Detroit's Best Best: Hybrid Vehicles

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January 04, 2005

Detroit's Best Bet, the Hybrid Vehicle

A recent article in Businessweek covering the outlook for auto manufacturing in the United States, Borrowing from the Future, states "After years of lavish sales incentives, demand for cars is flat. With higher interest rates ahead, Detroit's best bet is to offer better cars.

GM and Ford U.S. market share is at historic lows, even following a year full of $5000.00+ rebates on many vehicles. Now even incentives can't lure enough car buyers.

Better cars, the article reiterates again and again, is the only thing that can save the last two American automakers.

A better car, it seems, would be derived from intelligent design and intelligent, innovative technology. Any design that incorporates waste or inefficiency into the design, cannot be seen as intelligent, or innovative.

Toyota Prius

+ Prius hybrid home
+ Escape hybrid home
+ Accord hybrid home
+ Head to head: Prius and the Escape hybrid match up
+ Prius test drive
+ Escape hybrid test drive

Hybrid Car Club

Stay informed. Join the hybrid revolution Now!

Yet that is what many trucks and SUVs represent, an inefficient design built on inefficient technology.

The Toyota Prius, on the other hand, is probably the most innovative designed and technologically mass-produced automobile in the world. When compared side-by-side with the Ford Escape hybrid, the Toyota Prius is, unquestionably, much more efficient.

The hybrid Escape, built on leased Prius technology, is somewhat inefficient by design, due to it's SUV platform. Nonetheless, when all is said and done, the Escape hybrid is still the most efficient Escape. However, if one drives a loaded V6 Escape and a loaded hybrid Escape, the conventional vehicle will out perform it's hybrid cousin - in speed and acceleration.

So, are hybrids better than conventional vehicles?

It took Toyota a few generations of production to create a Prius hybrid capable of competing with non-hybrids in average consumer interest.

And hybrids are becoming better and better.

Honda's third hybrid, the Accord Hybrid, did something the Escape hybrid did not. It became the best Accord ever.

Reduced pollution and reduced fuel efficiency was only the beginning for the Honda Accord hybrid. Aside from these environmental credentials, the Accord hybrid is also the best performer of all Accords, picking up almost a second in acceleration on it's conventional cousin.

Toyota's next hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, is to offer significant more horsepower than it's conventional Lexus counterpart. Horsepower, long considered the main sizzle factor for American auto consumers, is now becoming the domain of hybrids.

The potential of hybrid vehicles is just beginning. What started as an experiment in fuel efficiency has become a demonstration of increased efficiency leading to increased speed and power.

More important hybrids represent an important step into the future, laying down a foundation for easier hydrogen and fuel cell integration.

Hybrid cars will continue to out-perform their conventional cousins in every measure of vehicle performance, and prices will go down.

When that happens, conventional cars will look about as appealing as VCRs next to a stack of DVD players.

> Nissan wants to sell 50,000 Altima hybrids

> Hybrid car cost controversy: You can save money

> Feds to investigate Prius for alleged stalling problem

> Schwarzenegger paves way to hybrid cars?

> No Cheap Way Around Buying a Hybrid Car

> The state of hybrid vehicle demand

> Foreign-oil dependency rising: Buy a hybrid or other fuel efficient vehicle

> Hybrid cars: The costs of being an early adopter

From the Blog

More Hybrid Car Stories

Detroit's best bet, hybrid vehicles.

Head to Head to Head: Prius, Accord and Escape Hybrids, Part 1

Diesels versus hybrids. Let's get it on.

Hybrid version of the Mariner

Hybrid vehicles less powerful?

Despite Hybrid Escape, Ford Hammered by Environmentalists

Toyota hybrid cars, just a niche?

"Do gas-electric hybrids leave less green in your wallet?"

More hydrogen hype. Hybrid cars ARE the future

Ford's Other Hybrid Vehicle Idea

Bob and my Accord Hybrid Test Drive

Honda Accord Hybrid Test Drive: Initial thoughts

Toyota announces new hybrid car for 2006

Hybrid car inspiration: Test driving Nirvana

The hybrid vehicle niche?

