The auto industry is dusting itself off in a climate of stricter emissions controls and demands for better mileage and has recently unveiled a crop of innovative vehicles either available now, or set to make their debuts shortly. Here’s what the most innovative cars Cheapcars.com has seen in New York, Chicago, and Geneva:
2011 Lotus Elise. Price: $47,395 MSRP. Lotus put its nose to the design grindstone to make the greenest gasoline powered sportscar in the world. Building on its philosophy of performance it values light weight over enormous horsepower. The base Elise goes from 0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds (5.1 and 4.3 seconds, respectively, in pricier models.) And now it also sports the lowest CO2 emissions of any gasoline-powered high-performance sports car. Estimated mileage: 47 mpg. Lotus has hit its target.
2011 Chevrolet Volt. Price: TBD; the low $30,000s. Chevy’s hybrid Volt is finally a reality – earlier this year dealerships submitted their orders. Its projected feats are already legendary: 220 mpg city, cruising range of 175 miles via a small gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. But there’s more. With a touch of a button, Volt zooms into “sport mode” and gets an instant power boost. The battery pack affords Volt a lower-than-normal center of gravity, giving Volt a rock-solid, silk-smooth, preternaturally quiet ride.
2011 Nissan Leaf. Price: $32,780 MSRP. Nissan calls it “the car without a tailpipe.” Want to be on the frontier? The all-electric Leaf is for you. The economics can be complex: Nissan tells you about your tax savings of up to $7,500, then offers to install your home charging station for $2,200 – but it comes with a tax break! Then there’s the fuel savings – or the electric bill drain… Do your homework. And for God’s sake, charge in off-peak hours.
Kia Ray Hybrid Concept. Debuted February 2010, Chicago Auto Show. The Kia Ray offers 202 mpg and an astounding 746-mile range. Its 153-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 78 kW electric motor, and lithium polymer battery are its heart. The alternator only draws power from braking and deceleration; the roof is a solar panel with “cool glazing” that keeps sun out; drag-reducing cameras replace mirrors; LED-arrays serve as headlights.
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