Mercedes Eyes Pickup Field

By Johnny McDonald

About a decade ago, Mecedes Benz offered six models and the German auto company has been expanding their styles annually. Now they’re looking into the truck market.

It’s hard to imagine but maybe soon you might see someone driving a double cab pickup from the G-Class model.They probably saw Cadilac’s Escalade EXT and Stuttgart’s heiarchy was interested in the results. From this you might wonder, who’s next? Rolls Royce, Ferrari or Porsche?

According to Autoweek Magazine this pickup will combine the cargo and hauling capacities or a full size shortbed. Engines considered are a new four valve V8, including a 330 horsepower, 4.6 liter and 388 hp 5.5 liter with seven speeds, Jeep is in the pickup field, too, In size, it is comparable to the Dodge Dakota. In design, it might resemble the 2007 Wrangler Jeep. They’ll call it the Jeep Gladiator.

STYLING — The San

Diego Automotive Museum’s “Automotive Styling — The World’s Most Beautiful and Memorable Cars” will continue its exhibition run through July 25.It features a 1936 Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 (Royce’s last contribution to design); 1938 Bentley (pillar-less saloon body); 1936 Packard (Model 1407 Coupe Roadster); 1963 Corvette Stingray; 1935 Lincoln Model K; 1953 Jaguar XK120; 1933 Pierce Arrow and a 1967 Austin-Healey MKII 3000.

DEJA VU — It was fun while it lasted, but Ford Motor Company will retire the T-bird again, effective this month. This ends a mercurial four years, comparable to the first T-Bird run,1955-57. Ford Division President Steve Lyons said: “We have always planned to build it for four model years, and that’s what we are going to do, It would be wrong to keep building it and erode its value. It’s a collectors vehicle.”

FROM THE CORN BELT —Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing driver Jimmy Kite drove an ethanol-powered Indy car during Indianapolis demonstration laps last May. Indy cars have used methanol since 1965, when the pure methyl alcohol synthetic replaced the more combustible gasoline. Beginning next year, the IRL will use a blend of 90 percent methanol and 10 percent ethanol, an alcohol created by distilling grain mash, usually from corn. In 2007, the cars will go to 100 percent ethanol, which is cleaner burning and more fuel efficient. As a clean-burning and renewable fuel it is

non-toxic and 100 percent biodegradable. It reduces harmful air pollution while its high octane rating delivers strong engine performance so it can run higher compression ratios.