I visited the 80th International Motor Show held Geneva, 4-14 March 2010.
I observed an increased response by car manufacturers to the environment concern. Compared with my last visit of the show in 2007, it is a remarkable change all the major companies exhibited hybrid cars. In 2007, only Honda exhibited a hybrid car already in use in the market place. Not only for cars for the general consumers, such as Nissan and Volks Wagen but also high-end sports cars have launched hybrid cars in their own concepts. Hybrid engine has become a trend, as long as this show is concerned.
SUBARU exhibited electric cars used by Japan Post and Tokyo Electricity Corp. (See photo)
To catch up the trends, the luxury sports car manufacturers have also launched hybrid cars. Both Porche and Ferrari announced their first cars with hybrid engines. (See Photo Ferrari Green Car)
Fans of sports cars with strong engines have a mixed feeling. They like strong cars regardless of CO2 emission levels. At the same time, they also feel it responsibility of manufacturers not to damage the environment. Most of them seemed to think it inevitable, and desirable even though they have to compromise their exicitment with fancy sports cars, that luxury sports car constructors walk with the environmental concerns of the people worldwide.
I’ll be the first to buy a completely electric Ferrari but I’m not convinced this car will be built during my lifetime.
Well .. let us keep hoping. That’s the first step to make a dream come true.