2010 Toyota Prius Overview
Improvements to the third-generation Prius required the filing of more than 1,000 patent applications. Several concern the powertrain, which is 90% new and with an increase in engine displacement to 1.8 litres from 1.5 litres. The platform is all new, but apart from a 1.5-cm gain in overall length, the Prius is practically the same size as before, and it remains a four-door hatchback.
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2008 Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion
Volkswagen will be firing off the next salvo of its BlueMotion offensive at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. In total, six new models with technology that is as economical as it is environmentally-friendly, will debut at the world’s largest car show. One of the highlights there: The new Golf BlueMotion. At just 4.5 litres of diesel per 100 km (62.8 mpg), its fuel consumption has been reduced by a full 0.6 litres compared to the original model. Similarly, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 135 g/km to 119 g/km. Actions taken on the BlueMotion make it so efficient that now distances of more than 1,200 km (745 miles) are possible on just one Golf tank of fuel (55 litres).
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2008 Volvo C70 Diesel
Volvo is extending the engine options in its stylish C70 coupe convertible range with the addition of the popular 136PS 2-litre turbodiesel. The 2.0D powerplant has already established itself as a firm favourite amongst Volvo customers1 and will now offer C70 drivers a combination of enhanced driving pleasure and impressive fuel economy. The Volvo C70 2.0D will arrive in UK showrooms later this autumn and is available to order now.
The 2-litre turbodiesel is the first 4-cylinder engine in the convertible and features second-generation common rail technology to provide cleaner emissions, improved fuel economy and a quieter drive.
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2008 Volvo C30 Turbo Diesel
New Volvo C30 Efficiency model with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions with diesel automatic transmission with Powershift technology. As well as a focus on biofuels and hybrid technology, Volvo is also making energy-efficiency improvements to conventional drive trains. This work has led to the development of two new innovations which will be introduced during 2008 – a low CO2 emitting Volvo C30 and a new diesel Powershift transmission for the Volvo C30, S40 and V50.
The new Volvo C30 Efficiency makes its global debut at the Frankfurt Motorshow on 11th September and is powered by a 105PS 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine. By implementing a series of changes to the aerodynamics and rolling resistance as well as introducing higher gearing and improving powertrain efficiency1, Volvo has improved fuel consumption to 62.8mpg and reduced CO2 emissions to below 120g/km2.
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2009 Volkswagen Scirocco UK
The original Scirocco was first seen 34 years ago, and over two generations and 19 years a total of 77,460 Sciroccos were sold in the UK. Now the new model blows in, with equally distinctive coupé styling, a practical hatchback boot, four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive – yet this is the most technically advanced production coupé that Volkswagen has produced.
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2007 Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept
With its Mercedes-Benz F700 research car, Mercedes-Benz redefines the idea of effortless, superior refinement: this concept for a future luxurious touring sedan shows how outstanding riding quality can be combined with high levels of environmental friendliness, and good performance with exceptionally low fuel consumption. Thus, the 5.17 meter long Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept with its innovative and very spacious interior design enables an entirely new and exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept is the world’s first car that can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. The forward-pointing DIESOTTO drive system introduced in the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept, a four-cylinder with a displacement of only 1.8 liters, combines the strong points of the low-emission gasoline engine with the consumption benefits of the diesel drive. Its CO2 emissions of a mere 127 grams per kilometer correspond to consumption of only 5.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg), extremely low for a vehicle of this class.
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2009 Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz will also be presenting theML 450 HYBRID, due to be launched on the market in 2009 as the most economical two-mode petrol hybrid SUV worldwide. Its innovative two-mode hybrid system enables electric driving and satisfies the highest comfort demands. With a combined system output of 250 kW/340 hp and a combined maximum torque of 480 Nm, the ML 450 HYBRID consumes just 7.7 liters per 100 kilometers – equivalent to CO2 emissions of 185 g/km.
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2007 Mercedes F 700
“The F 700 with its innovative DIESOTTO and hybrid drive consumes just 5.3 liters of petrol per 100 kilometers – equivalent to CO2 emissions of just 127 grams per kilometer. This value equals the fuel consumption of a modern day diesel-powered compact car, and boasts the lowest petrol consumption figures of a large luxury saloon in the history of the motor car”, explains Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the DaimlerChrysler AG Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Mercedes Car Group Development. And in other important vehicle classes, too, Mercedes-Benz is setting the global benchmark for consumption and emissions at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.
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2007 Saturn Aura Engine Technology
Engine experts have dreamt about it, talked about it, and lectured about it, and today – for the first time – General Motors Corp. (GM) is letting outside parties drive the “most awaited advanced combustion technology” of the last 30 years. GM has taken new combustion technology out of the lab and on to the road with GM’s brand new HCCI combustion technology debuts in two driveable concept cars. The system essentially uses diesel-type technology on petrol engines with stunning results. HCCI is used in conjunction with other advanced technologies can result in 15% fuel savings.
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2008 Mini Cooper D Defines Green
Confusion surrounding alternative fuels and related technologies is leading new car buyers to miss a trick. A recent YouGov Plc survey commissioned by MINI found that diesel-powered cars are thought to be way behind hybrid models for cleanliness. Yet the 104g/km CO2 emitted by the sporty MINI Cooper D is a figure that equals, and in many cases beats other cars using alternative technologies – including hybrids.
In a poll designed to gauge public understanding of CO2-related issues in the car purchase process, just three per cent of the 2,018-strong sample believed that a diesel-fuelled vehicle could be considered a low source of carbon emissions. Yet the new MINI Cooper D’s 104g/km is identical to the hybrid-powered Toyota Prius and lower than the 109g/km achieved by the Honda Civic Hybrid.
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