Detroit Firsts

27th January 2008

Plug-in Saturn 4x4 goes the distance
Land Rover and Ferrari were not the only firms to boast environmentally friendly technology at the Detroit show. American car builder Saturn was also aiming to prove that its SUVs were among the greenest available, too.
Joining its Vue Hybrid, a petrol/electric-powered 4x4 based on the Vauxhall Antara, was a plug-in hybrid evolution of the same car (above), which Saturn claims could return more than 100mpg.

Battery-powered Chevy’s truck treat
Even Detroit’s big truck makers were going green... As part of an effort to improve the reputation of the Chevrolet Silverado, a new hybrid version was shown for the first time. Chevrolet claims that the car can travel at 30mph for three miles on battery power only, offering a 20 per cent improvement on the standard motor’s 15mpg fuel economy.

Orient excess is led by the odd squad
Chinese manufacturers at the US event were also demonstrating a move
to environmentally friendly vehicles. The most bizarre were the work of designer Li Guangming and included the Tang Hua Book of Songs, the Piece of Cloud and Detroit Fish (below) concepts. All three offered electric motors, lithium-ion batteries and a top speed of 45mph