While I’m pretty sure that across the pond this will ring like a joke to the ears of most Europeans for the folks at MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” it’s a step forward to being “green” without loosing their “bling-bling”. As part of a very special Earth Day episode that’ll air on April 22nd at 1 pm ET/PT, the Galpin Auto Sports (G.A.S.) crew will return in the fifth season of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” transforming a 1965 Chevy Impala into a biodiesel vehicle nicknamed the “Bio Rocket.

The green-pimped Impala will be fitted with a new PPE supercharged GM Duramax diesel engine that runs on B-100 biodiesel which, according to G.A.S., reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent –they don’t say compared with what though…. The Bio Rocket’s engine power was boosted from 350 horsepower to 800 horsepower with 1400 lb-ft of torque and according to the team the Bio Rocket can go from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in roughly 3.5 seconds. Via: Autoblog.com , Info: GASPress Release after the jump (click “Read More”).

PRESS RELEASE: GALPIN GOES GREEN FOR EARTH DAY WITH MONSTER BIODIESEL MUSCLE CAR DEBUT ON MTV’s “PIMP MY RIDE”

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Helps Galpin Auto Sports Launch 800-HP “Bio Rocket” Giving Serious Muscle To The Green Movement

VAN NUYS, CA (April 9, 2007) – In celebration of Earth Day, the Galpin Auto Sports (G.A.S.) crew returns in the fifth season of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” and shows that alternative fuel vehicles can be fast and fun by transforming a 1965 Chevy Impala into a biodiesel vehicle nicknamed the “Bio Rocket.” As if the event needed any more muscle, the Bio Rocket will be unveiled by special guest Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger during a ground-breaking Earth Day episode of “Pimp My Ride” scheduled to air on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 1pm ET/PT. The episode will also serve as the kick-off of a “Pimp My Ride” Sneak Peek marathon featuring brand new episodes from the fifth season.

Galpin Auto Sports, the garage of “Pimp My Ride,” takes going green to an all new level in this special episode. Galpin Motors’ dedication to protecting our Earth dates back to 1979 when they began converting fleets of gasoline engine vehicles to run on methanol and even opened the nation’s first methanol service station. Additionally, Galpin Motors was one of the first dealers to sell Ford flexible fuel vehicles, Ford’s TH!NK Neighbors and other electric vehicles, for which they even built on-site charging stations.

“With the increasing amount of traffic on the roads, protecting the environment is a major concern for automotive manufacturers and dealers,” said Beau Boeckmann, president of Galpin Auto Sports, Vice President of Galpin Motors and consulting producer and on-air talent for “Pimp My Ride.” “By installing a monster 800 horsepower diesel engine to run on biodiesel in the ’65 Impala, we demonstrated that you don’t have to sacrifice power to go green.”

The Bio Rocket is loaded with a new PPE supercharged GM Duramax diesel engine that runs on B-100 biodiesel which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent. Switching the Bio Rocket to alternative fuel consumption did not compromise its performance and speed. In fact, it improved it significantly. The Bio Rocket’s engine power was boosted from 350 horsepower to 800 horsepower with 1400 lb-ft of torque allowing the Bio Rocket to jet from 0-60 mph in approximately 3.5 seconds.

Making the inside green counts too, so the G.A.S. crew made the seats from a material comprised of 100 percent recycled fibers. The Bio Rocket’s trunk is lined with biodegradable, all natural hemp and reclaimed wood that was recovered from quarries and pre-existing wooden structures. Finally, eco-friendly meets convenience with a built-in GPS that shows the driver where to find the nearest biodiesel station.

“Galpin’s customizing innovation began in the late ‘50’s and produced national trends in the automotive aftermarket,” said Boeckmann. “50 years later, the aftermarket and tuner world has become a much greater part of the mainstream. We see Galpin’s move to green, ground-shaking horsepower as the ripple that can start a sea of change and we are proud to start that right here, right now.”

Technorati: Chevrolet+Impala, Pimp+My+Ride, MTV, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007