Archive for the ‘Hybrid mpg’ Category
With all the high gas prices out there, hybrid vehicles are continuing to become more popular among drivers. There are a few luxury hybrid choices out there, and the Lexus GS 450h hybrid seems to be the most popular of those choices. Check out some of the features of the Lexus GS 450h hybrid.
The first thing to realize about Lexus’s GS 450h hybrid is that the vehicle wasn’t solely designed to be a fuel-efficient hybrid. The fact of the matter is that as a Lexus, this line is expected to consistently develop more impressive and sophisticated vehicles, be it gas-powered or hybrid. This is no exception, as the GS 450h is still a high-performance vehicle, able to keep up with any other luxury sports car or sedan. As a result, car enthusiasts will always continue to enjoy and be comforted by driving such a smooth and valuable vehicle.
Considering that Lexus is a name under Toyota, the technology in the GS 450h is just as up to date as is to be expected. The Hybrid Synergy Drive from Toyota is the technology that makes the acceleration much easier to achieve. Since the Drive technology can generate combined horsepower of 340, the GS 450h can rev and blaze down the road like any other sports sedan.
The GS 450h handles like any other sports car, with being able to reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and then can come to a full stop from 60 mph in only 123 feet. At its top speed, the Lexus GS 450h has been recorded at 131 mph. Part of what makes that so possible is the Mark Levinson system and the CVT technology utilized in this Lexus vehicle.
This hybrid runs quietly, smoothly, and with the top speeds for hybrid vehicles today. The Lexus GS 450h set out to bring together high-end performance vehicles with the eco-friendly necessities of the environment. And Lexus has succeeded in creating an elegant, chic, playful, smooth and luxurious vehicle has wins over other Hybrid Cars.
The handling itself of the vehicle is extremely precise, with a suspension system to match. A speed-sensing steering wheel and the double-wishbone suspension in the GS 450h create the precise handling you’ve come to expect from a Lexus.
Fuel Efficiency and the Green Factor
In 2007, Consumer Reports reviewed the GS 450h and it was determined that this vehicle was an overall success, ultimately quite reliable. Thanks to that report, people took note of Lexus’s hybrid sedan, looking at the environmental factors of the car.
The EPA rated the gas mileage for the GS 450h at 22 mpg in the city, and 25 mpg on the highway. While not quite as good as Toyota’s Prius, the GS 450h is still better than its conventional counterpart. The difference really shines through in city driving, where the hybrid gets 22 mpg and the conventional only gets a paltry 19 mpg.
The fuel-efficiency factor of the Lexus is easily accessible and obvious in the car’s design, inside and out. Most notably it is in the two electric motors that operate during specific situations in tandem or separately from the gas engine. This way, the ride you experience is a seamless transition from one form of energy to another, while silently reducing harmful emissions and lowering gasoline consumption.
Additional Features
The safety feature of the GS 450h are high-tech and near pre-cognitive when you need them. This hybrid utilizes a Pre-Collision radar system to detect oncoming vehicles. This way, even your vehicle can help you prevent collisions or incidences and in the event it can’t, prepare for oncoming trauma. In fact, the safety features are prominent from the moment you step into the vehicle. You may not notice at first, but the moment your foot is on the brakes, decelerating, you can feel the seatbelt retract and the brake assist is instantly activated. As far as active, not passive, safety systems, you would be hard-powered to find one as extensive as in the GS 450h.
In the event of a crash, the hybrid is standard with dual-stage airbags in every location that would be able to protect you and your passengers in the event of a crash. The vehicle has airbags placed so that in the event of frontal impact, or other major collision incidences, everyone is protected on all fronts.
The next question is the one of price, and be very aware that it is a hefty. At the base cost, expect to pay about $54,655. That cost is already $10,000 higher than a conventional gas-powered Lexus GS, but considering the car’s quality and brand, the price is nearly to be expected. After all, it is a Lexus, and the brand is known for expense, luxury and high-end quality.
