Not many firms are happy...
Not many firms are happy to have their new model branded "a hairdresser"s car" - but Peugeot is.
It looks like Land Rover...
It looks like Land Rover is turning over a new leaf! The 4x4 maker has acknowledged it needs to do more to make its range greener ò€“ and now the firm has put its money where its muddy mouth is.
The company has committed Ò£700million investment over the next five years towards environmental technology for its cars. And the transformation could be in full swing as soon as the end of 2008. Thatò€™s when an emissions-busting stop-start system will be fitted to diesel Freelanders, before rolling out across the rest of the range.
This set-up alone, which switches off the motor whenever the vehicle is stationary, will slash the TD4ò€™s CO2 emissions from 194g/km to 179g/km. By 2010, Land Rover hopes to have its more complicated Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) hybrid system, dubbed e-terrain, on sale in its largest models ò€“ possibly mated to the V6 diesel. e-terrain allows the vehicle to move off without starting the engine, running purely on the batteries, and supplies extra muscle over rough surfaces.
But thatò€™s not all! There are also plans to reduce the size and weight of Land Roverò€™s products, and concentrate on better aerodynamics. This could pave the way for the stunning LRX concept ò€“ with its small footprint and slippery silhouette ò€“ to make it into full production sooner than anticipated.