SHOTLIST

1. Toyota President Akio Toyoda (glasses, navy tie with diagonal stripe) meeting Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara

2. Media cutaway

3. Toyoda and Maehara taking seats

4. Close of Maehara pan to Toyoda

5. Media

6. Toyoda approaching media for news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"People think that we were slow to respond. We feel ashamed but now I am taking a lead and ask you to wait for just a little longer."

8. Mid of media

9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"I am thinking of going to the US to give an explanation of myself to the involved parties."

10. Maehara walking to podium for his news conference

11. Media

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Seiji Maehara, Japanese Transport Minister:

"It is of course important that companies should call for a product recall with such problems, but because we must take care that it doesn''t turn into a diplomatic problem, various countries have to carefully consider their approach."

13. Wide of news conference

STORYLINE

Toyota said it was recalling about 437-thousand Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems, the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world''s largest automaker.

"We feel ashamed but now I am taking a lead and ask you to wait for just a little longer," President Akio Toyoda said at a news conference on Tuesday in Tokyo, after a meeting with Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara.

With the Prius announcement, the number of vehicles recalled globally by Toyota Motor Corporation has ballooned to 8.5 (m) million, for the brake problems, and also for faulty acceleration pedals that are slow to return to the idle position, and for floor mats which can trap acceleration pedals.

The 2010 Prius wasn''t part of the earlier recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the US about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads.

The delay doesn''t indicate a brake failure.

The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.

Toyota officials went to Japan''s Transport Ministry earlier on Tuesday to formally notify officials that the company was recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid - the world''s top-selling hybrid car.

Toyoda, the president, has been criticised for being largely invisible during the two weeks after the company announced on January 21 the acceleration pedal recall in the US, Europe and China.

He apologised at his first public press conference last Friday, and again on Tuesday, but was criticised by the Japanese media for failing to outline concrete steps to tackle the safety crisis and to reassure customers around the world.

He said he planned to go to the US soon to talk with American Toyota workers and dealers.

Analysts said fears of an even bigger consumer backlash had prodded Toyota into recalling the Prius.

The Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara criticised Toyota for reacting too slowly, and said he was meeting US Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, on Wednesday to exchange views about Toyota''s recalls and make sure US-Japan relations remained on good terms.

"We must take care that it doesn''t turn into a diplomatic problem," Seiji Maehara told reporters after his meeting with Toyoda.

"Various countries have to carefully consider their approach," he said.

The automaker is also recalling two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

The 223-thousand cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200-thousand Priuses sold from April last year until Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry. The Prius is Japan''s top-selling car.

In the US, Toyota will recall 133-thousand Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles.

Nearly 53-thousand Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.

Toyota is suspending production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan until the updated software for those models is ready.

If drivers experience a delayed reaction when depressing the brakes in any of these models, they should keep pressing, according to Toyota and the transport ministry.

The Prius repairs will start in Japan on Wednesday.

US owners will start receiving letters about the recall next week.

US safety officials have launched an investigation into problems with the brakes.

Toyota''s plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan, Europe and the US, but in small numbers because it is a largely experimental model for rental and government use.

The Prius holds a cherished spot in Toyota''s vehicle lineup and is symbolic of its leadership in the "green" car market.

Toyota was one of the first companies to mass-market a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a petrol engine, introducing the Prius in Japan in 1997.

Its high petrol mileage made it popular among environmentally conscious drivers, especially when petrol prices spiked two years ago.

But the complexity of the Prius, a highly computerised car, has led to problems in the past.

In 2005, the company repaired 75-thousand of them to fix software glitches that caused the engine to stall.

It has also had trouble with headlights going out.

Shares in Toyota rose 2.9 percent on Tuesday to 3,375 yen, but are still down about 20 percent since Jan. 21, when it announced the acceleration pedal recall.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4081168

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

SHOTLIST

February 9, 2010

1. Various of Toyota executive, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, handing submission papers for a safety recall to Ryuji Masuno, the director general of the Road Transport Bureau at Japan''s Ministry of Transport

February 5, 2010

2. Various of Prius vehicles on display in Toyota''s Tokyo showroom

3. Interior of car, pan down to foot pedals

4. Various of Prius foot pedals

5. Wide of Lexus showroom in Tokyo

6. Close of Lexus lettering

7. Various of Lexus HS250h on display in showroom

STORYLINE

Toyota on Tuesday announced the company was recalling nearly 200-thousand of its signature Prius green cars in Japan for braking problems, the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world''s largest automaker.

