“Go – Green” seems to be the automobile industry’s new mantra. As environment awareness is growing into the mainstream, more and more car companies are developing green cars which have excellent designs and performance. A hindrance to the green cars was its’ incompetence with the big boys of the industry. Now these cars are getting fully-fledged in terms of speed & power and raring to go. The list that follows comprises the top 10 of the greenest, sexiest and fastest beauties on wheels.
10. The Saab Aero-X
Saab Aero-X is a concept car unveiled by Saab. It comes equipped with ethanol guzzling 2.8L twin-turbocharged, V6 engine that produces 650 hp and races from 0 to 60mph in 4.7 s. The entire top-canopy of the car opens up for entry & exit, making it one of the extraordinary designs. The maximum speed is 155 mph and has a 7-speed, manual transmission controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.
9. The Rinspeed sQuba
The sQuba is the world’s foremost car that can be driven on land as well as under water. It is developed by Swiss company Rinspeed. The sQuba is a zero emission, all-electric vehicle which uses 3 electric-motors, one for land and two for water. On land, it is powered by its electric, rear-wheel drive power-train to speed of 80mph, using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Upon entering water, it is powered by twin electric-powered propellers with two Seabob water jets and can be submerged to a depth of 10 meters. On the water surface, the speed is 3.7 mph and underwater it is 1.9 mph. It is almost out of your budget but is a real Bond car.
8. The Velozzi
The Velozzi is a hybrid vehicle created by Italian Team Velozzi to compete in the X-Prize’09 for environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and marketable vehicles. The car attains a top-speed of 200 mph and goes 0-60 in under 3 seconds. The hybrid’s gas tanks can be fuelled by anything ranging from gas, methanol and bio diesel to any normal alternative fuels. The Velozzi has the aura of an Italian car in its design.
7. The ZAP Alias
The ZAP Alias is the outcome of a partnership between ZAP (Zero Air Pollution) motors and the British car maker Lotus. It will do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and can reach a top-speed of 155 mph. The car comes with a unique three-wheeled-design. The car gets its speed and power from each of the two front wheels powered by its own electric-motor. The Alias delivers 100 miles per charge and is priced at about $35,000.
6. Venturi Fetish
Venturi Fetish is produced by Venturi in Monaco. Its top speed is only 100 mph, but it generates a plenty of power during the initial acceleration as it goes 0-60mph in about 5s. The batteries are all lithium-ion and offer a full recharge in 30 kWh three-phase. It runs at a reliable translation of 9.58: 1, with a torque of 162 lb ft. Unlike internal-combustion-engine cars, the maximum torque is available for all motor speeds including from a dead stop, due to the electric traction motor. Only, 25 of them are being produced in a year and can be yours only for the price of $500,000.
5. Citroen C-Metisse
It is a concept-car manufactured by the French car-maker Citroen. It was first introduced in the Paris auto show ‘06 as a hybrid car that has the same performance as a diesel or gasoline powered car. The hybrid-powered C-Metisse can operate in a Zero Emission mode. It is an all electric mode perfectly suited for city cruising, at the same time giving you the diesel-engine power when needed in the motor way. The car can use front wheel, rear wheel and AWD depending on condition. It attains a top speed of 155mph and returns 36 mpg.
4. Toyota FT-HS
Toyota FT-HS is a hybrid sports concept car introduced at the North American International Auto Show ‘07. FT-HS denotes Future Toyota Hybrid Sport. The aesthetic beauty with a rear-wheel drive hybrid power- train produces 400 hp and achieves 0-60 mph in an astonishing 4 seconds. This is done by combining a 3.5 L V6 and an electric-motor. The hybrid car powers Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.
3. The Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) released by Fisker Automotive. It features the Q-Drive technology by which a small, gasoline-powered generator recharges the battery. It is powered by innovative petrol engine/electric-motors combination and can drive for 50 miles with a single plug-in. The Karma will be capable of 100 mpg and a top-speed of 125 mph. The Karma has built-in, roof-top solar panels to facilitate the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries and also to aid the cabin climate-control-system. That will cost over the $80,000 base price.
2. The Lightning GT
The Lightning GT is a battery electric sports car from the British manufacturer Lightning. The sports car will travel nearly 250 miles on a charge with its 36 kWh batteries by Altair Nanotech. Its PML Flightlink Hi-Pa Drive motors provide an output electrical equivalent of 650 hp. The Lightning GTS accelerates to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. The body made from carbon fiber and Kevlar composites results is a sleek, powerful-looking car. Priced at $300,000, this is the car eco-geek will want to drive.
1. The Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric sports car produced by Tesla Motors. It is probably the greenest sports car on the planet. Lotus helped in giving it a curvy, downright, sexy body-design. The Roadster can travel 244 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery and can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 3.9 s. Its top speed is electronically set at 125 mph. The Roadster gets 4.7 miles per kWh and offers a whopping 135 mile per gallon with 92% efficiency. You can not get a better green-car priced at $100,000.
