 mile range.
Audi’s concept car Q7 SUV, equipped with a 6.0-liter turbodiesel V-12 engine,
uses the same Bluetec emissions technology as Mercedes-Benz. Though currently
only a concept, a production version of this particular Q7 is estimated to cost
$90,000, accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and achieve a top seed of
155 mph. Currently, buyers can purchase the Q7 model with a 3.0 liter,
alternative V-6 turbodiesel engine.
Hummer is not typically
identified as “eco-friendly.” But Cyclone Energy, a California-based company
that seeks to eliminate automotive CO2, has created a hydrogen-configuration
prototype for GM’s Hummer. The $63,455 hydrogen-powered conversion vehicle
increases fuel efficiency by 15 percent, eliminating the emission of
approximately one pound of toxic CO2 per mile.
In addition to covering the latest green cars, this special issue of The Robb
Report Collection also includes an essay by physicist Amory Lovins. The
cofounder and CEO of the nonprofit think tank Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org), Lovins discusses many other
significant developments the luxury car market will undergo in the near term,
including the future of fuel.
The Robb Report Collection, a
monthly supplement to Robb Report, is the most extensive direct marketplace for
purchasing and selling exclusive luxury goods. Robb Report is the ultimate
authority on the lifestyle encapsulating all elements of luxurious living. With
exclusive editorial and stunning photography on autos, yachting, private
aviation, real estate, fashion, jewelry, travel and epicurean life, Robb Report
provides a detailed guide to the products, events, issues and passions that
capture the attention of today's affluent consumer. Additional information can be accessed
through the magazine’s web site, www.robbreport.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jeff Perlman
Brandware Public Relations
office - 818.706.1915
cell - 818.317.3070
jperlman@brandwaregroup.com
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