GTP "Top Green Car 2009" (Hybrid Nominations)

[YSSMAN]

In the interest of doing something fun, I've decided to quickly throw together another "Best Car" thread series with the intent of focusing on green cars and trucks that are quite literally coming out of the woodwork as we speak. The idea was spurred by the coverage of this year's Geneva show, everyone putting out some kind of hybrid, diesel, electric, whatever car to bring new buyers into showrooms, and to peak interest in their brand on the whole. This is where we honor them.

GTP "Top Green Car 2009"

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Similar to the diesel thread, we're dealing with hybrids here. Hybrid technology has become the most-recent, and arguably most-popular form of green technology here in North America. Almost every major manufactuerer offers, or will be offering some kind of hybrid model in the future. Some are more simple, others are far too complex, but for the most part they are meant to be a great green alternative to "normal cars."

The main requirements:
- Must be a 2009 or 2010 model
- Must be using a hybrid powertrain
- No limit on model type, style, power output, etc

(Please) Do not:
- Make this a referendum on fuel prices
- Poor choices made in a given country
- Attack hybrid technology as a poor performance choice

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The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Despite my love for the new Honda Insight, the Ford Fusion Hybrid is still my model of choice. Simply put, its the best of both worlds; Not only does it carry itself well as a "normal" mid-size car, but it also pushes forward the green ideal by managing 41 MPG in the city. Enough to make it the segment leader by a long shot right now. It looks good both in and out, and with a MSRP of just over $27K, it comes in at a very affordable price point as well.

 

[JCE]

Since you voted for my pick already I'll vote for the Honda FCX. It was available to least in California in 2008 so it should count.

Info can be found here: http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/how-fcx-works.aspx

 

[YSSMAN]

Technically, I believe, the FCX clarity is an electric car (using the Hydrogen pack to power its electric motor), it not being a dual-drive setup like what most hybrids have. Most hybrids have the ability to operate on one, or both, of its powerplants.

 

[JCE]

Boooooo leave it in!

 

[niky]

We'll have an electric thread, eventually... don't be impatient.

My vote:

http://www.alternativefuelcars.com.au/images/hyundai elantra lpg.jpg

Hyundai Elantra LPG/Hybrid

Not the most exciting hybrid, but one that's near and dear to my heart... an LPG-hybrid.

1.6 liter LPG-compatible engine (no word on whether it will run on gasoline, too... it should... that would make it a tri-brid!), 15 KW (20 hp) electric assist motor, Lithium Ion batteries... combine that all with the low cost of LPG (propane) fuel and it'll get 47 mpg... less than a Prius, but considering that LPG costs half as much as gasoline in most of the world, and you've got a low-running cost winner.

 

[Philly]

I choose the Fisker Karma.

I believe this technically qualifies for a spot here (assuming it passes for being a "production" car or not). It's an excellent demonstration of this new series hybrid technology, and where it can be applied. Here you have a full size luxury car that will also put down extremely good efficiency numbers and also probably be fun to drive. Sure, it costs $80,000, but I'm sure the car would sell at that price with a regular GM V8 under the hood.

I feel sorry for whoever nominates the Prius....

 

[Prosthetic]

F-750 baby!!!


jk!!

+1 on the Fusion

 

[neanderthal]

I'm not so sure that having a hybrid powertrain is necessarily greener than say a MINI diesel with stop start technology. At the end of the day the MINI does not have batteries that have to be recycled.

Perhaps a better wording would be alternate drivetrain. Versus conventional of course. Diesel is widespread enough to be conventional whereas LPG is not.

 

[niky]

Unfortunately, LPG engines are straight gasoline engines with different tuning. To count as hybrid, you need two power sources.

This brings up the question: flex-fuel vehicles?

 

[Casio]

Under this definition.

Holden Berlina LPG.

Can be powered by LPG and Petrol.

 

[ceiling_fan]

Going in Philly's direction:

2009 Ronn Motors Scorpion
Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Injection craziness (counts as hybrid?...)
40MPG, $150-250k

Good god that thing is sexy.

 

[homeforsummer]

Honda Insight

Surprised nobody has nominated it yet. It's one of the more affordable hybrids, it does seem to get good fuel figures, it's made by a company generally considered to be engineering-focused rather than profits-focused (the fact that they lost money on every original Insight is testament to that), and the current good sales of the model will likely encourage Honda to make something much more interesting, like the CR-Z.

At the end of the day, the Insight is more likely to be relevant than some of the semi-supercars shown above. It'll be a long while before we get alternative-propulsion supercars, but passenger cars are much more likely to go in that direction. The Insight shows that they needn't be ridiculously expensive.

Something I found interesting: If you type Honda Insight into google images, it's a fair few pages until there's a picture of the car above. It seems there's still more interest in the old Insight than there is in the new one. I remember doing the same search a while back when everyone was road testing the new car and finding it difficult to get pictures of the old car.

 

[Philly]

Surprised nobody has nominated it yet.

I think we all knew it was coming so we decided to mix it up a little bit. I was pretty close to nominating either it or the Volt but I figured somebody else along the line would pick either sometime anyway. I don't doubt that if any of us were looking for good, cheap, (hybrid) transportation, the Insight would be near or at the top of all our lists.

 

[JCE]

I originally had the Insight but decided on the FCX instead.