Mercedes Forum
06-23-2011, 06:25 PM
Filed under: Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), SUV (http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/), Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), Government/Legal (http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/), Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/), Police/Emergency (http://www.autoblog.com/category/police-emergency/), Specialty (http://www.autoblog.com/category/special-limited-editions/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mclass-popemobile.jpg (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/8589394/Popemobile-to-go-green.html)
The Papal motorcade is packed with new cars, but the most famous of them is the Popemobile (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/popemobile/). Typically based on a Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz/) sport-ute, most recent examples have been modified versions of the G-Wagen (http://www.autoblog.com/model/g-class) or M-Class (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/m-class) (like the one pictured above).
His Holiness has vocalized his desire (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/02/pope-benedict-wants-solar-powered-electric-popemobile/) for an all-electric vehicle, even a solar-powered one. But while moving all that bulletproof glass around on battery power alone might require no less a feat than an act of God, he may be about to get the next best thing.
Reports indicate that, at Benededict XVI's request, Mercedes-Benz is preparing a hybrid Popemobile based on the new M-Class. The vehicle would allow the pontiff to be chauffeured around on electric power at parade speed for up to 16 miles before the gasoline engine would need to kick in, a benefit similar to that enjoyed by neighboring head of state Prince Albert II of Monaco in his Lexus LS 600h L (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/monaco-commissions-a-lexus-ls-600h-for-the-other-royal-wedding/).
President Obama may not have gotten his wish with a hybrid Cadillac (http://www.autoblog.com/make/cadillac) One, but we could be looking at a new trend in parade transportation for the wealthiest of public figures.Mercedes-Benz working on M-Class Hybrid Popemobile (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19974675/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mclass-popemobile.jpg (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/8589394/Popemobile-to-go-green.html)
The Papal motorcade is packed with new cars, but the most famous of them is the Popemobile (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/popemobile/). Typically based on a Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz/) sport-ute, most recent examples have been modified versions of the G-Wagen (http://www.autoblog.com/model/g-class) or M-Class (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/m-class) (like the one pictured above).
His Holiness has vocalized his desire (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/02/pope-benedict-wants-solar-powered-electric-popemobile/) for an all-electric vehicle, even a solar-powered one. But while moving all that bulletproof glass around on battery power alone might require no less a feat than an act of God, he may be about to get the next best thing.
Reports indicate that, at Benededict XVI's request, Mercedes-Benz is preparing a hybrid Popemobile based on the new M-Class. The vehicle would allow the pontiff to be chauffeured around on electric power at parade speed for up to 16 miles before the gasoline engine would need to kick in, a benefit similar to that enjoyed by neighboring head of state Prince Albert II of Monaco in his Lexus LS 600h L (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/monaco-commissions-a-lexus-ls-600h-for-the-other-royal-wedding/).
President Obama may not have gotten his wish with a hybrid Cadillac (http://www.autoblog.com/make/cadillac) One, but we could be looking at a new trend in parade transportation for the wealthiest of public figures.Mercedes-Benz working on M-Class Hybrid Popemobile (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19974675/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/mercedes-benz-working-on-m-class-hybrid-popemobile/)