When thinking about hybrid vehicles, sports cars and SUVs are hardly at the top of the list for most people – in fact, for some the concept of a hybrid sports car is completely ludicrous. Nevertheless the desire to have a hot car capable of impressive speeds is not mutually exclusive with the wish to maximize fuel efficiency and preserve the environment. Translation: hybrid sports cars could be coming your way as soon as 2009, and, for those who prefer muscle of a different sort,  hybrid SUVs are already here.

Two such cars are from Honda and Toyota, respectively, which makes sense since both makers are leaders in the hybrid-electric market. 

·        The Honda offering is the CR-Z, which debuted  in the United States at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit after already making a splash at the Tokyo Motor Show the year before. It features a lightweight frame, a futuristic twist on classic sports car styling, Honda says, the name is short for “Compact Renaissance Zero,” and they also claim that the car embodies “inspired design and environmental technology.” While initial plans were for an early-2009 launch, production has been pushed back to allow another hybrid, the compact but not-as-flashy, five-door Insight to take the stage first.

Sales of the Insight will begin in spring 2009, but it will be introduced to the world at the Paris Auto Show next month.

·        Toyota, on the other hand, has been showing their Hybrid X concept car, which may not be technically sporty, but is definitely futuristic with sleek lines and incredible amounts of comfort and convenience technology. A couple of years ago, they also introduced the FT-HS concept car. It’s a true sports car with a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, and produces about 400 hp, with a projected acceleration from zero to 60 mph in just four seconds. It, too, was planned for a 2009 release, originally, but isn’t quite ready. Instead, look for the FT-HX-inspired Venza, a hybrid five-door that echoes the lines of its sportier brethren.

When it comes to SUV’s, on the other hand, Toyota is already offering a hybrid version of the 2008 Highlander, that comes with  a 3.3-liter DOHC V6 engine that offers 209 hp, and 212 pounds-feet of torque (there was a 2007 model also), and there have been hybrid versions of the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, and Saturn Vue since the 2007 model year as well. Even Lexus sees the merit in a hybrid SUV, though they downplay the “sport” aspect and refer to the 2008 version of their RX model as a “luxury utility vehicle.”

Hybrid technology, whether full gas/electric blends, or “mild hybrids” that improve fuel efficiency as a stepping stone to getting a full hybrid, is becoming more standard than not, with Ford, Lexus, Mercury and Saturn all following in the footsteps – or wheel tracks – of Toyota and Honda cars. We may have to wait another year or so for a name-brand hybrid sports car, but the technology is there –it’s just waiting to be packaged and produced.

This week, Mitsubishi’s Brazilian operation announced the return of the L200 Savana (the model had been previously available). While it shares its name with the snazzy-looking L200 / Triton  sold in many other markets (Including Brazil), the offroad-flavored Savana variant is based on the last-gen truck. While the ultra-1990s interior is indeed dated, the overall package is pretty bitchin’.

Power comes from an 2.5L SOHC turbodiesel making either 121hp/189 lb-ft or 141 hp/221 lb-ft. An “Easy Select” transfer case lets the driver choose between 4×2, 4×4H and 4×4L modes, and shifts come courtesy of a 5-speed manual. Other standard features include a strengthened chassis, snorkel, roof basket (220 lb capacity), and in-bed storage boxes. The Savana’s look is all-business, with charcoal wheel flares, bumpers, taillamp housings and grille trim. Knobby rubber adorns the 16-inch black-painted steelies and the headlight surrounds and hood scoop are finished in the primary body color. The spec sheet also tells us the L200 Savana has 9 inches of ground clearance, a 35-degree approach angle, and 26-degree departure angle.

All of this does not come cheap, mind you. Pricing starts at 86,990 Brazilian reais, or $50,255 USD if you were to do a direct currency conversion (for what it’s worth). The price is the only thing we don’t really like. The rest makes us wish we had a set of keys and a jungle nearby.

Land Rover’s versatility is legendary, but its detractors claim that its vehicles’ utility has been sacrificed on the altar of luxury. Never willing to compromise, newly-acquired Land Rover has answered with the Freelander 2 Commercial.

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Three electric motors are located in
the rear compartment of the Rinspeed “sQuba”. One provides propulsion on land,
the other two drive the screws for underwater motoring. Image Credit:
Rinspeed

That’s right, a “green” car that can go into and tool
around in the blue!

The “sQuba” by Rinspeed, is to be introduced to the
world at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008) in Geneva,
Switzerland. With this introduction comes the first, ever, car that can actually
fly under water.

