Friday 4 March 2011. Things-We-Learned-This-Week Column.
Our new end-of-the-week column taking a light-hearted look at the big stories making the news this week in the world of economical and environmental transport.
The week of a major Motor Show is always going to be big news, and this year’s Geneva show was no exception. The sheer variety and number of vehicles that fall under the “green” umbrella continues to amaze us at the TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk – from the credible, sensible production models to the far out, wacky flights-of-fancy that these shows tend to throw up. There’s always much to discuss and talk about.
To pick out a single highlight from the show is a near impossible job, and we’re not about to try in this column – however what is clear is that whatever your budget and circumstance there will be a desirable, fuel frugal, and low CO2 emitting car available.
For those looking at the supermini market then the new arrival from Kia looks very promising indeed. The next generation Rio was aired for the first time at the show and not only is a massive improvement aesthetically over the previous, dull model but it also promises to house an internal combustion engine right at the cutting edge of green technology. The car will be available with a tiny 3-cylinder engine which will have pretty much the lowest CO2 emissions around at 85g/km and can achieve a sensational 88mpg. These figures are very similar to what the tiny smart Fortwo currently achieves, however the Rio is a much bigger, B-Segment vehicle with plenty of rear and boot space. It could well be the car to challenge the Ford Fiesta’s near total domination of this segment in the UK. However Kia aren’t the only company looking at the profitable B-segment, as Ford themselves will have their new B-MAX model competing for sales – think of it as a fat Fiesta and you’re pretty much on the money albeit it has fancy rear doors. Toyota also unveiled the Yaris HSD, currently just in concept form at the show, the model will be coming to the UK but we’ll have to wait until 2012 to drive it – leaving the newly launched Honda Jazz Hybrid to make hay in the sunshine until then.
Motorists after something bigger but still nice and green could do well to take a closer look at Hyundai’s entry into the D-segment (that is a Mondeo-sized car). Imaginatively named the i40, the new model not only features plenty of desirable technology inside the car but will come in a variant with a very low CO2 emitting engine at just 113g/km. The i40 will launch later this year, initially as an elegant estate but a saloon version is promised and should join the line-up a few months later.
If you’re reading this and want something more “top-end” then fear not as greener alternatives are available here too. Back in 2010, Porsche launched a hybrid version of its luxurious SUV, the Cayenne, and now the same battery/engine combination has been transplanted into its Panamera grand cruiser. The result is a car which still has enviable high performance figures (0-62mph in 6 seconds and a top speed of 168mph) but with CO2 emissions of 159g/km – making it is a vast improvement over all other Panameras. We still don’t particularly think its an attractive looking motor but it manages to marry high performance and economy pretty well.
We couldn’t finish the column this week without a mention of the electric Rolls-Royce. Seemingly even the grandest of carmakers is feeling the pressure of zero emission motoring. The 102EX on show is a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom featuring the largest battery system seen on a passenger vehicle. The car will be used by the manufacturer over the next 12 months in various climates and terrains to test the technology but eventually even the ultimate car will come with a zero emission flavour! Our favourite bit of the 102EX though isn’t the 200km range but the blue Spirit of Ecstasy statuette – we want one!
Let us know what you think about the new column in the comments box below.
Richard Lawton
