Hyundai i40 Hybrid & i30 CNG: Paris 2014

The Hyundai i40 Hybrid & i30 CNG on the floor in Paris Hyundai is busy trying to find ways to reduce emissions and increase economy – just like every other car maker – and has arrived at the Paris Motor Show with a pair of economy-focused models – the Hyundai i40 mild hybrid and an i30 running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The Hyundai i40 gets a 48V mild hybrid setup just like the Kia Optima-T Hybrid, which means a 48V lead-carbon battery which cuts emissions from the 1.7 litre diesel by up t0 20 per cent by allowing electric-only running at low speeds and when cruising and, just like the Optima, the i40 hybrid gets a belt-driven starter generator for seamless restarting, which also contributes to engine power in normal running. The beauty of the system – apart from improvements in economy and emissions – is that it’s very light compared to a full hybrid – just 46kg – and costs 75 per cent less than a full hybrid system to install.

Winners announced in 2011 Car Design Awards competition

阅读本文中文版本请点击这里 The second annual Car Design Awards China competition concluded earlier this evening with the winners in each of the nine categories announced. The finalists had all entered a contest which asked them to create a design against one of eight briefs coming from both domestic and global OEMs. The awards ceremony, which was held at the Shanghai auto museum, included delegates and judges from domestic and international OEMs and finalist students.

Volkswagen L1 concept

Volkswagen chose the Frankfurt motor show to unveil the revolutionary L1 Concept - a diesel-electric hybrid vehicle constructed from aluminum and carbon fiber.  Weighing 380kg, the L1 can seat two occupants in tandem. They enter through a side-hinging, electrically operated canopy which maximizes aerodynamic efficiency. It has a Cd figure of just 0.195.