Mercedes-Benz is launching its first series-produced fuel cell car on the road: the new B‑Class F-CELL. The environmentally friendly electric car has better a performance similar to than a 2,0-liter petrol car and is fully suited for everyday driving. The zero-emission drive system consumes the equivalent of 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). Production of the B‑Class F-CELL will commence in late 2009 with a small lot. The first of around 200 vehicles will be delivered to customers in Europe and the USA at the beginning of next year. Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. The new fuel cell vehicle offers everything that people expect from a Mercedes-Benz: High comfort and safety as well as no reduction in interior space and boot capacity. Customers will not have to sacrifice any driving pleasure either, because the electric motor has a peak performance of 100 kW/136 hp and a maximum torque of 290 Nm, which is available from the first rotation. It ensures that the B‑Class F-CELL, whose impressive dynamic handling properties are in some cases far better than those of a two-litre petrol car, gets off to an excellent start. Despite these qualities, the zero-emission fuel cell drive consumes the equivalent of only 3.3 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres (NEDC). Thanks to its great range of about 400 kilometres and short refuelling times of around three minutes, the B‑Class F-CELL ensures local zero-emission mobility even for long stretches. “2009 is the year in which we are establishing further milestones where sustainable mobility is concerned. The B-Class F-CELL is taking on a pioneering role as the world’s first fuel cell powered automobile to be produced under series production conditions”, says Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Development for Mercedes-Benz Cars. The vehicle’s technological heart is the new generation of the compact, high-performance fuel cell system, in which gaseous hydrogen reacts with atmospheric oxygen at 700 bar to generate a current for the electric motor. The fuel cell system of the B‑Class F-CELL has a very good cold-start capability...

Saab has released a sneak peek of its redesigned 9-5, previewing the sedan scheduled to go on sale next year. It will replace a car that has been on the market since 1997—a time that has spanned two and even three generations for some competitors. The new car is set to make its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid September. (Visit the Saab 9-5 model overview , available to online subscribers.)   The new 9-5 will offer all-wheel drive, better enabling it to tackle Swedish winters and compete against other European sedans in its class. It will be available with a choice of two turbocharged engines: a 300-hp, 2.8-liter V6 in the 9-5 Aero with all-wheel drive and later a 220-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Manual and automatic six-speed transmissions will be available.   Instruments will include a heads-up display, as well as a speedometer with a center display designed to look like an aircraft altimeter. The traditional Saab ignition is still near the shifter between the seats, but it is now a start button, which appears free up some space for better interior storage and a cup holder. Saab claims the new car has more shoulder and leg room in front and back than the old 9-5. Typical options in this price range include a rear seat entertainment system, touch-screen navigation system, 10-gigabyte jukebox music player, and dual Xenon high- and low-beam headlamps.   The new 9-5 sedan will be the first Saab released under the company’s new Swedish ownership, although most of the design work was done by General Motors. Saab spokeswoman Gunilla Gustavs says a wagon version will follow, but did not reveal timing.   — Eric Evarts Go here to read the rest: Sneak peek: 2011 Saab 9-5