At first glance, a Corvette may seem like an odd choice for a vehicle to enter into an event aimed at fuel economy. At second glance, and when one realizes that the Corvette in question is the Z06, which happens to be powered by a 7.0-liter V8 engine that offers up over 500-horsepower, the choice looks positively insane. Perhaps it isn't. Any car can be driven in an economical fashion, even one powered by an extremely large-displacement eight cylinder engine. It helps that the 'Vette has a six speed manual transmission and makes plenty of stump-pulling torque right off idle, so its driver can shift quickly at very low RPMs. When properly driven, the Z06 is actually capable of delivering rather good mileage. In fact, the Z06 won the annual Fleetworld/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon in the U.K. by averaging 30.96 mpg over the trip's two-day, 411-mile route. That mark represents an improvement of 61.26-percent over the Z06's official European combined mileage figures and is a new record for the MPG Marathon. Maybe the V8's got some legs left after all.


[Source: GM]

Coming to the UK in January, Toyota's fortwo challenger (should we call it the for3+1?) will be priced at £9,495 (1.0 VVT-i manual version) and going up from there. Options include £700 leather seats and £950 satellite navigation. The 1.0 VVT-i manual version gets about 55 mpg U.S. and will have road-tax-avoiding CO₂ emissions of just 99 grams, Toyota expects. Toyota will take your order now, and anyone who orders before March 1 of next year will get a free metallic paint upgrade.

The iQ comes in two trim levels: the iQ and the iQ2. Both versions have a lot of safety features, including that rear window airbag. The short descriptions of the differences from Toyota's official announcement (pasted after the break) are as follows:

• iQ: 15-inch alloys, heated electrically adjustable door mirrors, air conditioning and six speaker audio system with auxiliary socket
• iQ2: high-gloss alloys, front fog lamps, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, smart entry and start system and climate control

[Source: Toyota]

Large sedans don't usually have small engines, but CO₂ emissions limits and taxes have given automakers incentive to launch green versions of their larger models. Think of the Citroën C5 Airdream, the Opel Insignia Ecoflex or the VW Passat Bluemotion. Now we can add Škoda, a brand that belongs to the Volkswagen group, and its Superb Greenline to the list. Mated to the same engine as the Passat, a 1.9 TDI PD diese that is good for 105 hp, 46 mpg U.S. (5.1 l/100 km) and CO₂ emission levels of 136 g/km. The Superb isn't small; in fact, it's larger than an Audi A6. The Green Line model has lost a bit of weight and gets longer gears, a remapping of the engine for improved efficiency, improved aerodynamics and low-rolling resistance tires. Prices start at £16,710 in the UK.



[Source: Škoda UK]

After the long story regarding the future CO₂ emission limits in the EU - worthy of a telenovela - it looks like the average will be set at 130 g/km (we'll likely get the final confirmation in December). As for how automakers will go about reaching this goal, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the limit is feasible: according to British site CleanGreen Cars, average new car CO₂ emissions fell 4.5 percent in the third quarter of 2008 – the biggest drop on record. The current average is now set at 156.7 g/km. If you make the simple calculations, it looks like the 130 g/km is a reasonable limit that can be achieved. However, and here's where the bad news comes in for the auto industry, this drop came about because fewer cars are being sold, and the ones that were sold are smaller, on average. While sales of cars such as the Fiat 500 soar, luxury and SUV sales are plummetting.

[Source: Clean Green Cars]

Four years ago, Citroen started the whole stop/start trend when it introduced the technology on its C2 and C3 cars. Since then, many other automakers have picked up on the new green-tech, which shuts the engine off when it is not needed as opposed to letting it idle away. When regenerative braking is added to take a load off the engine's alternator in recharging the vehicle's battery, Citroen considers it micro hybrid technology. The only thing it's missing from being a full hybrid is an oversized electric motor that can help move the vehicle along at low speeds. The benefits of the micro hybrid technology are reduced fuel consumption and emissions and lower cost than other hybrid technology.

In 2010, Citroen will launch the second generation of its stop/start system on the C3 Picasso. For the first time ever, the micro hybrid system will be available with a diesel engine (complete with particulate filter) and will offer almost 70 mpg on the EU combined cycle as well as low CO₂ emissions of just 110g/km. Expect to see this new, cheaper second-gen micro hybrid system show up on many more models in the near future.