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda was set to hold a news conference at the automaker''s Tokyo office later on Tuesday to outline

details of the braking problem, including plans for a possible recall in the United States.

In further developments, a Toyota official told The Associated Press that the Prius gas-electric hybrid would be recalled in Europe in addition to Japan.

The number of Prius gas-electric hybrids involved in the recall would swell to about 300-thousand if there is a recall in the US and other regions.

The braking problem for the third-generation remodelled Prius is the latest safety woe for Toyota, which is already trying to fix problems in (m) millions of vehicles recalled for other defects, including a sticky gas pedal.

On Monday, Toyota officials went to Japan''s Transport Ministry to formally notify officials the company was recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid, the world''s top-selling hybrid car, and two other hybrid models.

In total, the recall involves over 223-thousand hybrid cars.

Toyota will recall nearly 200-thousand Prius vehicles sold in Japan from April last year through Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry.

The two other hybrids being recalled are the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

There have been nearly 200 complaints in Japan and the US of drivers experiencing a short delay before the brakes kick in.

The delay doesn''t indicate a brake failure.

A fix requires new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes, the papers say.

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

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

SHOTLIST

Llanelli - 24 April, 2008

1. Various of sports car on road

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Bishop, Connaught Motors, Engineering Director

"We're riding in the very first prototype car, so it's a bit noisy and harsh, but this is a supercharged car, which is pretty fast and manages to do about 22 miles to the gallon, and 170 miles per hour, and seat four people."

3. Various of sports car on road

4. Mid of Geoff Matthews getting into sports car

5. Various of Matthews inside car

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Geoff Matthews, Connaught Motors, operations director

"Behind me is the Connaught motor car, which is not yet available to the public, but is rather unique, in that it has a hybrid assist system, which is bolted to the front of a unique V10 engine. In fact the whole car is new from the ground up."

7. Close of petrol cap

8. Close of V10 badge

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Geoff Matthews, Connaught Motors, operations director

"So, you should be able to save, shall we say 15 to 25 per cent fuel and an exact equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions."

10. Zoom into car interior

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Geoff Matthews, Connaught Motors, operations director

"The car gave birth to the only retrofit hybrid system technology currently available in the world today. So it's a version of this system, and it's fitted to a Transit van."

12. Wide of white Ford Transit van, with Tony Martindale walking towards front of van

13. Mid of Martindale opening front of van

14. Various close of hybrid engine

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Martindale, Connaught Motors, Chief Operations Director

"The unique thing about the technology we've employed is, as you're aware it was developed on the Connaught Type D, which is a petrol installation. And it's 100 per cent retrofit, so the hybrid system that we employ in the vehicle is less than 50 kilograms, it get bolted to an existing van, so straight off the line, so if you drive a fleet of Transits, we can install in less than a day for you."

16. Various close of hybrid retrofit engine

17. Wide of van

18. Close Transit badge

19. Mid of hybrid logo

20. Close of hybrid logo

London - 30 April, 2008

21. Set up of Dan Strong at desk

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dan Strong, Auto Express, motoring editor

"Retrofitting hybrids is a really interesting idea and beneficial on a number of levels. First of all, it allows the technology to be fitted to a wider group of vehicles, than those I mentioned before. Secondly it allows the technology to be developed independent of the car. Developing cars is a very expensive experience for any manufacturer. So to be able to just focus on the hybrid unit, the power train effectively, could offer efficiencies and costs savings."

23. Mid of Strong at desk

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dan Strong, Auto Express, motoring editor

"Hybrid cars have been under development for some time now. One company that has had particular success is Toyota. Toyota built the Prius, and under the Lexus badge they also build cars like the LS600H and the GS450H. All three of these cars have had commercial success. They've also proved to be reliable and really have dealt consumers the kind of savings they were hoping to make. Particularly here in central London, where we have the congestion charge, from which hybrids are currently exempt."

26. Various of cars and buses on road

27. Wide of exterior of Toyota car dealership

28. Various of hybrid cars

29. Various of Toyota Prius

30. Close of hybrid badge

31. Close pan of front of car

32. Various close of engine

LEAD IN:

A small Welsh car maker has developed an innovative hybrid engine that may help in reducing harmful carbon emissions.