You drive the car into the water and
the car floats. That is, until you crack the door to let the water in.
Immediately the “sQuba” starts on his way to the underwater world. The
occupants’ breathing air comes from an integrated tank of compressed air that
divers know from scuba diving. Image Credit: Rinspeed

Growing up,
we all remember going to the movies to watch James Bond take off from a pier,
into the water in order to investigate the hijacking of submarines carrying
nuclear warheads, in “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Problem was is that this concept
car in the 1977 film never existed … movie tricks!

With the introduction
of the Rinspeed “sQuba,” the world’s first real submersible car, the movie
fakery now becomes reality.

This excerpted from the Rinspeed website
-

Thirty years after the movie thriller
‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ hit the silver screen “sQuba” is the first car that can
actually ‘fly’ under water.

“Dive it again,
James!” If the situation gets too hot for the secret agent he’ll go underground
- or under water. So demonstrated impressively by Roger Moore in ‘The Spy Who
Loved Me” in 1977 when he dove below the waves in a sleek vehicle that moments
before seemed to be an ordinary car.
—-
The scene never really took
place; it was an animation.
—-
Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (52)
is known for his extraordinary automotive creations. The acknowledged James Bond
enthusiast and Swiss automobile visionary kept revisiting this scene in his mind
over and over: “For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be
possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream
come true.”

Levers help to steer the “sQuba” when
it is underway, underwater. Image Credit: Rinspeed

And it is
this submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters that sets the “sQuba”
apart from military vehicles. While the latter can go under water, they are
limited to driving slowly over the submerged ground. Rinderknecht: “It is
undoubtedly not an easy task to make a car watertight and pressure resistant
enough to be maneuverable under water. The real challenge however was to create
a submersible car that moves like a fish in water.”

It also had to be a
sports car that was converted into a diving dream in the facilities of Swiss
engineering specialist Esoro.

In a first step the combustion engine was
removed and replaced by several electric motors. Three motors are located in the
rear. One provides propulsion on land, the other two drive the screws for
underwater motoring. They are supported by two powerful Seabob jet drives in the
front, which ‘breathe’ through special rotating louvers from HS Genion (for
opening and closing the water intake). The rotating outlet jets were designed to
be extremely light yet twist resistant by using high-tech nano materials,
so-called Carbon Nano Tubes.

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An updated RX-8 will debut as a 2010 model in the first quarter of 2009. Although the basic layout and seating configuration will remain the same, a major update is expected. Besides cosmetics, improvements are likely to come in power, especially in cars equipped with a manual transmission. Although not yet confirmed, a convertible version of the RX-8 is possible for the 2011 or 2012 model year.

 1. Ford F-Series

If you simply take a look at the vast array of models, cab styles, bed lengths and styles and powertrains available for Ford’s F-Series, you’ll understand why it’s been a bestseller for so long. The F-Series has a long-earned reputation for being a durable and long-lasting work truck.

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Some of us only afford a family car all our life. But this guy here is special. He doesn’t settle for just one sport car or two, he gets an entire garage. The guy has an impressive collection of 12 sport and unique cars. An estimative cost of his collection is about $3 million dollars. We couldn’t find his address, take a look at the pictures and you’ll see why he doesn’t want all the publicity

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One reason most luxury car manufacturers sell the cars at the volume they do is because they offer the latest cutting-edge technology. The Rolls Royce Drophead coupe is already sold out; Mercedes-Benz’s sales of the S-Class increase 93% in 2006 due the gadgets and gizmos offered with it; and the Lexus LS600h is one of the most technologically advanced hybrid vehicles on the market. Below is a list, by ForbesAuto, of the coolest high-tech cars, some of which are out now and some that will be coming to a dealership near you very soon.

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Sexiest Car For Hip-Hop Moguls

Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan
Base Price: $333,000 (estimated)

Attitude, class, enough rear-seat room to house a small hot tub and a sticker price that makes the car unattainable to almost everyone–the Rolls-Royce Phantom has all of the above, which explains its following among status-conscious rappers.

Sexiest Car For Hollywood Agents

Lexus LS Hybrid sedan
Base Price: Not Yet Available

This soon-to-be-released Lexus hybrid–a version of the company’s $61,000 flagship LS sedan–is the ultimate L.A. vehicle: trendy, upscale and green. The Lexus badge will beget you credibility, and the gas/electric hybrid technology will make Charlize Theron want to ride to red-carpet events in the backseat.

