Luxury Automakers to Debut EV/Hybrids at New York International Auto Show

The all-electric BMW MINI E. Photo courtesy of Autocraze.com.

If you’ve ever wanted to test drive a concept car - with the bonus of it being environmentally friendly too - then you’re not going to want to miss next month’s New York International Auto Show.

Events will run from March 31-April 11, with the showroom floor opening to the public on April 3 and running to the last day of the show. Among the daily all-day events/exhibits will be the “Indoor Ride & Drive” in the Electric Vehicle Pavilion, which will give attendees the experience of driving non-emission vehicles.

Sponsors, participants, and exhibitors will include Mitsubishi Motors, as well as:    

• THINK - an electric vehicle manufacturer. 
• BMW MINI E - a fully electric, zero emissions brand vehicle.
• PEP Stations - a provider of charge stations for electric vehicles to commercial facilities. 
• Amp Electric Vehicles - a manufacturer and installer all-electric high performance drive trains for Chevrolet Equinox, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac Solstice vehicles.

Also at the show will be some luxury automakers that have stepped into the ‘green’ design arena, and will be exhibiting their newest concept cars. Two of the most notable North American debuts will be:

• Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Photo courtesy of Hybridcars.com.

The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid compact made its first debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. Stats on this hybrid show a combined power output of 380 horsepower from a 3.0 liter V6 combustion engine and an electric motor. The automaker boasts that this “combines the performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.”

Porsche touts that “the 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds, with peak torque at 428 lb-ft at 1,000 rpms (revolutions per minute).” The S Hybrid is also designed with the capacity to operate using only electric power for neighborhood driving. Nearing market readiness, the hybrid is expect to be in dealer showrooms this fall.  

• LEXUS CT 200h

Photo courtesy of Lexusenthusiast.com

The Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid also had its global premiere at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. For some stats, the CT 200h is powered by a 1.8 liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine. The car’s hybrid technology has two motor generators. The engine-driven generator is designed to charge both the battery pack and provide additional power to the drive motor. The drive motor is designed to use electric power from the hybrid battery back or generator, and provide motive force for the front wheels.

The CT 200h is also equipped with four drive modes. Lexus describes them as follows: Normal mode with a linear throttle response the “gives naturally progressive power, while the PCU (power control unit) limits drive voltage to a maximum of 500 volts. The Eco mode that adjusts air conditioning settings and the throttle for improved fuel economy.

The Sport mode that provides additional electric power steering settings and throttle, while the PCU boosts drive voltage to a maximum output of 650 volts. And, the Electric Vehicle mode allows the car to be driven up to one mile using only the electric motors. The CT 200h is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011.

This show won’t have as big of an eco-focus as the Washington show did in January, but it should still be a worthwhile event for the public, if for no other reason than to get to drive a cool new concept car. Besides that, it should be a great education for anyone who is a novice to the auto industry. Being informed is one of the most important parts of being a smart consumer, though there is no auto purchasing allowed at the show. It is just a show!

Reader comments and input are always welcomed!