Volkswagen

Volkswagen continued its push for lower emission vehicles with a trio of BlueMotion additions and confirmation that it will have an electric car on sale by 2013.

The zero emission E-Up! concept (pictured) is a small city car powered by an 80bhp electric motor. Volkswagen claims a range of 80 miles and a recharging time of five hours.

Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Volkswagen Group, said: “Cars with petrol and diesel engines will be supplemented by cars like the E-Up!, and that will happen – starting in 2013. This concept realistically shows how we envisage such a Volkswagen with electric drive technology, both visually and in terms of size.”

Of more immediate interest are the new BlueMotion additions to the Polo, Golf and Passat range, all of which go on sale in the UK early next year.

By adding a stop-start system, the Polo now emits just 87g/km of CO2, and the Golf 99g/km.

The larger Passat swaps a 2.0-litre diesel engine for a 1.6 TDI unit, with a drop in CO2 from 128 to 114g/km.

Renault

Renault revealed details of its electric car future at Frankfurt, with four concepts pointing to how its zero-emission range will look when sales begin in 2011.

They are:

  • The Twizy: a 1+1 city car powered by a 20bhp electric motor.
  • The Zoe: a four-seat supermini (pictured below) offering 94bhp and a 100-mile range.
  • The Fluence: a five-seat saloon intended for the Israeli market.
  • The Kangoo: a small van with a 94bhp motor and sloar roof panels.
  • The Twizy, Zoe and Kangoo models will be offered in the UK (Fleet News, July 30).

Renault also confirmed three options for re-fuelling the electric cars – a standard charge from a domestic power supply which will take between four and eight hours, a quick charge which will take 20 minutes to give 80% capacity, and a Quickdrop system whereby batteries can be exchanged at a network of battery stations within three minutes (Fleet News, July 30).

Volvo

Volvo introduced its facelifted C30 (pictured), and also announced a new sub-100g/km of CO2 version.

Available to order from next month (when prices will be announced), the uprated DRIVe version shares stop-start technology with existing models, but engine management tweaks have brought emissions down from 104g/km to 99. This means the model will be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty.

Combined fuel economy climbs from 72.4 to 74.3mpg, which in theory gives a maximum range of 857 miles on a tank of diesel.

In common with the rest of the range, the new C30 DRIVe features a revised front end with new wings and bonnet, plus redesigned bumper and headlights.

A styling kit package is also available, as is a sports chassis which quickens the steering and firms up the ride.

Ford

Ford will offer a seven-seat version of its C-Max (pictured) for the first time when the new model arrives.

The model, to be called Grand C-Max, will ‘fill a gap in the range’, according to Ford’s director - fleet operations, Kevin Griffin, and will compete with models such as the Renault Grand Scenic.

Due to go on sale in late 2010, the new C-Max is the first Ford to feature the all-new platform which will underpin the new Focus which arrives later next year.

The new C-Max will also debut Ford’s new petrol engine technology – EcoBoost. This new family of direct injection, turbocharged petrol engines will initially be offered as a 1.6-litre unit in the C-Max.

Ford has also added stop-start technology to the Focus Econetic, resulting in CO2 emissions of 99g/km (VED exempt) and 74.3mpg. It goes on sale early next year.

Hyundai

Hyundai will launch an electric version of its i10 city car in the UK in 2011, and is proposing an innovative recharging solution.

The car (pictured) has a 100-mile range from its lithium ion batteries and recharging takes five hours from a domestic socket.
But plugging into a more robust 415v supply will give an 85-mile range in just 15 minutes.

A 415v supply is what is used to power many commercial premises, including petrol stations.

A Hyundai spokesman said: “If that outlet could be made available to the public at garages, they could plug the i10 in and be ready to do another 85 miles in the time it takes to go to the loo and have a cup of tea."

Vauxhall

Vauxhall is promising lower cost of ownership with the new Astra, which goes on sale in December.

The new lower-medium model (pictured), which is available to order now, is priced from £15,675 – £270 more than the current version but featuring more equipment.

