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Engine shuts off when stopped. (http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/BUSINESS01/807240411/1014)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/BMW_1_Series_3-Door.jpg Mark Phelan - Detroit Free Press - July 24, 2008

European BMW EfficientDynamics 118d - 52 mpgUS combined, 0 - 60 in < 9 seconds and Start-stop with Regen are standard.

While the Big 2.5 talks, others perform. The BMW118d is only $700 USD more than the non-diesel/non Start-Stop counterpart. -- Ed.

A key piece of technology from gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles will become almost universal in new cars within five to 10 years, top environmental executives from Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. predicted Wednesday.

The technology, called autostop or start-stop, automatically switches the engine off but keeps accessories such as climate control and the radio running when a car is idling.

It reduces fuel consumption and emissions. All hybrids today use the system, but demands for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions will lead to its use on virtually all vehicles, the experts said at an event to announce NextCruise, an event at which nine automakers will showcase their environmental and alternate-fuel vehicles in conjunction with the Woodward Dream Cruse next month.

"Start-stop will not just be in hybrids anymore within five years," said Jay Iyengar, Chrysler senior manager of hybrid system integration. "From Chrysler's perspective, we expect to see it pretty much everywhere… http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/BUSINESS01/807240411/1014

Start-stop is a pretty incremental benefit on a diesel, but I agree it should become standard on all cars.

Hi Dan:

___Just trying to wake up the masses a bit. $1,795 for Start/Stop on a GM BAS equipped vehicle and it most certainly is not a diesel equipped VUE, Malibu or Aura :(

___BMW and MB/SMART are moving quickly to incorporate this simple fuel saving solution into their vehicles while the domestic Big 2.5 talk about it?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Toyota has had this implemented in Japan for some time now. I wonder how long until they bring the technology here.

See the bottom of this page:

http://toyota.jp/vitz/dynamism/engin/index.html

This will be a fun issue to watch debated by the safety people, anti-hypermiles, and the AAA. Won't we all crash into each other in a traffic jam and such?

Now if only they would bring the 118d here so I could buy it.

i hope so, i would LOVE for my Civic to do it by itself.

Now if only they would bring the 118d here so I could buy it.

It would be fantastic!

Anyone else see this as way too little, and too late? The big 3 are going to add this trivial modification to the same old FSPs in a few years - a time frame in which they should have their whole fleet as PHEVs. More "can't do" thinking...