The world’s first production-ready passenger car powered by both a diesel engine and an electric motor will be shown to the public this Saturday.

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4, revealed at the Paris motor show, is powered by a 163 horsepower diesel engine that drives the front wheels.

In addition, it has a 37 horsepower electric engine that powers the rears.

The car emits less than 100 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre, Peugeot says.

‘Too expensive’

Peugeot’s 3008 diesel-electric hybrid is noteworthy, but not necessarily because of any revolutionary technology.

Technically, anyone could have done what Peugeot has done, industry observers say, namely combining frugal diesel engines with battery power in order to cut overall emissions.

Indeed, many other carmakers have previously shown similar concepts, indicating that they have been looking into the possibility of producing diesel hybrids in the future.

So far, however, rivals have steered clear of the solution, largely because it is deemed too expensive, according to Didier Leroy, president of Toyota Motor Europe.

“We have diesel hybrids for light trucks,” he tells BBC News in an interview, but he insists the additional cost of a diesel does not deliver sufficient efficiency improvements for the money.

Moreover, he adds, diesel hybrids are not as smooth to drive as petrol hybrids.

High cost car

Diesel engines tend to be more expensive than petrol engines, though in return they tend to be less thirsty and emit less carbon dioxide.

A price for the car has yet to be revealed, but it is expected to cost about 30,000 euros (£25,985), about 10,000 euros more than the cheapest petrol-only version.

It is expected to arrive in the showrooms during spring 2011.

PSA Peugeot Citroen executives believe customers will be ready to pay a premium for greater fuel efficiency.

The technology may also be used in other Peugeot and Citroen models, the company says.

Farmers and rural people face higher fuel bills this autumn as the government’s delayed duty increase comes into effect today (1 October).

The increase, announced by the previous chancellor back in April, will add 1p/litre to petrol and white diesel, plus an extra 0.19p/litre onto red diesel. It comes at a time of firmer crude oil prices and rising costs elsewhere in farming businesses – notably fertiliser and feed.

Crude oil prices had increased to $78 a barrel by mid-week, up from just over $72 a barrel at the end of August. But, red diesel has remained relatively stable, hovering around 50p/litre over recent weeks.

“Prices have gone up and down a bit as they’ve followed economic news, but generally there hasn’t been a lot of change,” said Nick Adamson from Oxfordshire fuel distributors Ackerman & Niece.

But, the Farmers’ Union of Wales slammed “punitive” fuel duty rates for hitting farmers and other rural people hardest, and it called for a tax rebate for those living in rural areas.

“Rural dwellers are being ripped off by such huge fuel costs,” FUW president Gareth Vaughan said.

According to the latest AA fuel price report, Wales and Northern Ireland had the highest fuel prices last month, with road diesel averaging 118.7p/litre and unleaded petrol almost 116p/litre.

Although prices had fallen for the fourth month in a row, the report said an increase in wholesale prices, combined with the duty increase, threatened to reverse that trend. Petrol was 9p/litre dearer than a year ago, the report said.

What is it?

Maybe a Ford Mondeo can never be classed as ‘premium’ because of its blue-collar badge, but in every respect that matters, this new facelifted model is the quality-equal of an Audi.

The visual update is subtle but effective. The new nose has an enlarged lower grille and a slimmer upper one, chrome-slatted in the top Titanium models to give an oddly Kia-like look. Lesser Mondeos’ black mesh looks purer and neater.

An air shutter gradually blocks off the lower grille according to airflow needs, improving aerodynamic slipperiness by up to six per cent. LED running lamps share space with the front foglights, and the bonnet is less bluff. LEDs fill the rear light lenses, too, and high-end models get a bright outline for the entire side ‘daylight opening’.

What’s it like?

Inside all is calmer, with a one-piece centre console, soft-touch black paint on the plastics and simpler graphics. There’s more soundproofing, better door seals and a sound-absorbent windscreen. New technology abounds: blind-spot alerts, lane-departure steering-wheel vibrators, an alertness assessor, a rear camera, automatic headlight dipping and more.

We’re testing the new 2.2-litre TDCi Duratorq turbodiesel with its piezo-electric, vibrating-crystal injectors, enlarged turbocharger, startling 197bhp and massive 310lb ft of torque (332 on transient overboost). It’s mated to a six-speed manual; a double-clutcher arrives later.

This is one muscular engine. Once past some low-speed lag you just feel a smooth surge of thrust almost regardless of speed or gear, even from 1600rpm in sixth. It makes the Mondeo a supremely relaxed and quiet cruiser, with a new-found suppleness from higher-profile tyres. The Sport comes with adaptive dampers, too, but the differences between the three modes aren’t great and soon you just leave it in Normal.

