Highlights from Geneva

Amongst the slick supercars and smart Europeans was an impressive display of low-carbon and electric vehicles at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show.

From the quirky concepts to the practical fleet cars, here’s our pick of the most noteworthy

HybridAir concepts
PSA Peugeot Citroën unveiled its new hybrid drivetrain that uses compressed air instead of electricity for its second source of power. Peugeot demonstrated the technology on the 2008, while Citroën displayed it on the C3.

The compressed air will assist, or even take the place of, the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, depending on the power needs of the car.

The air-powered technology operates in co-operation with a standard petrol engine by positioning a motor and a pump in the unit’s engine bay. This is then fed by a compressed air tank situated underneath the car, which runs parallel to the exhaust.

The vehicle can be driven in three modes: Air, Petrol, and Combined. In Air mode, only the energy contained in the compressed air tank will drive the vehicle. In petrol mode, only the petrol engine powers the vehicle. In the Combined mode, the petrol engine and hydraulic motor operate simultaneously to achieve optimum fuel economy for the driving style/conditions.  

Following a homologation cycle test, a figure of 97.4mpg was achieved and CO2 levels of just 69g/km.

The first production models are expected to arrive in 2016.

Toyota i-Road
The quirky looking Toyota i-ROAD made its debut at Geneva. It’s a compact, all-electric, three-wheeled personal mobility vehicle (PMV) with an enclosed two-seater cabin.

The i-ROAD, has a range of up to 30 miles (50km) on a single charge. The zero‑emissions, all-electric powertrain uses a lithium-ion battery to power two 2kW motors mounted in the front wheels. Driving range is around 30 miles, and charging from a conventional domestic power supply takes three hours.
    
Toyota envisages its i-ROAD concept has the potential to play a significant role in reducing urban traffic congestion and air pollution. Commuters can use public transport or conventional private vehicles to travel to urban perimeter transportation hubs where they will transfer to the Toyota i-ROAD to complete their journeys into the city centre.

Volkswagen e-Co-Motion
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles used Geneva 2013 to unveil its transporter concept vehicle: the e-Co-Motion.
    
Despite its large cargo capacity it is compact and manoeuvrable. It has eight hundred kilograms of payload, yet emits zero emissions on the road thanks to an electric drive system.
    
It has been designed to offer high manoeuvrability with a small vehicle footprint, very good visibility and seating ergonomics with easy entry, exit and walk‑through. 


A low cargo floor height and large cargo capacity make loading easier.
    
From a length of just 4.55m (width: 1.90m, height: 1.96m) the concept vehicle offers a maximum cargo capacity of 4.6m3 and an impressive 800kg of payload. This was enabled by clear partitioning of the vehicle body into a lower driving-relevant zone containing an underfloor drive unit, battery and gearbox; and an upper superstructure that is relevant to delivery tasks. This generates ideal conditions for maximum space utilisation, and all sorts of body versions and customer solutions are imaginable.  

SEAT Mii Ecofuel
SEAT used Geneva for the world debut of its Mii Ecofuel which uses compressed natural gas (CNG) to create SEAT’s lowest-emitting production car ever.
    
2.9kg CNG/100km and 79g/km CO2 equates to roughly half the running costs of petrol‑powered Mii, given European CNG prices.

As in the petrol-driven Mii models (see our test on the closely-related Škoda Citigo on pages 38-39), the Ecofuel version features a three-cylinder spark‑ignition engine with a displacement of 999cc. In the CNG variant, the compact power unit generates 68PS at 6,200rpm. The exceptionally lightweight and high‑revving engine reaches its maximum torque of 90Nm at 3,000rpm. Its average fuel consumption is just 2.9kg of CNG per one hundred kilometres and the associated CO2 figure is just 79g/km, which SEAT claims is best-in-class.

Compared with conventional petrol, the combustion of CNG produces around one quarter less CO2, as well as significantly less carbon-monoxide and hydrocarbons. Fine particulates or soot are not emitted at all, although unburnt residual methane has to be converted by the catalyst. For this reason, the catalytic converter is equipped with slightly different precious metals.

The Mii Ecofuel also utilises Ecomotive Technology including Start/Stop, low rolling resistance tyres and Brake Energy Recovery system.

Swiss Rinspeed Micromax
Another radical vision of urban mobility was unveiled at Geneva – Swiss Rinspeed’s Micromax concept. Designed for short distance transport, the Micromax is intended to be similar to an airport shuttle, with upright seats that hold four passengers in an almost standing position.The extra floor space can be used for storage.

The roomy interior is also supposed to ‘afford an outstanding sense of spaciousness, with homey lounge character.’
Passenger entertainment has also been considered, with unlimited connectivity, a coffee-maker and refrigerator.

Underneath the novel body lives an all-electric battery powertrain. The vehicle is 3.7 metres long, 2.2 metres tall and comes with an acoustic pedestrian safety system and Plexiglas-made window panes.

Volkswagen Golf Estate
Some 20 years after the first Golf Estate made its debut, the all-new Golf Estate made its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new Golf Estate is up to 105 kg lighter than its predecessor, and for the first time will also be available as a full BlueMotion model, with combined fuel consumption of just 85.6mpg (equivalent to 87g/km of CO2).
    
The Golf Estate’s boot volume has been expanded from the 505 litres of its predecessor to 605 litres (loaded up to the back seat backrest). Loaded up to the front seat backrests and under the roof, the new Golf Estate offers a cargo volume of no less than 1,620 litres (versus the 1,495 litres of the Golf Estate Mk VI).
    
At a length of 4,562mm, the Golf Estate is 30 mm longer than the hatchback version.  
    
The Golf Estate BlueMotion uses a 1.6-litre diesel engine producing 110PS, and has a six-speed manual gearbox.  The petrol engine line-up for the new Golf Estate starts with a 1.2-litre TSI 105PS, rising via a 1.4-litre TSI 122 PS unit to a 1.4-litre TSI ACT 140PS engine with cylinder deactivation.  As well as the BlueMotion model, two other common rail diesel-engined models will be available: a 1.6-litre TDI 105PS and a 2.0-litre TDI 150PS.

Nissan LEAF: 
The next chapter
The new Nissan LEAF boasts technical improvements which increases driving range from 109 miles to 124 miles. Innovations include a new heat pump which reduces electrical consumption in cold weather delivering real-world range improvements. Optional 6.6Kw charger reduces charging time from eight hours to four hours on a 32 amp supply. Luggage space has been improved by re‑positioning charger to under the bonnet. What’s more, the chassis re-engineered to give better handling and even greater driving pleasure. Production of the new LEAF and its batteries will begin at Sunderland in the Spring.

For more information on the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show, visit www.salon-auto.ch