Cars that run on hydrogen and exhaust only water vapor are emerging to challenge electric vehicles as the world's transportation of the future.

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday, Honda and Hyundai automakers unveiled hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be delivered to the general public as early as next spring.

Toyota promised a mass-produced fuel cell car by 2015 at the Tokyo car show earlier.

Hyundai Motor Co. will be the first to the mass market in the U.S. It unveiled a hydrogen-powered Tucson small SUV that will be leased to consumers for $499 per month for three years with $3,000 down.

Hydrogen cars are appealing because unlike electric vehicles, they have the range of a typical gasoline car and can be refueled quickly. Experts say the industry also has overcome safety and reliability concerns that have hindered distribution in the past.

But hydrogen cars still have a glaring downside � refueling stations are scarce, and costly to build.

Consumers can expect costs in line with some luxury models.

Hyundai is offering to pay the hydrogen and maintenance costs. The company will start leasing in the Los Angeles area, where most of the state's nine fueling stations are located. California lawmakers have allocated $100 million to build 100 more. Honda wouldn't reveal any pricing details.

Hydrogen cars, experts say, have an advantage over battery-powered electric cars because drivers don't have to worry about running out of electricity and having to wait hours for recharging.

Hydrogen fuel cells use a complex chemical process to separate electrons and protons in hydrogen gas molecules. The electrons power a car's electric motor, which turns the wheels.

Since the hydrogen isn't burned, there's no pollution. Instead, oxygen also is pumped into the system, and when it meets the hydrogen ions and electrons, that creates water and heat. The only byproduct is water.

A fuel cell produces only about one volt of electricity, so many are stacked to generate enough juice.

Toyota said its new fuel cell vehicle will go on sale in Japan in 2015 and within a year later in Europe and U.S.

Toyota's fuel cell car is a "concept" model called FCV that looks like a sleeker Prius gas-electric hybrid.

Honda, which has leased about two-dozen fuel cell cars since 2005, took the wraps off a futuristic-looking FCEV concept vehicle in Los Angeles.

Honda executives predict that it will take five years for the hydrogen refueling stations to reach significant numbers outside California, and up to 25 years to go nationwide.

But skeptics say hydrogen fueling stations are more expensive than electric car charging stations, partly because electricity is almost everywhere and new and safe ways for producing, storing and transferring

hydrogen will be needed.

AP TELEVISION

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Los Angeles, California

1. Wide, convention floor at Los Angeles Auto Show

2. Wide, pan across cars covered with fabric waiting to be revealed

3. Wide, Chevrolet logo advertising new "Colorado" mid-size pickup truck

4. Medium, smoke and colored lights around new Subaru WRX, silky fabric slides off to unveil new car model in cherry red

5. Medium low, man peers in driver's side door of Subaru WRX

6. Wide, Honda stage with water and lights and concept car under wraps

7. Medium, screen above stage reads reads "Honda FCEV Concept"

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tetsuo Iwamura, President and CEO, American Honda Motor Co.

"Today we want to focus on what we believe has the potential to become the ultimate solution to realizing ultra-low carbon mobility. And that is the fuel cell electric vehicle."

9. Wide, Iwamura speaks on stage in front of veiled concept car

10. Tight, rear bumper of concept car as Iwarmura walks in front

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tetsuo Iwamura, President and CEO, American Honda Motor Co."The Honda FCEV concept!" (wide, fabric is whisked off car and music swells)

12. Wide, Honda sign on convention floor

13. Medium, woman tries to open door on concept car

14. Medium, man takes photo of car with cell phone

15. Tight, rear license plate pan up to Honda logo on rear bumper

16. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "Hydrogen fuel cells basically mix hydrogen and oxygen together, separate out the electrons and produce the electricity on board. In actuality, a hydrogen fuel cell car is an electric vehicle."

17. Tight, front of Honda concept car, zoom out to entire car

18. Tight, Honda insignia on front of car

19. Medium, photographer takes photo of car 20. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "The way Hyundai for instance tests its fuel cell tank? They light the car on fire. They've burnt up entire fuel cell vehicles to see what happens.

The pressure vent on the tank releases, the hydrogen goes up in a fan shape, it burns like a butane lighter, straight up in the air. And it dissipates in a couple of minutes."

21. Tight, curves on concept car, zoom out to entire car

22. Tight, Iwamura speaks to Japanese reporters

23. Medium pan, concept car

24. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "It's a more compact package and it's lighter than a big battery pack that you need for a plug-in electric vehicle."

25. Wide, audience waiting for Hyundai press conference

26. Medium, people at Hyundai presser

27. Wide, Hyundai Tucson ix35 hydrogen fuel cell compact SUV spinning slowly

28. Tight, Hyundai fuel cell vehicle spinning 29. Wide, Hyundai stage

30. SOUNDBITE (English) John Krafcik, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America "You've got driving range of up to 300 miles. You can refuel them in just a few minutes. And there's endless choice in size and configuration.

That's because it's more space- and weight-efficient to multiply the number of fuel cells than it is to multiply the number of batteries."

31. Wide, Krafcik on stage

32. Medium, Hyundai Tucson compact SUV

33. Wide, Toyota display at convention

34. Tight, Toyota sign

35. Tight zoom out to medium, worker polishing Dodge Challenger anniversary edition

36. Medium, model in white dress and boots with Dodge Challenger

SHOTLIST

London - November 27, 2008

1. Mid sign reading Japan Car - Designs For The Crowded Globe

2. Wide sign reading Japan Car - Designs For The Crowded Globe and people walking in front

3. Wide Nissan Pivo 2 revolving

4. Mid Nissan Pivo 2 revolving

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Eva Ng Kon Tia, Communications Associate, Nissan:

"Pivo2 is a concept car and it has been developed by Nissan based on market research that showed a lot of people have experienced difficulty with parallel parking, parking in general. So this car is revolutionary because the cabin rotates 360 degrees, so it allows you just to rotate the cabin, the wheels rotate as well and you just go straight through the parking. It's also an electric vehicle, so Pivo2 has been developed to have independence of 120 kilometres, so you can be health conscious and you know, saving the environment conscious."

6. Close Nissan Pivo 2 revolving

7. Pull out Nissan Pivo 2 revolving

8. Close Nissan Pivo 2 revolving

9. Wide Honda Insight

10. Set up shot Shigeru Ban, Architect

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Shigeru Ban, Architect:

"In Europe especially the car is a purely transportation means to go from one place to one place as quickly as possible. But the Japanese design is not simply the transportation means but also that it is the extension of your house or your room because our living space is a lot smaller so young people try to escape from parents so they use the car as an extension of your house or room. So that is also very different and also some of the cars that you see here it's like a Japanese traditional house. If you open up all the sliding doors you connect the inside and outside. Very flexible - that is a very particular design of the Japanese car."

12. Wide Toyota Plug in HV (Hybrid Vehicle)

13. Various plug in to recharge car battery

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Nahum, Principle Curator of Technology and Engineering, Science Museum:

"This is the Honda Insight, one of the environmentally responsive cars in the exhibition. Like the Toyota Prius, that everyone has heard of, it uses a petrol engine to or gasoline engine to drive a dynamo, and also charge a battery. And the car can switch intelligently from running on battery power or on petrol engine power if you like, depending on circumstance. The great advantage of the system is it mean that the engine is running at peak efficiency all the time whenever it's on."

15. Pan Honda Insight

16. Pull focus Honda Insight light

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Nahum, Principle Curator of Technology and Engineering:

"The cars in the exhibition are pointing to a future where the overt styling cues that suggest power, speed and in a way it can be seen as an incitement to aggression disappear in favour of more cubic cars where - if you like - are designed from the inside out. What's important in those cars is that the living space that you inhabit not, if you like, the impression it gives to the neighbours. So they are looking to a future which is much more collaborative, more gentle and where cars have to co-operate more in order for you to get around and get your journey done on time."

18. Pan Daihatsu Tanto to Toyota IQ

19. Wide Toyota bB

20. Tilt up Toyota bB

21. Pan Toyota bB rear light

22. Wide Toyota i-REAL

23. Mid Toyota i-REAL

24. Tilt up Toyota i-REAL

25. Tilt down interior entrance area Science Museum

26. Wide exterior Science Museum

LEAD IN:

It's a question that many economists and designers are asking themselves at the moment: "what will the future of the car industry look like?".

And for some at London's Science Museum the answer could lie in Japan.

STORYLINE:

Is this the vision of the future?

Nissan think so. This environmentally friendly electric car embodies - they say - cutting edge technologies and user-friendly innovations to create an unique car-driver relationship.

The centre piece of Pivo 2's design is its revolving three-person cabin which rotates 360 degrees.

It also also has unique facial and voice-recognition software in the form of a small robot that detects the mood of the driver which could have an impact on driver behaviour like road rage and sleepiness.

Eva Ng Kon Tia is a representative from Nissan.

She says that the Pivo 2 was designed based on market research which revealed that many people have trouble parallel parking.

In addition, she adds that being an electric car it is environmentally friendly.

The Japan Car exhibition also focuses on compact and environmentally friendly cars, showing how Japanese car design reflects the spirit of Japanese culture.

Shigeru Ban is a Japanese architect and one of the organisers of the exhibition.

He says that Japanese car design is more than just about transportation.

He explains that the car is seen as another form of living space because Japan is so crowded.

Environmental concerns are high on the list of Japanese car design.

Climate conscious hybrids are part of the exhibition and have been designed to reduce carbon and other emissions.

Andrew Nahum is Principle Curator of Technology and Engineering at the Science Museum.

He explains that the Honda Insight uses a petrol engine and is also able to charge a battery without affecting efficiency.

Nahum goes on to explain that that the cars in the exhibition reveal a possible future where cars are designed from the inside out.

He says that the emphasis is on the space inside the car acting as a living area rather than as a means to impress others.

Other vehicles featured in the exhibition include the Daihatsu Tanto which maximises inside space, the Toyota IQ which combines compactness and style, the Toyota bB and the futuristic Toyota i-REAL - a personal mobility vehicle.

Japan Car - Designs for the Crowded Globe runs at the Science Museum in London from 29th November 2008 until 19th April 2009. Tickets are �8 (US $12.40).

LEADIN :

Car designers are unveiling some unusual and futuristic designs at the Paris Motor Show in a bid to test market reaction.

Among them is a vehicle that has airless tyres.

STORYLINE:

Once every two years, car manufacturers roll into the Paris Motor Show ready to launch their latest four-wheeled designs on the world stage.

From luxurious motors to sporty hatchbacks and concept cars, manufacturers are displaying their vision of the future of motoring.

This beachy looking buggy is called America, a buggy cross over made by Venturi Automobiles, and a 100% electrical vehicle.

Small SUVs, also known as crossovers, are the fastest-growing segment of the market in the U.S. while in Europe sales are expected to grow 40 percent this year after doubling in 2014 according to IHS Automotive.

Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles says they were searching for a unique design.

"We try to propose always new things. We try to achieve niche markets with exclusive customers, so that is (why) we are looking for something different, we think different and propose something we think could be cool to use."

For some 370,000 euros (463,770 US Dollar) (without VAT) wealthy customers with style can purchase 407 HP electric car to take out for a drive on sunny days and stay in a range of 250km provided by the 53kWh Lithium ion battery.

Mauduit says the vehicle is both eco-friendly and boasts good acceleration.

"It is 100% electric vehicle, so it's a battery (equipped) vehicle with two motors at the back linked to the gearbox with two speeds. Two speeds are made to make a very good acceleration. 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.5 seconds and 0 - 200 km/h in 14 seconds, which is not so bad."

Another concept vehicle testing the water at the Paris Motor Show is MINI's new Superleggera Vision.

It's a collaborative venture between MINI and Italian design and body manufacturing specialists Touring Superleggera.

It's a compact roadster which - according to the manufacturers - focuses on the essentials, those being driving fun and aesthetic appeal.

The Superleggera is said to be a modern interpretation of a class open-top two-seater, combining British style and Italian flair with LED lights, chromed bars, smooth lines and colours.

Sam Livingstone, an automotive design specialist, says it is an interesting combination.

"I mean it's a fascinating car� this mash-up of being an Italian design house crashing into a sort of a very rationalist British brand. It's all about functionality, a very egalitarian brand with handmade Italian thing so the way those two things fuses� kind of a make this strange bastard (illegitimate) child. I think it works, it's a very lovely thing and it's one of the statements of Mini, it shows the boundary of the envelope of what they can do."