Where the Mondeo really scores is in its accurate, intuitive steering, its progressive brakes and its great mix of stability and agility. There’s a natural flow here not always evident in premium German rivals.

Should I buy one?

Many will struggle to accept that a Mondeo can be worth this price, but given the equipment levels and the improvements that have been made – and the fact that it still undercuts the nearest premium rivals – the Ford makes a strong case for itself. Worth sacrificing the prestigious badge for, we’d say.

TomTom and Sony revealed today a collaboration that will bring TomTom’s expertise in the field of navigation and services technology to Sony’s new Xplod AV Navigation Systems. This device comes fully connected* providing unprecedented live knowledge of the road ahead.

“We are delighted that Sony has selected TomTom as their navigation services supplier in Europe”, says Giles Shrimpton, Managing Director, TomTom Automotive. “This endorses our position as the leading location and navigation solutions provider. Combining the audio and video know-how of Sony with our navigational expertise has resulted in an excellent product range. Moreover, as the technology incorporates a flexible hardware design based on standard interfaces, it allows for easy updates in the future – a huge advantage in the automotive industry.”

The LIVE services include award winning HD Traffic™ built to get drivers through traffic quicker than any other traffic service. Drivers can stay ahead with up-to-date speed camera information on both fixed and mobile cameras en route, as well as live weather updates and local Google™ business address searches.

Along with these LIVE services drivers also get access to IQ Routes™ and Map Share™. Only TomTom uses actual speed data collected from millions of users to accurately calculate the travel time of any given route. It allows for rush hour, traffic lights, and even shopping crowds when calculating journey times. So no matter what time it is, IQ Routes can be relied upon to give an accurate arrival time.

Combined, these services provide drivers with the latest information on the road ahead, ensuring a stress-free, enjoyable drive.

*initially only available in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom

Some great technological innovation is being implemented by Ford.

Ford dealers now offer a sat nav unit fitted alongside the rear view mirror in an extended holder.  Replacing the original rear view mirror, “MirrorNavi” means drivers can see the navigation at the same time as checking the rear view. It is compatible with Ford car and commercial vehicle ranges and can be fitted in an hour by a Ford dealer and is mounted without any visible wires or damage to the main instrument panel.

Insurance companies have confirmed that “MirrorNavi” is defined as a fitted navigation system for their purposes and another advantage is the absence of suction cup marks on the windscreen which might alert thieves.

The “MirrorNavi” itself has tinted and dimming mirror glass, battery charging connection and anti-theft security and it is available on all Ford cars and vans.

“MirrorNavi” is made by Garmin and Wollnikom and includes a 3.5-inch touchscreen colour display, an internal memory and card slot, 2D or 3D map display, destination memory, EcoRoute and maps and voice response for more than 70 countries and languages.

Available now, “MirrorNavi” costs £299 plus local dealer fitting charges.

Ford has put the Mondeo under the knife! With styling updates, a more luxurious interior, new engines and technology, the blue oval’s family saloon – set to debut at the Moscow motor show in August – has been completely overhauled.

On the outside, the Mondeo gets new front and rear bumpers, a gaping lower trapezoid grille with chrome highlights and LED daytime running lights.

Ford is aiming for a premium feel on the inside, with new trim materials across the range, a new centre console design and LED courtesy lights. The Mondeo gets a new sat-nav system and a new sound system option with a 265-watt, eight-channel amp and 17-litre subwoofer.

There are big changes under the bonnet too, with Ford introducing new petrol and diesel engines. A 237bhp version of its 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol unit with CO2 emissions kept down to 179g/km and a tuned-up version of its 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi – with power up 12 per cent to 197bhp.

On top of those, there is Ford’s 200bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and a range of 2.0-litre TDCi diesels available with 112, 137 or 160bhp. The firm’s dual-clutch Powershift transmission will come as standard on EcoBoost models and as an option for the 137 and 160bhp oil burners.

Too boost efficiency Ford is offering Smart Regenerative Breaking, Ford Eco Mode and an Active Grille Shutter System – which regulates airflow through the radiator and the engine compartment to reduce drag and help warm the engine up quicker.
A range of new driver assistance features will also be available, including Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert, Auto High Beam, Blind Sport Information System and Rear View Camera.

UK specs, trim levels and pricing have yet to be confirmed but the new Mondeo is due to go on sale here in October…