The concept of green cars is not new anymore and to prove it Autoblog Green has listed the Top Ten Articles that showcase Green Cars that were introduced in the past:

1.    The Low-Cost Homemade Car that Runs 40 Miles per Gallon- built by former college professor using the frame and wheels of a 1934 Ford and scrap lumber. This car gets 40 mpg.
2.    Water Succeeds Gasoline As New Invention Is Perfected (Dec, 1935)- the concept use by BMW for its Hydrogen 7 was perfected an introduced by G.H. Garrett when he succeeded in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
3.    Three-Wheeled Auto Makes Speed with Low Fuel Cost (Oct, 1924)- The Flivver which is a three-wheeled automobile designed in Germany with a close top and doors like those found on bigger cars. The said car does not consume much fuel but has a speed of ten miles an hour on good roads. And the best about this car? The government has not imposed any tax on it and is permitted for use even by those without driver’s license.
4.    Flier Designs Streamline "Push Button" Car (Nov, 1938)- designed by a California airman, this car lowers down fuel consumption by employing smart designs that include a covered front wheel.
5.    Japanese Minicar (Dec, 1958)- who would have though that SUBARU has built a minicar in the past. It’s called the 360. This 1958 Subaru is equipped with a two-cylinder, two-cycel air-cooled engine which enables it to reach a top speed of 50 mph. Gas consumption was around 62 mpg.
6.    A New Switch for Electrics (Jul, 1973)-this is an article about the electric vehicles of the early seventies.
7.    Motorcyclette Has Speed, Comfort (Feb, 1932)-the Motorcyclette make use of the rider’s feet as brakes thank goodness its not made anymore or else just think of the number of shoes that you will ruin in the process.
8.    Motor Scooter Burns LPG (Dec, 1955)- the use of LPG on vehicles are also employed at present in fact in the Philippines there are jeepneys and taxis using LPG as their fuel source. It’s more economical, practical and above all not that harmful to the environment. It was Ralph Carlton of Wauchula, Fla., that started the use of LPG when he converted his standard scooter into an LPG-burner with a few minor engine changes.
9.    Postman Goes Around on Motor Scooter (Jul, 1939)-as the title of the article suggest these are motorized scooters used by mailmen and was proposed by Henry R. Smith, letter carries of Columbia, S. C. who has constructed one of his own.
10.    Auto Fuel From Cow Manure (Sep, 1949)- A German inventor by the name of Harnisch has developed a simple device which converts manure into fuel that will in turn be used to drive autos and tractors as well as provide household power.

Nissan has recently revealed a new car concept that features a multiple preventive features which the automaker claimed would decrease drunk-driving. These multiple preventive technology of Nissan would assess a driver's state of soberness and basing on the assessment the car would activate a range of preventive measures to the extent of immobilization of the vehicle. Cool huh?!

The Ford plant at Cologne-Niehl has achieved another production milestone recently after it has manufactured its two-millionth vehicle in the Ford Fiesta/Fusion series that were rolled off the line.

The two millionth-vehicle was a Colorado Red Ford Fiesta ST that was destined for customers in Great Britain. Around 74 percent of the two million vehicles produced were Fiestas. At present the car assembly of Ford in Cologne is renowned for being one of the most highly efficient plants in the European industry. As a fact, last year it was awarded with an “Automotive Lean Production Award 2006” an international honor that was given for the first time in December of last year.

Last 2006 there was a high demand for Fiestas and Fusions all over the world of which a total of 412,688 vehicles were produced from the Cologne plant. This figure is much higher than what the plant produced in 2005 which totaled only to 403,000.

Around 90 percent of Cologne’s total production is exported to 52 countries including the five largest markets for vehicles in the world such as Great Britain, Italy France, Germany, and Russia. Cologne-built Fiestas and Fusions also travel in distant markets that include Madagascar, Gibraltar, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, and Mozambique. And so far the farthest market that Cologne-built Fiestas and Fusions reach is the Pacific Island of Tahiti.

The Cologne plant has been producing Fiestas and Fusions since 2002 and out of the two million that they have produced 1.25 million were left hand drive while the rest of the 750,000 were right hand drive.

Ford has made a total of EUR 410 million investments last February 2002 to modernize the plant as well as to help develop the nearby supplier park.

The great improvement in the operation of the plant has made it possible for it to increase production by 1,200 vehicles last 2002 to 1,950 vehicles today. There are around 4,200 staffs employed at the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion plant at Ford-Werke GmbH in Cologne with another 13,200 located at the company’s other facilities in other parts of the city.

General Motors' Cadillac luxury division has recently announced that the IAA International Motor Show that will take place in Frankfurt, Germany this coming September will be the stage for the world premiere of its BLS luxury Wagon model. After the show, GM will roll out the Cadillac BLS Wagon in dealerships all over Europe starting in November with four trim levels: Business, Elegance, Sport and Sport Luxury. Moreover, Cadillac will also launch fuel efficient and eco friendly variant of the BLS Wagon and BLS Sedan that are capable in running with bio-ethanol-fuel.

“The BLS Wagon is an appealing addition to the Cadillac portfolio for customers seeking dramatically designed luxury vehicles that offer versatility and performance along with outstanding ride and handling characteristics. We think it will do well in many European markets where consumers desire a high degree of versatility and functionality in their vehicles.” said Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor.

Anyway, going back to the BLS Wagon, the vehicle will feature a powerful 1.9-liter  four-cylinder two stage turbo-diesel engine under its hood. The engine comes with common-rail direct-injection and pumps out 180 hp and 400 Nm amount of peak torque. This engine will be combined to a six-speed manual transmission, or to a five- or six-speed automatic gearbox to complete the powertrain package for the Cadillac BLS Wagon.

For speed-starved European peeps, the BLS Wagon is also available with two powerful petrol engines including the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, and the 2.8-liter V6 unit capable of producing 255 hp with a twin-scroll turbocharger and variable phasing of the intake camshafts.

When the Cadillac BLS Wagon jumps in the IAA International Motor Show, expect the vehicle to showcase these features including:

- Cadillac hallmark V-shaped chrome-plated grille
- Vertical tail lamps with the latest LED technology and rear bumper
- Three-spoke leather steering wheel and an analog clock in the center stack
- High-quality audio units from American sound specialist Bose
- DVD navigation system with touch-screen operation
- Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone system with a hands-free kit and remote controls on the steering wheel
- Comfort and driving dynamics
- Chassis developed to provide both the agility and comfort

Each model trim comes with additional features like:

Cadillac BLS Business
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Cadillac’s StabiliTrak electronic stability program engine immobilizer
- front, side and head curtain airbags
- three-spoke leather steering wheel with control buttons
- seven-speaker audio system with CD player
- “Piano Black” interior decor trim.

Cadillac BLS Elegance
- wipers with rain sensors
- eight-way power seats
- dual-zone climate control
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Red walnut wood veneer trim

Cadillac BLS Sport
- 18-inch wheels
- lowered sports suspension for the front MacPherson struts
- aluminum interior trim and the circular instruments with white numerals

Cadillac BLS Sport Luxury
- Bi-Xenon headlamps
- heated and electrically adjustable leather seats with memory function and wood trim

Watch out for this model when it rolls out in US markets anytime soon.