Electric cars, hybrids, other novelties at Moscow Auto Show

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, a hybrid in the supermini class, has been on sale in Japan since April. Mitsubishi plans to modify the model to European standards, but a right-hand drive version was shown at the Moscow International Automobile Show.

An electric motor is mounted in front of the rear axle, with its Li-Io batteries under the floor. Under the hood is a traditional gasoline engine, a 12V battery, an electric fan and an air conditioning compressor.

The hybrid Peugeot iOn is based on the Mitsubushi i-MiEV, differing only in appearance. The iOn is to go on sale in France in December. The price will be about 30,000 euros, with the car available for leasing at 500 euros a month.

The Renault Fluence ZE is a futuristic electric version of the production model of the same name. European sales are planned for next year.

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4 is intended to be the first affordable diesel hybrid automobile. European sales are scheduled for spring 2011. According to Peugeot, the car offers efficient fuel consumption (using less than 4 liters per 100 km) and strong output (combined diesel/electric power is rated at 200-hp).

An electric motor powers the rear axle of the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4, while a diesel engine powers the front axle. The Ni-MH batteries are mounted below the trunk reducing trunk volume by 92 litres.

The Ni-MH batteries of VW’s hybrid Touareg are hidden under the rear floor. When driven solely by the electric motor, the gas engine/transmission are disengaged from the drive system, thus reducing power consumption and frictional loss. The hybrid Touareg can reach 50 km/h noiselessly.

The revived VW Phaeton not only displays downloaded Google maps, but also reads traffic signs through video cameras mounted in the side-mirrors.

The Lada Priora sports a two-band GLONASS-GPS display in the instrument panel. Russian maker AvtoVAZ uses an updated “Navitel Navigator,” a program found in many navigation units and smartphones. The optional navigation function in the Priora and Kalina will be available in mid-2011 and cost an estimated 12,000 rubles.

The right side steering column stalk is used to operate the navigation system in the Lada Priora. It has several buttons including four-direction navigation button.