There are also several wacky looking personal mobility vehicles on show.

Toyota presented its improved version of i-Road, an ultra compact three wheels vehicle with a look of half car, half scooter.

The Japanese car manufacturer will by the end of the year start a three year test of integration of its electrical vehicle to public transportation in Grenoble, a mid-sized town in south-eastern France.

The vehicle that offers a range of 50km with a speed of 45 km/h, before you have to spend another three-hours recharging it.

"What we are doing in Grenoble is experimenting these very small personal mobility electric vehicles in connection with public transport system. We call it multi-modality transport and we think this is a future of cities in the world," says Jean-Yves Jault, a General Manager of Corporate Communication at Toyota.

Toyota's Coms concept car also appeared at Bridgestone's stand sporting the latest technology tyres, free air tyres that are designed to reduce CO2 emissions and all hassles linked to tyre maintenance.

"It is a tyre made of three parts, it's two circles which are stick to each other, the interior is (made) of plastic resin and on the top of the circle (wheel) comes a kind of a tyre patron in rubber. So in other words, there is no air in the tyre." explains Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone.

" What we see today, one of the biggest problems is that the people just forget to take care of their cars, to check tyre pressure and check tyre trap depth. So that, in the future� one day it won't be necessary anymore with this kind of concept," he adds.

4H, an exclusively electric car manufacturer from Eastern France, are presenting what is perhaps the quirkiest concept car on show.

Based on Suzuki Jimmny platform, 4H is testing the market trying to see if a mix of two seater in a row - buggy - 4X4 - retro - style car would win plaudits.

"For the moment, we are just testing the reaction of the public and we don't want to go as far as designing a fully electric vehicle but if reactions are really positive we may consider making a small production run and, of course, using electric engines," says Thomas Maitre, R&D engineer at 4H Automobiles.

Car shows are the perfect place for manfacturer's to test market reaction to their most futuristic designs says Jason Stein, editor of Automotive news, a US based auto news magazine.

"Autoshows are always great proofing ground, a bit of an incubation lab for car companies to flow out the ideas that could possibly be the next best thing. And let's face it, the car companies are working five to ten years out with cool gadgets, cool gizmos that they can then apply to some of their technology of mainstream vehicles. So it's a testing ground, it's a bit of a litmus test for the public to see if there is some attraction to some of those quirky things. But on the whole, this is a breathing ground for innovation; this is where the industry really comes together to innovate and create some new and exciting products".

One concept that will soon transfer to the road is MINI's new five door version which debuted at the Paris Motor Show.

The sporty feel and identity of the popular little car has been retained, but with a little more space this design is more suitable for families.

A third rear seat means more leg room, and also increased headroom are some advantages that MINI will use to attract new clients.

Starting at 18,300 euros (22,907 US Dollars) , the new 5 door MINI and dozens of other new designs can be seen at Paris Motor Show until October 19th.

AP TELEVISION

Paris, October 3rd 2014

1. Vide of America, buggy cross over made by Venturi Automobiles, 100% electrical vehicle, 400hp

2. Wide tilt up of America, by Venturi Automobiles

3. Mid of America, front side

4. Wide rear view of America, by Venturi Automobiles

5. Wide tracking setup shot of Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles :

"We try to propose always new things. We try to achieve niche markets, with exclusive customers, so that's what we are looking for ,something different, we think different and propose something we think could be cool to use."

7. Min of America's dashboard

8. Close up left pan of vehicle commands

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles :

"It is 100% electric vehicle, so it's a battery vehicle with two motors at the back linked to the gearbox with two speeds. The two speeds are made to make a very good acceleration. 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.5 seconds and 0 - 200 km/h power in 14 seconds, which is not so bad."

10. Wide undershot of America, by Venturi Automobiles

11. Wide tilt up from America, by Venturi Automobiles to woman

12. Wide of Mini's electrical concept car 'Superleggera'

13. Wide front view of Mini Superleggera

14. Close up of Mini Superleggera front grill

15. Mid rear view of Mini Superleggera

16. Wide rear view of Mini Superleggera

17. Close up of rear stop light

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Livingstone, automotive design specialist, commenting Mini Superleggera concept car :

"I mean it's a fascinating car� this mash-up of being an Italian design house crashing into a sort of a very rationalist British brand. It's all about functionality, a very egalitarian brand with handmade Italian thing so the way those two things fuses� kind of a make this strange bastard (illegitimate) child. I think it works, it's a very lovely thing and it's one of the statements of Mini, it shows the boundary of the envelope of what they can do."

19. Wide left pan, side view of Mini Superleggera

20. Close up of Mini Superleggera's steering wheel

21. Close up of Mini Superleggera's GPS system

22. Wide right pan of Toyota's i-Road urban electrical car, driving on display

23. Mid tracking shot of i-Road

24. Close up of i-Road's front light

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Yves Jault, General Manager of Corporate Communications at Toyota

"What we are doing in Grenoble is experimenting these very small personal mobility electric vehicles in connection with public transport system. We call it multi-modality of transport and we think this is a future of cities in the world."

26. Wide side view of i-Road by Toyota

27. Mid of man sitting in i-Road

28. Mid of i-Road interior

29. Close up of i-Road's front wheel

30. Wide right pan from exhibit hall alley to Toyota's Coms concept car on Bridgestone's stand

31. Mid undershot of Bridgestone tyres on Toyota's Coms concept car

32. Mid pull focus of Bridgestone free-air tyres

33. Mid setup shot of Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone :

"So basically it is a tyre made of three parts, it has two circles which are stick to each other, the interior is plastic resin and on the top of the circle (wheel) comes a kind of a tyre patron in rubber. So in other words, there is no air in the tyre."

35. Close up pull focus of Bridgestone's air-free tyres

36. Wide undershot of Toyota's concept car with new Bridgestone tyres

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone :

"What we see today, one of the biggest problems is that the people just forget to take care of their cars, to check tyre pressure and check tyre trap depth. So that, in the future� one day it won't be necessary anymore with this kind of concept."

38. Wide of 4H Automobiles stand

39. Mid tilt up of 4H Concept car, based on Suzuki Jimmny platform

40. Wide side view of 4H Automobiles Concept car

41. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Maitre, R&D engineer at 4H Automobiles :

"For the moment, we are just testing the reaction of the public and we don't want to go as far as designing a fully electric vehicle but if reactions are really positive we may consider making a small production run and, of course, using electric engines."

42. Mid of 4H Automobiles employee getting in 4H concept car

43. Wide front view of 4H Concept car

44. Wide rear view of 4H Concept car

45. Close up of stop light of 4H Concept car

46. Wide side view of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car

47. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car

48. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car, turning on display, rear view

49. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car, turning on display, front view

50. Wide left pan of Exhibit hall

51. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Stein, editor Automotive news, US based auto news magazine :

"Autoshows are always great proofing ground, a bit of an incubation lab for car companies to flow out the ideas that could possibly be the next best thing. And let's face it, the car companies are working five to ten years out with cool gadgets, cool gizmos that they can then apply to some of their technology of mainstream vehicles. So it's a testing ground, it's a bit of a litmus test for the public to see if there is some attraction to some of those quirky things. But on the whole, this is a breathing ground for innovation; this is where the industry really comes together to innovate and create some new and exciting products."

Paris, France - October 2, 2014

52. Various of five door Mini

SWITZERLAND HYBRID CARS

LENGTH: 4.56

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION NEWS

RESTRICTION: AP TECH TV CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

1. Various exterior motor show

2. Interior motor show

3. Various of Toyota stand, Toyota Prius video in background

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jozef Vandecruys, marketing manager Toyota:

"Well it's really, let's say a 'hybrid hype.' "

5. Sign reading Hybrid Synergy Drive

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jozef Vandecruys, marketing manager Toyota:

"I tell you, increase from the customer in environmental concern; increased oil prices; but I think mainly environmental concerns. People are really getting concerned about in what world their grandchildren are going to live".

7. Various of stand (featuring stuffed racoons) from Swiss government campaign highlighting car pollution

8. Prototype electric car,

9. Close up electric car's battery in the boot

10. Various of prototype Bollor� blu car

11. Nissan Pivo electric car; doors closing body spinning on wheel base

12. Close up hostess smiling from inside Pivo

13. Hostess inside electric concept car from Toyota Aygo

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Susanne Wegmann, president of e-mobile association:

"There has been talking about hybrid vehicles for more than one hundred years. But that they are really on the market and are available for everybody, so that everybody can drive, it's been only very recently."

15. Toyota stand

16. Lexus hybrid sedan GS 450 H poster with video in background

17. Various close up of model of sedan

18. Various of hybrid SUV from General Motors

19. Various of Citroen C4 diesel electric hybrid

20. Various of other hybrid cars

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Susanne Wegmann, President of E-mobile Association:

"I don't think it's going to be one standard, but I think it's going to be different 'drive trains' which take up more and more - one will be natural gas."

23. Gas pump

24. Renault Kangoo equipped for natural gas

25. Close up gas tank

26. Pump

27. Various of pump in action

28. Demonstration of distilled cellulosic compost to make ethanol

29. Various of Saab bio power vehicle which runs on ethanol or petrol

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Mario Klaus, Saab marketing manager:

"In Sweden they have the benefit that the ethanol, the fuel itself, is quite cheap, compared to the normal fuel. On the other side for instance in Stockholm you don't pay any parking fees, you don't pay any road pricing and you have tax benefits as well".

31. Tracking shot over floor map of Geneva streets

32. Exterior motorshow, tracking shot interior car at lights

33. Hybrid car owner Nadine Wuillemin driving

34. SOUNDBITE (French) Nadine Wuillemin, owner of hybrid car:

"I wanted a car which consumed less than one hundred litres and polluted less than one hundred and twenty grams of...I don't remember what. And I ticked away the vehicles one by one. It (her car) recharges by itself as you drive, you can follow the consumption here... for example now I am going uphill then the battery is in use, and now, it's recharging, there are the small green lines."

35. Interior motorshow, various of men washing car

36. Honda's prototype home energy station

37. Various Honda Formula 1 driver Jenson Button with Honda CEO Takeo Fukui

38. SOUNDBITE (English) Takeo Fukui, Honda CEO:

"Today we display the FCX concept model which is very close to the next generation of fuel cells vehicles."

39. Honda FCX on stand

40. Various computer animation: Honda FCX driving

SUGGESTED LEAD IN

With the rising cost of petrol, cars powered with alternative fuels have become more and more popular.

And this is no exception at the Geneva International Motor Show where hybrid cars are one of the highlights.

But for anyone that thinks environmentally friendly means boring -- they're in for a surprise.

SUGGESTED VOICE OVER

Alongside the shiny racing cars, this year the Geneva Motorshow also tackled a serious topic - the environmental impact of our addiction to driving.

A number of car manufacturers have been creating vehicles that can run on a variety of alternative energy sources -- cars which both conserve oil and reduce CO2 pollution.

Although there are already many alternatives - this year's buzz word is "hybrid."

SOUNDBITE (English)

"Well it's really, let's say a 'hybrid hype.'"

SUPERCAPTION: Jozef Vandecruys, marketing manager Toyota

And such cars are popular for many reasons.

SOUNDBITE (English)

"I tell you, increase from the customer in environmental concerns, increased oil prices, but I think mainly environmental concerns. People are really getting concerned about in what world their grandchildren are going to live"

SUPERCAPTION: Jozef Vandecruys, marketing manager Toyota

A recent campaign from the Swiss federal government suggests labelling cars to show their level of ecological friendliness.

This Bollor� Blue e-car lasts 250 kilometres before needing to be recharged -- and that only cost two US dollars.

The hybrids Nissan Pivo and Toyota Aygo are both scoring highly --both in manoeuvrability and design.

Despite the buzz here in Geneva, the hybrid car is not a new concept.

SOUNDBITE (English)

"There has been talking about hybrid vehicles for more than one hundred years, but that they have been available on the market and available for everybody, so that everybody can drive, it's been only very recently".

SUPERCAPTION: Susanne Wegmann, president, e-mobile association

A hybrid is a car that runs on more than one fuel -- a car with a standard petrol engine, coupled with an electric motor.

This is not an electric battery that you recharge during the night but a battery that recharges itself while you are driving, picking up all the unused kinetic energy from the engine, and giving it back when the car needs a boost.

The result is less petrol consumption and therefore less pollution.

SOUNDBITE (English)

"I don't think it's going to be one standard, but I think it's going to be different 'drive trains' which take up more and more - one will be natural gas."

