The hybrid car – the guest of honour at the Geneva Motor Show

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The Geneva Motor Show, which opened its doors on Thursday 4th March, is proof that car manufacturers have turned towards sustainable mobility. Apart from the electric models on show, many hybrid cars made their first appearance under the spotlights.

The Geneva Motor Show opened its doors to a very "green" atmosphere on Thursday 4th March. Out of the hundred or so new models at the Swiss show, every manufacturer was proposing an "ecological" car, be it a hybrid or an electric model.

The big electric star of the show is the Nissan Leaf, presented in Europe for the first time, but other manufacturers have impressed visitors with their combinations of design, power and sustainable mobility. So, Ferrari showed its 599 GTB Fiorano, a spectacular hybrid, fitted out in green for this 80th edition of the show. Thanks to the addition of an electric engine, the V12 6-litre “eco-friendly” version commands 730 HP. For speed lovers, the engineers have guaranteed the same sensations and the same pleasure.

Other less extraordinary, more general-public-oriented models have also made their debut: the India company Tata thus showed the electric versions of its Indica Vista and Nano models. These 2 cars have been confirmed for the European market, but will only be commercialised next year.

The development of the hybrid car

While the Frankfurt Show introduced many electric models including the Renault ZE range, the Geneva Show has been stamped by the hybrid model: Toyota, which was a pioneer in this area with the Prius, launched about 10 years ago, showed its new hybrid model, the Auris, which will also be the first of the group’s cars to be manufactured in Europe. Its CO2 emissions are 89 g/km - the same level as those of the Prius.

However, it’s mainly the German manufacturers that are distinguishing themselves in this field: Volkswagen and Porsche, now united within the same group, are offering their Sports Utility Vehicles (the Touareg and the Cayenne) as a hybrid version for the first time, while BMW is proposing a 5 Series Active Hybrid concept, equipped with a hybrid motorisation coupled with a Stop & Start system that cuts the engine when idling in order to reduce consumption.

The first French production hybrid vehicle (the Peugeot 3008) is planned for spring 2011. We will have to wait for the Paris Motor Show to see it unveiled to the public.