Alternatives Gather Speed
The Age
Saturday March 3, 2007
DESPITE the glamour, music and choreographed unveilings, the Melbourne International Motor Show was not so much about flashy concept cars but a push by the local industry to embrace petrol alternatives - diesel, hydrogen and petrol-electric hybrid engines.
Only two companies, Honda and Suzuki, showed concept cars yesterday and both had a hydrogen theme. Honda showed its FCX prototype hydrogen car and Suzuki produced its Ionis, a compact mini-van with a hydrogen fuel cell. Renault managing director Rudi Koenig unveiled the DCI Laguna - Renault's first Australian diesel, which has just gone on sale.Two other Renaults, the Megane and Scenic, will get diesel engines this year.Peugeot Australia, which says diesel now powers almost half of the 307 hatches and wagons it sells, was pushing the benefits of diesel-hybrid engines. "Our challenge is to get the diesel story out there," managing director Rob Dommerson said. Peugeot was working on technology that would make the diesel-hybrids cheaper.Mercedes-Benz has developed "clean" diesel technology that is being used in the US and expected to be sold in Europe from next year. It is also being tried in some of its trucks in Australia. But the company has no firm timetable for the technology's introduction in Australian cars. BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann pledged fewer carbon dioxide emissions from BMWs of the future. While European importers, in particular, are well equipped with diesel models, GM Holden is still developing its range. GMH has released a diesel version of its Captiva wagon and sells a diesel Astra made in Europe. But its biggest seller, the Commodore, only comes with petrol engines. Asked about a diesel Commodore, executive director Alan Batey said: "Right now, in Australia, there's no case for it." However, he said a third of Captiva buyers were choosing diesel and the diesel Astra was selling well. Of course, while some are looking at alternative fuels to save money, others appear unaffected. On the Bentley stand, where the cheapest model costs $358,000, they were expecting another strong year. "We sold 40 Bentleys in Victoria last year, twice as many as 2005," said Bill Upfield, general manager of Lance Dixon Bentley.
© 2007 The Age
