Green Supercars Attempt to Make Efficiency Sexy

A trend has been building over the last several years in the automotive industry. At nearly every auto show in recent memory at least one automaker as presented a supercar or luxury that is either pure electric or a super efficient hybrid. As the Euro crisis continues, expect to see more highly aspirational models from European automakers as they attempt to lure lapsed buyers back to the showroom with the promise of a fun drive and low fuel costs. 

At the Paris Motor Show alone, we saw the Mercedes SLS AMG Electric DriveMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cou...Germany, 2013 > present5 photos
, Lexus LF-CC, Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Hybrid, Peugeot OnyxPeugeot OnyxFrance, 2012 > 201225 photos
concept and promise of the upcoming hybrid Honda NSXAcura NSX ConceptJapan, 2012 > present19 photos
. The automakers are hoping that even if only a few buyers can afford these cars, their presence on the road and in showrooms will encourage people to buy cars. 

Nearly every major European automaker has one of these models in some flavor or another. Some like the Volkswagen XL1Volkswagen XL1Germany, 2011 > 201119 photos
and BMW i8 promise a fun car to drive that is also very efficient. Others like the Panamera Sport Turismo Hybrid and SLS AMG Electric Drive promise fast cars with tons of power that just happen to also be rather efficient.

While it is a concept, the Peugeot Onyx might be the epitome of this philosophy. Like the Peugeot 908 prototype, it uses a diesel V8 with a hybrid engine to produce about 600hp and weighs 1100kg. 

Even the next FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
supercar has been confirmed as a hybrid.

Many of these automakers are backing up their supercar options with cheaper, equally efficient cars. Mercedes showed the B-Class Electric DriveMercedes-Benz Concept B-C...Germany, 2012 > 20121 photo
in Paris and BMW has the smaller i3 to complement the i8. 

Source: Automotive News Europe