New York - Mercedes presented the new ML 450 Hybrid fitted with two electric engines and a V6 engine with an output of 205 kW/279 hp at the New York Auto Show.

Developed especially for the North American market, it is the first full hybrid from a European manufacturer. The electric engines, which have an output of 62 kW/84 hp and
60 kW/82 hp, are integrated into the transmission.

According to Mercedes, the ML 450 Hybrid consumes almost 50 per cent less fuel than the ML550, although it boasts over 90 per cent of the maximum power generated by the V8 model.

New York - The rise in vehicle emissions could be halted by the next decade using an integrative approach involving improved fuel efficiency of combustion engines, second-generation bio fuels, electric vehicles and improved traffic flow, according to a study by McKinsey.

In the study entitled, "Roads towards a low-carbon future", the McKinsey researchers found that vehicle emissions could be 18 per cent below 2006 levels in 2030 using a combination of fuel-efficient combustion engines, hybrid engines and zero-emission electric vehicles.

Washington  - Struggling US carmakers General Motors and Chrysler LLC have received another 5.5 billion dollars in emergency loans from the US government, according to an investigator's report released Tuesday.

GM has received 5 billion dollars, and Chrysler got 500 million dollars, keeping the two companies afloat until a government deadline nears for both of them to restructure or be forced into bankruptcy.

Honda Siel Cars India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB), for financing their cars across India.

Under the arrangement, the lender will offer car loan up to 90% of "on road cost", for tenure ranging up to 7 years at very competitive rates. The facility will be available at all the branches of Punjab National Bank and 103 facilities of Honda Siel Cars India.

For the quarter ended March, two-wheeler biggie Hero Honda Motors reported an estimate-surpassing 35 percent rise in its net profit! While its fourth quarter year-on-year net profit increased from 298.70 crore to Rs 402.17 crore; the net sales increased from Rs 2788.65 crore to Rs 3411.84 crore.

In fact, beating the overall two-wheeler industry growth rate of nearly 5 percent, Hero Honda - with about half of the two-wheeler market in India - has reported a yearly 13 percent increase in its sales volumes during the quarter.

The very first owner of Tata Nano in Vadodara will be the 96-year old, first woman photojournalist of India - Homi Vyarawalla.

In rather interesting series of incidents, Vyarawalla, who had recently written a Rs 95,000 cheque for Tata's brand new wonder car, was told by officials from Tata Motors that she would be the first 'out-of-turn' Vadodara owner of the Nano, in July!