Author : Gregory Smyth
Hybrid vehicles are the way of the future – for those that don’t want to wait for the infrastructure for hydrogen fuelling to be built, and realize that diesels may have better fuel efficiency than petrol vehicles, but most are still just ‘dirty diesels’ (with notable exceptions!) Up until recently, there has been one main hybrid model on the market, with major drawbacks for the models from every other competitor However, 2009 and 2010 will see a hybrid revolution in Hong Kong, as well as the rest of the world There will soon be at least five major manufacturers, including some big names in Hong Kong luxury cars, entering the hybrid arena We look at some of the best
All the buzz has been about Mercedes Benz’ hybrid car for 2009, the S400 The model was first previewed at the Frankfurt motor show in 2006, and Mercedes vehicles have spent the interval refining their hybrid technologies to ensure they are tip top for the release The S400 Blue Hybrid, which shares branding with the Bluetec diesel green passenger cars available in Hong Kong, will use a lithium ion battery, considered to be the holy grail of energy storage for electric cars This green Hong Kong luxury car is powered by a 299 hp engine, which gives drivers 30 mpg It is being billed as the most economical luxury sedan in Hong Kong – and in fact, the world!
The S400 has been hyped for several years now, but it is not the only new Mercedes hybrid we’ll see in 2009 The ML450 Hybrid will be a two-mode hybrid system, which will be similar to GM’s scheme, which has a pair of electric motors and a continuously variable transmission under the hood The best news for hybrid car buyers in Hong Kong though, are the performance figures The ML450 will give V8 like performance, with 340 hp and 354 pound/feet of torque It has a gasoline, rather than a diesel engine
For the smaller and more budget-priced end of the hybrid vehicle market in Hong Kong, Honda is readying a 2010 version of the Accord with an electric motor While Hong Kong price figures have not been published, it is expected to have a US price tag of less than $20,000 The styling of this green Hong Kong passenger car will be based on the 2007 concept CR-Z which made waves at auto shows last year It won’t have the performance of the new Mercedes, with its 3 or 4 cylinder engine with 1 0-1 3L of displacement It will have a lithium ion battery, rather than the plug in capability of some other electric models
The 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be one of the largest hybrid vehicles available to Hong Kong buyers – although it may only be available on special order This enormous SUV will either be rear or all wheel drive, and outputs 332hp to get the massive body moving, as well as 367 pound/feet of torque It has a four speed two-mode automatic, truly meant for off-roading Definitely not a city SUV, it has a wheelbase of 116 inches, and is 202 inches long Phew! Don’t run out of electricity in the Cadillac Escalade – you’ll need to push 5,570 pounds of passenger car down a Hong Kong highway
As one of the world’s most exciting and prestigious brand,Mercedes Benz Hong Kong offers commercial vehicles extensive choice of Vito, Sprinter, Viano, Actros, Axor,Atego and luxury passenger cars in Hong Kong and Macau.
Syndication Source: Article Mind