MB and BMW - usually arch-rivals - are only co-operating on this because of looming legislation mandating fleet average emissions of 130 gCO2/km by MY2012. Bottom line: hybrids are an expensive proposition.

While neither the S-Class not the 7 series will ever be that frugal, improving their fuel economy is not just a matter of good PR but a way to limit the number of small econoboxes that must be sold at a low margin (or a loss) to compensate.

It's not yet clear how the EU will compute fleet average CO2 emissions. On past form, it may decide to do so across all vehicles sold throughout the EU in a given calendar year by members of the manufacturers' associations ACEA, JAMA and KAMA. If the target is not met, there will presumably be fines or other repercussions, which would then be levied on these associations. Their respective members would have to figure out amongst themselves how the pain would be distributed - preferably using a formula that is negotiated well ahead of time.

This would provide greater flexibility than applying the limit more narrowly by brand, by corporation or by member state.

Andrichrose -

it's not as if the Germans have been sitting on their thumbs lately, given their continuous improvements of diesel injection, GDI, fully variable valvetrains, DSG, CVT etc.

Electric hybrids are one area where they are lagging, but that may have more to do with the cost/benefit analysis of that particular fuel economy measure than anything else. Keep in mind that the Audi Duo flopped badly in the 1990s and put the entire German auto industry off electric hybrids for a decade.

Of course, regardless of what the engine designers come up with, the vehicles keep getting bigger, heavier and more luxurious. This has nullified most of the efficiency gains achieved in the prime mover over the past decade or two.

And they are behind Ford and GM on this learning curve-
schaade!

Andrey -

European car makers aren't going to stop diesel R&D just because you, Mr. Andrey, happen not to like such engines. Fact is, a continent that has almost depleted its domestic oil resources and doesn't have the military might/political will to secure resources overseas needs to pay attention to high fuel economy, even if that means accepting lower air quality. Wrt real-world fuel economy, modern diesels really are every bit as good as electric hybrids but manufacturers can actually turn a profit on them.

Besides, any engine with a turbocharger can be considered an ICE-gas turbine "hybrid". You could say the gas turbine uses a somewhat inefficient pneumatic transmission to make its contribution to shaft work. Since virtually all diesel engines these days are turbocharged and, turbocharged gasoline engines are gaining market share in Europe, you could say "hybrids" already enjoy over 50% market share in the EU. Compared to what, 2%, in the US.

Btw, engines with regular superchargers are not considered hybrids, whereas those with pressure wave superchargers are (granted, there haven't been any in production since the 1980s). Turbocompound systems such as those sold by Scania are actually double hybrids.

Combining diesel with hybrid and topping off with a bio-sourced component in the fuel is probably what's going to have to happen. I don't really see it as a choice between regular diesel and hybrid gasoline, there's no reason for that in Europe - it's about getting the transportation as efficient as possible using the best available technology and for Europe so far that's been diesel whereas in North America we have a real taste for artificially cheap gasoline and previous diesel failures, so car companies need gasoline hybrids for the marketing more than anything.

Need the motor and batteries to built a motorcycle
please help me Or tell me where to find a compane to buy from.