On the eve of the 2008 New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz revealed its three 50-state-legal Bluetec diesel trucks at an event that could only be described as, well, loud.
Sure the three V6-diesel-powered trucks (GL, ML and R) were in attendance. But really, they were the sideshow. On center stage was Sheryl Crow and her acoustic guitar... What the songstress has to do with diesel-powered passenger vehicles is not entirely clear, but she was good. Also in attendance was Christian -- winner of the most recent season of the Bravo television program Project Runway -- who flitted about looking fierce. What any of this has to do with diesel-powered light trucks is not entirely clear. It's show business, baby.
Anyway, Sheryl played a selection of hits and impressed the masses by making a few urea jokes. It is the urea-injection system (recently approved by the EPA) that reduces NOX emissions and allows Mercedes to sell the diesels in all 50 states. There is, we're reliably informed, no truth to the rumor that Mercedes keeps in northern Germany a vast herd of diuretic-addled reindeer to supply the urea -- a component of urine. And there wasn't the faintest whiff of pee at the event -- at least not from the trucks.
The trucks -- the GL320, ML320 and R320 -- go on sale this fall for an undisclosed price and will return 23-24 mpg, highway. --Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
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Meh, Rami was the better designer on Runway. :P
"Also in attendance was Christian--winner of the most recent season of the Bravo television program Project Runway who flitted about looking fierce. What any of this has to do with diesel-powered light trucks is not entirely clear. It's show business, baby."
Ok-Sheryl Crow I can understand. But this Christian guy looks way too much like a Marilyn Manson reject....:-?
Juice, gotta disagree... Siriano totally rocked this season - Rami was great, but not high fashion enough, I feel, for the judges.
Yea, I don't EXACTLY see the tie-in to diesel engines, but, like the NY fashion scene, M-B is showcasing some seriously "fierce" trends (with this Bluetec technology), and the brand has long been the epitome of glamour and affluence, with features/style that eventually trickle down to the masses.
;)
Joe
PS - managed not to crack any AMG 7-sp tranny jokes, so proud am I.
For Project Runway, Christian showed his collection at New York Fashion Week, which is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. That would explain why he was there. Not particularly glad I know this, but its the result of having a girlfriend in the fashion world who was actually there.
I can't wait until that little dweeb's 15 minutes are up