Jacques Calvet’s influence on France’s postwar auto industry is unprecedented. The former right-of-center politician and financial executive saved France’s Peugeot from collapse. In the process, he created the highly successful, modern-day PSA/Peugeot-Citroen group.

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Hyundai HED-5 and Eco-Dynamics

By Ben Pulman

First official green pictures

11 February 2008 13:05

Hyundai will unveil a concept for an i30 MPV at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008, as well as a new range of production-ready environmentally friendlier cars.

The six-seater concept, dubbed HED-5, will apparently showcase ‘a new level of versatility combined with exceptional fuel economy’. It’s expected to reach production within two years, with i30 underpinnings and engines, and two rows of three seats, like the Honda FR-V and Fiat Multipla.

Hyundai is also the latest manufacturer to launch a specially badged range of cleaner cars - dubbed Eco-Dynamic. Rather than fancy (and expensive) stop-start systems, Hyundai is going back to basics. A production i10 and i30 will be shown with lower rolling resistance tyres, new aero tweaks, and higher gear ratios. Hyundai claims this will cut C02 emissions by up to 29 percent, so expect both cars to produce less than 100g/km. Hyundai hopes to have the i30 on sale for £10,000.

Also on Hyundai’s Geneva stand will be a facelifted version of the Matrix MPV, with tweaks both inside and out.

CAR Magazine Online will report from the Geneva Motor Show on 4 March 2008. Come back for all the latest show news and gossip

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Watch CAR Magazine Online’s video drive of Audi’s new RS6 Avant. It’s the most powerful Audi on sale today by some margin - hardly surprising with a 571bhp twin-turbo V10 monster under the bonnet - and an unusual package, wrapped up in the sensible A6 Avant bodystyle. See what happens when assistant editor Ben Barry takes to the road and track in France by clicking ‘Play’ below.

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Land Rover is readying a series of new models using its latest V8 petrol engine – a motor that’s destined to power a whole generation of Landies, Range Rovers and Jaguars.

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My friend Mandy lives about a four-hour drive away from her parents. Once, when her husband was out of town, she decided to pack up her two kids to go see them. After planning, strategizing and packing for three days, her daughter got sick. She was literally putting the kids in the car when her little girl threw up. Can you imagine? Or do you not have to imagine because you’ve been there?

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This past Wednesday, I woke up early to drive out to Tsukuba Circuit to check out the annual “Tsukuba Meeting” held by the Shonan ABS group. When I walked out to the car to leave, I was greeted by falling snow and freezing temperatures. At this point, I got into my “wussy-mode” and decided that I would stay home in the warmth of my apartment. Besides the event was probably canceled anyway right? After doing some work on the computer for a couple hours, I looked outside and saw that snow had subsided a bit. “What the hell?”, I thought I’ll go check it out and see what’s going on.

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So, here’s the latest chapter in the “GM wants to consolidate all its brands and build multi-branded mega-stores– oh wait, no we don’t” saga. GM CEO Rick Wagoner signaled his faith in the company’s tri-branded (down from octo-branded) consolidation effort by blessing the opening of a new Henry Brown Buick-Pontiac-GMC store in Gilbert, Arizona with his presence. According to The Arizona Republic newspaper, Wagoner made no bones about the reason for his visit. “The three brands at Brown’s dealership have been ‘channeled’ together in about 40 dealerships nationwide, Wagoner said, with about 100 more to come. The Gilbert dealership is one of the first to show the new look of the stores.” Wagoner didn’t do a Mulally– sell a carefully prepared customer a car– but he did praise Brown as “one of the best in the business.” “One of the best.” Nice. 

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One of the nice things about having a tightly-focused brand– complete with an explanatory tagline– is that you know when to say “no.” Pontiac: We Build Excitement. Minivan? No. Crappy coupe. Uh-uh. Mercedes: Engineered Like No Other Car in the World. Cheap shit downmarket decontented sedan? Nope. Crappy coupe. Nein! Cadillac: The Standard of the World. Rebadged Chevy? Yeah right. Cheap shit front wheel-drive sedan? I don’t think so. Of course, we all know that Pontiac, Mercedes and Cadillac all ignored Nancy Reagan’s admonition and built cars that made a mockery of their brand remit. Less well recognized: all three automakers chose to change their taglines rather than face-up to their mistakes and return to their roots. Look at the struggling car companies and faltering  brands– Ford, Chrysler, Lincoln, Mercury, Saturn, Pontiac, VW, Buick, etc.– and there’s one thing that unites them all: they don’t have a clue what they should be building. Until they fix their branding, they will never fix their business. Not building bad products is just as important as building good ones.

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“Technology, alone, cannot solve this question of how to reduce emissions from cars. Reducing CO2 emissions from cars should be a shared responsibility.” And there you have it: Wolfgang Hennig’s rationale for urging the European Union (EU) to spend more of its members’ tax dollars to teach drivers how to emit less C02 (via their car, not personally). Wards Auto reports that Ford of Europe’s “eco-driving manager” isn’t alone in this “why don’t you pick on someone else for a change” strategy. “The European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says eco-driving training can lead to an immediate reduction in fuel consumption of up to 25%.” So.. we’re talking about government intervention in how you drive your car? Uh-huh. “The EU is leaving it up to the individual governments to run their own voluntary schemes, which if successful could lead to the EC including rules and standards on eco-driving in future legislation.” But… how? “Isuzu Motors Ltd. has a new range of commercial vehicles equipped with an onboard computer system that records the use of the accelerator, gearshift, brake and clutch. Data is downloaded into a laptop, showing each driver how they perform on the road and acting as the basis for tailored eco-driving lessons.” There’s more, but it freaks me out. 

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