Chrysler takes eco route

It’s official – Chrysler is going green! To shake off its gas-guzzling image, the American brand has gone back to the drawing board to come up with three new eco-friendly concepts. And here they are...

First is the Dodge ZEO – a rakish sports saloon with muscular looks, huge alloys and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. Chrysler says the four-seater will be capable of covering 250 miles on only one charge. For Jeep fans there’s the Renegade, a sporty two-seat dune buggy that combines open-air driving with hybrid technology.

It has been kitted out with a cut-down windshield, roll bar, air vents in the doors and an interior that can be hosed down. A combination of a Bluetec diesel engine and a lithium-ion cell pro­mises fuel returns of more than 110mpg. Finally, there’s the Chrysler ecoVoyager. Its simple, pod-like frame and raised waistline have been designed to maximise space within the four-door saloon.

Extra room has been created by using a small, advanced hydrogen fuel cell rather than a traditional powertrain. Add the latest lithium-ion battery technology, and the result is a 300-mile range.

Because water vapour is the only output from the tailpipe, the eco­Voyager is entirely CO2-free.