The world’s carmakers have filled up their finest new vehicles, bought them some breakdown cover, and sent them down to Switzerland for a shin dig. Geneva is the sort of place where you expect to see the odd supercar, and as what is one of the world’s biggest motor shows fires up this week, it looks set to be beset with Aston Martins and Ferraris. Indeed, the carmakers of the world are out to impress us. But while there will surely be some eye catching sports cars unveiled at the show, it is perhaps the more down to earth models that will be of more importance to the majority.
Each car marque will be turning up eager to show off their wares and entice whoever has any cash left to part with it. With that in mind, we may well see a lot of eyes drawn to the new hybrid vehicles on offer. Even Porsche is having a go, unveiling a green petrol-electric hybrid version of the four seater Panamera, which apparently gives out just 159g/km of CO2. But the UK has something to offer on this front too, as Range Rover gives us a glimpse of its eco-friendly concept vehicle – which beats Porsche in the I’m-greener-than-you stakes with just 89g/km CO2. The Range Rover has been getting car journalists a little excited because it differs from most hybrids in that it is a diesel-electric rather than a petrol-electric.
It’s good to see such a surge of interest in greener machines, and it’s especially surprising since many car firms used to deride the possibility of hybrid technology as being too expensive to produce. But with government incentives and a change in public mood about hybrid cars, this automotive technology is destined to become the norm in years to come. But it is perhaps the cost saving element of the hybrids that stirs so much interest in the technology – spiralling petrol prices are making cheaper-to-run vehicles a necessity rather than just a flash in the pan gimmick
Breakdown Cover from 