Sexiest Car For Miami Beach Plastic Surgeons

Lamborghini Murcielago convertible
Base Price: $319,000 (estimated)

If you ask us, plastic surgeons are Lamborghini’s ideal customers. Insurance doesn’t pay for cosmetic surgery, so the cash-on-the-barrelhead business generates ludicrous fortunes. And just as plastic surgery can mean maximum garishness, Lamborghinis are the flashiest cars. Ahem, regular doctors can’t afford them.

Sexiest Car For Mobsters

Cadillac Escalade pickup and SUV
Base Price: $55,045

Ever notice how when the boss starts wearing a particular shoe or suit, the underlings start wearing the same? With Tony Soprano now driving an Escalade in the current season of The Sopranos, expect his henchmen to head for their local Cadillac dealers.

Sexiest Car For Newly Divorced Dads

Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Base Price: $53,335

Prince sung about it. Diddy has said the way to meet women is to put on a white T-shirt and drive around in one. The Corvette convertible is just the dose of self-esteem a newly divorced dad needs. And with its 400-horsepower, V-8 engine, it’s still one of the most fun cars to drive.

Sexiest Car For Newly Divorced Moms

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG convertible
Base Price: $186,775

How to send a post-divorce message with your car? By driving the 604-horsepower SL65 AMG. It says, “I’m rich and powerful, and I roll like a racecar driver.” How hot is that?

Sexiest Car For Lobbyists

Cadillac CTS sedan
Base Price: $30,670

A tough call, because as a Washington lobbyist, you want something respectable but somewhat inconspicuous (keeping a low profile is key, post-Abramoff). You also want something American-built. Try the entry-level Cadillac, which is handsome and fun to drive, but comparatively modest-looking inside–or at least it will be until the swankier, more upscale, overhauled CTS arrives this fall.

Sexiest Car For Lawyers

Maserati Quattroporte sedan
Base Price: $110,000 (estimated)

Certain things epitomize Italians’ sense of style and design. Prada. Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita. And of course, the cars of Maserati. No vehicle on earth has a sexier design than the company’s flagship sedan, the Quattroporte. It may not have the most perfect driving dynamics or the most complete list of luxury amenities, but we defy you to show us a better-looking car.

Sexiest Car For NBA Players

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Base Price: $260,000 (estimated)

NBA players love to make entrances in the hottest, newest cars, and the latest Ferrari does just that. The 599 can go over 205 mph, and in many cases, you have to know somebody–or be somebody–to get your hands on one.

Sexiest Car For Driving Purists

Aston Martin DB9 and Ferrari F430 (tie)
Base Prices: $165,000 (DB9, estimated); $168,000 (F430, estimated)

These are the two sports cars that most exhilarate us. Their combination of drop-dead, classy, old-school looks; sumptuous interior materials; authoritative exhaust notes (the Aston roars and the Ferrari screams); and pitch-perfect driving dynamics is all we could ask for. No need, in our opinion, to spend any more than this on a car.

Honda will position its edgy CR-Z to better compete with hybrid sales leader Toyota.  Hybrids don’t have to sacrifice looks to be environmentally friendly — they can be muscular and stylish, too. That’s the message Honda hopes to send at this month’s Tokyo auto show with its new gas-electric hybrid sports car, the CR-Z.“This is something rivals can’t offer”, Tetsuji Morikawa, a Honda engineer, said of the CR-Z, whose sales date is promised for the “near future”.

The vehicle has maintained “the essence of the sports car” while still delivering good mileage and less pollution, he said. Hybrid vehicles tend to be bulkier than sleek sports cars because of the size and complexity of the hybrid systems, which include a battery, electric motor, engine, converter and other parts. They’re usually not known for their speed, acceleration and handling.

The CR-Z comes with a new hybrid system developed by Honda whose breakthroughs allowed designers to get around such size restrictions to achieve its lean, cutting-edge look, said Morikawa. He declined to give details about the hybrid system and the vehicle.

The model will be on display at the biannual Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public Oct. 27 in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba.  Japan’s No. 2 automaker already sells the Civic Hybrid, but discontinued the Accord Hybrid and hybrid Insight. It has promised a new hybrid in 2009.

Interest in hybrids is high among the world’s automakers amid concerns about global warming and rising oil prices. Japanese rival Toyota has emerged as the leader in the technology, having sold more than a million hybrids globally over the last decade.

Tokyo-based Honda, which has sold about 220,000 hybrids worldwide so far, is eager to make its stamp by showing how its reputation for sporty cars will also work for hybrids.