Why should consumers pay extra for hybrid vehicles?

Hydrogen hype: Why hybrid vehicles are more important than ever

What's the Point of a Hybrid SUV?

Honda Accord hybrid an extra $3000.00 plus

Detroit's hybrid vehicle collaboration a sign of things to come?

Could Chevron end hybrid vehicle hold up?

Ford's biggest gas-guzzling SUV set for extinction

Calpers, America's largest pension fund challenges automakers on California clean air legislation lawsuit

GM, DaimlerChrysler hybrid vehicle partnership creates serious questions

Daimler Chrysler and GM team up on hybrid vehicles

Automaker spin on global warming responsibility

Americans must take a stand against the American auto industry

Bill Ford Jr. has nothing but excuses when it comes to his green vision

The California Clean Cars Campaign responds to automakers lawsuit

A challenge to residents of California, and to consumers everywhere

Auto lawsuit initiated against California global warming legislation

Hybrid car rip off? $60 billion in rebates for non-hybrids.

Zap ForTwo Smart Car Available on eBay

Automakers set to challenge landmark California emission's law

Hybrid cars are for do-gooders?

Hybrid version of Mercury Mariner, wow.
> C'mon Ford. Can't you do better than another Escape Hybrid?

Hybrid vehicles less powerful?
> The newest hybrid cars are more faster and more powerful than conventional autos.

What's up with the hybrid haters?
> How can you dislike hybrid cars, or call people who like them shallow?

Accord Hybrid one of LA's Ten Great Cars of Year
> In the land of glamour and bling, bling, even common sense can rule. Hybrids are cool, and they represent the future.

Despite Escape Hybrid, Environmentalists Continue to Hammer Ford
> The Ford Escape hybrid is a nice gesture by Ford, but only a gesture.

Toyota hybrid cars, just a niche?
> After Prius success, why isn't Toyota more optimistic about hybrid vehicle sales?

More hydrogen hype: The case for hybrid cars
> If the hydrogen economy is at least two decades away, interim technologies, such as hybrids, are the key

Bob and My Hybrid Accord Test Drive
> Bob loved the Accord hybrid, but said he wouldn't pay the extra cash

Honda Accord Hybrid Test Drive: Initial Thoughts
> The new Honda Accord hybrid has added a significant twist to the hybrid class

Hydrogen hype: Why hybrid vehicles are more important than ever
>Detroit's answer to pollution is at least decades away, and we can't wait that long. Hybrids are an essential interim technology

Do Hybrid SUVs make sense?
> Isn't the reason for hybrid vehicles efficiency? Plus, Accord hybrid tidbits.

Detroit's hybrid vehicle collaboration: They had no choice.
> Not long ago Detroit laughed at Japanese hybrid cars, not anymore.

Could Chevron end hybrid vehicle hold up?
> Current hybrid battery partnership and record profits could lead the way

GM, Daimler Chrysler team up on hybrid vehicles. Toyota Prius success forces automakers to complete with Japanese hybrids

Car makers just can't do the right thing. Automakers set to challenge landmark California emission's law

Disrespecting the hybrid car movement: Faster and speedier than standards, hybrid cars are not just for do-gooders

Americans must take a stand against American auto corporations

Bill Ford Jr. Ready to Restart his Clean Revolution

Accord hybrid only available in select markets

The sad truth about the current state of hybrid vehicles

Honda Accord hybrid officially in showrooms today!

IMA versus HSD: The Honda Accord hybrid versus the Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius on NBC's West Wing

Hybrids, Fuel Cells and the Future

Porsche seeks Toyota hybrid technology

Hybrid Vehicles: Full or Mild?

A little Hybrid Rant: Cool v. Intelligence

Future hybrids "Mean & Green" according to Newsweek

Test driving the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV

Lexus RX 400h hybrid SUV release delayed

My Toyota Prius test drive

Prius Availability is increasing in many areas

For Even More Hybrid Vehicle Stories >> Click here.

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