Clean sweep for car buyers

Oct 6 2008 Chris Russon

A NEW breed of super-eco cars is on the way helping motorists save pounds at the pumps.

Lower emissions will also bring tax free driving to thousands who opt for the latest green machines.

The credit crunch busting scenario was revealed as the world's leading auto makers gathered in Paris to show off the cars of the future.

Slashing CO2 output by improving miles per gallon is the mantra at this year's leading European motor show.

Ford boss Alan Mulally announced that the new generation of car buyer is after quality, value for money and economy.

'The future starts here in Paris,' he said as the Blue Oval took the wraps off its new baby Ka.

Like other models in the Ford stable the new Ka will be available in EcoNetic guise chopping CO2 outputs to below the 100g/km threshold where buyers pay no road tax under current rules.

With the global economic crisis biting in all markets the need for high economy models stretches worldwide.

Downsizing is the trend and Ford estimates that 60 per cent of cars sold in the next few years will be small.

To accommodate the shift car makers are ready to roll with little models high on luxury features and powered by new types of engines.

Peugeot and Citroen used their home motor show to announce a range of hybrids using electric motors to boost the performance of conventional diesels.

A crossover development of the Peugeot 308, the Prologue, will be on sale next year using a diesel-electric powertrain to pump out 200bhp promising plenty of performance with emissions as low as 109g/km.

It will also boast four wheel drive with the electric motor powering the rear axle.

Citroen is also going down the hybrid route while Renault is planning to have a zero emission electric car based on its Kangoo be bop van cum people mover on sale in the US and Japan by 2010.

Volvo is taking the concept a stage further with a 'plug in' hybrid which can be hitched up to the mains supply.

For everyday use the car can be run off rechargeable batteries but for longer trips it has a conventional engine to offer the best of both worlds.

If used only for commuting such cars could eliminate trips to the filling station.

Stop-start technology is not new but Land Rover is planning on using it to clean up the gas guzzling image of 4x4s.

A Freelander using the system will be on sale next year with fuel savings predicted to be in the region of 20 per cent in town. Emissions fall from 194 to 179g/km.

The cleaner Freelander is the first phase of a £700million project from Land Rover and Jaguar into green technology which also see the introduction of hybrid drive on the smaller Land Rover LRX.

Hybrid pioneer Toyota announced further developments extending the technology in its Lexus luxury models while revealing its new iQ city car - a four seater little bigger than a smart - would have emissions of 99g/km from a one-litre petrol engine.

The next wave of Avensis models - to be built in Britain at the Toyota factory near Derby - will feature a new 'optimal drive' system incorporating the latest multi-drive gearbox which will see emissions from the two-litre diesel model fall to 134g/km.

Honda, which has also championed the hybrid cause, is soon to be offering such engines in all of its models while Korean car makers Kia and Hyundai have hydrogen hybrids under development.

American car maker Chevrolet gave Europe its production ready Volt electric car.

The message from Paris is as clear as it is clean. Car companies are moving rapidly to slash emissions bringing benefits for all - unless the goalposts are moved by the politicians.