Can a 4,800-pound SUV get 27 MPG?

Hey buddy, can you sapre $70,000 so I can save the environment?

Get a Highlander Hybrid, does the same job for much less. In fact, if you really cared about the environment, buy a car.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/15/2006 11:43:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

If I've said it once I've said 20 times, the R-Class is an awesome automobile.

I want one, big time!

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 12:54:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I am sure the R class will also be rated @ 21/27 and that is a full size, 203 inch SUV. That is very impressive. BTW, Will, check out the you tube link on this page about how to achieve the proper RX 400h EPA ratings.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 1:19:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

How does the RX 400h gets its electricity? Oh yes, fossil fuels. BTW (a normal car going about 40 mph would get amazing fuel economy of around 40 mpg) The only way to get electriciy without fossil fuels is sun, water (dam) wind (windmill) or the only way to get lots of it without fossil fuels would be with nuclear power. So no, your "fossil fuel free car" will run on fossil fuels most likely. The RX is also not very big.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 1:59:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

but will, where doe it get the movement? from, burning petrol, otherwise it would be perpetual motion, and you would solve all the worlds problems.
also, in a long term test by msn autos, the ml acheived better mpg than thr rx 400h.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 9:04:00 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

but will, i mean the car can only move by electricity or gas. if it moves by electricity, that electricity has come from it moving or from the gas engine. to get the car moving in the first place you need gas, and since it does not have 100% efficiency (nothing in the world does), the elctricity it creates comes from the gas engine. it does not magically create electricity from nothing.
and btw, when the car is stopped, no electricity is being created. it only creates it when it is braking, or when the engine is on. the main reason why hybrids are so efficient in town is because when the car is stopped, the engine is off.
and will, diesels do reduce needs for fossil fuels as they use less when driving. indeed, on a long trip, an ml320cdi uses fewer fossil fuels than a lexus rx 400h, thus an ml has less need for fossil fuels.
that is a fact.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 12:10:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

^ wow rupert thanks for the info :)
Did you learn something Will?

— luvmybmr (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 12:47:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Great info, Rupert!

Will can be so defensive that he forgets everything about the car he's trying to defend... learn something about hybrids and electricity before embarrassing yourself, Will!

— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 6:10:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Eventually cars will have solar panels on their hoods and trunks.

Last I checked, you can't create diesel from any of the energy sources you mentioned. That's the beauty of hybrids, it opens up so many options and possiblities. On top of that, whatever diesels do, hybrids do better. Wait until the next gen hybrids with their small size/weight and higher output batteries come to market. You won't be able to complain about dangerous batteries either, they already have a solution for that too. It will be even more evident that diesels are old world technology only suitable for tractor trailers and heavy machinery.

Regarding the batteries, they mainly regenerate on the highway. Since the gas engine is running, might as well recharge the batteries so you don't need to burn gas in the city. Diesels indiscriminately pollute, and do nothing but waste all that torque while running on the highway.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 2:09:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I am comparign it to the ML Gas V6, no data for the diesel yet. But the RX 400h does add 275 pounds to the RX 350. I am sure that the gap between the MB diesel and gas will be smaller. The ML is heavy for its size (it is only 10 pounds lighter than the much bigger MB R class [203 inches] that should get the same ratings} however the M class is still bigger all around than the RX. And that battery will run out of juice after a couple of miles, even if you go under 20 mph and nearly cause an accident.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 2:13:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

BS, no way it will drive 70 miles. LIAR.

I will find you an article that said that most you could go was 10 miles or so. (RX400h) later. Read this now. And diesels are efficient because of their high copression and other stuff.


http://www.caranddriver.com/columns/10123/the-steering-column.html

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 3:00:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

As usual, Will forgets to say that Hybrids are ONLY EFFICIENT IN THE CITY. Out in the urban setting, the diesel ML will kill the gas-guzzling RX400h in fuel economy. Period.

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 9:40:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Well, 7 miles makes much more sense and is possible when you crawl with no acceleration and very little speed (like in the video). Hybrids always turn on the gas engine with any sort of acceleration (leaving a stop sign/light) BTW, your watch gets its power from your movement, the energy for your movement came from food, that got its energy from plants, that got their energy from the sun. Nothing is free.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 1:40:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

but since diesels are more efficient than gas, as are hybrids, the best solution is a hybrid diesel.
when will someone invent one of those?

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 9:05:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Is it a UPS truck? Is it a horde of crickets? No its the S class cdi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgXvqoeqnyQ

The car is idleing btw, just imagine the sound of that engine when it drives! Makes a Kia sound like a LS460!

— Dee81 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 11:13:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Will,
You are such a fruitcake. In the real world you don't have a clue on how things work, but here in cyberspace with your pursuit to glorify your "TOILET" company you pretend to be a physicist.

Do you even know how ridiculous you sound with statements like this?

"Really? I thought it got its electricity from a small generator that recharges a battery everytime the car brakes and is fully stopped?"

According to you Toyota invented the World's first perpetual motion car. Why even go to a gas station when you can just hit the brakes?

I have never seen anybody so passionate about a TOILET.
Do you work for the "TOILET" company?

You and HuHu should definitely be on their payroll.

— Ben55 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 3:41:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Woww, nice to see a new Autospies poster with such maturity... Ben55 and his Toilet comment. Ooo, we're calling car mfrs names, na na na na na na. I know you are but what am I.

My God.

— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 4:18:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Ben55, the Merc man I see you are back and already calling people fruitcakes. hmmmm!

— KeyserSoze (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 5:18:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Ben55, the Merc man I see you are back and already calling people fruitcakes. hmmmm!

— KeyserSoze (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 5:18:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I dont think so.

— Carboy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/16/2006 7:59:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1