Newly developed turbo engines are making natural gas/biogas an even more efficient and greener fuel. At the Geneva Motor Show (4 to 14 March 2010), the Swiss Natural Gas Association will be at its usual location on the GASMOBIL stand in hall 5 demonstrating a cross-section of the latest range of models available. The Fiat Doblò Natural Power Turbo (1.4 l/115 h.p.) will be celebrating its world premiere. Four of the five models on show boast turbo engines. A smart little runaround for the city will attract particular attention: the Fiat 500 is a concept car with a 1.4 litre turbo engine (115 h.p.) and exemplary CO2 values. At present, there are around 8,700 gas-powered vehicles on the roads in Switzerland, and the number of filling stations offering natural gas/biogas has grown to around 120.

Natural gas/biogas allows clean, fuel-efficient driving, without compromising on the comforts motorists have grown accustomed to. gasmobil ag, the centre of competence operated by the Swiss Natural Gas Association to promote mobility, will be exhibiting at stand 5 at the 80^th International Motor Show in Geneva, once again in association with car importers. Experts will be on hand to answer all your questions on natural gas/biogas as fuel, as well as on current vehicle models. The Motor Show will include a cross-section of the latest range of environmentally friendly natural gas cars. All natural gas cars are also designed with a petrol tank. If the natural gas tank is empty, the vehicle automatically switches to petrol mode. Therefore, the overall range is as good as that of petrol or diesel models, if not better. Based on the nationwide average, natural gas/biogas is about 30% cheaper on the forecourts than petrol.

World premiere of the turbo-engine Fiat

The range of models on show at the GASMOBIL stand is a representative cross-section of what's on the market. Central to the selection is a concept car: the Fiat 500 1.4 Natural Power Turbo blends freshness, style and tradition with efficient engine technology and modern natural gas/biogas fuel.

    

 

It delivers higher performance (115 h.p.) coupled with extremely low CO₂ emissions and optimum efficiency. The car was developed by the Swiss Natural Gas Association with assistance from Fiat Switzerland and BRA GmbH in Schweinfurt (Germany). This lifestyle model will appeal to all age groups who have a "youthful spirit" and a sense of environmental awareness.

VW and Opel will each have a model on show as well, demonstrating the top performance of their turbo engines. The VW Passat 1.4 TSI EcoFuel has a twin charged 1.4 litre engine, a combination of compressor and turbo, boasting 150 h.p. despite its low fuel consumption. This has put it at the top of the ADAC and VCS rankings for environmentally friendly cars. The Opel Zafira ecoFLEX Turbo CNG, a family van with a 1.6 litre engine, also packs 150 h.p. thanks to its charger. The Mercedes B180 NGT Sports Tourer, which will be on display on the days when the show is open to the public, combines the dynamic design of a sports limousine with the variability of a prestige minivan.

Even better CO₂ balance thanks to biogas

Gas-powered vehicles can run on either natural gas or biogas and also feature a petrol tank. Around 20% biogas, which is harmless to the climate, is added to natural gas in Switzerland. This helps to improve the CO₂ balance of gas-powered vehicles, which is already very good, yet further. Natural gas/biogas offers what is currently the most environmentally friendly technology in series-produced vehicles with combustion engines.

Gas-powered vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show: GASMOBIL, Stand 5240 / Hall 5

Contacts for further information:
Serge Savary, Project Manager
Ralph Tschopp, Technical Project Manager

gasmobil ag, Untertalweg 32, CH-4144 Arlesheim
Tel. +41 61 706 33 00, Fax +41 61 706 33 99, E-mail gasmobil@gasmobil-ag.ch

Overview of project partners for the 2010 concept study (Fiat 500 Natural Power Turbo)

The aim of gasmobil ag from Arlesheim BL (Switzerland), which was formed as a centre of competence by the Swiss Natural Gas Association in 2002, is to promote the use of natural gas/biogas as fuel both nationally and internationally (www.erdgasfahren.ch).



Fiat is the global market leader in vehicles that run on natural gas. The ongoing new developments at Fiat are aimed at lowering CO₂ emissions sustainably and maintaining its position as the make of car with the lowest CO₂ emissions. Fiat already accounts for a considerable proportion of gas-powered vehicles in Switzerland, and this figure is rising. For example, one in every ten Fiat Pandas sold already runs on natural gas. Fiat has the largest and most varied selection of natural gas models of all full liners, with the Panda, the Grande Punto, the Punto Evo, the Multipla, the Qubo, the Doblò, the Doblò Cargo, and the Ducato. The latest addition to the range of gas-powered models is the Fiat Doblò with a turbo engine.

Fiat Group Automobiles Switzerland SA, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland, www.fiat.ch


BRA GmbH from Schweinfurt (Germany) has been developing environmentally friendly vehicle concepts since 1995. These Bavarian innovators focus their attention on the economical and simple use of methane (biogas/natural gas) in cars. BRA is one of the leading developers in CNG drive technology and has already won a number of awards. BRA developed and built both the first car with CNG storage technology with no impact on space and load capacity and the first methane-powered turbo engine. BRA GmbH is now working on its fifth project for gasmobil with the Fiat 500 Natural Power Turbo prototype, which is nearing series production.