SUPERCAPTION: Susanne Wegmann, President, E-mobile Association

Other "alternative fuels" that are not necessarily new are natural gas or methane.

These and LPG -- liquid petroleum gas -- a mixture of two gases: propane and butane have been used to power vehicles for decades.

A new alternative that many are betting on is ethanol or E85, produced via the distillation of bio waste (corn, sugar cane, organic waste).

But to make this the choice of the future, all sorts of incentives are needed.

SOUNDBITE (English)

"In Sweden they have the benefit that the ethanol, the fuel itself, is quite cheap, compared to the normal fuel; on the other side for instance in Stockholm you don't pay any parking fees, you don't pay any road pricing and you have tax benefits as well".

SUPERCAPTION: Mario Klaus, Saab marketing manager)

In this labyrinth of possible choices, which road will the environmentally conscious consumer take?

One Swiss citizen, worried about the environment, did her homework before buying a Honda Civic IMA.

SOUNDBITE (French)

"I wanted a car which consumed less than one hundred litres and polluted less than one hundred and twenty grams of...I don't remember what. And I ticked away the vehicles one by one. It (her car) recharges by itself as you drive, you can follow the consumption here... for example now I am going uphill then the battery is in use, and now, it's recharging, there are the small green lines."

SUPERCAPTION: Nadine Wuillemin, owner of hybrid car

And if the waste product of the car is water -- there is a solution for that too.

Honda has just launched the new FCX fuel cell concept vehicle, which does just that.

SOUNDBITE (English)

"Today we display the FCX Concept model which is very close to the next generation of fuel cells vehicles."

SUPERCAPTION: Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda

As people become more environmentally conscious, car manufacturers are coming up with more designs to both impress consumers and protect the world we live in.

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LEAD-IN:

The ongoing Zika virus emergency has forced one Indian auto maker into rebranding a hatchback it was previously planning to call 'Zica'.

A host of international auto makers - including Chevrolet, Toyota and Jaguar - are showcasing concept cars and latest models at the 2016 India Auto Expo.

STORY-LINE:

Kick start your engines, the 2016 India Auto Expo is go.

In Greater Noida on the outskirts of Delhi, both Indian and international car makers are showcasing their latest models, concepts and hybrid variants for expectant crowds.

The Auto Expo is one of the largest motor shows in Asia, attracting thousands of car enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of the latest in automobile innovation.

General Motors brand Chevrolet is showcasing its 'Beat Activ' concept car.

A youthful and perhaps great-valued vehicle should it ever go into production, according to Chevrolet's Tim Mahoney.

"The vehicle in many ways reflects kind of the DNA of Chevrolet," he says.

"It gets really great styling, it's really youthful. I think it has a performance aspect to it because of the soft roader appeal. And also we expect if it were to really go, really great value that it could offer."

Chevrolet is also showcasing its 'Essentia' which it plans to launch in India next year.

Mahoney, Global Chevrolet's chief marketing officer, says India is one of its top ten markets in the world.

The US carmaker plans to bring ten new vehicles to the country in the next five years.

"Chevrolet is sold in 115 markets around the world but India's really in our top ten," he says.

"It's a priority market for us. Lots of potential. And you can see it here our investment in the stand, in the display, the products that we're bringing.

"We plan to bring over the next five years, ten new products to market here in India."

Luxury carmaker Jaguar invited Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif to launch its new sports saloon, the Jaguar XE. It's priced at over $57,000 USD in the Indian market.

A range of luxury cars built to satisfy the county's growing pool of super-rich motoring enthusiasts are also on display, including this Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Range Rover SUV.

The undisputed leader of India's auto market, Maruti Suzuki, is launching its new compact SUV - the Vitara Brezza.

It's powered by a Diesel Direct Injection System (DDiS) engine. Though the vehicle will initially be available in diesel, the company also plans to launch a petrol version.

"The young customer, the third generation customer, who is considering his car as an extension of his personality, he likes to have this kind of aggressive, bold and energetic features, and that kind of stance we have provided in this vehicle," says Randhir Singh Kalsi from Maruti Suzuki India.

Earlier this year, India's Supreme Court continued its ban on registration of certain new diesel vehicles in Delhi until March 31.

That came as bad news for car makers Mercedes, Toyota and General Motors who petitioned against the ban.

With its unique shape and new hybrid engine, concept race car the Toyota TS030 Hybrid is getting lots of attention.

Though hybrid cars aren't popular in the Indian market, the influx of hybrid concepts and engines here suggests there'll be growth in that sector in years to come.

The World Health Organisation recently (1 February 2016) declared a global emergency over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, linked to birth defects in the Americas.

The ongoing emergency is even having an impact here at the auto show with India's Tata Motors being forced to rebrand a new hatchback vehicle it was previously planning to call 'Zica'.

Despite being unveiled here at the event with 'Zica' branding, Tata Motors senior official, Girish Wagh, says they plan not to use the name and will announce a new one in the coming weeks.

According to Wagh, Zica is an abbreviation of 'Zippy Car'.

"What we have made is a car which is meant for the youth of the country. It's a very zippy car, very good to drive around in the city, therefore we had named it as Zica," he says.

"However, you know this virus Zika has also come up and is kind of taking a shape of an epidemic so we are taking cognisance of that fact.

"We empathise with all those who have been suffering due to this and taking a call on this. Therefore, we have decided to change the name of the car."

Most cars sold in India have price tags of under $8,000 USD.

But global manufacturers are optimistic.

They say with an expanding middle class and growing urbanisation, there are long term prospects for growth in the Indian market.

Though the motor show opens to the public Friday (5 February), members of the media were invited for an advance press preview.

LEAD-IN:

The ongoing Zika virus emergency has forced one Indian auto maker into rebranding a hatchback it was previously planning to call 'Zica'.

A host of international auto makers - including Chevrolet, Toyota and Jaguar - are showcasing concept cars and latest models at the 2016 India Auto Expo.

STORY-LINE:

Kick start your engines, the 2016 India Auto Expo is go.

In Greater Noida on the outskirts of Delhi, both Indian and international car makers are showcasing their latest models, concepts and hybrid variants for expectant crowds.

The Auto Expo is one of the largest motor shows in Asia, attracting thousands of car enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of the latest in automobile innovation.

General Motors brand Chevrolet is showcasing its 'Beat Activ' concept car.

A youthful and perhaps great-valued vehicle should it ever go into production, according to Chevrolet's Tim Mahoney.

"The vehicle in many ways reflects kind of the DNA of Chevrolet," he says.

"It gets really great styling, it's really youthful. I think it has a performance aspect to it because of the soft roader appeal. And also we expect if it were to really go, really great value that it could offer."

Chevrolet is also showcasing its 'Essentia' which it plans to launch in India next year.

Mahoney, Global Chevrolet's chief marketing officer, says India is one of its top ten markets in the world.

The US carmaker plans to bring ten new vehicles to the country in the next five years.

"Chevrolet is sold in 115 markets around the world but India's really in our top ten," he says.

"It's a priority market for us. Lots of potential. And you can see it here our investment in the stand, in the display, the products that we're bringing.

"We plan to bring over the next five years, ten new products to market here in India."

Luxury carmaker Jaguar invited Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif to launch its new sports saloon, the Jaguar XE. It's priced at over $57,000 USD in the Indian market.

A range of luxury cars built to satisfy the county's growing pool of super-rich motoring enthusiasts are also on display, including this Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Range Rover SUV.

The undisputed leader of India's auto market, Maruti Suzuki, is launching its new compact SUV - the Vitara Brezza.

It's powered by a Diesel Direct Injection System (DDiS) engine. Though the vehicle will initially be available in diesel, the company also plans to launch a petrol version.

"The young customer, the third generation customer, who is considering his car as an extension of his personality, he likes to have this kind of aggressive, bold and energetic features, and that kind of stance we have provided in this vehicle," says Randhir Singh Kalsi from Maruti Suzuki India.

Earlier this year, India's Supreme Court continued its ban on registration of certain new diesel vehicles in Delhi until March 31.

That came as bad news for car makers Mercedes, Toyota and General Motors who petitioned against the ban.

With its unique shape and new hybrid engine, concept race car the Toyota TS030 Hybrid is getting lots of attention.

Though hybrid cars aren't popular in the Indian market, the influx of hybrid concepts and engines here suggests there'll be growth in that sector in years to come.

The World Health Organisation recently (1 February 2016) declared a global emergency over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, linked to birth defects in the Americas.

The ongoing emergency is even having an impact here at the auto show with India's Tata Motors being forced to rebrand a new hatchback vehicle it was previously planning to call 'Zica'.

Despite being unveiled here at the event with 'Zica' branding, Tata Motors senior official, Girish Wagh, says they plan not to use the name and will announce a new one in the coming weeks.

According to Wagh, Zica is an abbreviation of 'Zippy Car'.

"What we have made is a car which is meant for the youth of the country. It's a very zippy car, very good to drive around in the city, therefore we had named it as Zica," he says.

"However, you know this virus Zika has also come up and is kind of taking a shape of an epidemic so we are taking cognisance of that fact.

"We empathise with all those who have been suffering due to this and taking a call on this. Therefore, we have decided to change the name of the car."

Most cars sold in India have price tags of under $8,000 USD.

But global manufacturers are optimistic.

They say with an expanding middle class and growing urbanisation, there are long term prospects for growth in the Indian market.

Though the motor show opens to the public Friday (5 February), members of the media were invited for an advance press preview.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 3 February 2016

1. Wide of media waiting for unveiling of Chevrolet's concept car 'Beat Activ' at 2016 Auto Expo near New Delhi

2. Wide of unveiling of Chevrolet Beat Activ concept car and photographers taking pictures

3. Various of Chevrolet Beat Activ concept car

4. Various of Chevrolet Beat Activ concept car interior

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer Global Chevrolet and Global General Motors Marketing Operations Leader:

"The vehicle in many ways reflects kind of the DNA of Chevrolet. It gets really great styling, it's really youthful. I think it has a performance aspect to it because of the soft roader appeal. And also we expect if it were to really go, really great value that it could offer."

6. Mid of Chevrolet Essentia on display

7. Various of people sitting in Chevrolet Essentia

8. Various of Chevrolet Corvette on display

9. Various of Chevrolet Trailblazer on display

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer Global Chevrolet and Global General Motors Marketing Operations Leader:

"Chevrolet is sold in 115 markets around the world but India's really in our top ten. It's a priority market for us. Lots of potential. And you can see it here our investment in the stand, in the display, the products that we're bringing. We plan to bring over the next five years, ten new products to market here in India."

11. Wide of Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif launching the Jaguar XE sports saloon

12. Close of Jaguar logo

13. Mid of Katrina Kaif and Jaguar XE sports saloon

14. Various of Range Rover

15. Various of Maruti Suzuki's Vitara Brezza being unveiled at motor show

15. Various of Maruti Suzuki's Vitara Brezza exterior and interior

16. Close of Maruti Suzuki's logo on Vitara Brezza

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Randhir Singh Kalsi, Executive Director Maruti Suzuki India:

"The young customer, the third generation customer, who is considering his car as an extension of his personality, he likes to have this kind of aggressive, bold and energetic features, and that kind of stance we have provided in this vehicle."

18. Pan right of Toyota stand at motor show

19. Close of Toyota TS030 Hybrid on display

20. Wide of motor show floor

21. Wide of Audi Prologue concept on display

22. Wide of Nissan stand

23. Wide of Nissan X-Trail on display with photographers taking pictures of engine

24. Mid of Nissan hybrid engine on display

25. Wide of Nissan X-Trail rear

26. Various of Renault R.S. 01 sports car on display

27. Tilt up to woman posing with Renault Eolab hybrid concept car

28. Close of Renault Eolab wheel

29. Various of Renault Eolab interior and exterior

30. Wide of BMW's R nineT (left) and BMW S 1000 XR (right) on display at BMW stand

31. Tilt down of BMW R nineT

32. Wide of Mahindra's stand at 2016 Auto Expo

33. Wide of visitor standing on modified Mahindra Thar

34. Close of off-road tyres installed on modified Mahindra Thar

35. Wide of unveiling of Tata Motors' Zica and Hexa models

36. Close of Tata Motors' Zica after unveiling

37. Wide of Tata Motors Chairman Cyrus Mistry (left) and Tim Leverton, Head of Tata Engineering and Research Development (right), posing for photographers with recently unveiled Tata Zica

38. SOUNDBITE (English) Girish Wagh, Program Planning and Project Management Passenger Vehicles, Tata Motors:

"What we have made is a car which is meant for the youth of the country. It's a very zippy car, very good to drive around in the city, therefore we had named it as Zica. However, you know this virus Zika has also come up and is kind of taking a shape of an epidemic, so we are taking cognisance of that fact. We empathise with all those who have been suffering due to this and taking a call on this. Therefore, we have decided to change the name of the car."