Thanks to the use of downsized, turbocharged petrol engines, CO2 emissions have also dropped. The 1l.4-litre Turbo model reduces benefit-in-kind tax by seven bands, while the 1.7-litre diesel now has 10bhp more but emits 11g/km less than the old 100bhp 1.7 CDTi unit.

Insurance groups have also dropped – in some cases by up to seven groups – thanks to a ‘crash gap’: increased space between the front of the car and the engine, and the grille no longer being incorporated into the bonnet.

Both advances make crash repair much less expensive, as do cheaper parts.

 

Peugeot

Two new Peugeot models made their debuts at Frankfurt and will be on sale in the UK early next year.

The 5008 is a five or seven-seater MPV and will also incorporate technologies such as head-up display and distance alert.

The manufacturer has also announced pricing and specification for its Audi TT rival – the RC-Z (pictured).

On sale from spring next year, the RC-Z is a two-plus-two coupe powered by a choice of 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engines or a 2.0-litre HDi diesel with 163bhp.

Equipment levels are high, with 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control and a full suite of safety devices. Prices start at £19,900.

The 3008 small MPV was also on show in Frankfurt. It goes on sale in November with a choice of two HDi diesels offering 110 or 150bhp, and two petrols with 120 or 150bhp.

Kia

Kia has revealed the world’s first LPG hybrid and is looking for UK fleet customers to trial it.
The Forte LPI (pictured) is a saloon version of the Cee’d and is powered by a 1.6-litre engine which runs solely on LPG.

It is backed up by an electric motor and stop-start technology which results in CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

The firm believes it will appeal to cost-conscious companies which already have easy access to LPG.

That might be transport firms who use LPG in their lorries and have storage tanks at their depots.

Meanwhile, bosses at sister company Hyundai have confirmed they will also be seeking UK fleet customers for the Elantra LPI – their version of the Forte.

Mercedes-Benz

The chairman of the board could be driving around in an S-Class emitting just 74g/km of CO2 within the next five years.

Mercedes-Benz displayed an S-Class plug-in hybrid at the show, using a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine allied to an electric motor.

This technology points to the next generation of Mercedes-Benz models, which will be engineered to accept the hybrid drivetrain.

The next S-Class is due to arrive in four years’ time.

At the other end of the scale, the BlueZero E-Cell Plus car is based on the next A/B-Class models and is powered by an electric motor.

However, an on-board petrol engine recharges the battery, giving a range of up to 370 miles.

Citroen

Citroen brought a slice of the past to Frankfurt, showing an electric concept car inspired by the 2CV.

The Revolte (pictured) is purely a concept car, but gives pointers to Citroën’s thinking on its new small car ranges, which will include an EV model.

While the Revolte is a few years away, Citroën will offer a sub-100g/km of CO2 version of the new C3 early next year.

The diesel-powered model emits 99g/km, making it exempt from VED and qualifying for the lowest 13% BIK band.

Alongside the new C3, the DS3 made its debut. Acting as a sub-brand, DS models (of which a DS4 and DS5 are due in the next few years) allow customers to customise their vehicles.

 

Skoda

Skoda’s enormous Superb saloon will be joined by an even larger estate version in the UK in the early part of next year.

Offering up to 1,865 litres of load space (in comparison, a Volvo V70 offers 1,600 litres), the Superb estate will be one of the largest estate cars the market.

As well as the option of an electric tailgate, the Superb estate offers a low loading sill and a floor platform which can be extended over the bumper to make loading easier.

Engine options for the estate will mirror those of the saloon with three petrol and two diesel units. however, there is no comfirmation yet of a Greenline low CO2 version.

Audi

Audi presented low emission solutions at the top and tail of its range at Frankfurt.

Continuing the vogue for downsized engines, a new A3 powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine made its debut, offering 105bhp, 51.0mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 127g/km. It goes on sale in the UK early next year.

At the other end of the spectrum is the e-tron (pictured) which points the way to an R8 supercar powered by four electric motors to produce 313bhp and offering a range of more than 150 miles.

