It seems that it's not just Europeans who are getting green (or blue) labels for virtually every model of the road. We recently reported that Volkswagen has taken the BlueMotion badge to Brazil and that the Smart fortwo is being put on sale there. Well, it looks like Citroën has had the same idea and has unveiled a new model for the Brazilian market: the Xsara Picasso compact minivan, which is going to get the green label of "Eco" (not Airdream as in Europe). What's the Xsara Picasso got going for it? A flex-fuel engine, like the Brazilian BlueMotions, but mated to a Stop/Start system. A good side benefit of the Start/Stop system is that flex-fuel models won't need an additional gasoline reservoir for cold starts. Citroën claims that the latter system itself cuts fuel use by 8 percent, which "adds to the benefits of using ethanol at the pump."

[Source: Citroën Brazil via Le Blog Auto]

German automotive supplier Bosch has announced that it has provided nearly half a million start/stop systems for BMW and Mini since launching the system. Bosch also announced that three additional manufacturers will introduce its technology withing the next few months. If you didn't know, Start/Stop technology allows the engine to shut down when the car is not moving, for instance, during traffic jams or at red traffic lights. When the gear is engaged or the accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine automatically starts again. According to Bosch, their system cuts fuel consumption by up to five percent in the European Driving Cycle, which translates into CO₂ emissions being reduced by 8 percent. Bosch also claims that the system is more quiet and more reliable than conventional starters, and can also be used for cold starts in diesel engines.

[Source: Bosch]

Considering all of the work that Renault is doing with fuel cells and pure electric vehicles, it can be slightly deflating to remember that there are still a lot of gas-using vehicles to be sold before those alternatives are available. The good news, out today from Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), is that the company is now saying they will bring the micro hybrid system called start-stop to every model sold in Europe by 2010. Start-stop technology shuts down the motor down when the vehicle is not moving, and then instantly turns it back on when needed. The company is currently working on prototypes and believes CO₂ emissions could be recuded by 15 percent to 20 percent in city driving and wants to provide the technology at a much cheaper price point than is currently availalbe.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]

We already mentioned PSA's plans to downsize engines in an effort to improve fuel efficiency. The French company will showcase the progress its making during PREDIT (National Program for Terrestrial Transport Innovation), which is taking place this week in Paris. PSA will show a prototype co-developed with Valeo and IFP (the teams behind the low-carbon Smart). The prototype is a Citroën C2 with a two-cylinder engine, 8 valves and a mild-hybrid system with Stop&Start and regenerative braking. This allows the sub-subcompact to use 3.8 l/100 km (62 mpg U. S.) and emit just 90 g/km of CO₂. The "regular" C2 featuring a 1.1 liter I4 engine uses 5.8 l/100 km (40.5 mpg U.S.) and produces 138 g/km of CO₂. The C2 in the gallery below is the sporty version.


[Source: Autoplus (h/t to Dominique for the tip)]

Micro hybrid. Start-stop. Whatever we call it, people like it. The micro hybrid system, currently available in cars like the Smart fortwo and through aftermarket suppliers like Ricardo, is preferred by three out of four drivers, the UK's Motorpoint car supermarket group found in a recent survey. This technology is cheap to implement (compared to full hybrid systems) and is available today, but isn't exactly widespread. Only Citroen, BMW and Mini offer it on non-hybrid vehicles. Motorpoint found that a start-stop system, which shuts down the engine when the car isn't moving and then quickly restarts it when the driver pushes the accelerator, would be a hit among drivers because it gets up to an eight percent fuel cost reduction boost in urban driving. The CO₂ emissions are a side benefit in the public's mind. More details after the jump.

French motor magazine l'Auto Journal has published pictures of the prototype of the new C4 that is coming in 2010. Besides the new styling themes, which eliminate parallel lines, the new model is built on the same platform as the current C4 and with similar proportions. Interviewed by French newspaper Le Figaro, Christian Streiff, PSA's CEO spoke about the new technical evolutions in the new C4. There is a mild hybrid system (called a micro-hybrid) with the Stop&Start system and Streiff mentioned a full-time hybrid diesel for the mid-range models.

