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Top 10 Green Cars
The world of motoring is set to become greener. With oil prices behaving more erratically than perhaps at any point of time in living memory, car manufacturers are working to make vehicles that are less dependent on oil.
This need has given birth to cars that not only consume less fuel, but also pollute less. Christened as hybrid cars, these cars drive on normal engines that are also compatible with bio-fuels. Many car manufacturers across the globe have developed and launched these cars.
With so many green cars in the car industry, the car buyers often wonder for the greenest car. This is a difficult research but one can refer the list of top 10 green cars rated in 2008 Paris Auto Show. All these cars may not be necessarily hybrid versions. Some entirely run on electric power.
This need has given birth to cars that not only consume less fuel, but also pollute less. Christened as hybrid cars, these cars drive on normal engines that are also compatible with bio-fuels. Many car manufacturers across the globe have developed and launched these cars.
With so many green cars in the car industry, the car buyers often wonder for the greenest car. This is a difficult research but one can refer the list of top 10 green cars rated in 2008 Paris Auto Show. All these cars may not be necessarily hybrid versions. Some entirely run on electric power.
Here are listed top 10 cars that had grasped most of the green attention:
BMW 7 Series Active Hybrid
We can be sure that whenever any performance parameter is considered, the BMW will be there right on top. But since this is about fuel consumption and low emission, the 2009 BMW 7 Series Active Hybrid remains at the bottom of the heap with 10th position. This car gives mileage of around 9.35 Km/l. Combine this with power in excess of 400 horses along with legendary performance and luxury, one might find another reason for owning its first production hybrid.
2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid
The ninth position at the show was taken up by the manufacturer that gave the world automobiles. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid is yet another marvel from this peerless auto manufacturer. Based on the S350 platform, this model addresses only have the draw back of having low mileage. With mileage of 12 km/l, this high-breed hybrid signals an 80 percent improvement over the S550. As always, this Stuttgart sensation never ceases to amaze. It is the first ever production car to be given a lithium-ion battery.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze occupies the eighth position. This model is the Chevy’s gauntlet thrown at the Honda Civic. If the non-hybrid Civic offers great mileage, Chevy hopes to cruise ahead of it with this model. The car offers a stunning interior, a seductive exterior, a 1.4-liter engine that delivers mileage of 17 km/l. And yes, a legacy however tormented and contested. Can we expect this Chevy model to give Honda sleepless nights from 2011 onwards?
Kia Soul Hybrid Concept
Snuggled into seventh position is the cute Kia Soul Hybrid Concept. This compact crossover SUV is Kia's first hybrid model. The soul of this vehicle is the new continuously variable transmission that is fitted with Hyundai's ISG (Idle Stop&Go). This system automatically shuts the engine off when the vehicle idles in heavy traffic. When a crossover SUV gives mileage of 20.4 km/l and drastically reduces carbon dioxide emissions, it makes the model worth more than just a peek.
Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept
The Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept walks into sixth position. This choice is certainly a surprise, considering that all of Sweden produces as much corn as perhaps a single American farmer. This statement may be a hyperbole, but the fact of its amazing refinement and adaptability surely isn't. Another fact that may surprise many is that Sweden has the largest E85 flexi-fuel vehicle fleet in all of Europe. They have beaten giants such as the Germany, France and the Britain at this endeavour. The Swedes have given the idea of hybrid vehicles a new dimension by providing the hybrid powertrain a lithium battery partnership.
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Blue Hybrid
Taking 5th place is the lovely blue model, the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Blue Hybrid. We are not sure why Hyundai calls it a blue car when it is green from head to toe, but one thing is certain that this green car will set a trend in the years to come. What else one can expect from an SUV that delivers fuel economy of 16.1 km/h? Moreover, it looks decent and is hard to distinguish from the regular model. This is one model to seriously look out for.
Audi A1 Sportback concept
Next in line is the fabulous Audi A1 Sportback concept. Its awesome 25.5 km/l mileage is only the latest appendage to this legendary make. Even without an engine that is so niggardly on fuel consumption, since decades the Audi is a class of its own. The only moot point about this model is that one is not sure, at the time of this Auto Show, whether this model will hit American roads at all. If this green car does land in America, it will be great news for Audi fans and sure to make its competitors go green with envy.
Nissan Nuvu Concept
Occupying the third position is the Nissan Nuvu Concept. Offering fun in its name and its looks, this tiny creature is a curious mix of cars and animals. One may link it to a giant toad or to the hood of a snake with a hint of the classic Volkswagen Beetle here and there. Whether one find it attractive or weird, there is no denying of the fact that this vehicle is a great economizer. It can deliver a great mix of words as well. The press release for this car calls it “an urban oasis complete with its own tree inside, which provides shade for the interior, and generates solar energy via its leaves.” The confusion about the car ends here. Once inside, there is no mistaking its class.
2010 Honda Insight Concept
The runner up is the 2010 Honda Insight Concept. This vehicle offers a new insight into the idea of green cars. Honda is not making tall claims when it says this model will be the most affordable hybrid car in America. Its exciting looks and good performance combine suavely with its fuel economy to make it a car that worth the ride.
2010 Chevrolet Volt
And the winner is...the 2010 Chevrolet Volt. The clincher for this model at the Paris Show is a simple one - this Chevy can run on a hitherto unknown fuel. All it needs for consumption is residual electricity produced in the Earth's atmosphere following lightning storms over the tropics. If this doesn't phenomenal, one has to give the word a new meaning. This is the newest fuel technology known to man, at least at the time of the Paris Show. Till someone can come up with a car that can run on sand, the Chevy Volt gets the thumbs up.