39. Various of 1970 Datson Bluebird 1600 SSS on display at Datsun stand

FRANCE CAR SHOW

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION NEWS

RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 4:05

SHOTLIST:

1. Various exteriors of Paris Auto Show

2. Various interiors of Paris Auto Show

3. Pan down from Dodge stand sign to Dodge car with hostess standing next to it

4. Close up of Dodge hostess

5. Pan down from Venturi stand sign to Venturi Astrolab electro-solar car

6. Pan up from front of Astrolab to wide of Astrolab

7. Various close ups of solar system on Astrolab

8. SOUNDBITE (French) Marianne Hollande, Venturi Automobiles Marketing Manager :

"We are the first in the world to present Astrolab, an electro-solar vehicle. It uses the sunlight to recharge its batteries. It is an inter-urban vehicle with a maximum speed of 120 kilometres (119 miles) and a 110 kilometre (68 mile) autonomy. Right now, it is only a concept car but it will soon be commercialised."

9. Pan down from Landwind stand sign to Landwind X-pedition vehicle

10. Pan of vehicle

11. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Min Li, Asia Auto External Affairs with China :

"The French and German markets being important ones, we would like to start with them before expanding to other world markets."

12. Close up of Landwind brand sign

13. Pan left of Toyota stand

14. Computer monitor in front of Toyota Prius Hybrid

15. Tilt up to Toyota Prius Hybrid cut in half

16. Close up of Prius Hybrid engine

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Hensley, Toyota Europe General manager,:

"In a normal start up situation, you are going to start up in electric mode just with the electric motor driving you, so you pull away silently. When you need some more power as you start to accelerate, gasoline engine would start up as well seamlessly and continuously, you can accelerate on. As you accelerate hard, you then get a combination of power from the gasoline engine, power from the battery driving the electric motor to give you the acceleration and torque that you want."

18. Pan from visitors to Toyota Prius Hybrid

19. Pan from SAAB hostess to SAAB Aero X concept car

20. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Huguet, SAAB spokesman :

"When you use petroleum which is a fossil energy stuck in the ground, there is carbon in it, you take this carbon out and transform it and put it in a car and reject it outside. During photosynthesis, plants will absorb a part of it put not everything so you keep on adding CO2 to the atmosphere. When you use ethanol, ethanol is an alcohol made out of beet, sugar cane or wheat fermentation, you take this CO2 out of plants, you transform it and then consume it. And that CO2 taken out of the atmosphere is rejected in the same quantity. So it is a closed circle that does not add CO2 to the atmosphere. That is why we say that in the long run we could reject 75 percent less CO2 than what is used with a fossil energy."

21. Various of SAAB S9-3 Cabriolet Hybrid Biopower concept car

23. Various of SAAB S9-3 Cabriolet Hybrid Biopower engine

25. Visitors in Paris car show

LEAD IN:

Pushing hybrid technology ever further, a number of environmentally friendly vehicles are on display at this year's Paris Auto Show.

STORYLINE:

Motor companies from around the world displayed their 2008 models at the Paris Motor Show.

The Mondial de L'Automobile is expected to showcase more than 60 new designs and concept cars from manufacturers from Detroit to China, and is expected to draw more than a (m) million visitors.

While some vehicle manufacturers stick to tried and tested vehicles and displays, others push the boundaries of technology.

With a greater demand for cleaner cars many manufacturers displayed the latest environmentally friendly designs, including the latest in hybrid technology.

Many hybrid cars incorporate a mixture of technologies such as internal combustion engines, electric motors, battery (electricity) hydrogen and fuel.

And car maker Venturi were in a league of their own with their electro-solar car the Astrolab.

According to Venturi the vehicle can reach a top speed of 120 kilometre per hour (119 miles per hour).

Marianne Hollande from Venturi Automobiles says they are the first company in the world to produce such a car.

It is currently only made-to-order for around Euro92, 000 (US$116, 000).

As well as carmakers from the US and Europe, this years car show also welcomed a number of car manufacturers from China.

On show was the Landwind X-pedition made by JiangLing, the first Chinese car to be sold in Europe.

Asia Auto External Affairs with China spokesperson Min Li says the European market is very important to them.

But along with the less familiar names were household vehicle manufacturers.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid runs on both petrol and an emissions-free electric motor.

Colin Hensley, Toyota's General manager in Europe, explains how the engines work.

While the SAAB Aero X, a fossil free hybrid concept car, has been seen at a number of car shows this year.

Stephane Huguet, SAAB spokesman explains the how the biofuel engine is better for the environment.

SAAB also had it's new S9-3 cabriolet Hybrid Biopower concept car on display.

====

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SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Brussels, Belgium, 13 January 2010

1. Various wides of Brussels Motor Show hall

2. Pan of Lancia cars

3. Medium of Jaguar car

4. Zoom out from Ferrari logo to Ferrari cars

5. Wide shot Citroen prototype car

6. Zoom out of hostesses waving in Fiat car

7. Zoom out Miss Belgium 2010 posing for photographs in Peugeot car

8. Mid of people at Motor Show

10. Medium of Hyundai stand

11. Close of people speaking

12. Medium of Kia Eco Dynamic car

13. Close of Toyota rooftop solar panels

14. Close of Toyota Prius energy monitor

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Deprins, Managing Director Toyota Belgium:

"I believe that you''ll have more diversity of types of motors. So until now it''s more thermodynamic and we have petrol, diesel. I think in the future you will see together pure electric, you will have a hybrid motor and you will have potentially hydrogen motor."

16. Pan of salon to Volkswagen stand

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Marc Ponteville, Press relations manager Volkswagen import:

"Electricity is probably the energy of the future. Electrical cars will be probably the cars of the future, but nowadays it is not yet ready. Because there are still problems with the batteries for instance. So we believe that electrical cars will come on the market now, Volkswagen will have one electrical car in 2013, it''s the future up, but it will be a very specific product for specific markets and in the future it will become a mass product."

18. Zoom out of Volkswagen eco fuel car

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Marc Ponteville, Press relations manager Volkswagen import:

"Electricity can be produced with any kind of green ways, so you can get electricity from the wind, water, from the sun, so probably electricity is probably the most flexible energy we could use. And use it at home or even in the car."

20. Pan of Peugeot electric car

21. SOUNDBITE (French) Guido Junius, Formation manager Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg:

"Copenhagen and other events showed that everyone feels they should contribute to help to protect the environment, and we also have to thank the governments for supporting these new technologies and for being ready to reimburse money invested in such cars."

22. Electric car driving in test area

23. Electric car on charge

24. Mid shot electric car charging monitor

25. Zoom out of electric utility vehicle

26. Mid of electric utility vehicle with hood open

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Coen, CEO of Philco NV:

"There are a lot of people starting to work with solar panels, and when they put solar panels on the roofs they want everything on the electric cars and for the moment there is nothing on the market in utility cars, everybody has come out with the four seat cars, the berline car. And this is the reason why our manufacturer came out with the utility cars just to have the small transport car."

28. Close of Volvo electric car on charge

29. Inside Volvo electric car, turning engine on then driving

30. Wide of Volvo electric car driving in test area

LEAD IN

It''s all about green technologies at this year''s European Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium.

Toyota is showcasing its new Prius, whereas Peugeot is presenting its new 100% electric car the "iOn".

STORYLINE

Despite the economic crisis and the gloominess of the car sector, all the main world manufacturers are present at the European Motor Show in Brussels.

The theme of this year''s event, "Heading for tomorrow", gives a clear sign that emphasis is on the environment and new technologies.

But it is not that obvious to the visitor''s eyes.

Like every motor show, glossy cars, new prototypes and pretty hostesses are in evidence.

Even miss Belgium 2010 is present to help display the cars.

But those green and new technologies can be found revving up at manufacturer stands around the show.

Almost every brand has its own green label, with names like "Eco friendly", "Blue Motion", Eco Fuel", "Blue Drive", "Eco Dynamic".

But what kind of engine will the car of the future have?

Eric Deprins, managing director at Toyota Belgium, says there will be more diversity.

"Until now it''s more thermodynamic and we have petrol, diesel and I think in the future you will see together pure electric, you will have a hybrid motor and you will have potentially hydrogen motor."

The new Toyota Prius, with a solar panel on its rooftop and its hybrid engine, fits the bill.

But for other car manufacturers, it seems that electricity will prevail over other sources of power.

"Electricity is probably the energy of the future. Electrical cars will be probably the cars of the future but nowadays it is not yet ready. Because there are still problems with the batteries for instance. So we believe that electrical cars will come on the market now, Volkswagen will have one electrical car in 2013 it''s the future up, but it will be a very specific product for specific markets and in the future it will become a mass product," says Jean-Marc Ponteville, from Volkswagen group.

According to him, electricity seems to be the ultimate source of power for cars.

"Electricity can be produced with any kind of green ways, so you can get electricity with the wind, water, from the sun, so probably electricity is probably the most flexible energy we could use. And use it at home or even in the car."

All this environmentally friendly sensibility from consumers and manufacturers is quite new, according to Peugeot, which is preparing to launch its 100% electric car the "iOn".

"Copenhagen and other events showed that everyone feels they should contribute to help to protect the environment, and we also have to thank the governments for supporting these new technologies and for being ready to reimburse money invested in such cars," says Guido Junius, formation manager for Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg.

To see electrical cars in action, visitors can head to dedicated hall in the salon, where they can try electric cars with a driver in a test area.

Here we see cars in action and charging, just like any other electric device.

And in the middle of the usual family cars, a plastic utility vehicle, designed for a specific market, as explained by Philippe Coen, CEO of Philco NV.

"There are a lot of people starting to work with solar panels and when they put solar panels on the roofs they want everything on the electric cars and for the moment there is nothing on the market in utility cars, everyone has come out with the four seat cars, the berline car. And this is the reason why our manufacturer came out with the utility cars just to have the small transport car," he says.

To test the car you have to book an appointment with a driver.

Once inside, not a single noise.

Only the lights on the display can tell you that the engine is on, proving that driving can now be completely pollution and noise free.

The 88th edition of the European Motor Show runs until the 24th January 2010.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide pan of showroom floor at 2007 International Auto Show

2. Mid of man lowering movie screen on the Suzuki Flix car

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gene Brown, Vice President of Marketing, Suzuki:

"Well, the basic concept behind Flix is to take the key features of our all new midsize XL-7, our largest, most powerful and most luxurious vehicle we've ever offered, and sort of exaggerate them in a concept vehicle to help get the idea through. And the two key ideas of XL-7 that are accentuated here are very progressive styling of the vehicle, brought to life with a lot of theatre touches like theatre lighting in this vehicle and also our first ever in-vehicle entertainment system. And of course in this case we've taken the entertainment system to a greater extreme with the Flix and a big 50-inch high res (resolution) screen."

4. Tight of Flix sound system

5. Close up of Flix car movie screen

6. Close up of of Flix car projector

7. Pull out from GM logo to dancers dancing around vehicles

8. Medium of dancers dancing around GM vehicles

9. Cut away to close up of photographers

10. Wide pan from audience members throwing balls to stage, UPSOUND (English): "Vote now!"

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Lyon, General Motors Executive Director of Design for Asia-Pacific:

"And we've done an exercise here in creating GM-Daewoo. It is the 'home room,' we call it, it is the centre for expertise for mini cars for General Motors, and we wanted to look at, and, well maybe if we made small cars, mini cars, more compelling that people would buy it for some other reason than price and fuel economy. They'll buy it because they love the car, because the image is right for them, it has the right mood and character, and they get an inexpensive car with great fuel economy kind of along for the ride.'"

12. Mid of the back of a Toyota Highlander

13. Close up pan of Toyota Highlander logo to logo, reads: "Hybrid Synergy Drive"

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) J.C. Chitwood, Senior Strategic Planner for Toyota Advanced Technologies :

"Well, we'll be introducing, as I said, the hybrid in more and more of our models, and we also believe that hybrid technology can be combined with different fuel sources so whether in the future that's bio diesel or ethanol or fuel cell, that the addition of the Hybrid technology increases the efficiency of whatever you put it with."

