Autoblog

President Clinton will be the first U.S. president ever to use a hybrid outfitted for presidential service thanks to Ford, who will be presenting our 42nd president with a Mercury Mariner Hybrid "Presidential Edition" at the Clinton Global Initiative conference later this month in New York City. The Mariner Hybrid has been modified to include LED interior lighting, a 110-volt outlet and a writing table. Everything else on the vehicle, including the hybrid powertrain that delivers 32 mpg in the city, is supposedly stock.

We say supposedly because most presidential vehicles are heavily modified with armor and other technologies to thwart assassination attempts. The LED interior lighting installed in Clinton's Mariner Hybrid suggests the window glass is either heavily tinted for privacy or has been replaced with a transparent armor similar to the kind used on President Bush's armored Cadillac DTS limo that's so thick it blocks natural sunlight.

Speaking of presidential vehicles, did you know that the presidential motorcade is typically 35 cars long? A lot of gas could be saved by switching that fleet over to a next generation powertrain. Follow the jump to see what vehicles follow the president when he's out on the town and in what order.

[Source: Ford]

Sales of Toyota’s popular Prius took a big dip last month, falling nearly 25 percent compared with the same month last year. Year to date sales for the Prius hybrid are also about 10.4 percent behind last year’s pace. Regardless of the slip, the Prius still sold more than any other hybrid in the month of April by a large margin. For example, while Toyota is being quiet about the Prius only selling 8,234 units last month, Ford’s been shouting from the rafters that sales of its Escape and Mariner Hybrid SUVs increased by 115 percent to 3,420 units in April.

Thanks Igor for the asute eye!

[Source: Toyota and Ford]

Ford Motor Company has awarded the Cleveland Police Department with keys to its very own Mariner Hybrid. The force won the car as a result of a campaign designed by Ford and implemented by 11 police forces around the country to help boost public awareness of green technology and fuel-efficiency.

Ford Hybrid Patrol, as the program was called, first educated police officers on fuel-saving tips before turning them loose on the general public to do some green good. Of the 38 officers who participated, the average fuel economy was achieved 45.38 mpg. The officers then went out and awarded drivers with positive citations (and a $25 BP gift card) for good driving behavior.

Other participating forces were from Chicago, IL; Somerville, MA; Boston, MA; Alexandria, VA; East Point, GA; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles suburb, Glendale, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Miramar, FL.

[Source: The Ford Motor Company via WebWire]