|
|
Variety of Hybrid Vehicles Featured at Auto Show March 2005As you've probably heard gas prices are expected to reach a record high this spring.We're already paying around two bucks a gallon. This week, the national average rose to $2.03 a gallon, while in the Twin Cities the average was a penny higher at $2.04 Later this spring the price could jump to $2.15 a gallon. That means more drivers are finding new ways to cut costs. Many looking for a more fuel efficient vehicle will be visiting the Twin Cities Auto Show this weekend. The new stars of the annual exhibition are putting the brakes on gasoline. They're so-called hybrids that use electricity some or most of the time. The current king of the hybrid craze is Honda. Chris Finegan of Burnsville Honda says they offer two hybrid models, We have the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic hybrid and then, just released this past December, there is the Honda Accord Hybrid. Toyota isnt far behind. The Prius has been a big hit and now Toyota is introducing a new Highlander hybrid. Lexus is bragging up their new Rx400h as the world's first luxury hybrid. This car will set you back about 50 big ones. Ford has jumped into the hybrid game with it's new Escape SUV says D.L. OConnor, a brand manager for the auto maker, It's extremely high demand. We can't keep em on the show floors long enough for people to see them. So, that's a good problem to have sometimes. So, are the hybrids here to stay? It appears they are as virtually every car maker is promising some gas alternative vehicle in the near future. Chevy and GMC say they'll show a full sized hybrid truck next year. Once a novelty, high powered models like the 255 horsepower Accord are set to cruise into the fast lane. The customers and the car makers may have different motives for the move to hybrids, but the end result is more fuel efficient vehicles. Fuel economy is what attracts customers to the hybrids, for the corporations, it's the emissions. They expect the government to tighten emission standards and put tougher limits on what vehicles can pump into the air and hybrids fit the bill. The hybrids cost about $4,000 more than comparable gas-only cars but get better mileage in the city than on the highway because they use their electric motors more in stop and go driving. SOURCE: KARE11.com | ||
|
Hybrid Car Links
|