DETROIT ? Mercedes-Benz will make Sirius satellite radio standard on some of its 2007 model-year vehicles and GM Daewoo is accelerating its bid to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles in cooperation with GM.

The Sirius deal with Mercedes is an extension of an agreement that will make Sirius the company?s preferred flavor of sat-radio through 2012. The SL-Class, CL-Class, and all AMG and 600 vehicles will offer the radio standard, though Benz says it may add it on other models as well. Sirius is also offered on vehicles from DaimlerChrysler?s Chrysler Group.

Meanwhile, in the South Korean city of Busan, where the 2005 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting is being held, GM Daewoo revealed its HydroGen3 fuel-cell demonstration vehicle for the first time to shuttle CEO Summit participants and global leaders between APEC venues.

GM Daewoo President and CEO Nick Reilly drove the HydroGen3 car to the briefing with South Korea?s commerce minister Lee Hee-beom. ?With rising demand for motor vehicles around the globe, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, the world is facing major environmental and energy security challenges,? Reilly said. ?GM Daewoo?s long-term vision for sustainable mobility is fuel-cell vehicles fueled with hydrogen.?

GM Daewoo will carry out an engineering feasibility study that will include the integration of fuel-cell systems in GM Daewoo vehicles utilizing GM?s fuel-cell technology, said Reilly, adding that GM Daewoo and GM also will collaborate on an initial feasibility study on the integration of Korean suppliers to support fuel-cell and other advanced-technology vehicle activities of GM Daewoo and GM.

?Our goal is to take the lead among Korean automakers in the development of true clean-energy vehicles by combining the world-leading technologies and resources of GM and GM Daewoo,? said Reilly.

The HydroGen3 is a five-seat, front-wheel-drive, fuel-cell vehicle powered by compressed hydrogen. Its 60-kilowatt/82-horsepower electric motor accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour in 16 seconds, with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, and a driving range of 270 kilometers, roughly 180 miles.

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