15. Pan of show room floor

16. Mid of women working on car engine

17. Wide of showroom floor

18. Wide of exterior of building where show being held

STORYLINE:

With flashy names, bold designs, technological advances and "eco-friendly" rides, the 1,000 cars and trucks at the New York Auto Show 2007 burst onto the scene on Wednesday.

And while fuel efficiency and 'green' cars seemed to be the theme of the day, the coolest thing on the floor was the ultra-extravagant "flix" from Suzuki.

Based on the Suzuki XL-7, the SUV has a clamshell roof that reveals a movie screen. Inside, a complete entertainment system and high-quality sound system completes the package.

Gene Brown, Vice President of Marketing, said Suzuki's 'concept' car is a special-order vehicle, with exaggerated features.

"The two key ideas of XL-7 that are accentuated here are very progressive styling of the vehicle brought to life with a lot of theatre touches like theatre lighting in this vehicle and also our first ever in-vehicle entertainment system. And of course in this case we've taken the entertainment system to a greater extreme with the Flix and a big 50-inch high res (resolution) screen," he said.

General Motors had an entirely different concept in mind with the launch of their triplets: three new models of mini, fuel efficient cars.

Hoping to boost its presence in the ultra-small car market, the company chose the Auto Show to unveil a trio of new Chevrolet mini car concept vehicles designed to grab the attention of young car buyers in urban markets around the world.

The cars, launched with a rock and roll beat and dancers, are called the Beat, a front-wheel drive three-door hatchback powered by a 1.2-litre turbo charged gasoline engine; the Groove, a retro looking front-wheel drive car with a 1-litre diesel engine; and the Trax an 'urban crossover' with an all-wheel-drive system and a 1-litre gas engine.

The cars are not yet in production.

In a novel, interactive move, consumers will have a say in which of those cars eventually hits dealer lots by voting for their favourite model on a GM Web site.

While the vote won't be the final determination on which car is produced, company officials will take it into account when making their decision, they said.

The cars are the first product of what GM is calling its minicar "homeroom," which is a collaboration between GM and Daewoo, as David Lyon, General Motors Executive Director of Design for Asia-Pacific, explained.

"It is the centre for expertise for mini cars for General Motors, and we wanted to look at, well maybe if we created small cars, mini cars, more compelling that people would buy it for some other reason than price and fuel economy. They'll buy it because they love the car, because the image is right for them, it has the right mood and character, and they get an inexpensive car with great fuel economy kind of along for the ride," he said.

GM hopes the vehicles also could give the world's largest automaker a bigger foothold in the growing mini car market, which is largely dominated by the Japanese automakers.

The triplets might sell for as low as 10 thousand US dollars.

GM also hopes the new vehicles will boost Chevrolet's presence as a global brand and plans to market them in urban markets around the world, where mini cars already enjoy greater popularity.

Toyota was also on the floor this year, the tenth anniversary of its hybrid.

"Well, we'll be introducing, as I said, the hybrid in more and more of our models," J.C. Chitwood, Senior Strategic Planner for Toyota Advanced Technologies, explained.

"We also believe that hybrid technology can be combined with different fuel sources so whether in the future that's biodiesel or ethanol or fuel cell, that the addition of the Hybrid technology increases the efficiency of whatever you put it with," she said.

The 2007 New York International Automobile Show opens to the public on Friday, April 6th and runs until April 15th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Frankfurt, Germany - September 14, 2011

1. Mid of row of Smart electric cars plugged into recharging points

2. Mid side shot of Smart "electric drive"

3. Close of battery charger, zoom out to rear of Smart electric drive

4. Mid of prototype carbon chassis of Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell

5. Mid front three quarters of acid green Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell

6. Mid, low angle of Mercedes B-Class F-Cell

7. Mid, side view of Mercedes B-Class F-Cell

8. Cutaway of Dieter Zetsche, CEO Mercedes-Benz, speaking to journalist

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dieter Zetsche, CEO, Mercedes-Benz:

"We will start with a significantly higher volume of production in 2014 and we foresee in the year 2016, at the latest 17, to accomplish a cost position which is equal or similar to Diesel Hybrid. So within these five to six years we are not only technically but economically fully competitive with this new drive-train as well."

10. Mid of Mercedes B-Class F-Cell, hydrogen fuel pump in foreground

11. Close of recharging station pull out to Porsche Boxster E

12. Close low angle of Porsche Boxster E as visitor opens door

13. Wide of Volkswagen "up!" logo

14. Wide of Volkswagen "up!" cars on stand

15. Mid of white Volkswagen "up!", pull out to wide

16. Mid rear of Volkswagen concept "up!" Azzurra beach car

17. Mid rear of Volkswagen single passenger concept "Nils"

18. Close of Volkswagen concept "Nils"

19. SOUNDBITE (German) Dr. Natascha K�nstner, Volkswagen Research and Development:

"Nils" is a concept car by VW Research and it focuses on micro-mobility, that is to say, urban mobility. It is a single-passenger vehicle, because studies have shown that 70 percent of commuters drive less than 25 kilometres to work, and that 90 percent drive by themselves. That is why it is a single-passenger concept."

20. Close pan right of Volkswagen concept "Nils"

21. Wide of Volkswagen concept "Nils"

22. Close pan right of Audi "urban concept"

23. Close of grille of BMW i8 concept, pull to wide

24. Mid of BMW i8 concept, rotating on stand

25. Mid of BMW i8 concept interior

26. Wide of Rimac Automobili "concept one"

27. Mid of concept one interior

28. SOUNDBITE (Croatian) Mate Rimac, automotive designer and founder of Rimac Automobili:

"Frankfurt Motor Show is the biggest automobile exhibition in the world and we have come here to present our concept. The whole industry is here and our aim is to network and present our work looking at its best."

29. Close of battery block used in Rimac Automobili "concept one"

30. Wide of Rimac Automobili "concept one"

31. Wide of Toyota Prius stand

32. Close of Lithium-ion battery as used in Toyota Prius+, pull out to mid of battery and Prius+ in background

33. Close of Lithium-ion battery, pull out to mid of chassis and wheel

34. Close of Hybrid Synergy Drive engine, pull out to Prius+

Frankfurt, Germany - September 13, 2011

35. Mid side shot of Renault Twizy concept

36. Close pan left of recharging station plug to hooked-up recharger in front side of Renault Twizy concept

37. Wide of Renault Twizy concept

38. Mid of Renault Scenic, with pink vintage Renault in background

39. Close of side of Renault Scenic, reading: 115g/km CO2, Renault eco2

LEAD IN:

The Frankfurt Motor Show is the biggest in the world and is the place to see what tomorrow''s cars today - from zany concept cars to hi-tech hydrogen fuel technology.

There''s no need for a crystal ball, here''s what the car makers think we will be driving in the future.

STORYLINE:

Is this what the garage of the future looks like? A line up of cars plugged into power sockets.

Urban car maker Smart certainly thinks so.

The future drives into town at this year''s IAA Frankfurt Motor Show with manufacturers showing off the latest innovations in hybrid and electric-powered vehicles.

These Smart cars have ditched their traditional one-litre petrol engines for a Tesla lithium-ion battery pack.

These near-production models show what the cars will look like when they hit showrooms in the second quarter of 2012.

The battery has a range of nearly 90 miles and the car has a top speed of 75mph.

Smart is boasting a sprightly performance of 0-40 mph in around five seconds.

At Mercedes, the SLS AMG E-Cell is on display in bright acid green, packing 533 horsepower this fully electric vehicle. Mercedes claim acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just four seconds. Enough to embarrass most gas-guzzling, petrol-powered sports cars away from the lights.

The B-Class F-Cell (fuel cell) runs from another power source altogether - hydrogen.

It has been produced in a limited edition of just 200 units, for select customers. To prove the hydrogen concept works, the cars was driven around the world on all five continents

Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche believes sales of hydrogen vehicles will soon match those of diesel hybrids:

"We will start with a significantly higher volume of production in 2014 and we foresee in the year 2016, at the latest 17, to accomplish a cost position which is equal or similar to Diesel Hybrid. So within these five to six years we are not only technically but economically fully competitive with this new drive-train as well."

On the Volkswagen stand, a new four-seater urban model called the "up!" is attracting attention.

The German car maker is calling the class a New Small Family car.

The basic version comes with a one-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine capable of either 60 or 75bhp.

The Volkswagen "up!" starts at an affordable 9,850 Euros (USD 13,642).

Along with the release of the "up!", which is intended for mass production, several concept studies are on show, including the "up! Azzurra", conceived as a ''beach car''.

Volkswagen is also showing off its single-passenger study "Nils", focusing on urban mobility and single commuters.

Dr. Natascha K�nstner, Volkswagen Research and Development says: "Nils" is a concept car by VW Research and it focuses on micro-mobility, that is to say, urban mobility. It is a single-passenger vehicle, because studies have shown that 70 percent of commuters drive less than 25 kilometres to work, and that 90 percent drive by themselves. That is why it is a single-passenger concept."

Audi has come up with its own similar one-seater study called "urban concept".

It comes with a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis with 21-inch wheels covered by protective plates. A sliding canopy provides access to the car, much like a fighter jet.

At BMW, the "i8" plug-in hybrid concept was all the rage.

It''s a sports car capable of 0-60mph in four and a half seconds and with a top-speed of 155mph.

The four seater "i8" combines an electric motor with a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 220bhp.

The world''s biggest automotive manufacturers are here, but so are some of the smallest, but they don''t lack ambition.

Croatian up-and-coming automotive designer Mate Rimac presented his "concept one" sports car.

According to Rimac, it is the most powerful fully electric performance vehicle in the world packing a white-knuckle 1,088bhp.

He says: "Frankfurt Motor Show is the biggest automobile exhibition in the world and we have come here to present our concept. The whole industry is here and our aim is to network and present our work looking at its best."

The idea for his car came after the team converted an old BMW into a superfast electric race car. Rimac Automobili "concept one" is the result.

At Toyota, holding the majority of patents in hybrid technology, changes to the popular Prius series were presented.

Toyota managed to add an optional third row of seating in its Prius+ due to innovations in making the lithium batteries it uses lighter and smaller.

At Renault, which is on the forefront of affordable hybrid and electric models, the fully electric one-seater study "Twizy" was presented.

The Frankfurt Motor Show continues until September 25, 2011.

SHOTLIST

AP Television

Guangzhou, China, 23 November 2009

1. Wide shot unveiling of Infiniti's new concept car Essence

2. Cutaway of media

3. Wide of Infiniti's new concept car Essence rotating on stage

4. Mid shot of car boot opening, showing a set of Louis Vuitton briefcases

5. Pan of Essence car

6. Mid shot of interior of Essence

7. Close up of steering wheel of Essence

8. Wide top executives of Nissan standing in front of new cars

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Yasuaki Hashimoto, President of Nissan (China) Investment Company Limited:

"This year, China is showing the very big growth, while the other markets like US, Europe, Japan, is just right to maintain the sales volume. But China is showing the significant growth, more than 30 per cent so far, for passenger big growth sales in China. But still the China market has a big potential because China's modernisation has just started. I think China will be the biggest market in the world very soon, and this is a significant potential we see in China, so we have a reason to see China will be the most important strategy market for us."

10. Wide of Infiniti's new car, G37

11. Close up of car sign with number G37

12. Various of G37 car opening its hood with a man sitting in the car

13. Pan across Infiniti exhibition area

14. Close up of Ford logo and Chinese characters reading 'wonderful live'

15. Wide of performers dancing beside a covered car

16. Mid of performers taking off a cloth covering Ford Mondeo

17. Pan of Ford Mondeo

18. Close of front of Ford Mondeo

19. Cutaway of reporters

20. Wide of Nigel Harris speaking on stage

21. Mid of Nigel Harris speaking on the stage

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Nigel Harris, General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company:

"It seems to be showing signs it is going to continue to grow, and when you start talking about numbers like 15 million units for next year, that make sense. There is an underlying healthiness about the auto market and about how the Chinese consumers behave, they are great savers. So, they don't let you borrow a lot of money, so the net result is they have actually got the liquidity to go out and buy a car. That means when we talk about growth like ten per cent for next year, we're actually pretty confident that can happen."

