German brands are reducing the gap with the Japanese trendsetters
Car manufacturers all over the world are venturing into 'green cars' technologies. Partly because they need to keep up with the competition in case the demand for green cars skyrockets, and partly because it's very 'cool' for ones brands image to be green. Even the Germans cannot stay behind.
Yes, it now seems that the slightly more conservative German car makers are making good efforts to keep up with the Japanese competition when it comes to green vehicles.
Green cars: the second life of Hybrid vehicles
Hybrid cars had recently lost some of their earlier their public appeal in the shadow of electric cars,. But now hybrid vehicles are returning to the limelight. And that is actually thanks to the Germans.
How did the Germans manage to bring new life to the hybrid car market? Well they have created quite some buzz by premiering various new hybrid car models during the international auto show (=IAA) in Frankfurt. The show is a big event for the European car market and runs from 15 to 25 September.
New German hybrid models: The futuristic Audi A8
The most important IAA debutant with hybrid technology is the Audi A8 Hybrid, at least from a German perspective. The twin engine version of the luxury vehicle will become available on the market in the first half of 2012, probably at a price between ?80,000 - ? 90,000.
Unlike its already available rivals, the Mercedes S400 Hybrid and the BMW 7 Active Hybrid, car manufacturer Audi's A8 Hybrid does not just use its electric motor for accelerating and climbing, it can drive purely electric. The result is a fuel consumption of a mere 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. That is what I would call a fuel-efficient vehicle!
About the Audi A8 Hybrid cars
The Audi A8 Hybrid luxury vehicle will team a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor generator and self-charging 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to realize 37 mpg. That would come to at least a 10 mpg improvement over the standard 2012 Audi A8.
The luxurious hybrid car will generate a combined equivalent of 245 hp and 345 pound/feet of torque, which ensures a strong acceleration. Audi says the A8 Hybrid will be able to make the charge to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standing start in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 146 mph. Not bad at all for a green vehicle.
By Katrien Tans
Car manufacturers all over the world are venturing into 'green cars' technologies. Partly because they need to keep up with the competition in case the demand for green cars skyrockets, and partly because it's very 'cool' for ones brands image to be green. Even the Germans cannot stay behind.
Yes, it now seems that the slightly more conservative German car makers are making good efforts to keep up with the Japanese competition when it comes to green vehicles.
Green cars: the second life of Hybrid vehicles
Hybrid cars had recently lost some of their earlier their public appeal in the shadow of electric cars,. But now hybrid vehicles are returning to the limelight. And that is actually thanks to the Germans.
How did the Germans manage to bring new life to the hybrid car market? Well they have created quite some buzz by premiering various new hybrid car models during the international auto show (=IAA) in Frankfurt. The show is a big event for the European car market and runs from 15 to 25 September.
New German hybrid models: The futuristic Audi A8
The most important IAA debutant with hybrid technology is the Audi A8 Hybrid, at least from a German perspective. The twin engine version of the luxury vehicle will become available on the market in the first half of 2012, probably at a price between ?80,000 - ? 90,000.
Unlike its already available rivals, the Mercedes S400 Hybrid and the BMW 7 Active Hybrid, car manufacturer Audi's A8 Hybrid does not just use its electric motor for accelerating and climbing, it can drive purely electric. The result is a fuel consumption of a mere 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. That is what I would call a fuel-efficient vehicle!
About the Audi A8 Hybrid cars
The Audi A8 Hybrid luxury vehicle will team a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor generator and self-charging 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to realize 37 mpg. That would come to at least a 10 mpg improvement over the standard 2012 Audi A8.
The luxurious hybrid car will generate a combined equivalent of 245 hp and 345 pound/feet of torque, which ensures a strong acceleration. Audi says the A8 Hybrid will be able to make the charge to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standing start in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 146 mph. Not bad at all for a green vehicle.
By Katrien Tans
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