[Source: Citroen]

Electronic fleet management is becoming a useful resource for operators keeping an eye on operational costs. Probably, the most important part of these systems is monitoring fuel consumption for all vehicles: it can point out which vehicles are burning more fuel than average and drivers who have a heavier right foot. Volvo's management offering is called Fuelwatch, and it's not only a device in the vehicles, but a full consulting system that the Swedish marque claims can cut fuel costs up to 10 percent. Ten percent might not sound like a lot of money, but imagine that for a fleet of trucks being driven around almost 24-hours a day.

Fuelwatch comprises several components: Advice on truck specifications, maintenance contracts, fuel saving accessories, driver training and use of a software called Dynafleet Online that monitors fuel consumptions. Saving 2 to 3 liters every 100 km (on a freight truck) means saving money and 2.6 kg of carbon dioxide emissions at the same time.

[Source: Volvo trucks UK]

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the average new car is producing 3.8-percent fewer carbon emissions so far this year than last. Since 1997, the first year that the SMMT began reporting the figure, the overall CO₂ emissions are down an amazing 16.4-percent. It's not just the vehicles themselves that are getting cleaner, as the entire manufacturing process is cleaning up its act. According to the report, the "energy needed to produce each vehicle is down 12%, water use is down 9% and waste to landfill is down 25%, compared to 2006 performance. CO₂ emissions per vehicle produced have fallen 14% in the last year, and by 45% since 1999 and almost 10,000 tonnes of waste have been prevented from entering landfill sites." Those are mighty impressive figures, and they are only likely to continue to improve as the European Parliament passes tough new legislation. There is a danger, though, that the current worldwide economic conditions will slow the sales of new cars, keeping older, more polluting models on the roads. Of course, the SMMT will continue to monitor the situation in Europe.

[Source: SMMT]

Toyota's Prius has been around since 1997 and we've seen its current iteration since 2004. So, four years later, it's sure to have been passed by when it comes to green automotive technology. Right? Maybe not, as the world's most popular hybrid has just won the Greenest Technology of the Year Award of the British Technology Awards. In truth, Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology still makes the Prius the most fuel efficient vehicle in the United States and a true alternative to diesels in Europe, but it definitely is challenged by the sophisticated 2-Mode hybrid system developed by GM, Chrysler and BMW. In the public's eyes, though, nothing quite touches the Prius when one thinks of green automotive technology. The British Technology Awards are voted on by readers of Computeractive and Personal Computer World as well as online at the Award's home site. Other award-winners include the Apple iPhone, BBC iPlayer and the Nintendo Wii.

[Source: AutoMotoPortal]

As if 60+ mpg wasn't enough to to get people's attention, Ford UK had two of the new Fiesta models - in Squeeze Green and Hot Magenta colors - driving a little dance pattern near the Tower of London last week alongside human dancers. The stunt was choreographed by Paul Harris and international stunt driver Paul Swift. I'm not sure why OEMs feel the need to produce "events" like this - just slap a 60 mpg logo in big red letters and watch these things move out the door. I mean, the Fiesta has already sold 3.4 million units in the UK since its launch in 1976, as Ford writes in the press release about the dance, so it's not like this is some new vehicle that people aren't familiar with. Ford's already got a popular car that gets great gas mileage, why distract people with some dancers? I sure don't know, but if you're the type who appreciates the dancing and the hoopla, you can more pictures over on Flickr.

[Source: Ford]

It's pretty easy to see more than just a passing resemblance between the new Izis from Wallyscar, which is now being shown at the Paris Motor Show, and another famous vehicle. Like the original off-roading Willys, the Izis features body-on-frame architecture and a very small gasoline engine. In the case of the Izis, that engine comes from Peugeot and displaces 1.4-liters, good enough for 75-horsepower, just a bit more than the 60 horses of the classic Willys Go Devil engine.

The Izis is street-legal in Europe, as its Peugeot engine is fully Euro 4-compliant, though the vehicle has a Euro NCAP rating of only two stars. It also has a very short wheelbase and sits well above the ground. Early Jeeps with similar dimensions were more than a bit 'tippy' on the street, as were some early Jeep-like cars from Suzuki and Daihatsu. Having never piloted in Izis, we can't really comment on how it handles, but we bet it'd do rather well off the beaten path.

An electric version is also said to be available. No information on specifications are provided other than a suggested electric-only range of 90 kilometers, or about 56 miles. That's plenty for some fun-in-the-sun off-roading or for daily transportation for city-dwellers.