23. Mid of visitors walking through car show

24. Mid of a Mercedes-Benz car

25. Mid of visitor opening the door of the Mercedes-Benz car

26. Close up of Mercedes-Benz car rotating

27. Wide of the Mercedes-Benz car rotating with print reading 'Blue EFFICIENCY'

28. Wide of Toyota's plug-in hybrid car model HI-CT

29. Close up of plug of the HI-CT

30. Wide front of HI-CT

31. Mid shot visitor taking photo

32. Wide of a white Toyota FT-EV electric car

33. Close up of plug of the Toyota FT-EV electric car

34. Wide of the exhibition area of Geely, Chinese domestic car manufacturer

35. Wide of a BYD AUTO car

36. Mid of the front of the BYD AUTO car

37. Mid of visitors looking at engine

38. Wide shot people walking past cars

AP Television

Hong Kong, 24 November 2009

39. SOUNDBITE (English) Simon Lam, Research director at Christfund Securities Limited:

"So they are making very good profits to their parent company, if you compare them making the same sales, making the same number of the vehicle with their country. So, I believe that all the manufactures, they intend to increase their capacity, which is compare their slowing down their own production line in their own country."

AP Television

Guangzhou, China, 23 November 2009

40. Mid of a car rotating with two models standing beside the car

41. Pan from photographers to model posing with car

42. Wide of colourful mini cooper

43. Wide of a BMW car

44. Pan across exhibition

LEAD IN:

China's third-largest auto show kicked off Tuesday (24 November) in the country's southern city of Guangzhou, as more than 600 international car makers gather to showcase their latest models together with their Chinese joint ventures.

Themed as "Technology, Trend and New Life", the annual auto show presents about 70 new models for the first time in China.

STORYLINE:

This is Essence, an electric and petrol hybrid coupe with 600PS engine.

It is Infinity's latest concept car, equipped with a new direct-injection fuel system which, according to Nissan, ensures the engine works more efficiently than before.

In its trunk, briefcases from Louise Vuitton demonstrate the collaboration between the car manufacturer and the luxury brand.

Essence is one of the highlights of this year's auto show in Guangzhou, demonstrating that the Chinese car market is growing strong.

Yasuaki Hashimoto, President of Nissan, says that this year China is showing a very big growth, while the other markets like the US, Europe and Japan are struggling to maintain sales.

"China is showing the significant growth, more than 30 per cent so far, for passenger big growth sales in China. But still the China market has a big potential because China's modernisation has just started. I think China will be the biggest market in the world very soon and this is a significant potential we see in China, so we have a reason to see China will be the most important strategy market for us."

Alongside Essence, another Infinity car got its premiere: the all-new G37 convertible.

Over at Ford - the Changan Ford is being unveiled. It's a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Changan Motors in Chongqing China, celebrates it's upgraded 2010 Ford Mondeo.

The company is confident that the new model's classy appearance and spacious interior can win the hearts of high-end customers.

Ford's EcoBoost engine cutaway is also being showcased for the first time to demonstrate Ford's green technology, which will be introduced in China next year.

The engine's new technology delivers up to 20% better fuel economy and 15% fewer CO2 emissions.

Nigel Harris, General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company, says the future looks promising for them.

"When you start talking about numbers like 15 million units for next year, that make sense. There is an underlying healthiness about the auto market and about how the Chinese consumers behave, they are great savers. So, they don't let you borrow a lot of money, so the net result is they have actually got the liquidity to go out to buy a car. That means when we talk about growth like ten per cent for next year, we're actually pretty confident that can happen."

Germany luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz showcases three new cars that incorporate its latest Blue Efficiency green technology.

The E-200 and E-260 sedans could save at least 0.15 litre per 100 kilometres in fuel consumption, according to the car maker.

Toyota Motor Corp presents its FT-EV electric car powered by motor and lithium battery.

At the Japanese auto maker's booth the FT-HS sports car is on show. It uses new hybrid technologies. There's also the Hi-CT plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Chinese automobile manufacturers BYD and Geely are also showing their new electric and hybrid cars at the event.

China's auto sales are the world's highest this year.

According to the state-sanctioned China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, sales in October were up by 72 percent from last year to 1.2 million vehicles.

Total sales up until early November are 10.9 million vehicles, compared with 8.6 million in the United States, according to Autodata Corp.

The Chinese government's stimulus policies have included cutting consumption taxes on cars with an engine capacity of 1.6 litres or below to 5 per cent from 10 per cent, and giving subsidies to villagers of up to 5,000 yuan (730$ US Dollars) to buy a small car.

A car analyst in Hong Kong expects these measures will be kept in place over the next year, as the Chinese government has announced to curb carbon emissions.

Thus small displacement engines would be encouraged.

Simon Lam, Research director at Christfund Securities Limited, says the cheap labour costs in China is attracting international manufacturers to expand production there.

"So they are making very good profits to their parent company, if you compare them making the same sales, making the same number of the vehicle with their country. So, I believe that all the manufactures, they intend to increase their capacity, which is compare their slowing down their own production line in their own country."

The Guangzhou auto show ran from 24 to 30 November.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics car

2. Tilt down from Opel and Vauxhall signs to Opel Ampere

3. Zoom in on Opel Ampere

4. Set up of technology analyst from ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club or German Automobile Club)

5. SOUNDBITE: (German) Manfred Gross, Technology Analyst, ADAC :

"At the moment there are a lot of limitations on electric cars. The corresponding battery technology is very expensive, they are limited in their range compared to cars with combustion engines and we can not look at them as an environmental solution for tomorrow. But we are talking about a time frame of ten years and we will see at the car show in ten years time what really happens - if they are practical and if they are in competition to the combustion engines we have today."

6. Wide of Toyota Auris Hybrid being dusted

7. Wide of Toyoto stand

8. Close up of of sign reading "Hybrid Synergy Drive"

9. Close of Toyota Hybrid engine

10. Wide of Mercedes F-cell

11. Close of sign reading "F-Cell - BlueEFFICIENCY"

12. Various of Renault electric concept cars

13. Interior of concept car

14. Wide of motor show

STORYLINE:

Car manufacturers unveiled a range of electric cars and hybrid engines at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show, which opened to media on Tuesday.

Companies from Volkswagen AG to Hyundai Motor Co. took part with a particular focus on designs that eschew traditional combustion engines in favour of more environmentally friendly electric motors or a hybrid blend of both.

Analysts expect global production of purely electric cars to expand rapidly in the coming years. IHS Global Insight forecasts an increase from nearly 9,500 this year to more than 58,000 in 2011.

New offerings included BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics, a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid, and the Opel Ampere.

Toyota had new models on show including the first plug-in version of Toyota's Prius hybrid, which can have its batteries charged at a household outlet.

Renault displayed several electric concept cars and Mercedes offered up the F-Cell, which sports a fuel cell and an electric motor.

Technology analyst at ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, the German Automobile Club), Manfred Gross, said electric cars are still limited because the technology is expensive.

He added electric vehicles may be comparable to the standard combustion engine in ten years time.

The 63rd Frankfurt Auto Show is scheduled to open to the public on September 17.

SHOTLIST:

Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, US

November 18, 2010

1. Wide of LA Auto Show

2. Pull to wide of electric concept car

3. Pull to mid of electric concept car

4. Wide of LA Auto Show

5. Set up of Richard Homan, Road and Track Magazine car journalist

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Homan, Road and Track Magazine car journalist

"The headlines are certainly electricity green cars as well as the tendency toward cars to get smaller. When I started in this business cars and trucks were getting bigger and bigger and bigger and trucks were the big thing now cars are tending to get smaller. There's even a little Fiat over at the Chrysler stand. Cars getting smaller becoming more efficient packages."

8. Wide of Lexus stand

9. Pull of Mini stand

10. Set up of Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Los Angeles Auto Show

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Los Angeles Auto Show

"This is absolutely a record breaking show for LA. this is the biggest show that we've ever had. We have more than 50 world and North American debuts at least 25 of those debuts have never been seen before. So this is the first time anyone in the world gets to see these cars. We have a thousand cars on the show floor. We have 50 different brands so its definitely one of the top five shows in the world. "

12. Wide of Nissan Leaf

13. Pull of Nissan Leaf badge

14. Zoom of electric charging plug in car's bonnet

15. Pullout of the interior of Nissan Leaf

16. Wide of Mitsubishi Miev electric car

17. Pull of Volvo C30 electric car

18. Pull of Porsche stand

19. Pan from Fisker TV monitor to car

20. Wide of Kia Optima Hybrid

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Los Angeles Auto Show

"And then we've got some crazy concepts. We have this Jaguar that's in the booth right next to us that's a $300,000 electric Supercar that goes from zero to 60 (mph) in 3.2 seconds. You can go to Vegas and back on one tank of gas!"

22. Mid of Jaguar electric Supercar

23. Pull of Chevrolet stand

24. Mid of the Chevrolet Volt electric car

25. Set up of Richard James, manager of product communications for General Motors on the West Coast

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard James, manager of product communications for General Motors on the West Coast

"What we have is an electric vehicle with extended range and what that is an electric vehicle that allows you to drive - if you have a full battery - on pure electricity or your battery reserve for up to 50 miles. What happens after that, to overcome this issue known as "range anxiety" is there's a generator that is built into the car, an internal combustion engine - a gasoline engine essentially - that kicks in automatically, seamless to the consumer, that will charge the battery and so the vehicle will continue to run on its electric architecture for up to 350 miles."

27. Mid of GM pick up truck

28. Mid of GM SUV

29. Tilt up from GMC logo to car

30. Pull from Nissan Leaf badge

31. Tilt down on "fill up at home" electric charging station

32. Set up of Mark Perry, director of product planning, Nissan

33. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Perry, director of product planning, Nissan

"This is the world's first affordable pure zero emission car, battery electric, no gas, no oil. Never have to go to a gas station, never have to do an oil change. Zero emission, there's not even a tail pipe. 100 miles of range in a single charge. 90mph top speed and it's as simple as plugging in right into your garage."

34. Mid of Fiat 500 car

35. Wide of Toyota stand

36. Mid of Kia Pop concept car

37. Tilt down of Kia stand

38. Pull of Kia Pop concept car

39. Pull wide of Ford stand

40. Wide of Saab electric car

41. Pull tilt down of Mercedes stand

42. Wide of Hyundai stand

LEAD IN:

There's a buzz at the Los Angeles Auto Show as the latest current of zero-emission electric cars roll into town.

The Auto Show, at the LA Convention Center, features more than 20 world debuts from the top manufacturers and the word on everybody's lips is "electric".

STORY LINE:

This year's show marks the arrival of the "electric era" with green concept models packing the stands.

Like this Honda electric vehicle concept making its world debut.

Consumers will be able to buy many of these mass-production electric vehicles from December (2010).

Richard Homan, Road and Track Magazine motoring journalist says he's seen a sea change in attitudes.

"The headlines are certainly electricity green cars as well as the tendency toward cars to get smaller," he says. "When I started in this business cars and trucks were getting bigger and bigger and bigger and trucks were the big thing now cars are tending to get smaller. There's even a little Fiat over at the Chrysler stand. Cars getting smaller becoming more efficient packages."

This year's show boasts over 1,000 cars from 50 different brands, says Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Some of the electric concept cars were more outlandish.

Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Los Angeles Auto Show, says "We've got some crazy concepts. We have this Jaguar that's in the booth right next to us that's a $300,000 electric Supercar that goes from zero to 60 (mph) in 3.2 seconds. You can go to Vegas and back on one tank of gas."

The Jaguar C -X75 concept car is powered by four lithium-ion batteries putting out a total of 780 horsepower with a top speed is 205 mph.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Miev electric car - marketed as a second vehicle - is expected to cost $30,000 when it goes on sale in November 2011.

The Volvo C30 two-door, four-seater also achieves 100 miles on a full charge and has a top speed of up to 81mph. Acceleration is sprightly, it goes from 0 to 61 miles per hour in 10.5 seconds.

The first C30s will be available in the US from the end of next year.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt was named Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Volt matches sedan (saloon) styling with an electric motor capable of powering the car for 40 miles before a backup combustion engine kicks in.

Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine also named the Volt its 2011 Car of the Year. It goes on sale in December.

Richard James, manager of product communications for General Motors on the West Coast, says: "What we have is an electric vehicle with extended range and what that is an electric vehicle that allows you to drive - if you have a full battery - on pure electricity or your battery reserve for up to 50 miles. What happens after that, to overcome this issue known as "range anxiety" is there's a generator that is built into the car, an internal combustion engine - a gasoline engine essentially - that kicks in automatically, seamless to the consumer, that will charge the battery and so the vehicle will continue to run on its electric architecture for up to 350 miles."

