MTV Shows Car Owners How To Go Green

(CBS)  MTV's "Pimp My Ride" and the GAS (Galpin Auto Sports) crew took green to the extreme this week with the help of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It was all a part of Earth Day 2007, which rounded out MTV's year-long "Break the Addiction" campaign. The 12-step campaign is an ongoing effort to get young people, MTV's core audience, involved in and educated about environmental issues. The effort is part of a growing awareness in Hollywood, and across the nation, about the need for environmental conservation.

"We decided to take the popular show 'Pimp My Ride' and use it to spread an important message to our millions of viewers," said Ian Rowe, MTV public affairs director.

Since 1979 Galpin Auto Sports, the garage of "Pimp My Ride," has been active in environmental causes. Over the years, it has converted numerous gasoline engine vehicles to run on methanol and it even opened the nation's first methanol service station. So when MTV wanted to take going green to a whole new level, the GAS crew was ready to take on the task, pimping out rides the eco-friendly way.

During this special episode, viewers watched as Kristoffer of North Hollywood, Calif., the owner of a troublesome 1965 Chevy Impala, was paid a surprise visit by the rapper and show host Xzibit, who offered to get the "Pimp My Ride" crew to transform his auto into an ecological pimped-out ride from start to finish.

As Kristoffer, Xzibit and Mad Mike watched, the GAS crew gave the '65 Chevy Impala an ecological makeover. Additional help for this extreme green machine came from Imperium Renewables and General Motors.

Imperium Renewables, one the renewable energy leaders, is set to build the nation's largest biodiesel production facility. For this episode, they provided biodiesel fuel made from Canola oil. They also gave Kristoffer a complimentary year supply of biodiesel fuel for his new ride.

To ensure the 1965 Chevy Impala was restored to mint condition, General Motors provided the original parts for Beau, Mad Mike and the GAS crew.

Staying true to their goal of reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles, General Motors supplied the crew with a duramax diesel engine, one of the cleanest diesel engines created.

Using an 800-horsepower diesel engine run by biodiesel fuel proved that power and preservation can go hand in hand.

"I like big engines and cars with power," said Xzibit. The host of hit show "Pimp My Ride" admitted that he was used to vehicles with power and wasn't too sure how a biodiesel-powered engine would compete against a non-biodiesel engine.

To answer that question, the crew put the "greened out" Chevy Impala to the test by racing it against a Lamborghini Gallardo. The Lamborghini proved to be no match for the ecologically pimped out Impala, which flew past it on the race track.

After proving its successful transformation to a powerful green machine, the "greened out" Chevy Impala got the once-over and approval of Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Xzibit advised viewers: "This is a fun show and this episode we're addressing an important issue. This is not something to put off until next year. It affects us now, not just the next generation."

For more information on how to protect the environment, visit www.think.mtv.com.
Written By MICHELLE LAMB