A foggy green future for America’s Motor City?
Feature
With the 2016 Detroit motor show somewhat flattering to deceive this year, GreenFleet ponders whether it is bad news for the green car industry, or good news in disguise?
The 2016 Detroit motor show, otherwise known as the North American International Auto Show, opened its doors on 11 January for a preview of brand new production cars and concept cars for guests to drool over.
This year, Volvo, Audi and Mercedes Benz seemed to steal the show and the majority of camera flashes, but it was a mixed field in terms of green vehicles.
Show officials report 5,068 journalists from 60 countries attended the two-day press preview that has become synonymous with generating news that shapes the future of the industry and attracts the world’s top automotive leaders.
As GreenFleet reported last January (GreenFleet 80, pages 42-43), the 2015 Detroit motor show was awash with the latest in hybrid technology. It was the stage for the unveiling of Chevrolet’s Bolt EV Concept, the newly-seen Audi Q7, the Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai’s plug-in hybrid Sonata and Volkswagen’s Cross Coupe GTE. As the first motoring show of the year, it provided much promise for environmental driving.
Much was also expected of this year’s show. However, those expecting another hailing of hybrid technology left disappointed. The show appeared to steer back towards traditional American automotive values and revealed very little surprises. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) (pages 22-23) hosted the week before and fast becoming more of a motoring show, would have been a better destination for green car enthusiasts…
Hybrid or bye-brid?
The good news for plug-in hybrids is that plug-in hybrids appear to no longer grab the headlines. Many believe that this technology will steer the car industry in the right direction for the next few years – that is unless the quality of batteries improve drastically. The fact that so little was announced at the Detroit event on the production and development of plug-in hybrids is a testament to the progress the industry has made in recent years. Much of the show was dominated by a combination of cutting edge coupes (Lexus LC500) and bold SUVs (Lincoln MKX SUV). Nevertheless, of the green cars grabbing the headlines, the new Mercedes E-Class is bidding to be the most technologically advanced car the manufacturer has ever produced. Arriving with a range of more powerful and efficient engines (believed to total a choice of eight upon completion), the saloon model is set to go on sale in the summer, with the Estate, Coupe and Convertible following shortly after.
In line with the growing demand for zero emission capability, Mercedes is due to introduce a plug-in hybrid model in the UK after the original summer launch. it uses a developed version of the C350e’s driveline, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor within the gearbox. That provides the E350e with outputs of 275bhp and 442lb ft and a combined economy of 135mpg, with CO2 emissions of 49g/km.
The E-Class maintains the evolution of Mercedes’ modular rear architecture (MRA) platform. A choice of three suspension tunes with variable damping control is planned from the outset: Comfort, Comfort Avantgarde (with a 15mm reduction in ride height) and Sport, which also possesses a 15mm ride height reduction.
Inside the car, Mercedes also supports the growing appetite for game changing technology. Laser-guided touchpads on each of the steering wheel’s horizontal spokes, a further touchpad between the front seats, and a speech recognition system enable the driver full control of a new command infotainment system. With the earliest arrivals on UK roads set for May, a starting price of £36,000 is mooted.
One to watch out for
The plug-in hybrid which gained mass attention was the Volvo S90, pinpointed by many as a car to watch in 2016. A clear rival to the E-Class amongst others, the S90 uses the same T8 Twin Engine PHEV set-up that has already proved successful in the XC90 SUV, and holds an electric only range is quoted at more than 28 miles.
Volvo is targeting S90 UK sales of approximately 2,000 units per year, advised Nick Connor, the manufacturer’s UK managing director. The car is not being produced solely ‘to drive volume’ but rather to ‘supply only what the market wants’.
Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group, said: “Our idea was to bring something entirely new to this rather conservative segment and deliver a visual expression that exudes leadership and confidence on the exterior. On the inside, we have taken the S90 to the next level, delivering a high-end luxury experience that promises comfort and control.”
Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Car Group, said: “The S90 has taken a big stride forwards in terms of driving dynamics, performance and ride. We have completely redesigned the Volvo driving experience from the ground up to deliver a sense of precision, engaging control and comfort.”
Following on from the SUV GTE appearance at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, the Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept combines progressive plug-in hybrid drive with maximum off-road power. The firm confirmed that a Tiguan GTE will go into production with a petrol engine and two electric motors – one for each axle – allowing the popular SUV to be available with an all‑electric all‑wheel drive capability.
Volkswagen is also showcasing its next-generation infotainment system, which uses gesture control and a massive 9.2-inch touchscreen instead of conventional buttons and dials.
Audi’s h-tron quattro concept is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack for zero emission long range motoring. Although, Audi ensured that this is certainly only a concept at the moment, the h-tron shares a lot of its engineering and manufacturing processes with the e-tron, which has been confirmed to go into production by 2018.
Promising zero emission compatibility, a refuelling time of just four minutes using the latest in hydrogen fuelling technology and a creditable 373-mile range, the four‑wheel-drive concept is also claimed to have a 0-62mph time of less than seven seconds, a restricted 124mph top speed and the ability to run in front-wheel drive mode at typical urban speeds.
Efficient driving
Debuting at the show was the Chrysler Pacifica, with a hybrid model stealing attention from its standard counterpart. Launching in late 2016, but dubbed the 2017 Pacifica Hybrid, the vehicle is the company’s first foray into the electric minivan market. With an estimated 248bhp, the vehicle will deliver an estimated range of 30 miles solely on zero emissions electric power from a 16kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. In city driving, it is expected to achieve an efficiency rating of 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), based on US Environmental Protection Agency standards. Once the battery drops to a certain threshold, the Pacifica becomes a part-time electric vehicle. Power to the wheels is supplied by the electric drive system or supplemented by a specially adapted new version of the award‑winning FCA US Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine.
The pivotal technology behind the all-new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is its innovative electrically variable transmission (EVT). Designed and patented by FCA US, the device features two electric motors – both of which are capable of driving the vehicle’s wheels.
Toyota used Detroit to display a research vehicle based on the Mirai fuel cell vehicle which is equipped with Kymeta satellite communications technology. Working to enhance its connected technologies, the company announced plans to use satellite communications in the future, including high capacity satellites that offer much higher data transfer rates than conventional satellite technologies.
A second time surprise?
Another car to feature in Detroit was the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Arriving with a 60kWh battery, the car is not set for UK sales. However, much of the hype regarding the Bolt was dispelled by its appearance at CES 2016. Similarly, the Mercedes E-Class and Volvo S90 had details and photos emerge prior to the show, while the Tiguan was at Frankfurt.
Paul Sabatini, NAIAS 2016 chairman, said: “Again this year, we enjoyed the confidence of automakers who selected our show and the heart of the industry, the Motor City, as the backdrop for their new product reveals. Of the 57 introductions at NAIAS, nearly 90 percent were worldwide debuts, which is an incredible testament to the global position of importance that NAIAS plays in automaker’s new vehicle and technology launch strategies.“
While there was much to appreciate at Detroit, you can’t help but think that America’s Motor City somewhat disappointed with its green contingent this year. The show stoppers, the likes of the Volkswagen BUDD-e, Faraday Future’s FFZERO and the Chevrolet Bolt, were all present at CES. Last year’s glamour and excitement left Detroit with much to live up to, and perhaps an underwhelming feeling was therefore inevitable.
With Geneva fast approaching, let’s hope that there is more green innovation just around the corner.
