Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='378401' date='Jan 15 2007, 01:45 AM

As you might have read BMW has brought out a (very) limited release Hydrogen-powered 7 Series so as you say BMW is concious of alternative fuel technologies and all things are possible.

Regarding diesel hybrids, I wonder if there are technical/cost (rather than marketing) limitations which have inhibited the introduction of this technology.

ABC

Originally Posted by cerbera' post='378404' date='Jan 15 2007, 01:54 AM

The Stop/Start referred to is an enhancement to the Active Cruise - bringing it in to line with MBs offerings on the S series - in that as well as following moving traffic, it will actually bring the car to a halt in start and stop traffic, then if the period halted is less than three seconds, it moves the car off again - more than three seconds and the cruise control disengages.

Its a very strange feeling trusting the car to stop itself; the pre-production car I drove worked fine, although my heart rate suffered. It was an auto - don't know how this option would work on a manual. Also, in city traffic - I drove the car in fairly heavy traffic - it's virtually useless because it keeps switching off after three seconds.

What really surprised me was that BMW havn't added the accident avoidance/preparation that Merc have, where the car uses the active cruise radar to spot a potential obstacles and assist in braking where the driver doesn't take action.

Originally Posted by asickmf' post='378406' date='Jan 15 2007, 10:06 AM

how much difference between a diesel and gas (petrol) engine is there nowadays. no sparkplugs?

Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='378416' date='Jan 15 2007, 02:33 AM

Two aspects that spring to mind is the much higher compression ratio and, for cold engines, the need to pre-heat with glowplugs before starting.

These could feature in preventing seamless stop/start of engine.

ABC

Originally Posted by asickmf' post='378420' date='Jan 15 2007, 10:42 AM

ABC are hybrids popular across the pond?

Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='378428' date='Jan 15 2007, 11:14 AM

IMHO not.

Originally Posted by Raighne' post='378434' date='Jan 15 2007, 03:54 AM

Agree with ABC...

There's been a bit of bad press about them lately

- a smaller diesel (or direct injection petrol) engine can be as economical and produce very little CO2
- hybrids are expensive and not many countries have tax breaks for them here
- destructive mining is needed to make those batteries
- batteries contain poisonous caustic substances that need to be disposed of

Originally Posted by asickmf' post='378406' date='Jan 15 2007, 02:06 AM

are hybrids popular in europe as they are here in california? my impression is they are not. if they were bmw. audi, and mb would be selling at least one body style as a hybrid already. and considering the popularity of the diesel engines in europe and their mpg (or liters per kilometer) i can't imagine that a diesel hybrid would be out something that wouldn't be looked into. as far as the tech. how much difference between a diesel and gas (petrol) engine is there nowadays. no sparkplugs? i still think the only thing stopping diesel hybrids is the u.s. emmisions standards. otherwise a diesel hybrid would be perfect.

these companies are still in the business of selling cars. being the first well designed diesel hybrid would be a significant business advantage. look at toyota and the prius. in southern california people snatch them up. it's not just responsible, it is cool. great marketing.

T.J. aka asickmf