The highly-anticipated Nissan Leaf was introduced as the first mass-market 100 per cent electric, zero emission vehicle.

The Leaf will be available from December 15, 2010 in the US and Japan and in most European markets in early 2011.

Mark Perry, director of product planning at Nissan, says: "This is the world's first affordable pure zero emission car, battery electric, no gas, no oil. Never have to go to a gas station, never have to do an oil change. Zero emission, there's not even a tail pipe. 100 miles of range in a single charge. 90mph top speed and it's as simple as plugging in right into your garage."

There were electric sports cars from Porsche and Fisker, the exclusive electric car company, with its Karma model boasting a 300 mile range and a solar roof.

Toyota and Tesla has joined forces with the Toyota RAV 4 EV (electric vehicle).

Tesla will be responsible for building the RAV 4's lithium battery pack aiming for a 100-mile range. Testing beings in 2011 with the first production models not expected to roll out of the factory until 2012.

One of the more unusual concepts at the show is KIA's sparkling silver Pop.

This electric concept can travel 100 miles on a single charge, recharges fully in six hours and has a 90mph top speed.

Unfortunately it's not for large families - the space age cabin only houses three people.

The annual Los Angeles Auto Show runs from November 19-28, 2010.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of General Motors (GM) display at the Los Angeles Auto Show

2. Close-up of GM logo

3. Side-on view of a Chevrolet car

4. Close-up Chevrolet logo

5. Mid of orange Dodge car

6. Close-up of radiator grill on car

7. Wide of Chrysler display

8. Close-up of Chrysler logo

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company:

"But what will power us through this is very simply great product. Fuel efficient cars, trucks and crossovers."

10. Wide of Fields addressing audience

11. Close-up of Ford logo

12. The unveiling of 2010 Ford Fusion on stage

13. Various of Ford fusion car

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aaron Bragman, Global Insight:

"It means they're serious. It means that right now they are really fighting for their lives. They are spending all their time basically in Washington and at home, trying to make sure they are going to have a future, right now it's more important for them to be in Detroit and to be in Washington, trying to get some cash out of the government, than it is to be here."

15. Various of the Mini Cooper fuel efficient car

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Wolfgang Armbrecht, BMW: (++audio as incoming++)

"We found out and we're absolutely convinced about it, there is this greener trend as we described before. Not only here in California - it's in other places in the United States as well, but it is also the case in Europe and Asia."

17. Tilt up of Honda Civic Hybrid

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dan Bonawitz, American Honda Motor Group:

"We are in the midst of a very challenging period in the history of our industry and the events of recent months have proven that none of us is immune to the impacts from a contracting economy, stalled credit market and collapsing consumer confidence."

19. Close-up of Hybrid sign

20. Various of vehicles on the Hummer stand

21. Pan across a BMW fuel efficient car

STORYLINE:

Chrysler and General Motors continued to show off their latest model vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday but their displays were noticeably quieter than usual as Asian and European companies unveiled their own new models that will likely chip away at the US market share.

Casting a shadow on the annual event's glitz was the absence of press conferences or new vehicle debuts from GM or Chrysler, whose top executives were in Washington DC pleading for 25 (b) billion dollar government bailout package they say they need simply to stay in business.

General Motors Corporation's space showcased its Chevrolet Volt, the extended-range electric vehicle expected to go on sale in late 2010.

Chrysler's display included its three electric prototypes, a Dodge, Jeep and Town & Country EV, one of which it plans to put in showrooms around the same time.

Normally, however, they would have a stronger presence, unveiling important new models and concept cars and sending top executives to meet the press.

A year ago, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz introduced a new hybrid Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, its first full-size hybrid truck and the concept version of the now much-anticipated Volt.

In 2006, GM's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Wagoner, was the keynote speaker and the company unveiled a hydrogen-powered concept vehicle.

Wagoner however was in Washington this week, appearing before a House Financial Services Committee.

Ford Motor Company maintained a larger presence at the show, although its CEO, Alan Mulally, also appeared before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington on Wednesday.

His company unveiled the 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan sedans and new hybrid gas-electric versions that the Dearborn, Michigan, company hopes will take sales away from the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Chrysler brushed aside criticism for not revealing a new model after announcing its electric models at its Auburn Hills, Michigan, headquarters in September.

The auto industry's health is worst in the US, where high gas prices sparked a sales decline leading to last month's worst sales rate in 25 years.

But foreign companies also are starting to see sharp sales decreases as the economic slowdown spreads globally.

Nissan and its Japanese rivals, including Toyota and Honda, have cut their production plans and have slashed their profit estimates for the year.

But that didn't stop them from introducing new innovation on Wednesday.

Honda showed off a version of its new Insight gas-electric hybrid, which it plans to put on sale early next year.

It also unveiled a concept car that uses the company's hydrogen fuel cell technology in a lightweight, three-seat sports car with high performance potential.

Volkswagen AG unveiled a Touareg V-6 TDI sport utility vehicle as part of a showcase of diesel-powered technology it hopes will overcome tough emission requirements and Americans' memories of the smelly, noisy diesel vehicles of decades past.

Toyota's luxury division, Lexus, held the world premiere of its top-selling RX-series crossovers, including an all-new RX 450h hybrid with new features that improve fuel-efficiency.

BMW's Mini brand started things a day early by showing off an all-electric version of its eye-catching compact cars.

GM had planned to unveil its new Buick LaCrosse sedan at this week's show and Lutz was supposed to be back but the Detroit automaker scaled back its presence to focus on the company's financial problems.

The Detroit Three are seeking a federal rescue after GM and Ford reported burning through a combined 14.6 (b) billion dollars in the third quarter.

GM has said that it may not have enough cash to survive into next year and the situation for Chrysler appears similarly dire.

LEADIN:

Automakers are showcasing their latest concept cars at Auto Shanghai, with more luxury, more room and more automation being the theme.

But most prominently, it's all-electric vehicles that are taking centre-stage.

STORYLINE:

Chinese electric vehicle startup Aiways unveiled its new U7 Ion concept at Auto Shanghai.

It's a four-door EV with a foldable table, multiple touchscreens and an indoor robot that glides across the interior roof.

The all-electric concept car was designed to offer space and comfort. It's also being unveiled at its place of origin - Shanghai.

China is rapidly catching up with Europe and the United States when it comes to technological innovation, claims Aiways' Alexander Carsten Klose.

"It's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere," he says.

Klose says he's confident the European market is now ready for Chinese-branded and Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles.

One reason is they're more affordable than many other EVs currently on the market.

BMW's iNEXT concept car is also fully-electric and boasts autonomous driving features.

The interior features wooden floors, couch-like seats and almost minimalist design on the dashboard.

iNEXT's production model is slated to be built at the company's plant in Dingolfing, Germany, starting in 2021.

Meanwhile, Nissan's iMQ concept features an all-electric motor drive, delivering 250 kilowatts of output and 700 Nm of torque.

According to Nissan, with its geometric design, the iMQ blends "Japanese heritage with state-of-the-art, human-centric technology".

Toyota is presenting its full-EV concept Rhombus, a compact design with just one forward seat for the driver and couch-like seats in the back.

As automakers race for new energy technologies as well as intelligent transport systems, Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of China's Passenger Car Association, says manufacturers are being laden with increasing development costs.

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development," he says.

Auto Shanghai runs through 25 April at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

1. Wide of Aiways concept vehicle U7 Ion on display

2. Pan left of U7 Ion interior

3. Tracking shot from door to car interior

4. Mid of folding table opening

5. Pan right of screens behind car seats

6. Mid of car interior

7. Wide of U7 Ion on show floor

8. Setup shot of Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways, speaking

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"China is moving very fast these days. I think we also see some new concepts coming out of the U.S. or of Europe, it's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere."

10. Various of Aiways booth and cars on display

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"In China, the one big advantage we have as a startup is that people here are more used to using battery-electric vehicles. And we have more data and more feedback already, what works and what doesn't work, so we have more experience in that field. That's what we think is our biggest advantage. At the same time, we have a lot of people in our company (who) are from traditional carmakers, so we know how to make a car to the highest quality standards."

12. Various of battery robot recharging Aiways vehicle

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"European consumers would actually accept a Chinese brand in something where the whole of Europe now recognise that China might have an advantage in development because it's an EV (electric vehicle). If it would have been a traditional combustion-engined car, maybe that question would be more relevant, but for an EV, we know there's much more experience over here in China, because China has been used to EVs for a much longer time."

14. Various of Nissan IMQ concept car

15. Various of Toyota Rhombus concept car

16. Wide of BMW booth

17. Various of BMW iNEXT concept car

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

18. Setup shot of Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, speaking

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG:

"China is really playing a leading role here. It is a very important element for automated driving. So, we are investing as a BMW group a lot in automated driving, you see here on the stand our BMW iNEXT, which is what I call the incubator of everything that BMW has to offer in terms of innovation. Of course, it's fully-electric with a range of 600 kilometres, but also offers a very high-level of automated driving capabilities and 5G is important to that. So, BMW Group is, as far as I know, the first international manufacturer that obtained a licence for automated road tests here in Shanghai. So, we are also cooperating very closely with our Chinese colleagues here."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

20. Various of auto show floor

21. Various of Tesla booth

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

22. Setup shot of Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association, speaking

23. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association:

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

24. Various of Chinese EV startup Enovate's car on display

LEADIN:

Automakers are showcasing their latest concept cars at Auto Shanghai, with more luxury, more room and more automation being the theme.

But most prominently, it's all-electric vehicles that are taking centre-stage.

STORYLINE:

Chinese electric vehicle startup Aiways unveiled its new U7 Ion concept at Auto Shanghai.

It's a four-door EV with a foldable table, multiple touchscreens and an indoor robot that glides across the interior roof.

The all-electric concept car was designed to offer space and comfort. It's also being unveiled at its place of origin - Shanghai.

China is rapidly catching up with Europe and the United States when it comes to technological innovation, claims Aiways' Alexander Carsten Klose.

"It's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere," he says.

Klose says he's confident the European market is now ready for Chinese-branded and Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles.

One reason is they're more affordable than many other EVs currently on the market.

BMW's iNEXT concept car is also fully-electric and boasts autonomous driving features.

The interior features wooden floors, couch-like seats and almost minimalist design on the dashboard.

iNEXT's production model is slated to be built at the company's plant in Dingolfing, Germany, starting in 2021.

Meanwhile, Nissan's iMQ concept features an all-electric motor drive, delivering 250 kilowatts of output and 700 Nm of torque.

According to Nissan, with its geometric design, the iMQ blends "Japanese heritage with state-of-the-art, human-centric technology".

Toyota is presenting its full-EV concept Rhombus, a compact design with just one forward seat for the driver and couch-like seats in the back.

As automakers race for new energy technologies as well as intelligent transport systems, Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of China's Passenger Car Association, says manufacturers are being laden with increasing development costs.

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development," he says.

Auto Shanghai runs through 25 April at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

1. Wide of Aiways concept vehicle U7 Ion on display

2. Pan left of U7 Ion interior

3. Tracking shot from door to car interior

4. Mid of folding table opening

5. Pan right of screens behind car seats

6. Mid of car interior

7. Wide of U7 Ion on show floor

8. Setup shot of Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways, speaking

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"China is moving very fast these days. I think we also see some new concepts coming out of the U.S. or of Europe, it's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere."

10. Various of Aiways booth and cars on display

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"In China, the one big advantage we have as a startup is that people here are more used to using battery-electric vehicles. And we have more data and more feedback already, what works and what doesn't work, so we have more experience in that field. That's what we think is our biggest advantage. At the same time, we have a lot of people in our company (who) are from traditional carmakers, so we know how to make a car to the highest quality standards."

12. Various of battery robot recharging Aiways vehicle

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"European consumers would actually accept a Chinese brand in something where the whole of Europe now recognise that China might have an advantage in development because it's an EV (electric vehicle). If it would have been a traditional combustion-engined car, maybe that question would be more relevant, but for an EV, we know there's much more experience over here in China, because China has been used to EVs for a much longer time."

