New Hybrids Still Luxury Autos
A lot has transpired on the world stage over the past twenty years. Gas prices have yo-yoed. Political regimes have been toppled. Yet despite some predictions to the contrary, most people still take gas powered vehicles to work every day. With the talk in the automotive world these days centering on more fuel efficient and environmentally conscious vehicles, luxury brands like Lexus and Mercedes Benz are testing the waters by introducing hybrid sedans to the U.S. market in 2009.
What Makes a Hybrid a Hybrid?
By convention, a hybrid vehicle is simply one that uses two or more separate power sources to provide motion to the vehicle. Most often, this takes the form of an internal combustion engine and electric batteries.
The so-called mild hybrid incorporates a regenerative brake and electric support drive, but does not have a dedicated electric-only mode. Some designs beginning to show up on the market offer several driving modes that address the issues of fuel economy and power in various combinations.
After a shaky start in the late 1990s, the modern iteration of the hybrid vehicle now appears to have a foothold in the automotive industry. Hybrid powered vehicles sold worldwide by Toyota alone reached 1.7 million vehicles by January 2009.
The Pursuit of Perfection Two Decades Later
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Lexus, which began as an offshoot of Toyota, whose Prius has been the standard bearer for hybrid automobiles for several years now, would venture into the hybrid market with a luxury sedan.
Lexus chose its 20th year in the U.S. market with a new vehicle to debut its initial hybrid offering — the HS 250h. Hailed as a new type of vehicle, the four-cylinder can function in four driving modes: Power, Regular, ECO and EV. When in EV mode, the HS 250hk runs solely on electric power; the result, company claims, qualifies as a super low emissions vehicle. And “modes” isn’t all that’s borrowed from the computer industry: An optional Heads-up Display projects vehicle speed and other relevant data onto the windshield.
In a move designed to cut down on down time spent driving, the optional Lexus Enform enables access to multiple points from a personal computer or any Internet-enabled device. Data can be sent over the Web directly to the vehicle’s optional navigation System.
Under the hood, the HS 250h boasts 187 horsepower and an EPA-combined rating of 35 miles per gallon. According to Lexus, that gives the HS the best combined fuel mileage of any luxury car in the U.S.
Mercedes Benz
Not to be outdone, Mercedes Benz Hybrid power comes to its S-Class in the form of the S400 Hybrid. With a combined 295 horsepower (3.5L V-6, with an additional 20 horsepower from an electric motor), it is possible that the mild hybrid S-Class could might attain a fuel economy comparable to that of a compact sedan. The entire look gets a light makeover, including new headlights and taillights, new grill, and larger side mirrors. New optional safety systems include features like Attention Assist and Nightview Assist, which uses an infrared-assisted headlight system that helps the driver see further than with traditional lamps.
Other luxury brands seem to be weighing their options: Makers like BMW, Cadillac, and Infiniti have announced plans to offer vehicles with a hybrid power options. Meanwhile, some makers such as Audi seem to be entrenched in the non-hybrid camp , focusing their greener designs on ultra efficient diesel motors. It remains to be seen if buyers will be willing to pay an up charge for luxury features in a more eco-friendly package. It could be another interesting 20 years.
Sources:
hybridcars.com
lexus.com
mbusa.com
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