Mercedes' Green Thumb

LONDON - After watching rival BMW dominate the headlines at the Geneva auto show in March with the introduction of carbon dioxide-reducing stop-start versions of the 1 series, Mercedes-Benz will fight back. "We will catch up and get ahead," said Thomas Weber, head of r&d at Mercedes parent DaimlerChrysler. Mercedes-Benz will launch stop-start technology across its entire lineup, beginning with the A- and B-class entry-premium cars in September, Weber said at a press event here.