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The Hybrid Technology Develops as the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles year after year

Guest — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:11:39 +0000

The company that popularizes the hybrid technology is producing the better hybrid vehicles year after year. Although Toyota starts the technology to their Pries in 1997, Honda produces, develops, and uses the technology continuously to their cars. Hondas first hybrid car, the Honda Insight was released in the United States in 1999. This was soon followed by the Honda Civic, which marked the radical change in the hybrid technology and changed the way people to a car.

Hybrid cars use the combination of technologies such as internal combustion engines Ices, electric motors, batteries, hydrogen, and fuel cells. This saves a lot of gas fuel that becomes the preference of car buyers.

The hybrid technology improves year after year as Hondas hybrid vehicles become popular. Then, the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is by far the best Honda hybrid, or hybrid vehicle in the market.

A 3.0l V 6 engine of the Accord is the biggest among its class. It is the first hybrid that can match or even surpass other gas engine vehicles. With 255 horses pushing it, the Accord is the most economical V 6 vehicle.

The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid drives like the conventional gas engine powered vehicle. And without the hybrid badges on the vehicle, you wouldnt know the difference.

This Accord uses the same automatic transmission like that of the gasengine instead of the continuously variable transmission CVT, Toyota and Ford uses to their hybrid. Its so the IMA or the integrated motor assist which always at the gas mode and kick to electric for additional power when needed, unlike Ford and Toyota which uses the electric as long as possible then switch to gas when needed.

Fuel economy is not a question for the Honda Accord Hybrid. With 37mpg fuel consumption on highway and 29 mpg in city, the Accord allows driver to save more money. Accord doesnt need to be plugged in. It automatically recharge itself during braking and, if necessary, via the gas engine. To save more fuel, both systems automatically shuts off at stoplight and long stops.

The only backslash of the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is its price tag of about Dollar30,000, which is dollar3,400 more that its gas model. But for a vehicle that saves more fuel the regular vehicle, it is a better buy in the long run.

The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid can be seen on www.partstrain.com along with other Honda vehicles. For more information about the vehicle, and to purchase Honda part, visit http www.allhottips.com

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

Guest — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:07:13 +0000

I discuss the following about the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid. First, I discuss all the upgrades from the 2008 hybrid. Second, I talk about style and space. Third, I talk about technology such as maps and GPS. I also talk about some other fun aspects of the Mariner hybrid.

Introduction

If you’re a Ford fan and you’re looking for a good hybrid SUV, then you’re probably in luck since the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is now in town. This SUV vehicle may look as if it doesn’t offer much that other SUV’s of its types do. However, looks can be pretty deceiving. This car shouldn’t be underestimated, since it has a lot to offer than what you may have in mind. So, here are essentials that you need to know about this practical SUV.

Upgrade Galore

Although Ford have made a significant upgrade from the 2007 model to the 2008 model, the company makes another yet notable improvements with its 2009 model. In fact, a lot of experts believe that this model has a lot to offer from the 2008 model.

As a sneak peek, one of these improvements would have something to do with its advent of Sirius and Sync Travel Link. These two technologies are used by Ford to distinguish itself. Additionally, the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid doesn’t only get a new cabin tech; its engine also becomes a little bigger. Hence, you get more horsepower, without losing the advantage of fuel economy.

General Specs

This car, along with its stable mate, the Ford Escape Hybrid, are actually the only available small full hybrid SUVs. This car can accommodate to seat five people. It also has a pretty large cargo space, which is built via unibody construction. Being a hybrid, this car could be driven by the use of mere electric power if you’re travelling short distances and on low speeds.

Another great perk of the car is that its engine automatically turns off whenever you’re stuck in traffic or on a stop light. This mere feature alone can help you save a lot with your car’s gas and power consumption! Because of this car’s characteristic, full hybrids usually get better mileage rates inside the city compared to the highway. In fact, the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid was rated by EPA at 31 mpg highway and 34 mpg city.

Traffic Avoidance

Although hybrid systems can help you save gas when caught in traffic, you would rather not crawl at 5 mph. On such situations, you can use the car’s navigation system, so that you could see how efficiently you could avoid traffic.

This car actually has a hard-drive-based system for navigation. It utilizes high-resolution touch screen maps. The best thing here is that the Sirius Travel Link actually gives you traffic reports, which would be overlaid on your car’s navigation maps. Here, you could see how traffic is flowing on highways and freeways. Additionally, you get reports on specific incidents, whether it be vehicle accidents or road construction.

Getting To Know The Cabin

Although this car is thought to be as a mid-luxury brand, between Lincoln and Ford, this car’s cabin isn’t that dramatically nicer compared to what you could find with the Ford Escape. The cabin is generally made up of standard grade leather. However, it also has some small chrome accents. The car also comes with a steering wheel that is leather-wrapped.

Nevertheless, the cabin also has its major positive and impressive parts. For instance, its tech is actually the same for both brands. You also get full control using your touch-screen LCD over various amenities that your car provides, such as: hard-drive-based navigation, stereo and Bluetooth phone. However, what’s much better is that its Sync lets you get full control of such systems using your voice. It also gives full integration with the MP3 player.

