Hamburg  - The Japanese manufacturer Daihatsu is offering for its European markets a "light technology" package for the Daihatsu Terios SUV fitted with liquid petroleum gas (LPG) drive that cuts fuel costs by half.

The 2010 model of the Terios with LPG drive and in combination with a 105 hp petrol engine adds an additional 2,750 euros (4,100 dollars) to the basic price of 16,500 euros (24,500 dollars). The 50-litre LPG tank is fitted in the boot.

The switch for petrol or LPG mode is fitted to the dashboard in the central console. The LPG tank has a range of 300 kilometres. Together with petrol mode the total range is 950 kilometres.

In Germany the average price for LPG is currently at 0.60 cents a litre (0.89 dollars) compared to the petrol price of 1.35 euros (2.01 dollars). Consumption in LPG mode is about a litre more per 100 kilometres than the listed consumption of 7.2/100 kilometres but carbon dioxide emissions are about 15 per cent lower. (dpa)