Luxury Hybrids Offer Efficiency with a Large Dash of Luxury
Luxury Hybrids appear at first to be an automotive oxymoron; how can a desire to be eco-friendly be married to a love of high-end opulence? Apparently, this “shotgun” marriage has been accomplished by many of the high-end car manufacturers. Companies such as Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Tesla, BMW, Audi, and Lincoln have developed and produced vehicles that are not only fuel-efficient, but highly attractive, far outdistancing their economic equivalents in both affluence and price. They are both capable and definitely cool. Indeed, tighter government mpg regulations (54.5 by 2025) and emissions standards are pressuring even the most luxurious car manufacturers to devise models that are more efficient. This movement towards fuel economy has not reduced the high-end consumers’ penchant for human comfort and sophistication.
The Latest High End Hybrids
The Lincoln MXZ offers a superior suspension package, along with an amazing noise control system and leather interiors that epitomize the Lincoln level of sumptuousness. Buyers focus on the mpg savings and not the questionable natural materials used.
The Lexus GS 450h, a distant cousin to Toyota’s Prius, was 16% of total Toyota sales in 2013; this proves that luxury and global awareness can coexist. The 19-speaker stereo system, 10 -position power seats, and sunroof are all indications of the level of comfort available in high-end hybrids. To protect this amazing interior from intense sun exposure, shields can be deployed.
Perhaps the most intriguing luxury hybrid is the Tesla Model s, with its unique power train and teched-out interior. According to US News and World Report, this is the #1 Hybrid for Luxury; and at $89,000 beginning sticker, one of the more expensive. Its 60 kW battery pack is phenomenal, its handling outstanding, its 17” touch-screen display daunting. It is also purely electric, making it one of the most environmentally friendly luxury sedans.
The Mercedes Benz E400 offers both the luxury of its fellow German-inspired vehicles and the highest mpg of all the designated luxury hybrids.
The Cadillac Escalade hybrid is a mammoth vehicle, capable of boat towing and carrying eight passengers; its 20 mpg may not be especially impressive, but its interior of gleaming wood and soft leather certainly is.
Of all the luxury hybrid lines, the one that combines true indulgence, speed, and fuel awareness is Porsche. The Porsche Panamera, a sharp sport sedan, offers a 333 horsepower, V6 engine and an eye-catching exterior. The interior can be customized further, with leather steering wheels and stereo enhancements. The Cayenne e is a hybrid also, a plug-in SUV with a sleek look and eco-friendly performance. The king of them all, the Porsche 918 S Spyder, with a price tag in the high 6 figures, certainly makes the case that wealthy car buyers do indeed want to save the planet, but without sacrificing luxury in the process.