Initially made for a high performance car, the retrofit hybrid engine can now be fitted to commercial vehicles.

The makers claim the new engine can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15 to 25 per cent.

STORYLINE:

As big car manufacturers try to woo potential customers with 'greener' cars, one small company has come up with its own way to reduce carbon emissions.

Based in an unassuming Welsh industrial estate, the Connaught Motor Company has developed a new kind of hybrid engine.

Traditionally the company has been known for its high-end, high-performance vehicles.

Its heyday was in 1955, when one of the company's cars won the Sicilian Grand Prix.

However, production stopped in the following decades.

Then in 2002 the company was relaunched by a small team of passionate car lovers.

Since then a series of new prototype vehicles have been developed.

Tim Bishop, the engineering director, says the first prototype is a supercharged vehicle, capable of reaching speeds of 170 miles per hour (273 kilometres per hour).

From this first prototype, they begun developing a hybrid version.

The result was the Connaught Type D, this sporty number comes equipped with a hybrid assist unit, bolted to a V10 engine.

The company claims that the Type D V10 sports coupe will deliver a 30 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to vehicles in its class, with a hybrid engine capable of taking to the car from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.2 seconds to a top speed of 150mph (241 kilometres per hour).

Priced between 45,000 UK pounds (US$88,800) to 80,000 UK pounds (US$160,000) depending on specifications.

Connaught is pitching the car between a Jaguar and the Aston Martin.

For now the Type D is unavailable to the public, but production should start in 2008.

Matthews says the hybrid engine can reduce total fuel consumption by around 15 to 25 per cent.

This unique hybrid engine has spawned a new line of business for Connaught.

Matthews says development of the sports car led to the first retro-fitted hybrid engine available for commercial vehicles.

Connaught Engineering Ltd has invested12 million pounds (US$24 million) to commission a factory to produce a CO2 emissions-cutting engine component that can be retro-fitted to commercial vans.

The retro-fitted engines can be attached to an ordinary Ford Transit van.

Standing by one of the vans equipped with the retro-fit engine is Tony Martindale, the Chief Operations Director.

He says they can install the lightweight engines to vans in less than a day.

Each retro-fit engine weighs less than 50 kilograms.

The company won a 3.4 million pound (US$6.7 million) grant from the Welsh assembly.

Tesco PLC, Britain's largest grocer, is one of several companies currently testing Connaught's hybrid retro-fit system using the technology on its fleet of home delivery vans.

If successful, Connaught expects orders of around 4,000 units a year.

Dan Strong, motoring editor of Auto Express, says retro-fitting engines is very cost effective, because there is no need to develop new vehicles.

In addition, it means the engines can be fitted to a wider group of vehicles, according to Strong.

Nonetheless, there are a number of car manufacturers that have launched their own hybrid cars.

Strong says Toyota has had some success with its Prius model.

He adds consumers are looking for vehicles which can save them money, especially in central London where hybrid cars are exempt from the congestion charge.

Once a car crosses the congestion charge zone between 7am and 6pm on a weekday, the cost to the private driver is eight pounds (US$15.8) a day.

Car makers are developing new models of 'eco cars', aimed at meeting new targets set by the European Union.

Those targets mean automobile manufacturers will have to cut car emissions by 2012 or face big fines.

The proposal will force automakers to reduce average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars sold in the EU from around 160 grams per kilometre to 130 grams starting in 2012.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4004137

A greater number of zero-emission vehicles are on display at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show than in previous years.

Established manufacturers including Nissan, Toyota and BMW are showing off their environmentally-friendly models alongside start-ups like Taiwanese firm Thunder Power.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault Nissan, told The Associated Press that the technology in the transportation sector was ready to face the challenge of climate change.

The mood at the show has been buoyed by a 23-month streak of rising sales in Europe, coming off a terrible slump during the 2009 recession and the subsequent debt crisis among countries that use the euro currency.

European Union sales rose 8.2 percent in the first half of this year.

US sales are on pace to exceed 17 million vehicles for the first time since 2001.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4004137

A greater number of zero-emission vehicles are on display at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show than in previous years.

