American hybrids: SUVs only?
I'm glad it's NOT powered by a HemiToyota has received an incredible amount of green buzz because of the Toyota Prius. While some argue that Toyota isn't deserving of all this praise because they still make far more gas guzzlers than hybrid cars, Toyota definitely made a statement about the future with the Prius.
On the other hand, if Toyota had made its first hybrid a more power-focused hybrid, such as the Lexus RX 400h, then Toyota's hybrid efforts would have been largely ignored.
Yet, power hybrids are all that seem to be coming out of Detroit, except for the Ford Escape hybrid. Chrysler's first hybrids will include huge Hemi engines. GM's first dual mode hybrids will be large, powerful gas guzzlers, such as the GMC Yukon hybrid. Yes, these hybrids will offer significant improvements in fuel economy, but they will still use a lot of fuel.
While I realize that the big truck segment is very important to Detroit, are these hybrids going to change Detroit's image? I doubt it. Without a Prius contender I just don't see Detroit's hybrid efforts offering much help to U.S. automakers until at least the Chevy Volt - and that's just too far into the future.
Labels: chevy volt hybrid, chrysler, electric cars, hybrid cars, lexux rx 400h, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns @ 9:32 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I don't see Detroit trying to change their image. The government rules about fuel efficiency hurts them the most in the vehicles that get the worst fuel mileage, but the increases needed are paltry. Making a Yukon get 3 or 4 mpg more gets them 5 years ahead (not sure of the timeframe) on the government scale.
Detroit has made it clear that their biggest interest is in trying to get bigger profit margins, even at the expense of the world and global warming.
There are some people who need a big truck to haul heavy things, then there are some people (like me) who just have a big family, and need a van without a lot of hauling capabilities. Make two lines, one for passengers that's fuel efficient, and one that's more powerful for those that need to haul things.
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