It's not for nothing that the world's best-selling hybrid is nicknamed the Toyota Pious. The fuel economy is worthy, certainly. And that silent electric progress at very low speed implants a feel-good glow in the breasts of all Prius users. Yet, when it comes to performance, hybrid cars have been about as racy as
St Peter's Square sermons.
But all that is about to change. Fuelled by the need to cut CO2 emissions dramatically - new European rules will demand it - all car makers, including the fast car faction, are embarking on new-generation hybrids. Some, such as the Prius, will be as green as grass dancing in the breeze, and almost as gentle in movement.
Others add big speed to
the mix. Ferrari has promised
a hybrid car that delivers a
35 per cent fuel economy improvement - and enhanced performance. A prototype, known as the 599 HY-KERS, painted an appropriately virulent shade of electric green, was presented at the Geneva Show. "New Ferraris will be more ecologically friendly but even more fun to drive," Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told me recently.
But the most astonishing new sports hybrid of all is surely the Porsche 918 Spyder. It looks like a traditional Porsche - elegant of line, low, two seats only and the 'main' engine a big-revving 500bhp V8 nestled tight behind the driver. Thereafter, traditional similarities end. The Porsche also features a couple of electric engines, driven by batteries whose power capacity can be boosted by being plugged into the mains. Depending on which driving mode the owner chooses - and that varies from full electric power to economy hybrid mode to max attack 'race hybrid' - the 918 can either deliver an extraordinary 94mpg or a top speed of 198mph and 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds. So the Porsche can be more economical than a Prius (or for that matter any small hatchback) and as fast as the latest V8 Ferrari.
Porsche has confirmed that the 918 Spyder will go into production but is coy about details. Motoring magazines are predicting a price of about €500,000 - so although the fuel bills may be modest, the initial cost won't be - and an on-sale date of 2013.
Porsche has already begun its hybrid performance voyage. Its first production hybrid is a petrol-electric version of the giant Cayenne 4x4. While not exactly a Greenpeace pin-up, it combines 333bhp, 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and 34.4mpg. While it's nowhere near as fast as the fire-breathing Cayenne Turbo - beloved transport of Premier League footballers and rappers - it's a lot brisker and more economical than the normal V6 Cayenne.
The first hybrid sports car is already on sale. It's the Honda CR-Z, a small sub-£20,000 coupé that is sweet to drive, looks racy, handles sharply and has decent - if not scintillating - performance. Average fuel consumption is 56.5mpg - which equates to 117g/km
of CO2 and a nice low tax band. That's similar economy to a small diesel car.
Hybrid drive will boom
in popularity because it's
the easiest 'quick fix' to increase fuel economy
without necessarily hurting performance. In some cases - because the petrol and
electric engines can work together - speed is enhanced.
And it's not just sports cars going hybrid. The luxury makers are also queuing to join Lexus
in offering big petrol-electric hybrid saloons. Extravagant new four-door BMW, Mercedes and Audi models - good mpg meets big mph - are all imminent for the UK.
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