[Sources: AutoMotoPortal, Wallyscar]

While some sites are busy making fun of its name (yeah, we thought of that too... and you? Does it matter? Comments are welcome), others were busy conducting interviews with Dr. Z. in an attempt to find out when we may see the smart ED in America. The answer is that it's coming, if not next year then shortly thereafter. Daimler hopes to have 1,000 electric smarts running rather silently around the world by the end of next year, and it's distinctly possible that a portion of them will be in the U.S. This is the second-generation of the smart ED, and it is now powered by a lithium ion battery pack that may or may not be supplied by Tesla Motors. The last-gen model used a sodium battery. With the new pack, the smart ED can achieve a range of up to 150 miles -- plenty of distance for the urban use the little car is likely to be subjected to.

[Source: Popular Mechanics / Photo: Inside Line]

In the United States, sales of hybrid cars greatly outpaces the sales of diesel cars; super-size trucks don't count. The leader of the hybrid race globally and in the States is undoubtedly Toyota, but other manufacturers, including Honda, are doing their best to catch up. Despite the fact that the original Honda Insight helped usher in the hybrid age, the automaker has taken a major back seat to its main rival from Japan in recent years. To help combat this issue, Honda is set to revive the Insight nameplate with a Prius-fighting five door hatchback of its own, and it will undercut its competitor by thousands of dollars.

So, what about Europe? Across the pond, hybrid cars and trucks are not nearly as popular as they are in the U.S. There, diesel fuel is priced more attractively than gasoline, and sales of oil-burners are therefore very strong. A recent survey conducted by Honda in the U.K. indicates that 40-percent of those who would not buy a hybrid are put off by their high price. Since the Insight will be the cheapest hybrid available in Europe, Honda hopes to buck the slow-selling trend. We'll see how it works out sometime next year.


[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req'd]

It's been rumored and alluded to so many times that we just began accepting it as fact, and now it is: Toyota has confirmed that Lexus will indeed get a version of the Toyota Prius. Based on the third-generation of the Prius hatchback that is set to debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show, the Lexus is expected to be a bit less fuel efficient, a bit more sporty and a lot more opulent. We have no idea what Toyota's luxury division will charge for its new hybrid, but it'll definitely be sold for a premium over its Toyota sibling.

A second dedicated hybrid model will join the new Lexus Prius. Lexus officials in Paris for the Motor Show have confirmed that it will not be sold in Europe alongside its upmarket Prius, which will show up in Europe in 2010. The reason? Its carbon emissions will be too high, which doesn't exactly bode well for fuel efficiency. One more salient detail was slipped, the third-gen Prius will emit 92 g/km of CO₂, and a new low-emissions version will have CO₂ emissions of 89g/km, which does indeed bode well for its mileage. We'll see how all of this translates early next year.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced us to its BlueEFFICIENCY line of vehicles, starting off with the C-Class saloons (sedans). At the time, the German automaker promised that the fuel-saving technology would make its way up the corporate ladder, and it has now reached the top rung, the S-Class. MB's new new S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY manages a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy and emissions over the last CDI-powered S-Class model by way of "on-demand power steering," a 7 speed automatic transmission with "standstill decoupling" and low rolling resistance tires. You want numbers? For such a large car, the saloon manages nearly 31 miles per U.S. gallon (7.6 litres per 100km) and 199 g/km of carbon emissions. Still, zero to sixty acceleration is under 8 seconds, plenty fast for modern driving needs. On sale soon in Europe at €70,864.50, just shy of a hundred-grand in U.S. dollars, though conversions don't work like that. Full press release after the break.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

So, Fiat is set to show off a new range of eco-friendly cars in Paris under the PUR-02 moniker. That line will include its retro-fun 500, Bravo and Croma. Although it doesn't seem to fall under the new low emissions branding, a new Panda will also make an appearance in short order. Called the Panda Eco, the new mini people-mover will be powered by either a 1.1-liter or 1.2-liter gasoline-burning engine. Fuel mileage should be over 50-mpg with carbon emissions of just 119g/km. To help make these low consumption figures possible, the Panda Eco will get low rolling-resistance tires and low viscosity oil. Pretty basic stuff, but the Panda was already a pretty small and efficient platform.

Depending on the engine, the new Panda Eco will get to sixty in a leisurely 14-15 seconds, but that's not really the point now, is it? Anyway, the 93 mph top speed will allow you to get where you need to go and travel on any road to get there. The £7,105 asking price is just a £100 premium, and that will pay itself back in taxes alone in just over a year.

[Source: Channel 4]