Low carbon features high at Geneva; new hybrid for UK

Low carbon cars featured prominently at Geneva 2006 with both production and concept cars incorporating the best and latest technologies for cutting carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Honda have launched a new hybrid into the UK market.

 

Volkswagen will be releasing the Polo BlueMotion this Summer in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. VW says that the new Polo uses only 3.9 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres (72 mpg) and has CO2 emissions of just 103 g/km. VW explains that fuel consumption and emissions benefits were achieved through the new Polo having longer gear ratios, aerodynamic refinements and other engine modifications.

 

The car marks the start of Volkswagen's BlueMotion sustainability campaign. The BlueMotion 'seal of approval' will be awarded to the most fuel-efficient vehicles in each VW model range.

 

In the month that DaimlerChrysler announced its intention to keep the Smart brand, the company displayed two alternative fuel concepts based on the fortwo. One features a hybrid powertrain and the other is electrically powered.

 

While Saab displayed it's Aero X concept car capable of running on 100% bioethanol, Land Rover demonstrated future technology that they claim will allow them to cut fuel consumption and C02 emissions by as much as thirty per cent for a comparably sized off-road vehicle. Land Rover proposes various systems that they say give efficiency advantages without loss of versatility.

 

The systems include electric rear axle drive which is especially effective off-road, an integrated starter generator system which also allows automatic engine stop start and electric-only low-speed crawl in heavy traffic, plus regenerative braking. LandRover's Land-e is also capable of running on a 25% mix of biodiesel. Land Rover say that a target of below 150g/km C02 emissions figure is realistic for a larger, off-road vehicle using these types of technologies.

 

Meanwhile, Honda have announced the UK sale of the Civic hybrid. The petrol-driven model emits 109 g/km of CO2 and has a combined mpg of 61.4. Honda claim that this should deliver a £1000 fuel saving over 3 average years of motoring, compared with a similar non-hybrid vehicle. The Civic is priced at around £1200 below its hybrid competitor, the Toyota Prius. The Civic Hybrid was recently named 'World Green Car for 2006' by a jury of 46 international motoring journalists as part of the World Car of the Year Awards.