Established manufacturers including Nissan, Toyota and BMW are showing off their environmentally-friendly models alongside start-ups like Taiwanese firm Thunder Power.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault Nissan, told The Associated Press that the technology in the transportation sector was ready to face the challenge of climate change.

The mood at the show has been buoyed by a 23-month streak of rising sales in Europe, coming off a terrible slump during the 2009 recession and the subsequent debt crisis among countries that use the euro currency.

European Union sales rose 8.2 percent in the first half of this year.

US sales are on pace to exceed 17 million vehicles for the first time since 2001.

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

1. Various of Frankfurt International Motor Show floor

2. Various of Nissan Leaf electric car and its charger

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan CEO:

"You know, the technology in order to face the challenge of climate change is ready. We have zero emission cars, we have very low emission technologies, we have everything which is needed to transform the transportation sector. Now, this being said, at the end of the day, the choice is for the consumers, to make these choices. For this, the consumer needs to be supported by the public sector."

4. Close up of inscription reading (English) 'Zero emission' on Nissan Leaf electric car

5 . SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan CEO:

"I am absolutely not worried on the fact that the electric cars are going to get cheaper, the autonomy is going to get better. But anyway, nothing replaces the fact that (the) infrastructure needs to be adapted for these kinds of technologies."

6. Various of vehicle manufactured by Taiwanese start-up Thunder Power

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 14 September 2015

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Hamlin, Senior Analyst at IHS Automotive:

"I think that there's other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that could enter into the picture (of electric car producers) that would maybe speed-up the process (of greater selling of electric cars)."

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

8. Various of BMW I8 hybrid car

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 14 September 2015

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Hamlin, Senior Analyst at IHS Automotive :

"I think in the US, the government is trying to push for kind of the lower emissions, so we have the push from the government. The populace again looks to price, because that is their major concern, so it depends on the price of the electric vehicle versus the cost of, you know, gasoline, or fuel. When you look at markets like China, electric vehicles are prevalent there, there are some on the market, there is companies, brands there that are pushing for electric vehicles."

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

10. Various of Toyota Mirai, hydrogen-fuelled sedan

A greater number of zero-emission vehicles are on display at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show than in previous years.

Established manufacturers including Nissan, Toyota and BMW are showing off their environmentally-friendly models alongside start-ups like Taiwanese firm Thunder Power.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault Nissan, told The Associated Press that the technology in the transportation sector was ready to face the challenge of climate change.

The mood at the show has been buoyed by a 23-month streak of rising sales in Europe, coming off a terrible slump during the 2009 recession and the subsequent debt crisis among countries that use the euro currency.

European Union sales rose 8.2 percent in the first half of this year.

US sales are on pace to exceed 17 million vehicles for the first time since 2001.

A greater number of zero-emission vehicles are on display at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show than in previous years.

Established manufacturers including Nissan, Toyota and BMW are showing off their environmentally-friendly models alongside start-ups like Taiwanese firm Thunder Power.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault Nissan, told The Associated Press that the technology in the transportation sector was ready to face the challenge of climate change.

The mood at the show has been buoyed by a 23-month streak of rising sales in Europe, coming off a terrible slump during the 2009 recession and the subsequent debt crisis among countries that use the euro currency.

European Union sales rose 8.2 percent in the first half of this year.

US sales are on pace to exceed 17 million vehicles for the first time since 2001.

AP TELEVISION

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

1. Wide of Frankfurt International Motor Show

2. Visitors at show ++SHORT SHOT++

3. Various of Nissan Leaf electric car and its charger

4. Set-up of Carlos Ghosn, Renault Nissan CEO

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Ghosn, Renault Nissan CEO:

"You know, the technology in order to face the challenge of climate change is ready. We have zero emission cars, we have very low emission technologies, we have everything which is needed to transform the transportation sector. Now, this being said, at the end of the day, the choice is for the consumers, to make these choices. For this, the consumer needs to be supported by the public sector."

6. Close up of inscription reading (English) 'Zero emission' on Nissan Leaf electric car

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Ghosn, Renault Nissan CEO:

"I am absolutely not worried on the fact that the electric cars are going to get cheaper, the autonomy is going to get better. But anyway, nothing replaces the fact that (the) infrastructure needs to be adapted for these kinds of technologies."

