Conceptually Green.

February 28, 2006 - By John LeBlanc

Earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, a plethora of new green car concepts were unveiled that not only deliver lower emissions and burn less gas, but also introduce innovative green solutions on the manufacturing side.

For environmentally conscious new car shoppers— especially those who want to be part of the solution, and not the problem—new choices are definitely on the way.

Although many manufacturers at the show were busy rolling out production-ready gas-electric hybrids, the newer concepts explored beyond what you can find on the showroom floor today with a variety of possible drivetrain and alternative-fuel solutions like bio-fuels, diesel-electric, ethanol, solar, or hydrogen.

Beyond some of these alternative solutions, Honda and Mercedes-Benz also didn’t want consumers walking the Detroit show’s halls to forget about the not-as-sexy, but highly efficient diesel engine.

Despite having some of the highest mileage gasoline engine and hybrid cars on the market, Honda announced they want to bring a four-cylinder diesel to the North American market by 2010. Mercedes-Benz unveiled their new E 320 BLUETEC, employing an efficient oxidation-type catalytic converter and a new diesel particulate filter allowing them to boast this new diesel engine as the world’s cleanest. The company also confirmed to rollout M-Class and R-Class variants with their 320 CDI diesel engine by the end of 2006 with other Mercedes-Benz models to follow.



Ford’s Reflex attempted to show that a hybrid doesn’t have to be a somnambulant transportation module. Housed in a sexy coupe that actually contains a 2+1 seating arrangement, the Reflex is powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system that also includes solar panels in the headlights and taillights that recharge the hybrid battery.

The Reflex’s hybrid system, located on the front axle, is joined by an electric motor powering the rear wheels, effectively giving the Reflex all-wheel-drive capabilities. Energy is held in a new-generation lithium-ion battery pack, a technology Ford introduced to the industry in the Ford Ka research vehicle in 2000. On the manufacturing side, the Reflex utilizes ground up rubber from used athletic shoes as sound insulation in the cabin.



Modern gasoline-engine subcompact cars already sip gas in a miserly fashion, emit few emissions, and, overall, are cheap to own and operate. But Mitsubishi’s Concept-CT MIEV (Compact Technology, Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle), attempts to push those subcompact expectations higher.

Although Mitsubishi currently doesn’t sell either a hybrid, or a car smaller than the compact Lancer in North America, the Concept-CT MIEV subcompact hatchback is one stone that could kill both of those birds. It has four doors (a la Mazda RX-8), with a 1.1-litre gasoline engine, and like the Reflex, the Mitsubishi is AWD. In this case, each wheel having its own electric motor.

Historically, rotary engines have provided a prodigious amount of power relative to their displacement, but fuel consumption, was nothing to write home about.

The conventional looking Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid solves that ol’ rotary bugaboo with a dual fuel, hydrogen and gasoline powerplant that is also matched up with a hybrid-electric drive system. The hydrogen rotary engine and the electric motor are all packaged between the front wheels, which means the Mazda5’s interior space, one of the key benefits of this type of vehicle, remains the same as the existing gasoline engine Mazda5.



Toyota’s F3R is powered by a relatively conventional gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. What is unique is the packaging. Moving the wheels to the far corners of the F3R’s footprint allows for a large, square van with six doors and three rows of seats that can be reconfigured into a large couch or seat up to eight passengers.



If the FR3 isn’t square enough, or large enough, Ford’s F-250 Super Chief should do the trick.

Bigger than my first bachelor apartment, Ford’s super-sized, four-door pickup was inspired and named after the American Super Chief trains from the nation’s past.

Ford is claiming this is the world’s first Tri-Flex fuel engine. It can burn hydrogen, E85 ethanol or gasoline, getting up to 800 kilometres between fill-ups.

Running on hydrogen, the supercharged V10 engine delivers 400 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 12% better fuel economy compared to a non-supercharged gasoline V10. It also emits 99% less CO2 emissions compared to when it’s running on gasoline only.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com

© National Post 2006. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driving.