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Although Asian companies such as Toyota and Honda seem to be on the forefront when it comes to releasing new hybrid electric vehicles, it is car companies like Ford that bring the technology closer to home. More known for manufacturing some of the best and most trusted cars and SUVs in the United States, it was only a matter of time that the company also began the production of the Ford hybrid car.

Ford Escape

If there is one bestselling product that Ford is known for, it’s the Ford Escape. Ford made the transformation to hybrid by introducing the Ford Escape Hybrid in 2004, a gas-electric version of the SUV from Ford Motor Company.

Ford takes pride in being the first car manufacturer to introduce a hybrid SUV to the market. What makes the Ford Escape Hybrid special is that it sports a full hybrid system. This basically means that it can rely on three systems. It can run on a purely electric system, run purely on gas, or combine both the electric motor and gasoline engine for maximum performance and optimized mileage, regardless of speed or load.

Ford hybrid uses the technology widely used in hybrid cars today which is the regenerative braking. This utilizes the electric drive motor as a generator and basically converts the vehicles momentum into electricity for storage in onboard batteries. That is one of the most efficient technologies any hybrid vehicle can have. The vehicle is known to achieve 36 miles to the gallon on city streets and 31 miles to the gallon on highways; for an SUV, this is fantastic!

Innards

Ford is not just all about what’s under the hood, too. This is particularly true with the interiors that they build into every one of their cars. The Ford hybrid car gets no less of a treatment and actually comes packed with more than one can bargain for. Since it runs on an entirely different system (or three), the Ford Escape comes packed with a navigation system that also comes with a power-flow display that allows the driver to check on the status of the batteries being charged or used in the car.

Displays also show details on how the energy is distributed within the hybrid vehicle itself; this is especially important for those who are conscious about energy consumption. Since the CD area has been taken over by the GPS used for the navigation system, a separate 7 speaker stereo system and 6 CD-changer is also offered for the Ford hybrid car.

The Ford hybrid car is available to the market at a hefty price of about $30,000. This may be a high price tag but for an SUV that can save you gas that includes all the features that you can only dream about (such as the navigation system), it is more than just a good bargain.

The hybrid SUV will save you a lot through tax breaks supported by the US government and in gas. Furthermore, with its environmental benefits, it will also earn you the respect from a world community that believes something needs to be done to save the condition of the Earth’s environment.

Every loyal customer to Toyota and the people behind the company itself are looking forward to 2008. Why? Because that is the slated release for the much-awaited Toyota hybrid sports car dubbed the Volta. Toyota has always been known to set itself apart from all other car manufacturers, releasing some of the most outrageous designs that seem to grow onto society once the cars establish themselves as bestsellers.

Japan Goes Italian

The hybrid sports car from Toyota can only expected to be a real head turner. Such are the expectations when you have an elite group of designers to give the new concept car an Italian flair. Pictures of the concept car have emerged from the company itself and the first thing that may come to mind is the Lamborghini Diablo; only the Volta is eco-friendly.

Toyota is out to show everyone that the hybrid technology can also be applied on high-performance auto like the Toyota Volta. After all, it is rumored to go from 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph; not as fast as the Diablo or any Ferrari but the important thing is how much gas this vehicle doesn’t use.

The Name Game

The 2008 new Toyota Volta will be paying homage to Alessandro Volta, the man who came up with the electric battery in 1800. It is only very apt considering that this vehicle does run on a type of battery. The Volta runs a V6 engine and there’s an electric motor on each axle.

The electric motor runs a lot of things, including a computer that operates the movement of the wheels, activation of brakes, etc.; basically something known as drive by wire, a technology that is fitted into modern fighter jets, so you can imagine how much time in design was spent on this near-future release. This technology also allows for an awkward feature that can have the passengers reposition the steering wheel and pedals in front of them.

Hybrid Car Economy

Now more than two centuries after the invention of the electric battery, Toyota aims to have the Volta out and running by 2008. It is expected to have a tank that holds only 13.7 gallons that will allow it to go 435 miles when filled up. Plus, if 408 horsepower isn’t enough, you will just have to weight for later versions of the Volta because this is the top speed estimated for the initial release.

French Toyota fanatics can expect the Toyota Hybrid to be out by 2008. However, Germany might be happy to know that the car will be for sale there by December of 2007. Experts are speculating that prices for the Toyota hybrid sports car will range from $72,000 to $165,000 in the US market once it hits North American shores.

Ready or not as a market, Toyota itself is ready to prove that hybrid technology does belong in the automobile industry and will suit any purpose and application.