Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

Perhaps it’s something to do with wanting to preserve the clean mountain air, but the Geneva Motor Show was the first international auto show to open a dedicated ‘Green Pavilion’ where manufacturers could showcase alternative and eco technologies.

For the 2012 Salon, Geneva’s Green Pavilion is bigger than ever… and that’s thanks in part to the ever-increasing range of pure electric vehicles from the Alliance. Visitors can take test drives on a special circuit in Nissan LEAF, the car that really kicked off the EV revolution, as well as in three EVs from Renault – Fluence Z.E., Twizy and Kangoo Z.E.

But proving that green technology is now mainstream, there’s even more EV news from the Alliance inside the main Salon halls. Star of the Renault stand is the now production-ready ZOE, a compact hatchback that promises to bring electric vehicles to a much wider audience thanks to its highly affordable price tag.

As well as Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E., the Renault stand also shows Twizy in its latest form. The fun tandem-seat, four-wheeler displays the latest Renault design language with a highly distinctive new face that’s set to become the look of 2012.

EV news is to the fore on the Nissan stand, too. Nissan LEAF is there, of course, but it is joined by e-NV200 Concept, which gives a strong indication of Nissan’s next electric vehicle. The small van is based on the award-winning NV200 that, in Combi and Evalia versions, provides affordable family transport with seating for up to seven.

EVs can also give a new meaning the term ‘Racing Green’. The Nissan LEAF Nismo RC (standing for Racing Competition) is making its Geneva Show debut having shown its potential at Le Mans, supporting the Dubai 24 Hours and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Although it shares the same silhouette as the standard road going Nissan LEAF and uses the same battery pack and electric motor, the racing version is quite different under the skin. The power pack has been moved from the front to the centre of the new carbonfibre monocoque chassis and it is rear- rather than front-wheel drive.

With a top speed of 150 km/h and taking just 6.85 seconds to whoosh (silently, of course) from 0-100 km/h, the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC is being used as a ‘driving laboratory’ investigating EV technology and aerodynamics.

Infiniti is also plugging into the electric buzz, with a stunning hybrid sports concept. Packing a 300kW punch from its twin mid-mounted electric motors and with the addition of a three-cylinder range-extending petrol engine, INFINITI EMERG-E really is an electrifying take on the future of sports cars.

Of course, our focus on green technologies isn't restricted to electric power. Nissan is showing a growing range of Pure Drive vehicles, with CO2 emissions at or below 130g/km, while Renault has announced its ‘Drive the Change’ campaign which will lower its carbon footprint globally by 10 per cent by 2013 and by a further 10 per cent between 2013 and 2016.

The campaign is being driven not just by ZOE but also by the launch of two new conventional engines as part of Renault’s Energy line-up. The new Energy TCe90 three-cylinder petrol engine and Energy dCi 90 diesel power plant brings the number of engines in the range to eight… all launched in the space of just 16 months.