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Top 5 Concept Hybrid Cars
Concept hybrid cars are cars that were showcased as concept cars or prototypes of hybrid cars that never go into production. These cars are mainly designed to showcase new technologies, styling, and designs so that the car manufacturers can get the viewpoint and response of auto critics and car enthusiast to the specified prototype.
Today there are many hybrid cars plying on roads but there are still certain concepts that were never put into production despite of having the best of technologies and designs. Among the known list of hybrid cars on road and under production are the Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius Hybrid, and the Honda Insight and those that are left as concepts include the Toyota Volta, Ford Reflex, Honda GRX, GMC Graphyte, and the Mercury Meta One.
Today there are many hybrid cars plying on roads but there are still certain concepts that were never put into production despite of having the best of technologies and designs. Among the known list of hybrid cars on road and under production are the Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius Hybrid, and the Honda Insight and those that are left as concepts include the Toyota Volta, Ford Reflex, Honda GRX, GMC Graphyte, and the Mercury Meta One.
Explained below are some of the known hybrid cars that are still a concept:
Toyota Volta
Toyota Volta is a hybrid car introduced as a concept at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and is believed to be the world’s first high-performance hybrid concept car. The name of the car is inspired from the Italian inventor Alessandro Volta who invented the electric battery in 1800.
The exterior of the car is impressive with the bonnet flowing into the windscreen, gentle curving lines, abrupt rear end, and stylish grille. Under the hood, the car is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 engine that is positioned behind the rear axle and is not at all in direct connection with the wheels. The car runs by two electric engines that are positioned on each axle of the hybrid car. The two electric motors along with the powerful engine generates a power of about 407 bhp and enables the cat to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds.
Furthermore, the steering, braking, and throttle of the electric car Volta are controlled electronically by 'drive-by-wire' technology. The internal mechanicals of the car are designed in a way that the entire control system can be shifted from left to right and right to left in accordance to the needs of the user.
The exterior of the car is impressive with the bonnet flowing into the windscreen, gentle curving lines, abrupt rear end, and stylish grille. Under the hood, the car is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 engine that is positioned behind the rear axle and is not at all in direct connection with the wheels. The car runs by two electric engines that are positioned on each axle of the hybrid car. The two electric motors along with the powerful engine generates a power of about 407 bhp and enables the cat to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds.
Furthermore, the steering, braking, and throttle of the electric car Volta are controlled electronically by 'drive-by-wire' technology. The internal mechanicals of the car are designed in a way that the entire control system can be shifted from left to right and right to left in accordance to the needs of the user.
Ford Reflex
Ford Reflex is a concept car introduced at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. It is a hot looking car that boats of Ford’s new design trends and cues with a perfect blend of futuristic flare. The 3-bar grille, butterfly doors, sleek lines, and stylish bumper all adds to the striking appeal of the car. The interior carries integrated child seat, baby cam with a monitor mounted on the dashboard, and inflatable rear seat safety belt.
It is a diesel electric hybrid car that features an electric motor on the rear axle and a hybrid propulsion system on the front axle. The motor fitted on the rear axle offers improved driving dynamics, enhanced fuel efficiency, and other capabilities of all-wheel drive vehicle. The actual energy that drives the car is stored in a new-generation lithium-ion battery pack. It is also said that the battery system that Ford has used in this concept hybrid is similar to the ones that is used in mobile phones. Moreover, the headlights and taillights that integrate solar panels make the car unique. Ford-patented battery-charging lighting system captures sun energy to charge the on-board batteries and in turn further improves fuel efficiency.
It is a diesel electric hybrid car that features an electric motor on the rear axle and a hybrid propulsion system on the front axle. The motor fitted on the rear axle offers improved driving dynamics, enhanced fuel efficiency, and other capabilities of all-wheel drive vehicle. The actual energy that drives the car is stored in a new-generation lithium-ion battery pack. It is also said that the battery system that Ford has used in this concept hybrid is similar to the ones that is used in mobile phones. Moreover, the headlights and taillights that integrate solar panels make the car unique. Ford-patented battery-charging lighting system captures sun energy to charge the on-board batteries and in turn further improves fuel efficiency.
Honda GRX
Honda GRX is an ultra-light and compact sports concept car debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The car is aerodynamically designed and structured by experts and creative talents of the Honda Research and Development Center. It is believed that the design cues of the GRX and those that were featured in the evolutionary J-VX concept led to the production of Honda Insight.
The conceptual model is powered by a 1,500cc six-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine that was actually developed for motorcycle applications.
The conceptual model is powered by a 1,500cc six-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine that was actually developed for motorcycle applications.
GMC Graphyte
GMC Graphyte is an intelligent concept car designed by General Motors in co-operation with DaimlerChrysler. The concept designed by GM Advanced Studio in Coventry, England was showcased at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Graphyte is a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) concept that boasts of its electrically variable transmission with two hybrid drive modes. The two-mode hybrid system is mated to automatic transmission technology and electronic controls that are integrated with a powerful and compact system. It is believed that the Graphyte improves fuel efficiency by about 25%.
The two drive modes can be alternatively switched over from input split mode to a compound split mode. In the input split mode, the vehicle can operate on electric, mechanical or a combination of the two whereas in the compound split mode the car operates as a full hybrid mainly when the engine is shut off at low speeds and light loads.
The Graphyte is a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) concept that boasts of its electrically variable transmission with two hybrid drive modes. The two-mode hybrid system is mated to automatic transmission technology and electronic controls that are integrated with a powerful and compact system. It is believed that the Graphyte improves fuel efficiency by about 25%.
The two drive modes can be alternatively switched over from input split mode to a compound split mode. In the input split mode, the vehicle can operate on electric, mechanical or a combination of the two whereas in the compound split mode the car operates as a full hybrid mainly when the engine is shut off at low speeds and light loads.
Mercury Meta One
Mercury Meta One is a valuable test-bed for innovations and advanced technologies that was showcased at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. The concept car is actually a live demonstration of future safety and powertrain technologies. The hybrid concept comprises a twin-turbocharged V6 diesel motor combined with an electric motor.
The name ‘Meta’ means ‘Transcends’ and the name itself connote the personality, identity, and authenticity of the concept car that transcends the expectations of car buyers. The interior space of the car is similar to that of the Zen and the ambience can be customized with the desired themes based on individual preferences.
The name ‘Meta’ means ‘Transcends’ and the name itself connote the personality, identity, and authenticity of the concept car that transcends the expectations of car buyers. The interior space of the car is similar to that of the Zen and the ambience can be customized with the desired themes based on individual preferences.
