Going Green in Style!

The Go Green Guy | July 20, 2012 | 0 Comments

Going Green in Style

Guest post by Andrey Zavyalov

With gas prices going up and down everywhere at any time, one of the easiest ways to save money is saving gas. Hybrid cars not only help save gas by using both an electric and gas motor, they also have reduced emission which adds up to a lot less pollution. Each passing year, new global temperature records are being set and emissions are contributing to the pollution that is giving rise to a stronger greenhouse effect. However, there’s no reason you can’t go green and ride in style at the same time so consider the use of luxury hybrid cars.

If you’re looking to get a hybrid car, chances are you’re looking to save money and/or trying to reduce emissions. So, you’re not exactly looking for an eco-friendly Lamborghini, but you don’t exactly want to be driving a Prius either.

In this particular case, the Lexus CT200h is the best deal you’ll find for a luxury hybrid. The most important and distinct feature that sets the Lexus CT200h from all the other luxury hybrids is that it has the best MPG in its class giving 43 city / 40 highway. This is achieved through using one of the four driving mode’s on the Lexus CT200h called the Eco mode which will decrease cabin cooling, increase the rate of battery charge, and limits throttling. The Eco mode is most efficient out of all four, but for certain drives that require a finer touch, Sports mode would be the way to go. When activated, Sports mode adjusts the Lexus CT200h to be optimized for performance and handling. Power controls from the battery increase from 500-600 volts and the power steering becomes more responsive. The Lexus CT200h isn’t about statically providing a good driving experience, but rather being mechanically dynamic in order to meet the driver’s needs in all situations.

Ford created a powerful and effective device called the Hybrid Power Split. After installing the Hybrid Power Split into the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Hybrid Power Split made it one of the best in its class of hybrids. With such great success, Ford decided to implement the same system inside the MKZ hybrid as well giving it 41 city/ 36 highway MPG as a luxury sedan. Utilizing a parallel hybrid system, the MKZ hybrid can switch between using only gasoline, only electricity, or a mix of both. The transition between each is completely automatic and barely noticeable if at all. The uninterrupted feeling of driving the MKZ hybrid makes for a very pleasant experience.

So far we’ve taken a look at some of the medium tier luxury brands. Saving the best for last, let’s take a look at something a bit fancier:

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid. There’s no doubt that competitors such as the Porsche Panamera Hybrid and BMW 7-series are impressive, but overall, the S-Class hybrid pulls ahead because having 19 city/ 25 highway MPG, gas efficiency is the only thing that the S-Class is not up to par with. The interior inside the S-Class hybrid is the best anyone will ever see in any luxury hybrid with its soft accent lighting and deep cocoa and black leather all coming together to create an unbeatable driving experience. Driving the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid isn’t the same as driving a Ford Fusion, but its overwhelming level of performance and design serves as a reminder that luxury and efficiency can co-exist.

In conclusion, the technology for efficient and greener cars is evolving and bridging the gap between economical cars and luxurious ones. It’s important that we take care of the environment and now we can do it in style.

About the author:

Andrey Zavyalov is a marketing specialist for Park Place Dealerships which is a chain of dealerships with years of experience in specializing in luxury and pre-owned luxury cars. Their mission is to provide an extraordinary automotive purchase and provide unmatched ownership experience.