So, if you find yourself in a position that you can spend the money to purchase a Lexus GS 450h, the vehicle will last you quite a while and will be well worth every penny spent.
To learn more about hybrid cars visit hybridcarchat.com and check out some of the hybrid car reviews. You will receive the free guide to increasing your car’s fuel efficiency once you join the forum.
The announcement recently made by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg with regards to the changing of taxi policy and increasing fuel economy standards have been at the advantage of Ford—major stockholder of Mazda maker of Mazda AC compressor — since the said policy would further highlights the automaker’s leadership in the field of hybrid taxis.
The Ford Escape Hybrid together with the Mercury Mariner Hybrid are the only hybrid vehicles that have been able to meet the current New York City taxi requirements not to mention the proposed new fuel economy policy.
It can be noted that it was in the year 2005 when San Francisco became the first city to feature gas-electric hybrid-powered taxi cabs. San Francisco at that time chose Ford Escape Hybrid and later that year, New York City has also added a small fleet of Escape Hybrid taxis based on the decision approved by the New York City Council in connection wit the Clean Air Taxis Act. Then in June 2006, Ford embarked again on a nationwide tour promoting the benefits of the use of Escape Hybrids as a taxi service and since then both Chicago and Austin have introduced Escape Hybrids into their taxi fleets.
The fleet of 18 Escape Hybrid taxis in New York City has been able to accumulate hundreds of thousands of miles over the past two years and has been able to record an estimated fuel savings of $250,000. Today there are already 288 Escape Hybrids in taxi service throughout the city, and drivers are reporting that the hybrids are amazingly durable and their fuel-saving advantages are simply outstanding which makes them a great choice for taxis.
Facts on Ford Escape Hybrid
* Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV in the world: Its EPA rating is 34 miles per gallon for city driving. The front-wheel drive Escape Hybrid is the most fuel efficient SUV presently on earth and can provide drivers with 500 miles per tank of gas.
* A savings of $30 per shift: According to Paul Gillespie, a San Francisco cab driver, driving an Escape Hybrid has helped him save up to $30 per shift. He is working four shifts a week which saves him $120 and for a year more than $6,000 on gasoline.
* Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) Certified: The Escape Hybrid has significantly reduced smog-forming emissions as it meets the cleanest emissions standard available for a vehicle that make use of fossil fuels—particularly the California’s AT-PZEV standard. The Escape Hybrid driving over 100,000 miles can conserve approximately 1,666 gallons of gas compared to a traditional cab and at the same time preventing 32,000 pounds of carbon emissions.
* Durability and Reliability: In terms of these qualities, the Escape Hybrid has proven its strength by surviving a round-the-clock durability test in one of the most severe driving conditions that any vehicle can possibly endure. This durability of the Escape Hybrid is backed by a standard 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty for unique hybrid components that includes the battery pack.
* Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner Hybrid were given high tax credits: The real world fuel economy of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids will increased for the 2008 model year and because of this the Federal income tax credits available now are $3,000 for FWD models which rose by $400 and $2,200 on 4WD models up by $250. Both Ford and Mercury Hybrids at present have the highest tax credit given to a hybrid vehicle. The tax credits given to Ford and Mercury have increased by $900 more than their closest competitor. For both vehicles the EPA-certified fuel economy for FWD models is 34 mpg for vcity and 30 mpg for highway while 29 mpg for city and 27 mpg highway for AWD models.
* Insurance discounts for Mercury Mariner Hybrids and Ford Escape Hybrids: Travelers which is one of the largest providers of personal insurance products in the US has offered hybrid drivers in the states of California, New Jersey, Texas, New York, Maryland, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, and Washington discounts of up to 10 percent ion certain coverage. The company has estimated that their hybrid policy business has grown by up to 200 percent last 2006.
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.
Walkaround on Ford Fusion Hybrid
Honda Promises Plug-Ins and EVs by 2012
Honda finally comes to the table with an EV, but it’s still betting hydrogen is the future.
Read more on Wired News
