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Hybrid Sports Cars Coming Soon |
By:
Gregg Hall |
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When one thinks of hybrid automobiles, the image of subcompact
economy cars--high on gas mileage and low on top-end
performance--undoubtedly comes to mind. However, with gas prices
consistently increasing over time, occasionally in sudden
spikes, and environmental awareness growing in all quarters,
there is a movement afoot to bring hybrid technology into the
realm of high-performance sports cars.
Japanese automakers, in particular, seem to be expending a great
deal of effort in fusing hybrid technology with sports car
appearance and performance. The Subaru Scrambler, the Mazda
Ibuki and Mitsubishi's hybrid in its Eclipse line are all
progressing in development.
Most of the hybrid research and development currently focuses on
adopting the most common hybrid production methods. Lithium
batteries and electric motors join forces with top-notch
engineering. Preliminary reports indicate that at least one 470
horsepower sports car is under design by a leading Japanese
manufacturer.
In addition to hybrid sports car working from the same general
principles of their better-known economy car brethren,
hydrogen-burning sports cars are also under investigation. Many
years ago, Mazda discovered their rotary engine performed
exceptionally well while using lean-burning hydrogen as a fuel
source. Since that time, Mazda has continued to tinker with this
revolutionary methodology in hopes of eventually producing an
environmentally friendly sports car that maintains high
performance standards.
The most visible hybrid sports car, however, is the Toyota
Priapus. A conventional gas/electric hybrid, the Priapus lists
at over $70,000. It will be hard for owners of this hybrid
sports car to recoup the additional cost in fuel savings, but
the automobile is increasing in popularity. Experts predict the
limited-production hybrid sports car will perform well in
auctions, with car enthusiasts likely to be willing to spend
into six figures to procure the low-to-the ground, futuristic
Toyota offering--and with good reason. The Priapus boasts zero
to sixty mile per hour acceleration in just under four seconds
while maintaining an impressive 30 miles per gallon in terms of
fuel efficiency.
The Japanese are not the only automakers to spend time and
resources plumbing the realm of hybrid sports cars. Two former
Jaguar designers are making headlines in England with the
development of a V10 hybrid that has recently been awarded
significant capital in the form of government grants to bring
the concept car into the general marketplace.
With many nations' fuel efficiency standards demanding better
fuel economy in the future, gas prices spiking again and again,
and a general consensus developing that hybrid technology can
reduce pollution and perhaps stem global warming trends, there
is no doubt that hybrid automobile research and production will
continue to accelerate.
Those who were worried the automotive icon that is the sports
car would vanish somewhere along the way as the green movement
gathered force can take heart in recent developments. All
indicators point toward a greener, more fuel-efficient future
featuring jaw-dropping high-performance cars sure to please even
the most discriminating sports automotive enthusiasts. As long
as there are cars, it seems there will be those who demand
impressively speedy, sporty automobiles and manufacturers are
not willing to let go of that purchasing base as they explore
hybrid alternatives to traditional internal combustion autos.
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Article Source: http://www.friendsofvista.org/articles/article28084.html |
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