At the 83rd International Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland (March 5-6), car show enthusiasts, lovers of luxury cars and environmentalists crowded together for the unveiling of three new cars that carry the appeal of style, comfort, performance, fuel efficiency and environmental consciousness. Paul A. Eisenstein, a writer for the Detroit Bureau said that the models at this show will definitely change the way you view hybrids. Featuring the latest from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley, the Motor Show offered fans of luxury and innovation something to smile about.
LaFerrari
Move over Prius, Ferrari has a new hybrid that has style to match its fuel efficiency. Moving in to replace the EnzoFerrari, LaFerrari is not the typical gas-electric vehicle, but its automaker does say it will do its part in reducing emissions and consumption of fuel. So, even if you do spend more on this purchase, you will be saving money and the environment further down the road. It can also get up to 1,000 horsepower and go from 0-60 in under three seconds, pushing speed up to 220 mph. Eisenstein’s report made no mention of the cars mpg, but Bill Howard of ExtremeTech.com says that this car should create 10 percent less CO2 emissions compared to earlier Ferrari models. This new model can accomplish this reduction through new technology called HY-KERS (hybrid kinetic energy recovery system), which runs with the actual engine of the car, sharing some of its burden of performance, making this car a mild hybrid.
SLS AMG Electric Drive
Fresh from German automaker Mercedes-Benz, the SLS packs a powerful 1200-pound Lithium ion battery pack and promises to hit 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds. Getting about 155 mph, this luxury car offers more style than performance or fuel efficiency, but then sometimes attractiveness and comfort overrule other considerations. If you’re still looking for strength, you can find luxury and comfort in a used BMW 7, which reaches up to 217 mph and goes from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds.
Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen unveiled their latest creation at the Geneva Motor Show. The XL1 is a two-seater that offers 261 mpg. That’s more than enough for the fuel-efficiency crowd. Howard says that the XL1 runs on one liter of gas (hence the name) and that is the most you could expect in a hybrid car, especially one that was introduced as a concept in 2009 and is now a racing ahead of the competition today.
Whether you choose to cruise in a compact XL1, go for a countryside drive in the quaint and comfortable SLS, or blaze down the highway in your LaFerrari, you can feel better knowing that you are doing something good for the environment and for the future of our planet, by reducing CO2 emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. Look good, feel good, do good – words to live by for every driver.
