At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show there was plenty of talk about making motoring greener - not a big surprise with carbon emissions being a hot political topic all over the world. I asked Jody Victor to share some info about his picks of the ten vehicles that the editors of MSN Autos chose as the greenest stories of the Geneva Show.
Jody Victor: Apparently even the most reluctant motor industry converts are starting to realize the green issue is one they cannot ignore. These concept cars represent the most realistic possibilities among the many at the show.
Mercedes-Benz Vision C220 Bluetec concept - Mercedes' new C-class will consume 9 tons less CO2 over its lifecycle (from production to scrapping) than its predecessor. That's a cut of 15% - and it's not done with fancy new innovations but old fashioned engineering skill: better aerodynamics, minimal weight increases, and conventional engines that squeeze more power out of less fuel. And there are more improvements planned - impressive.
Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion - VW and Mercedes actually joined forces to work on the "Bluetec" project - hence the similarity of names. The Passat BlueMotion manages more than 42 mpg - there's a small price to be paid in performance and ride comfort but buyers have been willing to convert for the big reduction in emissions.
Saab BioFuel Range - Saab's solution is more adventurous and can be used now. Their biofuel cars have conventional engines that are adapted to run on biofuels. Biofuels are a mix of gasoline and ethanol (ethanol from corn and other farm crops) - 85% ethanol / 15% gasoline known as E85, or any mixture of the two. While this theory won't produce enough fuel for everyone (because it takes a lot of crop to produce the fuel - so land availabilty is a problem and clearing forests - no way) biofuels could help diversify energy sources in parts of the world where agriculture can support it.
Toyota Hybrid X - Toyota, with 11 hybrids already on the road, knows something about hybrid technology. Likely representing the next-generation Prius, the Hybrid X Concept is physically the same size as a conventional family car of today but with it's one-box design, all-glass roof ( in the shape of an X - hence the name), ultrathin seats and flat load floor, the concept is a vision of the family car of the future. Advancements are expected in both performance and economy.
Honda F1 Racecar - Most people, myself included, don't realize that F1 is all about efficiency and so would not associate Formula 1 with environmental concerns. To win, teams must make an engine that can extract as much energy as possible from every last drop of fuel. They must put it in the lightest and most aerodynamic car without compromising reliability or safety, in one of the world's most competitive environments. Honda's 2007 season will be all about using that power for environmental gain while sending a message that they care about the environment.
Wow! Thanks, Jody!