Peugeot to supply EDF Energy with clean diesel vans

Peugeot to supply EDF Energy with clean diesel vans

British Electric utility EDF Energy has just acquired 250 new light commercial vehicles from Peugeot powered by the company's latest diesel engines. The fleet includes 207 Expert and Partner vans that are also prepared by Peugeot at a special distribution center. Typically, fleet vehicles of this type are sent to different locations to get the special equipment they need such as radios, phones, badging and any other aftermarket bits. The Peugeot center takes care of all the work in one location.

Michelin's energy saver tires still exclusive to Peueo
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I was hoping that the new Michelin Energy Saver tires that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show might be coming to North America.It looks like i was wrong.I just called Michelin and they said no dice. What's the point in developing a next-gen LRR tire if you're not going to sell it to people who need it? i guess for now it will continue to be exclusive to Peugeot and Europe. Too bad. I was looking forward to a 20% drop in rolling resistance and an additional 3-4 miles per gallon.We knew from the get-go that Peugeot would have exclusive use of the tires until February 2008 and that these tires will be standard on the 90 HDI and the 110 HDI 308 models. Of the tires Michelin sells in the U.S., the eco-branded tire is the. There's a video of the Energy Saver tires after the jump.

Auto-News' list of low-CO2 SUVs in Germany

Not long ago, we published a list of SUVs available in Germany with the highest mileage possible. But what about - at least on legal terms - how much CO2 a car produces? Never fear. Auto-News has a list of the "cleanest" SUVs on sale in Germany (and I'd say most of the EU), all of them producing less than 200 g/km of CO2, so it complements that previous list which had no information about CO2. Just remember that automakers should have an average of 130 g/km in four years' time.
Most of these models are also available in the U.S. but, as usual, without the high-mileage diesel powerplants Europeans love. The list is after the jump. Vehicles with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters) have these letters added to the marque and model. The picture above shows the SUV in the 20th position, the SsangYong Actyon 200 Xdi 4x2.

Peugeot adds new 170hp 2.2L diesel to 807 minivan

Peugeot has added a third diesel engine option to their 807 minivan lineup in Europe. A new 170hp 2.2L unit is being added to the existing 120hp and 136hp 2.0L engines. The 2.2L is available with either an automatic or manual transmission both with 6 forward speeds. With a manual, the new engine is rated at an ample 273lb-ft of torque, a number that jumps to the 300lb-ft with the automatic. Peugeot hasn't published the mileage figures yet for the new engine but the existing 136hp diesel gets 33mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle so the new engine will likely be in the high 20s at least. If Chrysler adds the new Mercedes 2.2L diesel to their U.S. minivan lineup, it would give them a real leg up on their competition in that segment if they could achieve numbers near 30mpg.

Peugeot's Intelligent A/C can improve efficiency when used all year long

What's this? Peugeot is now recommending that drivers continue to operate their air conditioning systems all year round. Most drivers typically don't use their A/C much in the winter months for obvious reasons. However, if the system lies dormant for extended periods the internal refrigerant pressure can drop off, meaning that the system will be less effective and efficient the next time it's needed. By operating the system for even a few minutes a couple of times a month it will stay in better working condition and save fuel when it's turned on for real. Apparently using the A/C when defogging the windows can also improve the effectiveness by dehumidifying the air in the car. All new Peugeots are equipped with a thermostatically controlled A/C compressor that monitors the ambient and set temperatures to only run the compressor when it's actually needed to minimize the load on the system.

PSA sends a Peugeot 307 Hybride to the Challenge Bibendum

Besides the entries from Daimler, Volkswagen and Renault/Dacia, Peugeot has also sent a green model to the Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. The model is the Peugeot 307 Hybride, which matches a hybrid system to a diesel engine that is certified to run on biodiesel in blends up to B30 (ok, PSA: Put it on sale, maintenant!). The model is based on the current 1.6 liter diesel which is one of the top-selling diesel engines in Europe (you can see it in the Mini, the Ford Focus, the Volvo S40, the Peugeot 308, the Citroën C4 and the Citroën C4 Picasso) and is, in fact, one of the cleanest diesels available in the market. For this model, Peugeot added a hybrid system (not new) and filled the tank with diester (the French name for B30). The result: 74 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Suzuki SX4 gets a Puegeot diesel, overseas at least

When our Autoblog colleague Chris Tutor spent a week with the Suzuki SX4 recently he came away less than impressed with the fuel economy. Chris only managed 21 mpg with the all-wheel-drive compact. Unfortunately for Americans enamored with the cute little SX4's styling, the current 2.0L AWD powertrain is the only setup available right now. Over in Europe, buyers now have a new option in the form of a Peugeot 1.6L diesel driving only the front wheels. That combination yields a more palatable 44.4 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle. If Suzuki could offer a similar combination here for something close to the $15,000 price of the current AWD model, they might have a real winner.

When people carriers don't have to be gas-guzzlers

rAuto-News has published again another list of money and CO2-saving cars in Germany. Now it's time for the people-carriers. They have to seat at least seven, although the two seats at the back are usually only suitable for children. The list includes a selection of compact Station Wagons, compact (and not so compact) MPVs, and three vehicles which are usually delivery vans but they have windows around and more seats. You would think that all these vehicles are diesel, but the truth is that you can find two natural gas powered vehicles. Their consumption figures is then converted to gasoline equivalent. You will also find a couple of cases of badge engineering. As said, the SWs and some of the MPVs only have 2 extra seats for children, but at least half of the models can decently seat 7 adults.Some of our readers asked for US availability. None of this car, except the last one on the list (Mitsubishi Outlander, pictured here) is available in the US, and not with the diesel engine.