The idea to combine in one car just two engines, the main - the internal combustion engine (also used for battery charging) and support - Electric, was born in 1900. The author of it was a brilliant designer Ferdinand Porsche. However, due to excessive complexity and lack of in those days any problems with the fuel, no one interested in the development. The idea of hybrid cars had returned only in the 70s, helped by oil crises and increasing fuel prices.
The offer is now extremely varied, ranging from city cars to the most luxurious sedans, passing minivan and station wagon. Here is a mini-guide of the models on the market in 2013 including list prices that may vary slightly during the year .........
The two main players in this segment are hybrid Toyota Yaris Hybrid and the Honda Jazz Hybrid models produced by the two Japanese brands who first launched on the market at the beginning of the 90s of the hybrid models.
The Yaris Hybrid, which has a list price starts at 18,150 Euros, can travel up to 1 km in electric mode and has an average fuel consumption of just 3.5 l/100 km. Slightly more spacious is the Jazz Hybrid, which consumes 4.5 l/100 km and costs € 19,000 ............
E 'in this segment, the C-segment hybrid cars have emerged. The best known is the world's best selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius, a model that also like VIPs of Holywood, but it is also appreciated by taxi drivers because it consumes just 3.9 l/100 km, for a list price starting of 27,500 Euros .......
Its main rival is the Honda Insight, with a value of consumption of 4.3 l/100 km and a price of 23,950 Euros. However, is the all-new Toyota Auris Hybrid, same engine but the Prius hatchback body and 5-door and a cheaper price: from € 22.600. ........
His version of "luxury" is the Lexus CT200h (Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota), which consumes 4.1 l/100 km and costs 29,900 Euros ......
The first models of hybrid sedans were hybrid engines of luxury sedans of representation, but the supply has been expanding downward in recent years. The most accessible is the Peugeot 508 Hybrid4, which has the peculiarity of having a heat engine oil, a 2,000 cc 200 bhp, a choice that allows you to limit consumption on long trips, the situation in which the diesel cars consume less. Consumes just 3.4 l/100 km and thanks to the electric motor that moves the rear wheels only can be considered a 4x4. The price is € 38,450 ......
Large luxury hybrid is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class BlueTEC Hybrid, which has excellent performance, -242 km / h top speed, it takes 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h - it consumes just 4.1 l / 100 km thanks to the presence of the Diesel engine. The starting price is 53,090 Euros .....
Its direct rival is the BMW 3 Series Active Hybrid which costs 55,700 Euros and consumes 5.9 l/100 km. Consumption is higher end because it has a 3,000 cc turbo petrol engine with 340 hp, but it is a fireball from 0 to 100 km / h takes just 5.3 seconds. There are also two alternatives from Japan, the Lexus GS 450h has a lower consumption: 5.9 l/100 km for a price of € 58,000, while the M35h is accredited Infinti of 6.9 l/100 km and prices from 58,715 € ......
The selection of the familiar with the electric motor is slowly expanding with the arrival of new models for the moment the market is made up of Mercedes-Benz E-Class BlueTEC Hybrid Wagon (has a huge luggage compartment from 695 liters), which costs as much as the sedan, and the Peugeot 508 RXH which has the same technical features of the 508 Hybrid4, but an offroad styling. Costa € 43,500 ......
On the same architecture is made of the Citroen DS5 Hybrid4, original and well-equipped, which costs 38,100 Euros ......
Particularly rich is the luxury hybrid sedan segment, often chosen by companies such as vehicle of representation. What is the longest time on the market is the Lexus LS 600h (some also use the ruler) that has a starting price of 110,300 Euros and a total power of 445 hp .....
More sporty is the proposal of the Panemera Porsche S Hybrid, a sedan-coupe from 110,199 Euros, which reaches 270 km / h consumes 7.1 l/100 km. Most classical proposals for three German premium brands: Mercedes S-Class in the list 400 Hybrid (also available as a limousine up to 5 meters) which has a value of consumption of 7.9 l/100 km and costs 98,670 Euros. Its rivals are the Audi A8 2.0 TFSI hybrid (6.3 l/100 km) which costs 86,650 Euros (95,000 for the long wheelbase limousine variant) and the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid (6.8 l/100 km) which costs 95,700 Euros. A little 'smaller in size and less expensive ones are the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI hybrid (6.2 l/100 km, from 58,500 €) and the BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid (6.4 l/100 km, from 64,500 €) ......
