Natural gas/biogas engines are being increasingly offered on factory models by car manufacturers. Between the end of 2012 and 2013 four new brands are entering the gas/biogas vehicles market: Audi, Lancia, SEAT and Skoda. Major car manufacturers now offer the option of natural gas/biogas for their flagship models; Volkswagen is launching the VW Golf VII TSI EcoFuel this year, and Fiat is offering the Fiat Panda Twinair Natural Power, elected by the “Schweizer Illustrierte” as the greenest car in Switzerland for 2013. During the 83rd International Motor Show that takes place from 7 to 17 March at Palexpo-Geneva, gasmobil will showcase five models from the manufacturers Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, SEAT and Volkswagen representing the diversity in the natural gas/biogas vehicles sector.

In Switzerland, engines running on natural gas/biogas reduce CO₂ emissions by 40% and represent over 30% in savings compared to petrol[1].The natural gas/biogas models now offered by the car manufacturers are also equipped with a petrol tank, and have the same autonomy and power (principally due to turbo engines) as traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.

 

To be discovered on the GASMOBIL stand during the 2013 Motor Show

Chosen by the weekly magazine “Schweizer Illustrierte” as the “greenest” car in Switzerland for 2013, the Fiat Panda 0.9 Twinair Natural Power (59kW/80hp), available since autumn2012, is one of the cars presented at the GASMOBIL stand.This new version of the natural gas/biogas Fiat Panda lowers CO₂ emissions to 77 g/km with the 90/10 mix (68 g/km with the 80/20 mix), resulting in an average consumption of 3.1 kg of natural gas/biogas per 100km, equivalent to 4.8 litres of petrol.Among the city cars that are on show, SEAT presents its first car powered by natural gas/biogas, the SEAT Mii EcoFuel.Equipped with a 50kW/68hp 3 cylinder engine, this model, launched at the end of 2012, proposes CO₂ emissions of 71 g/km with the 90/10 mix (63 g/km with the 80/20 mix).

The VW Golf, which has been Switzerland’s best-selling car for the last 36 years, will now be available in a natural gas/biogas version.The VW Golf VII TSI EcoFuelwill make its World Premiere at the Volkswagen stand during the 1^st press day on March 5^th , and will then be present on the GASMOBIL stand for the second press day and until to the end of the show.With this new VW Golf powered by natural gas/biogas, Volkswagen is offering eco-aware drivers an alternative choice for a very popular model.VW is thus extending its range of natural gas/biogas vehicles to include the city car, the estate car as well as the family van.

Mercedes-Benz unveils its most recent natural gas/biogas model, the Mercedes-Benz Class B 200 NGD (Natural Gas Drive).Between an estate and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), this car is displayed on the GASMOBIL stand with a sectional cut that allows the position of the natural gas/biogas tank to be seen.Equipped with a 115kW/156hp engine, this model reduces CO₂ emissions of up to 105 g/km with the 90/10 mix (93 g/km with the 80/20 mix).Visitors will also find the Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX (110 kW/150 hp), a seven seater MPV with CO₂ emissions of 116 g/km with the 90/10 mix (103 g/km with the 80/20 mix) and an excellent autonomy of 530 kilometres, plus the additional petrol tank.

 

2013 - a year marked by the arrival of three new brands in the field of natural gas/biogas vehicles.

At the end of 2012 SEAT joined the natural gas/biogas vehicles market.2013 will see the introduction of yet another three car manufacturers launching ranges of natural gas/biogas vehicles.Thus, Lancia is offering the city car Ypsilon to this market and Skoda its model Citigo.Audi will introduce its natural gas/biogas version of the A3 model before the end of 2013.