Map Navigation

The 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid also has a very excellent navigation system. This is probably because of its maps that are viewable in 3D or top-down. Since it’s hard-drive-based, the maps actually refresh in a quick rate. Thus, it becomes easier for you to move your map around to select various destinations by simply touching the location that you want to go to.

The system also provides you with full database of points-of-interest, along with different means of going to your destination like freeway entrance and address. If you’ll be using the car’s address entry, you’ll have to use 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid’s onscreen keyboard, which could be switched between QWERTY format and alphabetical order.

John S. Rhodes talks more about the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid at Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid batteries and hybrid rental vehicles.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Review – the Pros and Cons

Guest — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:06:56 +0000

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid touts itself as ‘America’s first full-size two-mode SUV hybrid.’ This amazingly fuel efficient hybrid car reduces gas prices for any driver. In fact, this hybrid SUV is so popular that the Green Car Journal has named it the ‘Green Car of the Year’.

History of Hybrid Vehicle

Guest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:13:01 +0000

Some people do believe that hybrid vehicle started in the early 1900s. In fact, hybrid vehicles have been around longer than you think they are. The start of the hybrid technology was believed to be in 1665, when Ferdinand Verbiest and Jesuit priest began to work on a plan to create a simple four wheeled vehicle that could run by steam of pulled by a horse. Then in 1769 when steam-powered carriage was invented. Although this carriage does have the speed of six miles per hour, it is still hard to maintain enough steam for a long distance ride. It was then improved when British inventor Goldsworthy Gurney built a steam car that successfully completed an 85 mile round trip journey in ten-hour times. Then in 1893 Moritz Von Jacobi sailed an electric boat on the Neva, using an electromagnetic engine of one horse power. And in or about that year is when Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland built the first electric vehicle. However, the vehicle brought lots of problems like the limited range and a battery power that was difficult to recharge. It was later then improved by David Salomon in 1870 when he developed an electric car with a light electric motor, but still faced problems creating a battery that could easily be recharged. Then in 1879, the first electric railway was built by Dr. Werner Von Siemens. The wheels on the vehicle were driven by an electric motor drawing its electricity from the rails which were insulated from the ground and connected to a generator. And also in that decade, year 1886 the business investors in London gained interest in developing an electric taxicab. The design was powered by a 28 cell batter system that would drive a small electric motor. Even so, this one did not come into regular use. It then came year 1888, a company built a four passenger carriage for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire it is powered by a one horse power motor and a 24 cell battery. And on that same year, Manus Volk in Brighton, England made a three wheeled electric car. Then in 1897, the London Electric cab Company began to provide the city with a regular service, using a cab powered by a 40 cell battery and a three horse power electric motor. It was called the Belsey Cab after its inventor, Walter Belsey. The cab can go up to fifty miles before the battery had to be recharged. Come year 1897 where the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, built around electric cars over a two year period.
Then after that year came 1898, the year where the first worlds first hybrid car the Lohner Porsche petrol electric mixte, which was built by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche of Germany. Porsche gave the nickname Aunt Eulalia to the first series of hybrids, but it was officially named as Semper Vivus, which means always alive. The first hybrid car can travel a distance of forty miles on a battery power alone. This car used a petrol engine rotating at a constant speed to drive a dynamo, which charged a bank of accumulators. The accumulators then fed current to electric motors contained within the hubs of the front wheels. Therefore, there was no need of drive shafts, transmission, gears, straps, chains, or clutch. And because of the hybrid car quickly success thousands of hybrid cars were produced by companies such as Krieger, Lohner Porsche, and Auto Mixte in the year between 1902 and 1920.
In 1900 the creation of gas and electric hybrid cars has been seen in Belgium. It was developed by Pieper, a Belgian carmaker. He introduced a three and a half horsepower motor which the small gasoline engine was joined to an electric motor that is found under the seat. The electric motor was, in effect, a generator that recharges the batteries while driving. Nevertheless, when the car needed some extra power to make its way up to a steep incline, the electric motor would kick in and provide a boost to the gas engine. And because of the popularity of electric hybrid cars the Electric Vehicle Company built 2000 taxicabs, trucks, and buses, and set up a subsidiary cab and car rental companies from New York to Chicago in early 1904. In 1905 an American engineer named H. Piper filed a patent for a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle. His idea was to use an electric motor to assist an internal combustion engine, mainly to add the ICE to let the vehicle accelerate to 25 miles per hour in 10 seconds, Instead of the usual 30 miles per hour. Then after three and half years the patent was issued. By that time, the engines had become powerful enough to achieve this kind of performance of their own.
