By Jeremy Selweski
C & G Staff Writer

PLEASANT RIDGE — Not content to simply sit back and let their neighbors in Ferndale and Royal Oak have all the fun, this year Pleasant Ridge decided to get in on the Woodward Dream Cruise celebration by launching its own event: the inaugural NextCruise.

NextCruise was designed to combine the Dream Cruise’s celebration of automobile culture with its green counterpart’s promotion of environmentally friendly lifestyles. Providing the public with the opportunity to check out the latest in green automotive technology, NextCruise featured cars, trucks and crossover vehicles from nine major automakers — including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen and BMW — that incorporate clean diesel engines, fuel cells, electric motors, hybrid systems and other alternative fueling systems.

Held at Memorial Park on Aug. 16, the event was a decidedly low-key affair, with curious passers-by checking out cars such as the BMW Hydrogen 7, the E-85 Ethanol Chevy Corvette pace car and other high-mileage, low-emission vehicles.

Though the crowd was sparse, they were fully entertained by Rosco the Clown, a woman in a sparkly red-and-white outfit on stilts, and a live band performing at adjacent Stevenson Park. Kids especially enjoyed the video game setup, in which they could play a driving simulator while seated inside an actual Indy racecar.

Kirk Siefker, 37, of Pleasant Ridge drives a Volkswagen Jetta and was excited to get the chance to test drive a clean diesel Jetta at NextCruise. He also liked the juxtaposition of the new event with the Woodward Dream Cruise.

“I think it’s neat that we’ve got both the cars of yesteryear and the cars of today/tomorrow,” Siefker said. “We can see what the Cruise will be in future years.”

For Norbert Kraus, a representative for Volkswagen and Audi, NextCruise was a great way to raise awareness for something that many people still see as a fringe product.

“I think it’s a great message,” he said. “We need to get this clean fuel technology out on the market.”

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who will be racing in the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Labor Day weekend, was also on hand to promote NextCruise.

“We run (E-85) ethanol in our cars,” he said. “We’re a big part of trying to become a green racing series. What you see here is what the future has in store, which I think should be embraced.”

Some spectators at NextCruise were intrigued by the concept of green vehicles, but feel that change in the auto industry is a long way away.

“Something has to happen — the way we drive cars needs to change,” said Mike Popp, 54, of Ferndale. “But you’ll never really replace traditional cars.”

Paul Eckhout of Ferndale agreed. “I think it’s inevitable,” he said. “We all will (drive green cars) someday, but the technology is just not there yet.”

Jeff and Anna Benson of Windsor — who came to NextCruise with their 10-year-old daughter, Katie — were able to see both sides of the debate.

“I think this is a step in the right direction, for sure,” said Jeff, 39. “I like the older cars, but it’s always good to know where you came from and see where you’re going.”