Although here at eMercedesBenz we've managed to extol the virtues of the Mercedes E320 BlueTEC on many occasions due to its unique mixture of luxury, refinement and fuel efficiency, that hasn't stopped AutoWeek from further validating our fond sentiments toward the model.  The publication recently named the clean diesel-powered E-Class one of its "Top 5 Fuel-Efficient Cars You Actually Want to Drive," based not on its impressive fuel consumption of just 32 miles per gallon, but rather on its combination of "fuel-efficiency, styling and impressive driving dynamics."

According to K.C. Crain, Vice President and Publisher of AutoWeek:  "With the current economic downturn, increasingly high fuel prices and a growing concern for the environment, many of today's drivers are embracing fuel efficient or 'green vehicles.  We want to educate consumers on the few vehicles that are not only Earth-friendly, but also stylish and exhilarating to drive."

As for the other vehicles making the list, here's the complete rundown:

• The 2008 Tesla Roadster  (Exotic | $109,000 | 256mpg)
  
  
• The 2008 Audi TT  (Weekend Warrior | $49,000 | 44mpg)
  
  
• The 2008 MINI Cooper  (Cheap Thrills | $18,700 | 37mpg)
  
  
• The Lexus RX 400h  (Family Fun | $42,980 | 27mpg)
  
  

For more information on AutoWeek's "Top 5 Fuel-Efficient Cars You Actually Want to Drive," you can find the complete details in the press release below.

Enjoy.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Five Coveted Vehicles Offering Performance, Style and Fuel Economy

DETROIT -- AutoWeek magazine, America's only weekly automotive-enthusiast magazine, has just announced its picks for the "Top 5 Fuel-Efficient Cars You Actually Want to Drive." The list highlights vehicles that save money at the gas pump and produce smiles behind the wheel. While it is easy to choose a car based solely on the highest miles per gallon on the window sticker, there are only a few that can uniquely offer a combination of fuel-efficiency, styling and impressive driving dynamics. Out of the many offerings, these five stand out for those reasons and more.

"With the current economic downturn, increasingly high fuel prices and a growing concern for the environment, many of today's drivers are embracing fuel efficient or 'green vehicles,'" stated K.C. Crain, Vice President and Publisher of AutoWeek. "We want to educate consumers on the few vehicles that are not only Earth-friendly, but also stylish and exhilarating to drive."
Capturing the attention of enthusiasts who refuse to sacrifice performance or style, all five choices attain 27 mpg or better while strongly debunking the belief that fuel-efficiency and fun can not be placed in the same sentence when describing a car. The list places each selection in five different classes -- Exotic, Weekend Warrior, Executive Sedan, Cheap Thrills and Family Fun. Five cars with five different approaches to efficiently enjoy driving in today's $5 per gallon world.

AutoWeek's "Top 5 Fuel-Efficient Cars You Actually Want to Drive"

-- 2008 Tesla Roadster (Exotic)
- $109,000 MSRP
- 220 miles per charge (256 mpg equivalent)
- 0-60 in 3.9 seconds

-- 2008 Audi TT 2.0 TDI Quattro (Weekend Warrior)
- $49,000 MSRP (estimated)
- 44 mpg (hwy)
- All-wheel drive handling

-- 2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC (Executive Sedan)
- $53,075 MSRP
- 32 mpg (hwy)
- 210 horsepower, 400 lb-ft of torque

-- 2008 MINI Cooper (Cheap Thrills)
- $18,700 MSRP
- 37 mpg (hwy)
- 2546 lbs and go-kart handling

-- 2008 Lexus RX 400h (Family Fun)
- $42,980 MSRP
- 27 mpg (city)
- 84.7 cubic feet of available cargo space