Supercars have always been and will still continue to be a car enthusiast’s dream. Add environmental consciousness to that and the result is a green supercar. Some of the upcoming green supercars are not just incredibly powerful but also boast the latest green technology that will hopefully reduce our ecological footprint. The aesthetic appeal of the cars combined with their speed and efficiency are truly remarkable and does make the first and second generation of electric cars look boring, slow and ancient. Most of these trendy cars are scheduled to go into production in 2012-2013. Let’s take a sneak peek at some of these modern age marvels.
1) BMW’s M1 Supercar:
Description
BMW is expected to launch its fuel efficient and high performance M1 supercar by 2012. The car is expected to be a low-ridge car with 2+2 seating and a three-dimensional head up exposition to display navigation, speed limits, speed and fuel economy. In addition there will be the advanced version of the iDrive cabin control system. The advanced 1.5 liter three-cylinder engine is based on the Efficient Dynamics concept. The highest speed is expected to be around 155mph and the engine output is expected to scale 350bhp and 800Nm of torque. Whats more, the car will gain a speed of 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
2) Lampo 3:
Protoscar’s prototype Lampo3 goes a notch higher. With its 550 horsepower and 900 Nm (660 lb-ft) of torque, the third-gen targa-topped electric vehicle is a powerful green supercar with a sporty look. The Lampo3 is a 2+2 coupé which can reach a speed of 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds with the highest speed being around 136 mph. The supercar has three electric motors mounted on a tubular steel chassis and can be charged quickly within 90 minutes. It can give a comfortable range of 124 miles owing to its superior 32 kWh battery. However, the car is not for sale just yet. The car will be developed further before it goes into full production.
3) Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell:
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is truly a class of its own. Expected to release in 2013 this electric car can accelerate to a speed of 62 mph in just 4 seconds with the highest speed being more than 155 mph. Whats remarkable about this car is that it attains such high velocity in sheer silence unlike the noise associated with older electric models. The 528 hp, 649 lb/ft of torque coupled with a weight of 4400 pounds and AWD acceleration is a great combination for a big electric supercar. The current range of the car is a limited to 90 miles. However it is expected to grow to more than 130 miles later.
4) Porsche Panamera S Hybrid:
Porsche’s new Panamera S Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient Porsche till date and a leader in the luxury hybrid class. The eight speed transmission supercar has a total of 380hp (333 from the 3.0-litre V6 engine while 47 from the electric motor counterpart) and gives a comfortable mileage of 35-40 mpg. It reaches the 0-60 mph mark within 5.7 seconds and its highest speed is 168 mph.
Overall the rear wheel drive hybrid drives just as well as gas powered versions. Priced at $95k in USA, Porsche tags it as “economical”.
5) Chevrolet Mi-Ray Hybrid:
Talk about a lightweight carbon fibre shell in a supercar and Mi Ray is the way to go. “Mi” means future in Korean and this dynamic sporty looking hybrid supercar has been designed at GM Advanced Design studio in Seoul. It boasts of a 4 cylinder 1.5 l turbo-charged engine coupled with carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced plastic body. It has scissor shaped doors and is extremely sleek in design. Within the city it is all electric while the gasoline engine kicks in for faster mode.
6) Jaguar C-X75 Supercar:
Jaguar’s new hybrid C-X75 is all set to go into production in late 2013. This true predator is expected to have a power of 780 hp owing to its RE-EV (range extended electric vehicle) concept. The car will have 4 electric motors at four corners and it produce a remarkable output of 1180 lb-ft torque. The supercar will reach an acceleration from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.5 seconds and will have a range of 110 km on its full electric mode and 900 km on hybrid mode. The maximum speed is expected to be 330 km/h.
The C-X75 RE-EV concept can run on a variety of fuel sources: LPG, diesel, biofuel or natural gas, in addition to four electric motors. In the conventional mode the car produces only 28 grams of CO2/km. The C-X75 will have a sexy look even inside the car. Storm Grey ‘Bridge of Weir’ leather seats, hi-end ‘surround sound’ hi fi and a custom made clock are just to name a few.
7) CMT-380:
Capstone’s new hybrid electric supercar CMT-380, comes with an advanced micro-turbine which is incredibly silent and amazing. This prototype is expected to be launched in 2013. The vehicle reaches 60 mph from rest in 3.9 seconds, has a maximum speed of 150 mph. On full electric mode the car has a range of 80 miles while it can run up to 500 miles on a full tank of fuel. The exhaust emissions are really low and make it a green supercar to watch out for.
8) Electric Renault DeZir:
Trendy and sexy, the Renault DeZir is a league of its own. The aerodynamic chassis coupled with a 150hp electric motor makes this car an incredibly attractive supercar. The car can reach the 60 mph mark in 5 seconds and gives a range of 100 miles. The higher torque and power make it a pleasure to drive. The car is also lightweight as its body chassis is made from Kelvar. Be prepared for an incredible driving experience in this new green supercar.
9) Porsche 918 Spyder:
Description
Another interesting Porsche to watch out for is the 918 Spyder. This plug-in hybrid reaches 62 mph is just 3.2 seconds and boasts of an unheard of 94 mpg. The maximum speed of the 918 is 94 mph (electric mode) while 199 mph on combination. Its low range on pure electric mode of 16 miles is more than made up for in its high 500 hp power due its powerful V8 engine. The production is expected to commence in September 2013 for left hand drive only. The price tag is set at € 645,000 in addition to other charges.
10) BMW’s Turbodiesel Hybrid Electric Car:
The sturdy BMW turbodiesel hybrid is a great combination of high performance and green technology. The 2+2 hybrid with gullwing doors has a top speed of 155 mph, power of 255 hp and an output of 590 lb-ft of torque making it a powerful supercar on the road. The hybrid is an all-wheel drive with a 3 cylinder turbodiesel engine with a pair of electric motors. The supercar is also high on efficiency owing to its efficient Brake Energy Regeneration technology. The coolest thing about the car is that its roof and doors inserts become automatically darker based on ambient light due to its polycarbonate glass inserts.
