Hybrid Cars on Display at Paris Motor Show 2010

Hybrid car technology in a variety of combinations and models is currently being displayed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show which began on Saturday and runs til Oct. 17.

While their petrol-driven counterparts still dominate the show, several notable greener designs are being showcased by the some of the big names, with an interesting mix of technologies.

Peugeot-Citroen has its 3008 HYbrid 4 with a 2.0 litre diesel engine supplying 163 hp to the front wheels while the electric motor provides 37 hp to the rear.

The Peugeot crossover is expected to cost around US$10,000 more than the petrol version but product director Vincent Besson believes customers will want the “functionality and fuel efficiency."

"Hybrids have a big future because they're much more versatile than electric cars," he told Bloomberg. Peugeot believes gas-and diesel-electric hybrids will make up 10 percent of all European sales of new cars by 2020.


Meanwhile Nissan-Renault is charging ahead with plans to launch four electric vehicles over the next two years, including a city car, mini-car, and light commercial van. The company says its electric Fluence sedan will cost less to run than its petrol equivalent.

Within the next decade, the company expects rising fuel prices will push up subcompact buyers’ demand for electric cars very significantly.

Toyota has stuck with its gas-electric approach to hybridisation, unveiling the prototype for a small city-car due for release in 2012. Honda's Jazz Hybrid is also on display with plans to sell it in Europe from early 2011.

Other interesting models on show include a Fisker Karma plug-in, Jaguar’s C-X74 with electric motors and gas turbines, and General Motors’ Opel Ampera, a European version of the Chevy Volt.

Honda launches new luxury Honda City model

Automaker Honda Siel Cars India Ltd launched 'City Exclusive,' a luxury edition of the Honda City, aimed at the upper-middle class segment of India.

The new variant comes in two models V MT and V AT priced at 953,000 and 10,25,000 rupees respectively.
The company has added leather seats & leather steering and a leather gear shift knob which is an addition to the car’s luxury feel.
Cheverolet Aveo, Fiat Linea, Maruti SX4 and Hyundai Verna are other models in the same price range. However, the Honda City is at a premium price compared to the cars in the segment, and offers mileage and performance. The company is also far ahead in terms of sales compared to other cars in the segment.
Honda City contributes the maximum to the total sales of Honda, which reported a rise of 33 percent in September sales. Honda City sales rose by 44 percent and it constitutes about 80 percent of the 7728 units sold by the company in September.

“The ‘exclusive’ variant is aimed at further delighting our customers with exclusive luxurious features during this festival period,” Mr. Tatsuya Natsume, Director Marketing of Honda Siel said in a statement.

How to find the right car shipping company

With the latest economic problem of the nation forcing people to find viable employment wherever they can, a lot of people end up accepting jobs in other states besides the one they are currently in. It is not amazing then that people from across the U.S. end up moving to another state because of better opportunities available  in other states. Moving your entire family to a new state, especially one that is far from the one you are in right now, needs a lot of planning and doing. One of the things you need to consider finding when you are planning your big move is a car shipping company or auto transport companies.

Why should you search yourself a car shipping company and why is it  that you find the right one? Some people do not realize that driving certain vehicles to a new location can be very taxing, more so if you own two or more vehicles. Having to move all of these vehicles by driving them from your current state to the one you are moving to can also be very expensive. The solution to this dilemma is to find a car shipping company that will transport your vehicles to your new home. Finding the right car shipping company to trust your vehicles with may entail a bit of research on your part. Since there are a lot of auto transport companies who can easily offer to do the job for you, you might find yourself having a difficult time in choosing which one to go with. There are a few things you need to find out about these companies and what they tell you may very well help you in deciding which auto transport company to go with. One of the things you will need to ask auto transport companies and probably one of the first questions you should get information on right away is how much they charge for the move. The prices these auto transport companies give you will vary and will depend on a few factors. Some of these factors include how far your vehicles will have to be taken, whether or not these companies offer insurance, the kind of service they provide and how many vehicles are to be transported. When choosing a car shipping company, you should know that cheaper does not always mean better. Try to ask around about these companies you are thinking of hiring before you do hire them. Check out the kind of insurance they offer with your vehicle move. If you are still unsure about these companies, ask for references. You should try to make sure that your vehicles are safe and secure when being transported to your new destination. You should also find them in as good a condition as they were when they left their point of origin when you receive them in the new city or state you are moving to. In the end, auto transport companies do save you some money and help relieve you of the hassles and stress that accompany moving a few vehicles from one state to another. All you need to do is to make sure that they do get your cars there safe and sound as well.