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Picking your hybrid
Not sure which hybrid
to pick? If you are looking for a hybrid vehicle right now,
the best choice is the Toyota Prius. Aside from the fact
that Toyota has already sold more than 100,000 of these
vehicles and is in its third generation of production,
the Prius is a revolutionary car in both design and
technology.
The Civic
hybrid is also a good choice, though the Civic isn't
as remarkable as the Prius in either design or
technology, nor does it offer as much room as the
Prius.
Still, Honda, creator
of the first hybrid vehicle, will be releasing the
hybrid version of its Accord
in December, and the Accord should provide a nice
alternative to the Prius if you prefer a different look.
Not interested in a
car, or sedan?
Don't worry. Ford has
released a few Escape
hybrid SUVs, and Ford will be producing 20,000 plus
models for 2005. Also, a full hybrid, the Escape SUV
offers everything that a standard Escape SUV does,
except it does so while achieving significant gains in
fuel efficiency, while drastically reducing SMOG and
global warming pollution emissions.
And more SUVs are just
around the corner, and by the time that Ford Escapes
start to hit dealerships across the country, 2 new
models will also hit the market. Both new models will
come from Toyota and will be built on Toyota's vast
hybrid experience.
Both the Toyota
Highlander and the Lexus
RX 400h are supposed to hit dealerships in the Fall
of 2005. The Highlander will be bigger than the Escape,
and the Lexus will be the first luxury SUV hybrid.
In terms of trucks, the
options are sparse. While the Silverado
is available in limited quantities in a few select
markets, the Silverado achieves only a 10 percent gain
in fuel efficiency, and is only a mild hybrid.
Unfortunately, Detroit dominates the truck market and
the Big 3 automakers have only just recently started to
take the hybrid movement seriously - as Prius sales have
skyrocketed.
Join the hybrid
buyers club to stay informed about the hybrid
vehicle
market.
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