8. BMW I3 electric car (left) and BMW I8 (right) hybrid car

9. Various of BMW I8 hybrid car

Frankfurt - 14 September 2015

10. Set-up of Kevin Hamlin, Senior Analyst at IHS Automotive

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Hamlin, Senior Analyst at IHS Automotive:

"I think that there's other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that could enter into the picture (of electric car producers) that would maybe speed-up the process (of greater selling of electric cars)."

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

12. Various of vehicle manufactured by Taiwanese start-up Thunder Power

13. Various of Toyota Mirai, hydrogen-fuelled sedan

Frankfurt - 14 September 2015

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Hamlin, Senior Analyst at IHS Automotive :

"I think in the US, the government is trying to push for kind of the lower emissions, so we have the push from the government. The populace again looks to price, because that is their major concern, so it depends on the price of the electric vehicle versus the cost of, you know, gasoline, or fuel. When you look at markets like China, electric vehicles are prevalent there, there are some on the market, there is companies, brands there that are pushing for electric vehicles."

Frankfurt - 15 September 2015

15. Various of Tesla Model S P90D electric car

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan, 5th June 2009

1. Wide shot of Mitsubishi Motors unveiling the new i-MiEV

2. Close up of the headlights

3. Pan of the vehicle

4. Wide shot of the news presser

5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) President of Mitsubishi Motors, Osamu Masuko:

"Taking into account the competition with the world's car industries and makers in 10 or 20 years, it is impermissible that Japanese automakers fall behind. We must be prepared in every way."

6. Cutaway of media

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) President of Mitsubishi Motors, Osamu Masuko:

"We are aware this is not the price that ordinary people can easily buy. But as we increase our production, we aim to cut the price below 2 million yen (approximately 20,000 US dollars) in the near future."

8. Wide pan of the exterior of Mitsubishi Motors showroom

9. Mid shot of lithium-ion battery charger

10. The nozzle of the battery charger inserted in the side of the car

11. Midshot frontal of i-MiEV

12. Midshot of entrance

13. Close up of the Mitsubishi Motors logo at the showroom

LEAD IN:

Mitsubishi unveiled the i-MiEV Friday at its headquarters in Tokyo.

The i-MiEV is powered solely by electricity, and can be recharged from a regular home socket.

The four-seater vehicle can run up to 160 kilometres (100 miles) after charging seven hours with a 200 volt charger.

STORYLINE:

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s electric vehicle is twice as expensive as popular hybrid cars by rivals Toyota and Honda, but Japan's No. 4 automaker said Friday the i-MiEV is the answer to its survival in cutthroat global competition.

"Taking into account the competition with the world's car industries and makers in 10 or 20 years, it is impermissible that Japanese automakers fall behind. We must be prepared in every way," said Osamu Masuko President of Mitsubishi Motors at the unveiling of the vehicle.

The i-MiEV costs 4.59 million yen ($47,560), twice as expensive as Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Prius, which is just over 2 million yen ($20,748)

It is far pricier than Honda Motor Co.'s Insight, which starts at only 1.89 million yen, the cheapest gas-electric hybrid on the market ($19,607).

Masuko acknowledged the high price is a major hurdle to boosting demand for the i-MiEV. "We are aware this is not the price that ordinary people can easily buy. But as we increase our production, we aim to cut the price below 2 million yen (approximately 20,000 US dollars) in the near future," he said.

Masuko said Mitsubishi had spent more than 40 years developing the i-MiEV.

He declined to say how much the company had invested in the development of electric vehicles.

It expects to sell 1,400 units mostly to local governments and companies for the current business year to March 2010.

Sales to individual consumers in Japan will begin in April 2010.

The company aims to sell 250 units abroad, mainly in Britain and other European countries, in the current financial year.

Mitsubishi also plans to sell the i-MiEV in China and the United States, but Masuko gave no details.

Mitsubishi hopes to sell 15,000 units worldwide for the business year to March 2012.

But Masuko said Mitsubishi can only make profits from the i-MiEV if it produces 30,000 units per year.

Masuko stressed that the i-MiEV has the potential for growth, adding that the company is considering making a commercial electric vehicle.

The expected growth of such "green" cars is offering a glimmer of hope for the world's automakers, which are battered by plunging auto demand caused by the global economic slowdown and credit crunch.

