New Mercy GL 450

The big news for 2009 is the turbocharged GL320 BlueTEC 3-liter V6 diesel engine. It puts out 210 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, and is still capable of 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The BlueTEC achieves 50-state emissions certification by cleaning the diesel emissions at the rear of the car using a combination of particulate filters and a urea additive Mercedes calls "AdBlue." All three models have a 7-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4-wheel drive, electronic brake assist, adaptive variable suspension, stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitoring and automatic load leveling
The GL class came to be in 2007 in the form of the GL450, and was based on the decades-old squared-off G-class SUV. The GL has most of the off-road capabilities of the military-style G-wagon, plus third-row seating, more creature comforts, and 500 more pounds of towing capability. The GL class has grown from one model to three, including an ultra-luxury edition and a low-emissions diesel.
Many of the features that are standard on the GL550 are options on the two other variants, such as leather seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation system and electronic parking aid. All GLs have airbags all around, the Pre-Safe system, keyless entry, alarm system and vehicle theft tracking. The GL320 and GL450 have an 8-speaker CD/MP3 stereo, birdseye maple trim, and halogen headlights. The GL550 upgrades these to standard harmon/kardon 11-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with Sirius satellite radio, burl walnut trim and adaptive bi-xenon lights. Only the GL320 and GL450 have packaged options available. The Heating Package, for example, adds heated rear seats and steering wheel -- both of which are standard on the GL550. The Premium packages for the GL320 and GL450 add options such as bi-xenon headlights, a backup camera and 3-zone climate control. There's also a GL Appearance package to add a little extra exterior style to these two models. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is an option for all three GLs.
The options list for the GL550 is pretty short, as it already comes standard with all of the options available for the GL320 and GL450. Active ventilated front seats are available as is birch trim instead of walnut, and premium Nappa leather upholstery.

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New E Class

Mercedes-Benz is well-known for its engineering and the prestige of its brand, but it can also lay claim to a history of naming confusion. The “E” designation first appeared on 1950s Mercedes as shorthand for Einspritzung--fuel injection to the English-speakers among us. It continued as a part of various model designations for a number of years. Then, in 1994, Mercedes began to rename its series cars using letter prefixes. At that time, the updated 300E model was named E320, and the modern E-Class was born.

The cars of the E-Class fall into the midsize luxury category and have a well-earned reputation for stylish interiors, advanced technology, solid build, safety and, of course, luxury. In Europe, where the durable diesel versions of the cars are frequently employed as taxis, the automobile’s image isn’t quite as upscale as it is stateside. But while the car’s persona may differ somewhat in various parts of the world, Mercedes E-Class automobiles are nevertheless held in high esteem.

In 2003, Mercedes-Benz took another forward step in the styling department with a rising beltline that gave the car a ready-to-pounce look. More important, perhaps, were the efficient and clean E320 BlueTEC diesel sedan, the 382-horsepower E550 sedan, and the outrageously quick 507-horsepower E63 AMG.

The next E-Class debuts in 2009 and features a very sculpted look, a 7-speed automatic trans, eleven airbags, and a host of other refinements.

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The New Honda Civic

The 2009 Honda Civic comes as 6 distinct models: sedan, coupe, Si sedan, Si coupe, Hybrid sedan and natural-gas GX sedan.

The sedan and coupe both have a 1.8L i-VTEC four-cylinder engine, making 140 horsepower and 128 ft-lb of torque. The engine is mated either to a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. The sedan and coupe meet ULEV-II emissions standard in all 50 states.
The Si sedan and coupe step up to an especially high-revving 2.0L i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine making 197 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and employing a helical-type limited-slip differential to help ensure smoother power delivery in high-performance driving.
The Si models also get significant upgrades, including 17-inch wheels and high-performance V-rated tires, special trim and bolstered sport seats with red stitching inside, and a rear wing and aerodynamic cladding outside.
All Civics have Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which helps more evenly absorb the force of frontal collisions and also helps in collisions with vehicles of differing sizes. Four-channel anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, front occupant side airbags, 2-row side-curtain airbags, active front head restraints and rear head restraints for all positions are standard on all models as well.
The Civic Hybrid comes only as a sedan. It brings a smaller 1.3L four-cylinder engine paired with a 20-horsepower electric motor as part of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, in which the electric motor boosts the gasoline engine when accelerating, saves some of the energy lost in braking, and allows the engine to turn off at stoplights, provided your foot is on the brake. Together, the engine and motor deliver 110 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque.
Finally, there's the Civic GX, which is also only available as a sedan and is powered exclusively by natural gas. The GX is only available at select dealerships in California and New York and comes with a 113-horsepower, 1.8L four-cylinder engine, and it may qualify for a federal tax credit.
Sedans and coupes (except the Hybrid and GX) are available in 3 trim levels: the frugal DX, the well-equipped LX and the more luxuriously appointed EX and EX-L with leather seat trim. The DX gets power windows and locks and tilt/telescope steering, among other basics. A new DX-VP (Value Package) is available on sedans and adds air conditioning, a CD stereo and an auxiliary input jack. The LX adds popular features like cruise control, remote entry, and a CD sound system, while a new LX-S adds sport seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, a rear spoiler and 16-inch alloy wheels. The top-line EX brings extras like a 6-speaker sound system that is XM satellite-ready and a 60/40-split folding rear seat to make the trunk area more versatile.
Si models are equipped with a similar level of conveniences as EX models, but they also get a 350-watt, seven-speaker sound system with a subwoofer. A satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition is optional on EX and Si models and has a 6.5-inch display screen. The system also brings Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and a Compact-Flash card reader, so that MP3 or WMA media can be played on the sound system.

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