Upcoming Hybrid Vehicles

There is an eager demand for hybrid vehicles in the market today. In fact, as of May 2008, there are about over a million hybrid vehicles running on American roads. That is why a number of new hybrid cars are emerging in the American market today. What makes a hybrid car so in demand is that aside from its environmental benefits, a hybrid car is highly energy efficient. Hybrid cars are likely to have a considerably high amount of gas mileage, getting about 8-10% better mileage compared to fuel-powered vehicles. So when thinking of purchasing a car, perhaps you might want to consider getting a hybrid. Here are some hybrid models to watch out for in the coming months:

Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

General Motors Corporation takes pride in introducing Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, America’s first two-mode hybrid full-size pick-up that will be released with limited availability in early 2009. GM states that putting it side by side with its non-hybrid counterpart, the Chevy Silverado Hybrid will run with a 40% increase in city fuel economy and a 25% overall bump, thus giving it an edge in terms of fuel efficiency of full-size pick-ups. Plus, it can run in all-electric mode up to 30mph, even when used for towing of up to 6,000 lbs. of load.

Toyota FT-HS Sports Car

During the Detroit Auto Show in 2007, Toyota revealed the Toyota FT-HS Sports Car concept of a 21st century hybrid sports car. The concept features a state- of-the-art sports hybrid system that is projected to achieve a 0-60-acceleration in the 4-second range. The car is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car with a performance target of 400 horsepower. It also features a sleek structure and combines style, function, and performance. This mid-priced market positioned sports car is said to be available by 2009.

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche has announced their goal of making the Cayenne Hybrid available in the market by 2010. Cayenne Hybrid is a 4-wheel-drive that features a full hybrid system, which uses a powerful combination of electric motor, a 3.6-liter direct fuel injection gas engine and a 38kW, 288-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. Vehicle tests of the hybrid prototype show a 30% bump in fuel economy getting about 24.4 miles per gallon compared with 17.9 miles per gallon for the conventional Cayenne. Porsche executives also claim that this hybrid vehicle will be able to run at up to 70 miles per hour on the electric motor alone.