Top 10 Sexiest Green Cars
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 08.27.07
Green cars are officially sexy. No longer are they small, ugly, plodding electric commuters - they're speedy, exciting, desirable sports cars. Inhabitat has compliled a list of the 5 sexiest models, which makes for an interesting read. Unfortunately for you though, 5th and 3rd place are only concept cars, 2nd place isn't in production, and 4th place is only produced at a rate of 25 per year. We thought we'd have our own say too, and have compiled our own list of the top 10 sexiest green cars. Read it after the jump. ::Inhabitat
10. Smartuki
Getting people into smaller, more efficient cars is an important goal, and making exciting small cars is a vital step towards this. Take a Smart car, add an 180hp GSXR1000 Suzuki motorcycle engine, and you get an exciting small car - 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and 132mph. Not the most economical car on our list, but one of the most fun.
9. Aurora
The Aurora is a solar research car, so you can't buy one. It's very real though, and has been setting records for years. The sleek looks and absolutely zero emissions means that this must deserve a place in our list, even if it is only number 9.
8. Zap-X
Not available yet, but in development, the Zap-X looks to be a very affordable and desirable sporty electric car. Its makers, Zap, are a well established and renowned manufacturer, so the chances of this making it into production are pretty high, and we're pretty excited to see what they come up with. Lotus is lending a hand with the engineering, and a top speed of 155mph is expected.
7. Lola B2K
The B2K competed in the Le Mans 24 hour, using a bio-fuel blend. Its higher fuel-economy meant fewer pit-stops and more racing, enabling it to keep up with slightly faster traditional cars.
6. Audi R10 TDI
Audi's diesel race car was so successful that race organisers imposed a handicap to level the playing field. It went on to win the 12 Hours of Sebring race anyway, even with a puncture that cost two laps.
5. PML Mini QED
This modified hybrid mini has a top speed of 150 mph, and a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds. It uses four 160bhp electric motors, one for each wheel, and uses a small gasoline engine to charge the batteries for a longer range.
4. Eco One
This is no concept, but isn't available for purchase either. The Eco One takes sustainability even further than some of the cars in this list - as well as sustainable fuel, the production materials are all renewable too. Seating one, the One can reach 150mph flat out, and does 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds. Due to its unusual construction it is also 95% biodegradable.
Its bold design is confusing but attractive - definitely one that will turn heads. Its top speed isn't spectacular, at 105 mph, but its acceleration is typically electric - 0-60mph in 5 seconds. The price for this performance though is just too high to be practical, at a staggering $660,000.
2. Lighting
An all-electric car produced in England, the Lightning has 700 bhp and will sprint from 0 to 60mph in 4 seconds.
Another all-electric sports car made in the UK, the Tesla has similar performance to the Lightning. It's heavily based on the Lotus Elise though, so should have unbelievable handling. With a top speed of 130mph, and a 0-60mph time of about four seconds, this is one exciting green car.
Hard to understand why you constantly have posts about over-priced so-called green cars and I say this as a car enthusiast.
Being green is not putting on a veneer of energy-efficiency or whatever; if a hybrid SUV improves its gas mileage from 12 to 16, is that "green?" Is a 10,000 sq ft house that uses some energy-efficient methodology "green.?"
Please stop insulting the many who strive to be really conscientious about greenness.
155 mph? When was the last time you EVER went 155 mph?
It is designing and thinking of obtuse goals that has lead to the mess we are all in. I would think that most motorists would be happy to see 65 mph in their commute.
Thanks for outdoing us on this one Treehugger! ;)
To CMU - the point of all of this, which I think you are overlooking, is not that these cars are hugely environmentally friendly (although they are a step in the right direction)... The only truly environmental vehicle is a bicycle. The POINT OF THIS is that in order to move concumer conciousness and the auto industry in the right direction -- out of completely criminal energy inefficiency -- you need to begin to change the public's mindset so that people start associating sleek design and superior performance with eco-conciousness. THAT is why we laud these "sexy sustainable" cars.
I agree with the above posters. Most of the cars listed are not practical, 3 you can't even buy, and 3 use hydrocarbon fuels, and 4 aren't even made in the USA. The Myers Motors NmG is made in Ohio, is all electric, is affordable, and practical. That sounds pretty sexy to me!