14. Various of Nissan IMQ concept car

15. Various of Toyota Rhombus concept car

16. Wide of BMW booth

17. Various of BMW iNEXT concept car

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

18. Setup shot of Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, speaking

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG:

"China is really playing a leading role here. It is a very important element for automated driving. So, we are investing as a BMW group a lot in automated driving, you see here on the stand our BMW iNEXT, which is what I call the incubator of everything that BMW has to offer in terms of innovation. Of course, it's fully-electric with a range of 600 kilometres, but also offers a very high-level of automated driving capabilities and 5G is important to that. So, BMW Group is, as far as I know, the first international manufacturer that obtained a licence for automated road tests here in Shanghai. So, we are also cooperating very closely with our Chinese colleagues here."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

20. Various of auto show floor

21. Various of Tesla booth

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

22. Setup shot of Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association, speaking

23. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association:

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

24. Various of Chinese EV startup Enovate's car on display

LEADIN:

Automakers are showcasing their latest concept cars at Auto Shanghai, with more luxury, more room and more automation being the theme.

But most prominently, it's all-electric vehicles that are taking centre-stage.

STORYLINE:

Chinese electric vehicle startup Aiways unveiled its new U7 Ion concept at Auto Shanghai.

It's a four-door EV with a foldable table, multiple touchscreens and an indoor robot that glides across the interior roof.

The all-electric concept car was designed to offer space and comfort. It's also being unveiled at its place of origin - Shanghai.

China is rapidly catching up with Europe and the United States when it comes to technological innovation, claims Aiways' Alexander Carsten Klose.

"It's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere," he says.

Klose says he's confident the European market is now ready for Chinese-branded and Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles.

One reason is they're more affordable than many other EVs currently on the market.

BMW's iNEXT concept car is also fully-electric and boasts autonomous driving features.

The interior features wooden floors, couch-like seats and almost minimalist design on the dashboard.

iNEXT's production model is slated to be built at the company's plant in Dingolfing, Germany, starting in 2021.

Meanwhile, Nissan's iMQ concept features an all-electric motor drive, delivering 250 kilowatts of output and 700 Nm of torque.

According to Nissan, with its geometric design, the iMQ blends "Japanese heritage with state-of-the-art, human-centric technology".

Toyota is presenting its full-EV concept Rhombus, a compact design with just one forward seat for the driver and couch-like seats in the back.

As automakers race for new energy technologies as well as intelligent transport systems, Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of China's Passenger Car Association, says manufacturers are being laden with increasing development costs.

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development," he says.

Auto Shanghai runs through 25 April at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

1. Wide of Aiways concept vehicle U7 Ion on display

2. Pan left of U7 Ion interior

3. Tracking shot from door to car interior

4. Mid of folding table opening

5. Pan right of screens behind car seats

6. Mid of car interior

7. Wide of U7 Ion on show floor

8. Setup shot of Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways, speaking

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"China is moving very fast these days. I think we also see some new concepts coming out of the U.S. or of Europe, it's just not going to be the way it was in the past, that innovations only came from one area of the world, now they will come from everywhere."

10. Various of Aiways booth and cars on display

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"In China, the one big advantage we have as a startup is that people here are more used to using battery-electric vehicles. And we have more data and more feedback already, what works and what doesn't work, so we have more experience in that field. That's what we think is our biggest advantage. At the same time, we have a lot of people in our company (who) are from traditional carmakers, so we know how to make a car to the highest quality standards."

12. Various of battery robot recharging Aiways vehicle

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Carsten Klose, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations and Product Strategy at Aiways:

"European consumers would actually accept a Chinese brand in something where the whole of Europe now recognise that China might have an advantage in development because it's an EV (electric vehicle). If it would have been a traditional combustion-engined car, maybe that question would be more relevant, but for an EV, we know there's much more experience over here in China, because China has been used to EVs for a much longer time."

14. Various of Nissan IMQ concept car

15. Various of Toyota Rhombus concept car

16. Wide of BMW booth

17. Various of BMW iNEXT concept car

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

18. Setup shot of Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, speaking

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG:

"China is really playing a leading role here. It is a very important element for automated driving. So, we are investing as a BMW group a lot in automated driving, you see here on the stand our BMW iNEXT, which is what I call the incubator of everything that BMW has to offer in terms of innovation. Of course, it's fully-electric with a range of 600 kilometres, but also offers a very high-level of automated driving capabilities and 5G is important to that. So, BMW Group is, as far as I know, the first international manufacturer that obtained a licence for automated road tests here in Shanghai. So, we are also cooperating very closely with our Chinese colleagues here."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

20. Various of auto show floor

21. Various of Tesla booth

Shanghai, China – 16 April 2019

22. Setup shot of Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association, speaking

23. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association:

"We think the development of the technology is too fast, so for the enterprises, what they are facing now is a huge technology investment and exploration to the development."

Shanghai, China – 17 April 2019

24. Various of Chinese EV startup Enovate's car on display

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Los Angeles, 4 December 2009

1. Wide of L.A Auto Show cars

2. Medium of car split in two (Ford Taurus)

3. Wide of show

4. Medium of people looking at car

5. Medium of Honda P-NUT concept car

6. Medium of the Subaru concept car

7. Medium of the Audi concept car

8. Set up Brendan Flynn

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Brendan Flynn L.A Auto Show:

"Now it seems to be more of a clear path towards the electrification of the car in some aspect, but everyone is realising it's not going to be for two or three years, so in the interim there are lots of solutions for today that are both economic and affordable and fuel efficient."

10. Medium luxury car Hyundai Genesis

11. Zoom out of the plug in hybrid Toyota Prius

12. Tilt up EchoBoost display

13. Medium environmental sign

14. Zoom out Volkswagon Jetta clean diesel vehicle

15. Medium 2010 Audi A3 TDI 17

16. Close up sign on car "2010 green car of the year"

17. Medium of Audi A3 TDI 17

18. Medium of Honda compact car

19. Sign Ford Fiesta

20. Pullout of a white Ford Fiesta

21. Wide of green Mazda 2

22. Medium of a purple Ford Fiesta

23. Wide of car booth

24. Zoom out from luxury Chrysler 300

25. Wide of Mercedes Benz booth

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Brendan Flynn, L.A Auto Show:

"There has been an initial wave of early adopters, of hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. There's a new wave of consumers that of course want good fuel economy, but they still want the same choices they've had in the past. So for example how you can still get the beloved Mustang, but it comes in a six cylinder twin-turbo that gets 30 miles per gallon, so you get a six cylinder that acts like an eight. So you can have your cake and eat it too. Nobody wants to be spending a lot of money at the gas pump, but they want the choices they've always been able to make."

27. Wide of auto show

28. Medium of visitors looking at engine on display

29. Wide of Mustang V-6

30. Wide of people looking at engine of Mustang

31. Close up of Mustang engine

32. Medium two people sitting in car

33. Medium of navigation system

34. Set up Octavio Navarro

35. SOUNDBITE (English) Octavio Navarro, Ford Motors:

"The other big trend you're going to see is in technology. People want to be able in integrate their phone, their music player, everything into the car. We have a system called SYNC which lets you control all that through blue tooth to contact to your things so you have no more extra wires hanging out everywhere but more importantly you can control everything by voice."

36. Zoom out Mini Cooper interior

37. Wide of Mini Cooper

38. SOUNDBITE (English) Octavio Navarro, Ford Motors:

"Everybody has vibrant colours, you know. Typically it would be black or grey, but you're really starting to see bright yellows and bright blues. Ford in particular, one of the things that we are introducing this year is the 2011 Fiesta, and one of my favourite colours for it is called Lime Squeeze, and the reason for that is it's a very vibrant, almost metallic yellowish green colour. It really pops really well on the street."

39. Zoom out of the Lime Squeeze Fiesta

40. Medium of yellow/gold Fiesta

41. Zoom out of the bright blue Fiesta

42. Set up of Dave Wrobell

43. SOUNDBITE (English) Dave Wrobell, Voxpop:

"I'm looking for colour. I'm looking for an interior that's exciting. I'm tired of grey, black. I want colour. I want something that is fun."

44. Set up of Jonathan Watson

45. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Watson, Voxpop:

"Nowadays, I think most companies can make a car that's fast but still gets good fuel economy, that's what's really important, looks, speed, horsepower and gas mileage."

46. Medium interior Volkswagon concept car UP Lite concept car

47. Medium pan of Volkswagon UP Lite concept car

LEAD IN:

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, the trend for 2010 is for cars that are small, fuel efficient, practical, and with a price tag under $30,000 US Dollars, in recession-fighting bright colours.

But this year's show is subdued as exhibitors' cost-cutting efficiency mindset is setting the mood.

STORYLINE:

The LA auto show closes this year's car show season, but gone are the elaborate parties, major press conferences and abundant sexy models showing the wares.

Today's unofficial theme is "less is more".

Only a few luxury carmakers have made it to the show. The high-end Bentley, Ferrari, and Lamborghini brands are not in attendance.

This year, concept cars are everywhere, including headliners like the Honda P-Nut, Subaru Hybrid Tourer and the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel.

A move towards electric cars car be felt, but we're not just there yet, as Brendan Flynn, car expert and spokesman for the L.A Auto Show, explains.

"Now it seems to be more of a clear path towards the electrification of the car in some aspect, but everyone is realising it's not going to be for two or three years, so in the interim there are lots of solutions for today that are both economic and affordable and fuel efficient."

Due to these tough economic times and the price of oil in North America, automakers have been forced to listen to consumers' needs - which currently means fuel efficiency and environmentally friendly cars top the agenda.

Toyota had its North American debut of its long-awaited Prius plug-in hybrid concept car.

It was first presented in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The annual Green Car of the Year award, sponsored by Green Car Journals, awarded the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel with first prize.

The North American debuts of the compact Chrysler Cruze, Ford Fiesta and the Mazda 2, are all bulls eye for the fuel-minded client.

The price of each is under $15,000 US Dollars.

As American carmakers try to get back on track, one has a larger booth than in the past.

Ford has the biggest floor space this year, expanding its area by 30%, as American carmakers try to compete with their Asian competitors.

In 2010, the big in-demand cars will be hybrids, such as the small luxury compact car Audi A3 TDI, that gets about 42 miles to the gallon and sells for under $30,000 US Dollars, as well as clean diesels that have been popular in Europe.

A big debut this year is the compact 4-cylinder Ford Fiesta which gets up to 30 miles per gallon.

The Mazda 2, which has been on sale since 2007, and has received 48 awards, is so similar to the Fiesta that observers are curious to see which demographic each attracts.

Luxury cars are at the show, but are not a common sight.

Flynn says people are so focused on fuel economy, but they're still fussy and demanding.

"There's a new wave of consumers that of course want good fuel economy, but they still want the same choices they've had in the past. So for example how you can still get the beloved Mustang, but it comes in a six cylinder twin-turbo that gets 30 miles per gallon, so you get a six cylinder that acts like an eight. So you can have your cake and eat it too. Nobody wants to be spending a lot of money at the gas pump, but they want the choices they've always been able to make."

The show also highlights the Mustang, America's favourite muscle car for 45 years in a row, redesigned with a new interior and exterior and a V-8 with more horsepower.

Also on trend watch, state-of-the-art sound in the inexpensive cars.

Octavio Navarro, Ford Motors spokesman, says that their cars' interior design will be dominated by connectivity technology.

"The other big trend you're going to see is in technology. People want to be able in integrate their phone, their music player, everything into the car. We have a system SYNC which lets you control all that through bluetooth to contact to your things so you have no more extra wires hanging out everywhere but more importantly you can control everything by voice."

Another big trend this year: brightly coloured cars.

Navarro says colour is a way for automakers to try to bring consumers out of their recession-dulled mood.

"Everybody has vibrant colours, you know. Typically it would be black or grey, but you're really starting to see bright yellows and bright blues. Ford in particular, one of the things that we are introducing this year is the 2011 Fiesta, and one of my favourite colours for it is called Lime Squeeze, and the reason for that is it's a very vibrant, almost metallic yellowish green colour. It really pops really well on the street."

But what do the show's visitors think?

Dave Wrobbel, a teacher from Pasadena, came wanting to get away from dull colours.

"I'm looking for colour. I'm looking for an interior that's exciting. I'm tired of grey, black. I want colour. I want something that is fun."

Jonathan Watson, a student from Rancho Cucamonga, says he still wants it all.

"What's really important, looks, speed, horsepower and gas mileage."

Besides the plug-in Prius, other hybrid and electric vehicle concepts on hand include the Volkswagen L1, with a two-cylinder, turbo-diesel hybrid motor and the world premiere of the groundbreaking Up! Lite hybrid concept car.

With up to 70 mpg on the highway and room for four adults, it's a combination of a Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel engine, an advanced electric motor, and a seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

The LA Auto Show runs through until the 13th December.