SHOTLIST:

1. Bulls and horses at unveiling of Ram trucks

2. Trucks drive out

3. Various of trucks on display

4. Various of Chevrolet truck displayed inside showroom, interior and exterior of the truck

5. Various of Nissan Titan truck displayed inside showroom

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Pipas, Ford sales analyst manager:

"As far as the overall truck business is concerned in 2008 I think we approach it with a little bit of caution because we don't expect a quick turnaround in the housing industry and so from that standpoint it's not likely we're going to get a lift from the underlying economic fundamentals but in terms of this product in the marketplace we ought to be able to do real well with them."

7. Various of Ford truck on display in showroom

8. Various of Chevrolet Hybrid Silverado truck on display in showroom

9. Various of Ford Verve on hybrid display in showroom

10. Various of Vue and Aura Green Line Hybrid on display

11. Various of General Motors hybrid

12. Mid of Supercharger ZR

13. Various of Beat and Trax on display

14. Various of Taiki on display in showroom

15. Models showing off cars in showroom

STORYLINE

The Detroit car show opened on Sunday with automaker Chrysler showing off its revamped Dodge Ram with help from ranchers and a herd of 120 cattle roaming through the city's streets.

Before the cattle drive, which came on the first day of media previews at the North American International Auto Show, men in cowboy hats and ranch work clothes loaded bales of hay into a mud-spattered Ram and hammered together fences.

Ford Motor Company, whose F-series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the nation, unveiled its new F-150 at the show.

Both will debut as 2009 models in the autumn, and each was designed after extensive research to fix flaws in the old models, making them more efficient.

Hybrids, advanced diesels and green alternatives were also pushing aside the traditional displays of speed and chrome at the show, a nod to a new fuel-efficient reality for car makers.

Automakers, only weeks after Congress approved tougher fuel-efficiency requirements, are broadening their array of cars that get more on a gallon (3.79 litres) of gasoline, cutting carbon dioxide emissions and using alternative power sources.

Most of the vehicles and technologies have been in the pipeline for years, but the podiums at the show should further signal a shifting direction for the industry after years of pushing more horsepower and speed.

By 2007, according to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average vehicle weighed 4 thousand 144 pounds (1 thousand 880 kilos), boasted a 223 horsepower engine and did zero to 60 mph (96 kph) in 9.6 seconds.

US President George W Bush signed an energy bill in late December that requires the industry's fleet of new cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans to average 35 miles (56 kilometres) per gallon (3.79 litres) by 2020, a 40 percent increase and the first major changes since the 1970s.

General Motors Corporation (GM), which created a green buzz last year with the Chevrolet Volt, showed a similar plug-in hybrid concept on a Saturn Opel.

GM also will extend its hybrid line up, releasing a new Saturn Vue two-mode hybrid, which is expected to boost fuel economy by about 50 percent when it hits showrooms later this year.

Toyota Motor Corporation, which has dominated the gas-electric hybrid market with its Prius and Camry hybrids, will raise the curtain on Monday on the A-BAT, a hybrid pickup truck built on a car platform.

Even niche, luxury carmakers are getting in the advanced hybrid act.

Still, auto industry officials note that many consumers are turned off by the higher costs of a hybrid vehicle, typically 4,000 US dollars (2,704 Euros) to 5,000 US dollars (3,380 Euros) more, and more modest alternatives are needed.

Ford Motor Corporation is taking a practical approach through its new EcoBoost engine, a more fuel-efficient one that it plans to use in about 500 vehicles in North America during the next five years.

The engine is much more cost-effective than a hybrid, using direct-injection and turbo charging technologies.

Others are pointing to diesels, which can provide about a 25 percent boost in fuel efficiency.

Daimler showed its GLK compact sport utility vehicle, offering a diesel option that can get up to 35 mpg (56 kpg).

BMW AG, meanwhile, showed advanced diesel versions of the X5 sport utility vehicle and a 3-Series passenger car.

Car makers have been testing advanced vehicles for several years, including hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrids, with the hopes that the technologies will improve and become more viable.

Chrysler LLC, which has ranked near the bottom in fuel efficiency ratings, on Monday showed a Jeep with a lithium-ion battery pack and diesel hybrid engine, a Dodge ZEO electric concept sports wagon, and a Chrysler fuel-cell vehicle.

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