An A4 model powered by the ‘clean diesel’ 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine also appeared, meeting Euro 6 requirements. However, it will not be sold in the UK.

Seat

Seat will launch an estate version of its Ibiza supermini in the UK in the middle of next year.
It will be aimed at drivers who want to downsize but not forgo practicality.

The IBZ concept (pictured) offers boot space of 410 litres with the rear seats in place – similar to a Ford Focus estate.

Elsewhere, Seat has expanded its Ecomotive low emission line-up with versions of the Altea and a revised Leon model.

The Altea and its XL sister model offer CO2 emissions of 119g/km from a 1.6-litre diesel engine – qualifying them for the 13% BIK tax band.

Seat has also improved the Leon Ecomotive model by adding stop-start technology which brings emissions down to 99g/km. All three go on sale in the UK early next year.

 

Toyota/Lexus

While new hybrid models took centre stage for Toyota and Lexus, the two companies also announced changes to existing models.

Toyota debuted the new Land Cruiser off-roader (pictured).

The UK will be offered one model – a five-door with seven seats and powered by a 3.0-litre diesel offering 34.9mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 214g/km.

It goes on sale in December.

Lexus announced improvements to its LS, GS and IS saloon ranges.

The IS gains the option of an F-Sport styling package, a new navigation system and DAB radio. It goes on sale in December.

Lexus’ two hybrid saloons, the GS450h and LS600h, both gain extra equipment and active headrests. The larger LS model also receives styling tweaks.

Both models are due to go on sale in the UK early next year, when full prices and specification will be announced.

Saab

Saab will launch three new cars in the next 16 months, but has also revealed what fleet customers can expect from the next 9-3.

The expansion starts with the all-new 9-5 (pictured). An estate version and the 9-4x crossover will follow.

The replacement 9-3 isn’t due until 2012 and insiders have promised it will be radical departure.

That’s due in part to new owner Koenigsegg, because Saab insiders have revealed what happened when executives saw a mock-up of the proposed new model earlier this year.

The incident happened before Saab’s sale was confirmed.

A source said: “A clay model of it came to Sweden from GM Design in Germany. Everyone at Saab was really unimpressed with it.”

Sensing that GM was not going to be involved for much longer, the Saab design team got to work on something else.

“When Koenigsegg saw the GM car they didn’t like it either and have now given their backing to the Saab-styled one,” the source added.

BMW

BMW presented the most extreme interpretation of its EfficientDynamics technology at Frankfurt with a striking hybrid coupe.

The Vision EfficientDynamics concept is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder diesel engine allied to two electric motors.

Together, the power units deliver 351bhp yet return claimed economy of 75.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

The car can also operate as a plug-in hybrid, which brings emissions down to 50g/km of CO2.

Closer to production reality is the ActiveHybrid 7 – a 7 Series powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine and an electric motor.

Combined power output is 459bhp, with fuel economy of 29.1mpg and CO2 of 219g/km. As the current 730d diesel easily beats these figures, the hybrid model will not be coming to the UK.

 

Mini

Mini gave debuts to two concept cars at Frankfurt, and then announced that they would be built at Plant Oxford.

The two models – a coupe and a two-seat roadster – will expand the Mini line-up to five versions, joining the hatchback, Clubman and Convertible models.

While already attacting a youthful following, the two more sporty models will bring the brand into fresh territory, competing against the likes of Mazda’s MX-5.

Mini has not revealed when the two versions will go on sale, but as both look almost production ready they could appear as early as next year.

Both concepts are powered by the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine in John Cooper Works trim.

Round-up

Despite the global recession, there was still plenty of opulence in evidence in Frankfurt.

Mercedes-Benz launched its SLS AMG Gullwing, Rolls Royce rolled out the new smaller Ghost, Ferrari debuted the 458 Italia, Land Rover took the wraps off an ultra-exclusive Range Rover Sport Autobiography, Maserati debuted the GranCabrio, Bentley revealed its new Mulsanne flagship, while Porsche brought along four new models including the Panamera and 911 Turbo.

Recession? What recession?