Renewable Gossip

Diesel is and will remain the solution for auto emissions in Europe. That’s the implied message based on the long and growing list of diesel debuts at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. A number of models will feature stop-start technology, the mildest of hybrid systems. But more robust gas-electric or purely electric cars are announced mostly as distant future models or merely as concepts. With rare exception, none of the models are intended for the United States. Here’s our quick rundown of announcements so far.

Peugeot Hybrids

Peugeot RCZ Hybrid4 concept sports car

Peugeot will reveal its first two vehicles to use the company’s Hybrid4 drivetrain.
The 3008 Hybrid4 crossover and RCZ Hybrid4 concept sports car feature a parallel hybrid system consisting of an electric motor for powering the rear wheels and an internal combustion engine to spin the front wheels. The system provides 4-wheel drive on demand, and can operate in internal combustion, all-electric or blended modes. The 3008 Hybrid4, which will go on sale in Europe in 2011, could be the long-awaited first diesel hybrid to hit the road. No plans yet to market the RCZ Hybrid4.

Trabant

Trabant concept drawing

German manufacturer Herpa plans to show an all-electric prototype version of the Trabant—the much-maligned classic vehicle of Communist East Germany. Three million units of the original model were built between 1957 and 1991. The long shot idea is to revitalize the square boxy model by putting in an electric drive with the capability of 150 miles of driving range. With such gimmicks as a rooftop solar panel, the new owners of the nameplate hope to attract investors and re-launch a modern eco-friendly version by 2012.

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