Posts Tagged ‘electric vehicles’

To the depression of many, America will not be debuting those solar-powered golf-cart cars that we see in the futuristic movies and animations by the end of the decade – it’s just not happening and it doesn’t look for fashionable or comfortable anyway. We’re not getting those super fast fueling stations either. We even have to let down those economy-minded people and let them know the country isn’t banning and trashing our high-performance, gas-guzzling cars either. But what will be happening is so much better!

The 2010 Detroit Auto Show is displaying the real future of the U.S. auto industry on its floor and it’s looking oh so good!

The newest models of autos are a mix of cars and trucks updated and improved to meet the needs of American drivers and help slowly but surely eliminate dependence on expensive gas. Most hint at the rapidly increasing number of hybrid cars being released onto the roads that include plug-ins and all-electric vehicles. However, don’t start forgetting where those gas stations are in your town quite yet because it’s going to be a while before the majority of cars on the street that hold traditional gasoline engines are phased out.

Still, just looking at these cars makes you want to trash your old car and run to the nearest dealer. And it’s not just because of the built in GPS’s either.

Honda CR-Z

It used to be that driving an economy car meant you’d be in the slow lane on the parkway while sports cars left you in the dust but not anymore.

Going on sale this summer, the sporty, two-seat Honda CR-Z is a fuel-sipping hybrid but gives the driver the ride of their life. It’s the first hybrid of its kind to have a manual transmission and is sure to lead the way for hybrid powertrains. It has a 1.5-liter four cylinder gasoline engine and a Integrated Motor Assist electric motor that gives 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque – that’s 24 more horsepower than the Insight. Even though the mileage isn’t groundbreaking it’s trendy, looks amazing and shows that hybrids are definitely headed in the right direction.

Audi e-Tron

Audi has officially outdone themselves with this new model. It’s sleek, it’s sexy, it’s trendy, it’s…it’s everything! Seeing this car on display makes you want to grab a bowl of strawberries and cream, lay on top of it and just stare at the road…forget about driving it – with this car you own it.

But besides its amazing look, the Audi e-Tron is said to be capable of 0-60 mph in less than six seconds and has a top speed of 124 mph. Even the driving range is up there, coming at an estimate of 155 miles. However, the large e-Tron that had four electric motors, this one has just two that power the rear whets with lithium-ion batteries that continue to support the car.

The larger version of this car is to go into production in 2012 but the specific model may differ from the one pictured here.

Either way, the cars of the near future are looking extremely promising so get out there and start looking because you’re not going to want to miss this show!

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