PSA, which is one of the world leaders in diesel powertrains, is also investing in gasoline powertrains. A downsized 3-cylinder turbo engine will be unveiled during the upcoming Paris Auto Show, along with the French marque's version of double-clutch transmission, which should be much less expensive than VW's. Check out the current model C4 in our gallery.


[Source: L'Auto Journal and Le Figaro (thanks to Dominique for the tip)]

Click the Mercedes B-Class for a high res gallery

The Mercedes Benz B-Class is still at least three years away from a complete redesign, so Chrysler's former overlords have decided to give it a thorough refresh. The new B-Class doesn't look significantly different but it has a host of mechanical upgrades many of which are dedicated to improving fuel efficiency. The 1.8L and 2.0L diesel engines have a variety of design refinements that contribute to fuel efficiency improvements ranging of up to seven percent. The B180 and B200 are now rated at up to 45.2 mpg and 43.6 mpg on the NEDC combined cycle.

For the 1.5 and 1.7L gasoline engines there is now a BlueEfficiency package available that adds automatic start-stop capability. The start-stop system uses a belt driven starter generator much like the GM mild-hybrid system but without the regenerative braking capability. The gasoline BlueEfficiency models are rated at 35.6 mpg and 34.6 mpg but they aren't the only BlueEfficiency models. For 2009, there is now a dual fuel B170 NGT BlueEfficiency model. The NGT can operate on either gasoline or compressed natural gas. With either fuel the 1.7L engine produces 116hp. The NGT has five gas cylinders that are mounted under the rear floor and under the front passenger footwell. When the equivalent energy content of the natural gas is computed compared to gasoline, the operating cost for fuel is cut in half. The B170 NGT has also undergone a life-cycle environmental analysis by the TÜV Technical Inspection Authority in Germany and been awarded an Environmental Certificate, the first natural gas-powered car to achieve this. The B-Class is available in Canada but not the U.S., although the next generation model is expected to be exported here.


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Following the public introductions of the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen with the Two-Mode Hybrid system last week in Los Angeles, Chrysler executive VP for Product Development Fran Klegon spoke to Automotive News. Klegon reiterated some things that he has said on several previous occasions, notably that they would spread the application of the Two-Mode hybrid system to other vehicles in the Chrysler line up. Given that GM is installing the system in their full-size pickups next year and a new Ram pickup is also due later next year, that would seem a likely choice. It will be interesting to see if Chrysler pairs the hybrid system with their new Cummins light-duty diesel engine that's also coming in 2009. Perhaps on a shorter time-frame, Chrysler will add mild and micro hybrid systems to some vehicles. The latter are simply automatic start-stop systems that shut-off the engine when the vehicle isn't moving. According to Klegon, such systems could yield a five percent improvement in efficiency for only a few hundred dollars. We'll probably see that system get added to vehicles like the Caliber, Avenger and Sebring in the near future.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

At the Geneva Motor Show this week a number of car-makers, including BMW, Daihatsu, Lotus and others, either showed or talked about cars equipped with start-stop systems to help improve fuel economy and emissions. Basically, the idea of start-stop is give some of the benefit of a hybrid at minimal cost, by shutting off the internal combustion engine whenever the vehicle comes to a stop, and then re-starting as soon as the brake is released. The manufacturers of the systems that were displayed were Valeo and Bosch.

The Bosch system goes into production this month and will be installed on the updated BMW 1-series. The Bosch system basically consists of a beefed up starter motor, along with some electronic control that monitors, the accelerator, brake and clutch positions and the battery voltage. If the battery voltage is too low, the system disables, but otherwise functions to improve mileage up to eight percent in urban driving. Obviously highway driving will be unaffected, but that's not a bad improvement for a system that requires no other changes to the drive-train.

Related:

• BMW will use the Bosch start-stop system on updated 1-series

[Source: Robert Bosch GmbH]