I'm back after a long absence, and glad to see all of you... for the auto show, and so on. Last year, the show's president promised that the Montreal event would become THE green auto show of North America. So, is it? Is it up to its pretensions? That's what we will try to find out.
The manufacturers
Just like last year, I'll start with the car builders. And like last year, I'll assign a grade for each, from A to F, 'A' being the best grade and 'F' being considered as a failure (Keep in mind that these grades only involve me). We'll start in the same order as at the show:
DaimlerChrysler: I have to admit that I was really impressed by their total absence of consideration for fuel economy, or any other similar consideration. Just like last year, nothing but more power and more machismo, except for a small incursion into diesel. At least with them, it's clear; they don't care about environment and global warming, and they're succeeding with the same type of clientele. Have you seen the advertising that shows Chrysler's version of a hybrid? It burns gas and rubber.... How moronic.
GRADE: F
Nissan: A few new products including the Nissan Versa, which is a relatively economical entry-level model. Others like the Azeal are more performance-oriented. They didn't present any new green, hybrid, electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle, or prototype. They've only presented more powerful new models, save for one.
GRADE: C-
Acura: Nothing really new from an ecological standpoint. Being a division of Honda, though, they should do better.
GRADE: D
Ford: They presented their new Escape Hybrid, which isn't exactly new anymore, but at least they're showing that they're starting to head in the right direction. I would've liked to see the new Fusion that is supposed to get a hybrid powertrain. In addition, they presented a hydrogen-powered vehicle, and the Model U is a hydrogen-electric hybrid. The horsepower race is still an issue for this manufacturer. Why wasn't the Fusion Hybrid there? I hope they don't wonder why they have so many problems.
GRADE: C
General Motors: This big manufacturer presented a hybrid model, the VUE, as well as their hydrogen-powered prototype. They also announced other hybrid models coming in the next year. However, they are putting more and more economical models on the market. The horsepower race is also in full swing over there.
GRADE: B-
Honda: Presentation of their new Accord Hybrid, their Insight and their new Civic Hybrid, which is more efficient than the old model while costing less. Staff was on hand to inform people of this technology, and presented a Honda hydrogen-powered model. They didn't go nuts with the horsepower race, and feature cylinder-deactivation technology that help vehicles like the Odyssey, the Accord Hybrid and the Civic Hybrid become more economic. In addition, they've brought their new Fit, a small car to compete against the Yaris and others.
GRADE: A+
Audi: Nothing new except that last year, they didn't even make the effort of giving information on the fuel consumption figures of their cars, which they did this year. A little more horsepower, and no real "greening" effort. They brought an Audi A2 diesel that can achieve an average of 2.66 L/100 km... but it's not available here. Also, their CO2 emissions numbers were impossible to obtain.
GRADE: C
Volkswagen: The new EOS, which is a convertible, is the only real novelty. They have several diesel cars that don't consume much, but still pollute too much. They still don't have their particle filters in America that would make them cleaner, but that's about to change since diesel fuel that's going to be sold here in a few months will be.
GRADE: C+
The manufacturers
Just like last year, I'll start with the car builders. And like last year, I'll assign a grade for each, from A to F, 'A' being the best grade and 'F' being considered as a failure (Keep in mind that these grades only involve me). We'll start in the same order as at the show:
DaimlerChrysler: I have to admit that I was really impressed by their total absence of consideration for fuel economy, or any other similar consideration. Just like last year, nothing but more power and more machismo, except for a small incursion into diesel. At least with them, it's clear; they don't care about environment and global warming, and they're succeeding with the same type of clientele. Have you seen the advertising that shows Chrysler's version of a hybrid? It burns gas and rubber.... How moronic.
GRADE: F
Nissan: A few new products including the Nissan Versa, which is a relatively economical entry-level model. Others like the Azeal are more performance-oriented. They didn't present any new green, hybrid, electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle, or prototype. They've only presented more powerful new models, save for one.
GRADE: C-
Acura: Nothing really new from an ecological standpoint. Being a division of Honda, though, they should do better.
GRADE: D
Ford: They presented their new Escape Hybrid, which isn't exactly new anymore, but at least they're showing that they're starting to head in the right direction. I would've liked to see the new Fusion that is supposed to get a hybrid powertrain. In addition, they presented a hydrogen-powered vehicle, and the Model U is a hydrogen-electric hybrid. The horsepower race is still an issue for this manufacturer. Why wasn't the Fusion Hybrid there? I hope they don't wonder why they have so many problems.
GRADE: C
General Motors: This big manufacturer presented a hybrid model, the VUE, as well as their hydrogen-powered prototype. They also announced other hybrid models coming in the next year. However, they are putting more and more economical models on the market. The horsepower race is also in full swing over there.
GRADE: B-
Honda: Presentation of their new Accord Hybrid, their Insight and their new Civic Hybrid, which is more efficient than the old model while costing less. Staff was on hand to inform people of this technology, and presented a Honda hydrogen-powered model. They didn't go nuts with the horsepower race, and feature cylinder-deactivation technology that help vehicles like the Odyssey, the Accord Hybrid and the Civic Hybrid become more economic. In addition, they've brought their new Fit, a small car to compete against the Yaris and others.
GRADE: A+
Audi: Nothing new except that last year, they didn't even make the effort of giving information on the fuel consumption figures of their cars, which they did this year. A little more horsepower, and no real "greening" effort. They brought an Audi A2 diesel that can achieve an average of 2.66 L/100 km... but it's not available here. Also, their CO2 emissions numbers were impossible to obtain.
GRADE: C
Volkswagen: The new EOS, which is a convertible, is the only real novelty. They have several diesel cars that don't consume much, but still pollute too much. They still don't have their particle filters in America that would make them cleaner, but that's about to change since diesel fuel that's going to be sold here in a few months will be.
GRADE: C+