How has everybody decided that for a "green" car to find a market it must be fast and powerful? It's the simplest of physics; it takes more energy to move an object faster and, outside a vacuum, the required energy goes up with the cube (as I recall) of the speed. The fact that the energy is converted from fuel somewhere that isn't the car doesn't absolve the driver of wasteful consumption. We can't continue to indulge our boy-racer fantasies at the expense of the planet. If you're lead-footing around in an electric car from one traffic jam to another, you're still messing up my air.
10 cars and 10 the average driver cannot buy. Way to go Treehugger!!
Great list?, or not. Did you happen to see anything that was zero emission (at the point of use) that a mere mortal can buy in the USA today? I'd love to be driving an EV that is air conditioned and would make my 40 mile round trip commute, without recharging at work.
Why didn't yall include a photo of each car? Isn't the point of this post to point out good-looking cars?
What a completely useless article for so many reasons. None of these cars are practically available. The closest is probably the Tesla, and even with their laughable cost they still have an extensive waiting list. I have been trying to get a green car. My current ride is a 7-year old 2001 Trans Am that gets about 19mpg city/30 highway with mods, which is really not bad for an old-school V8 pushing 330hp. The search has been maddening though. Most "hybrids" are a joke, offering maybe an extra 4mpg. The only exception was the Toyota Prius, which was terrible to drive. It was so slow it felt dangerous to be in it on the highway. The Honda Insight was another I tested. A cool-looking little two seater that unfortunately felt more like a go-kart than a car. I could beat that thing in a 1/4 mile race on foot. We need an electric car good for at LEAST 80 miles, 0-60 of 6 seconds or under, top speed of 135mph, cost around 30k.
While Tesla has manufacturing facilities in the UK, true; it's an American company founded/based in the SF Bay area, where the bulk (all?) of the design happened to have also taken place. Is it really appropriate to call it a UK company based simply on the location of the manufacturing plant? If so.. wouldn't it make more sense to call it a Taiwanese company, since the motors are being manufactured in Taiwan? After all... it's the motor that makes these cars special.
Lightning on the other hand? They actually are based in the UK. :)
I know it's a blog so no-one's really expecting much, but please at least pretend to check facts before posting... 15 seconds on Wikipedia would have told you where Tesla's based.
My husband and I have switch to very green travel- bicycles! For $300 total we purchased two great bikes. Fuel $0, Insurance $0, Monthly payments $0, knowlege that our daily commute is zero emissions and improves our health PRICELESS
I agree with Matthew,
"We need an electric car good for at LEAST 80 miles, 0-60 of 6 seconds or under, top speed of 135mph, cost around 30k."
The point of 135mph top speed is that when going 70 you are not beating your ride to death. The old sports cars toped out at 70-75 thus they were always breaking down. If people would never drive over 45 they would last much longer.
As I have said repeatedly, Give me something I can use and I am in.
Hey TH, how about a list of sexiest, DRIVEABLE, cars. I see some sexy sportscars on that list, some racers (not practical) and some just plain ugly bug like cars. How about something that has solid, good-looking styling?
I want to buy a hybrid, or electric car but I want it to look good. I am very disappointed when I see ugly Priuses or other hyprids driving around because they have no style! Sometimes I think that Detroit did that on purpose so that people wouldn't buy them.
You may have missed this; http://www.goingreen.co.uk/xs_i/GWIZ-black%20cut-outL_300.jpg / Tail Lights Canada
I think you’ll agree that it is indeed, very sexy.
/Tail Lights Canada
Number7! The Lola is hot!
Number7! The Lola is hot! /:
brake rotors canada
You may have missed this; http://www.goingreen.co.uk/xs_i/GWIZ-black%20cut-outL_300.jpg / Tail Lights CanadaI think you’ll agree that it is indeed, very sexy.
we are new to researching more fuel efficient cars...we have four children under four and are expecting our fifth come spring...my wife drops our children off at preschool with her christiana bicycle and then takes the bus to school/work...we live in a city with a program to trade in any pre 1996 in december for a "green" car for a $3500 rebate...but we don't know if there is a vehicle that has capacity for 8-9 passengers for trips to doctor/church/family events...any advice out there?
Have a look at this car:
An AC Cobra inspired kitcar packed with a 135kW AC motor (160kg)
Torque: 870Nm on the back wheels
Max speed intentionally restricted to 175km/h
half til two and half hour drivings depending on what your are doing with the car.
2 hours to full load
http://www.devantini.com/
although the text is only in Swedish.
Why you do not include Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Most people can by this car.