December 5, 2007 Spanish-->-->
The world of hybrids is growing fast, with 17 hybrid models on sale this year and more on the way. So if rising gasoline prices have you looking for one of these high-tech gas savers, here is a look at what could be in your future.
The hybrid showroom will be a crowded place. J.D. Power and Associates is predicting consumers will buy 345,000 hybrids before 2007 is over. That is up from 256,000 hybrids sold to U.S. consumers in 2006.
If money is an issue, ConsumerAffairs.com suggests careful consideration of the cost of owning a hybrid when compared to the cost of the same vehicle with an efficient gasoline engine. There is roughly a $5,000 price premium for most hybrids.
True, when the federal hybrid tax credit is figured into the purchase price, the additional cost of driving most hybrids may be recovered over five years.
But make no mistake: Hybrids are expensive. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid are clearly the two most popular and arguably best hybrids on the market today and, just as clearly, two of the most expensive cars of their size. The Prius costs just less than $23,000 and the Civic goes for just more than $23,000. Options and added on can run the price of both hybrids up quickly however.
At today's gas prices, the hybrid premium for the Prius and Civic can probably be recovered over five years, assuming you drive enough miles per year to make the gas savings add up properly.
The Toyota Camry hybrid at $26,820, Nissan Altima hybrid at $25,615 and Saturn Aura Green Line at $22,695 can also deliver sufficient gasoline savings to make up the hybrid premium when tax credits are figured in but don't be too hasty -- tax credits have expired for Toyota and Lexus hybrids, part of the protect-Detroit mentality that prevailed when the tax credits were enacted.
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Saturn VUE Green LineLarge and midsize hybrid SUVs can be more difficult to justify on a simple cost basis. The 2008 Toyota Highlander achieves a combined city and highway fuel economy of 26 mpg, compared with 20 mpg for the gas-engine Highlander.
That amounts to a savings at the gas pump of roughly $500 but the hybrid premium for the Highlander is in the neighborhood of $8,000. Of course, your gas savings will vary depending on how much you drive, how you drive and how much gas costs in your area.
Lower emissions
Hybrid emissions, however, are another factor altogether. All hybrids contribute less to smog formation and the new Highlander hybrid has a super ultra-low emissions engine meaning that the engine is 90 percent cleaner than the average new vehicle.
So if global warming is an important issue in the purchase of a new vehicle, figure that every gallon of gasoline burned contributes 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. While you may (or may not) save a lot of money with a hybrid, you will be helping to clean up the air and doing your part to reduce climate change.
And don't forget the once-lowly diesel. There's a whole new generation of clean diesels on the way to the market that are not as dirty, noisy or unreliable as the diesels of the past. Diesel engines get 30 percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline engines and emit far fewer greenhouse gases.
Today's diesels are also a far cry from the sluggish sludge burners you may remember from a few decades ago. They have as much acceleration as a comparable gas engine and you won't see big clouds of blue smoke hanging in the air behind you as you clatter away.
Also, the diesel price premium is far less than the hybrid premium, roughly $1,000 or so for most models.
Muddying the marketplace are some so called semi-hybrids that use conventional technology improvements to gain marginal fuel economy improvements. Consumers beware, these hybrids that are offered mostly so the automaker can gain credit as a green company.
Here is a look at some of the new hybrid models that will soon be in a showroom near you, if they're not already.
Saturn Green Line
The Saturn Green Line Vue is due in show rooms in the fall of 2008. The Green Line Vue will employ the GM two-mode hybrid drive train and net a 45 percent improvement in fuel economy over the conventional Vue, according to the automaker.
Toyota Prius
A third generation of the Toyota Prius is expected in late 2008 or 2009. The Prius will offer a lighter and perhaps less expensive version of the current nickel-hydride battery system.
Hybrid enthusiasts had hoped the new Prius would employ lithium-ion batteries but Toyota has said more research and development is needed to produce a safe lithium-ion system. The latest reports suggest that lithium-powered hybrids from Toyota are now at least 2 years away from reality because of safety concerns.
The second-generation Prius provided a significant increase in performance compared to the first generation Prius, increasing battery power by 1.5 times, so expectations for the third generation Prius are high indeed, even without lithium-ion technology.
The third-generation Toyota Prius is going to be significantly redesigned and may be built in the United States.
Other Toyota-Lexus Models
Toyota plans to introduce new dedicated hybrid models for both its Toyota and Lexus brands in 2009. The Lexus model is likely to be to be a sedan that will be priced between $40,000 and $70,000.
