Reader Snaps Fiat 500 at Times Square, New York City

Times Square, the most bustling place in Manhattan with more neon lights and taxis than there are grains of sand in the desert, yet our reader Jorge P. managed to snag a Fiat 500 mini that was passing by on the road. There's no way of knowing whether it's a test car, a private import or maybe even a personal vehicle of a Fiat exec, but what we do know is that the Italians are planning to bring the retro-styled mini to the U.S. towards the end of 2010 or early 2011.

According to the latest reports, the Fiat Group, which took a 20% stake in Chrysler earlier this year as part of the automaker's exit from bankruptcy protection, is planning to build the U.S.-bound 500s at Chrysler's plant in Toluca, Mexico.

Here's what Auto Cars 2011 reader Jorge Prudencio had to say about his encounter with the Fiat 500:

"Just wanted to share a picture of a late model Fiat 500 cruising through Times Square Saturday, September 19th. I was walking through the area when I caught it going by. I only had time to snap one picture, and didn't get a chance to see the plates etc. (the crowd was pretty heavy at the time). I can only speculate that it was a local Fiat enthusiast that brought it over from Europe, and it is not a test mule as it was looking like the production version shown at all the major auto shows (my 2 cents)."

Hat tip to Jorge!

SCOOP: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Snagged in Germany

Two heavily camouflaged prototypes of the next generation Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (or M-Class, if you prefer) were caught testing in Germany by our man with the long lens. These spy pictures suggest that Merc's BMW X5 and Audi Q7 rival in the luxury SUV segment may be slightly smaller with shorter front and rear overhangs than the current model, though it appears that the wheelbase remains the same.

As is common with early prototype models, both MLs were sheltered in cladding but it is safe to assume that Mercedes' designers will infuse the new SUV with the brand's latest styling cues as seen on vehicles such as the E-Class and the GLK. That means a "boxier" shape with a sculptured front fascia, an equally chiseled profile and more pronounced fenders.

Underneath, the 2012 ML-Class shares its platform with the next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee.

There's not much information going on about the engine line-up but we gather that ML will be offered with a similar range of V6 petrol and diesels along with a V8 petrol and a range-topping 6.3-liter V8 for the sporty AMG model, all of which should be tweaked to deliver more power and at the same time, higher fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

There's also talk about a next-generation hybrid powertrain with plug-in capability. Just this past April, Mercedes launched the ML450 HYBIRD at the New York Auto Show.

This particular model features a hybrid drivetrain that combines a 3.5-liter V6 Atkinson cycle engine with two electric motors for a total output of 335HP with an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating of 22mpg (10.7lt/100km).

We'll see the new ML-Class for the first time in late 2011, most likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Study Shows that Supercar and Luxury Automakers Reduced Average CO2 Emissions in 2009

It's not only volume brands that are reducing their average CO2 performance across their fleet, so are supercar and luxury vehicle makers, according to a report by auto consultancy JATO Dynamics that compares the average CO2 output of vehicles sold by selected specialty car brands in the first half (H1) of 2008 to the same period in 2009. With the exception of Maserati that recorded a 20g/km increase in CO2 output, all other makers included in the study showed a reduction in the average CO2 emissions of the cars they sold in the first half of 2009 compared to H1 2008.

"Of course, supercars are starting from a high base and have more scope to reduce emissions than mainstream cars, but the speed with which they are improving their CO2 performance should be credited," commented David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult.

"Sales volumes might be on a smaller scale, but those manufacturers we studied sell close to 100,000 cars combined each year, and we know well that the days of supercar makers being excluded from the environmental debate are over," Girolamo added.

Ferrari showed the highest reduction in CO2 emissions as the Italian supercar maker recorded a 40.4 g/km improvement in CO2 output of new cars sold in H1 2009 over the same period in 2008.

JATO Dynamic claims that this is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe representing a 9.5% improvement matching that of the best performing volume brand of H1 2009 (in Europe) which is Chevrolet.

This also shows that Ferrari is well on its track to achieving its goal to trim down CO2 emissions from 400 g/km per vehicle to 280-300 g/km, by 2012.

Percentage-wise, the overall winner in CO2 volume reduction is Alpina, a German maker that sells modified BMW cars, with a 14.1% improvement over H1 2008 - although notably on a smaller scale than many of the other companies included in the study.

However, readers should be aware of a significant factor when it comes to CO emissions and that is autoofcars2011.blogspot other than the annual km / miles covered by these specialty cars. Meaning a Ferrari or a Lamborghini may deliver for example 350g of C02 per km, but many of these cars are driven less than 30,000 km / 20,000 miles in a period of ten years. Do the math and that comes to a (theoretical) average of 7 tons of CO2.

A VW Golf 1.4 TSI 122HP with a manual transmission for example returns 144g of CO2 per km but will cover an average of around 20,000km or more per year which comes to 28.8 tons of CO2 in ten years of use (that is, if the car has been well serviced during that time).