The Toyota model will have a 2.3-liter engine, making it likely a larger vehicle than the Prius and more in line with the Camry Hybrid.
Toyota is considering the FT-HS hybrid sports car as a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car with a projected zero to 60 acceleration in the 4-second range. A 3.5-liter V-6 would be mated to a hybrid system. Toyota claims the car would an attainable exotic ready for market in 2009.
This 7-seat Sienna minivan could hit the market in 2009 and is likely to be the first hybrid minivan available. The Sienna Hybrid's drivetrain will likely be based on the smaller Estima minivan currently sold only in Japan. There is significant support within Toyota's U.S. division for bringing a Sienna Hybrid to market.
Smart Hybrid
The Smart Hybrid 2-seat subcompact could be released in 2009. The Smart will carry a micro-hybrid drive in both coupe and cabriolet versions. The micro-hybrid system employs a belt-driven starter and generator that switches the engine off when idling at stoplights to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.
Honda
With the next generation Honda hybrid in 2009, Honda plans to challenge Toyotas Prius and hybrid market dominance. Honda confirms that the new hybrid will be smaller and less expensive than the current Honda Civic Hybrid and will be an entirely new vehicle, not merely a hybrid version of an existing model.
GM Yukon, Tahoe Hybrids
GM's two-mode hybrid technology will place electric motors inside the transmission to assist a 300-horsepower V-8. So, the hybrid Yukon should have the power most large SUV consumers need.
The GM dual-mode powertrain will offer the hybrid Yukon and Tahoe the ability to lock the electric motors out of the drivetrain when engine power is required for towing. This capability will enable the Yukon hybrid to tow up to 6,000 pounds, something Toyota hybrids cannot do.
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
The Cadillac Escalade hybrid is due out in Spring of 2008. Like the Tahoe and Yukon gas and electric SUVs from GM, the Escalade hybrid will be a two-mode hybrid that supplements a 6.0-liter V-8 with power from two electric motors.
GM claims the Yukon and Tahoe hybrids will get about a 25 percent fuel economy boost compared with the standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine.
The increased mileage for the Escalade hybrid could be even higher since standard Escalade comes with a 403-hp, 6.2-liter V-8. But total fuel consumption might be higher too.
Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan Hybrid
A Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid 5 seat sedan is loosely scheduled for 2008 or 2009. This will be Fords first move into the hybrid sedan market. While it could be argued that Toyota and Honda have worked out most of the kinks in their existing hybrids and are now aiming for perfection, we doubt anyone would say that about today's Fusion ... or tomorrow's.
Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio Hybrid
Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio hybrid 5-seat compacts will be in showrooms between 2008 and 2009. Hyundai developed their own hybrid technology instead of buying it from Toyota.
Hyundai claims the engine achieves a 44 percent improvement in fuel economy. The conventional Accent lists at around $10,000, so these hybrids could be the first to have a MSRP at significantly under $20,000.
The launch of this hybrid Accent in the U.S. will wait until at least the 2009 model year.
Mercedes S-Class Hybrid
The Mercedes S-Class hybrid is due out in 2008. The mild hybrid version of the S-class sedan claims a 33 percent improvement in fuel economy over a conventional S-class that gets an EPA-estimated combined 20 mpg. The S-Class hybrid is reported to be powered with a 2.2 liter diesel engine combined with a mild hybrid system that would produce 200 horses and 36 mpg.
Audi Q7 Hybrid Midsize SUV
Audi Q7 hybrid midsize SUV is scheduled for 2008 and will have a 3.6-liter, 280 horse power gasoline fuel-injected engine mated to the electric engine. The hybrid system will use about 25 percent less fuel than a Q7 running only on gasoline.
Porsche Panamera
The Porsche Panamera hybrid 5-seat compact is due out in 2008 or 2009. Porsche's new four-door hatchback coupe will be designed with the option of a hybrid engine and 20,000 units a year are expected to be built.
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
The Porsche Cayenne hybrid 5-seat sedan is scheduled for 2010. So far, in testing, the Cayenne gets about 24.4 miles per gallon compared with 17.9 miles per gallon for a conventional Cayenne, a 35 percent increase. Porsche claims that the new Cayenne will be able to cruise at up to 70 miles per hour on the electric motor alone.
VW Jetta Hybrid
VW says it will perhaps produce a Jetta hybrid 5-seat sedan in 2009. But then again, the company is reported to believe that the profit margin on an economy hybrid is too small and may instead produce only the Touareg SUV as a hybrid. The Touareg hybrid is possible for 2009 or 2010.
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