In 1910, a company by the name of Commercial Built Truck, which used a four cylinder gas engine to power a generator, eliminates the need for a transmission and Battery Park. This hybrid was built by company in Philadelphia until 1918. Steamers and electric hybrid cars were almost completely wiped out in 1913. Sales of electric cars dropped to 6,000 vehicles, while over 180,000 gasoline cars were sold. Lots of car makers who still believe in the idea of hybrid car still try their best to put the hybrid cars back to the production. Like Baker of Cleveland and Woods of Chicago two prominent electric vehicle makers offered hybrid cars that can reach a maximum speed of 35mph and achieved fuel efficiency of 48 mph. And the Woods Dual Power was more expensive and less powerful than its gasoline competition, and therefore sold poorly.
And it then considered that the year 1920 to 1965 become the dormant period for mass produced electric and hybrid cars. However, Hybrid vehicle technology did not disappear and its development continues. Lots of people still believe in the hybrid technology. Hybrid vehicle technology becomes the answer for most of the global problems. Just like in 1966; U.S Congress introduced first bills recommending use of the electric vehicle as a means to reduce air pollution. After a long quiet period, hybrid cars show up again in 1969. On that same year General Motors 512 was designed, it runs entirely on electric power at a speed under ten miles per hour. The vehicle ran on a combination of electric power and gas combustion from 10 to 13 miles per hour. Arab oil embargo became a huge problem in 1973. The price of gasoline soared, which created new interest in electric vehicles. The U.S Department of Energy ran a test on many electric and hybrid vehicles produced by various of manufacturers this includes the hybrid known as the VW Taxi which was produced by Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, West Germany. The VW Taxi was shown at auto shows throughout the United States and Europe. It used a parallel hybrid configuration allowing flexible switching between the gasoline engine and electric motor and logged over 8,000 miles on the road. VW Taxi is considered to have the higher range of efficiency than any hybrid had ever exhibited up to that time. In 1974, engineers Victor Wouk and Charlie Rosen were part of the Federal Clean Car Incentive Program, created a prototype hybrid gas electric vehicle using a Buick Skylark body. The vehicle was tested and certified to meet the strict guidelines for an EPA clean air auto program by The U.S Environmental Protection Agency, but later been rejected. The American Motors developed a fleet of electric powered vans and delivered 352 electric vans to the U.S Postal Service, which they tested extensively. Unfortunately, the project did not meet with the level of success that everyone had hoped. The years 1976 to 1980 were the year that hybrid technology has been a good help. The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976 and U.S Congress enacted Public Law 94-413 were among the laws objective to work with industry to improve batteries, motors, controllers and other hybrid electric components. And General Electric was chosen to construct a parallel hybrid sedan. And Toyota built a small sports car with a gas turbine generator supplying current to an electric motor, which makes it the first hybrid car for Toyota. Audi introduced the first generation of the Audi Duo experimental vehicle in 1989. It is based on the Audi 100 Avanti Quattro. It has a 12.6 horsepower electric engine, which drove the rear wheel instead of the propeller shaft. And also use a nickel cadmium battery to supply the energy. Two years after that, Audi unveiled the second generation Duo, which is also based on the Audi 100 Avanti Quattro. Toyota came back by introducing the Prius in 1997, which is exclusive to its Japanese market. On that year, the Prius sold 18,000 cars and seemed to be the first significant mass marketed the hybrid vehicle in the world. Then Honda introduced the Insight, a lightweight hybrid two door model that cracked the American market in 1999. The vehicle could demonstrate a rating of 61 miles per gallon in the city and 70 miles per gallon on the highway.
It then came 2000 the door of the new century is open for the hybrid technology. Lots of companies and car maker introduce and release lots of new and improve the hybrid vehicle of their own. Toyota released the first hybrid four door sedans available in the United States in 2000. And Honda introduces Honda Civic Hybrids, its second available hybrid gasoline electric car. The car appearance and drivability was and still is identical to the conventional Civic. And in 2004 Toyota release the Toyota Prius II which won 2004 Car of the Year Awards from the Motor Trend Magazine and the North American Auto Show. The demand for Toyota Prius II was surprising, that they pumped up the production from 36,000 to 47,000 for the United States market. Lots of interested buyers waited up to six months to purchase the 2004 Prius. Furthermore, on September of that year, the Ford released the Escape Hybrid, the first American hybrid and the first SUV hybrid.
The sudden increase of the oil product in 2007 had been a huge crisis all over the world. And because of that the production of hybrid cars and vehicle had increased. Lots of car companies and car makers around the world came up with lots of different kinds of hybrid vehicles. Some even convert their ordinary cars to hybrid cars. Lots of taxi cabs in the Philippines now a days had been using Autogas, used as an automotive transportation fuel or LP gas as an alternative to powered gasoline gas. The development of this kind of hybrid cars does help a lot of people who are having a problem with the oil price increase and become the answer to the oil price increase the problem in air pollution.

Read more on History of Hybrid Vehicle…

The Deal on Hybrid Vehicles and Alternative Fuel

Guest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:12:51 +0000

A smart car investment can be a much better deal in the long run. Consumers are now looking at alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles in order to save money, and at the same time save the environment.

Lets look at the different kinds of hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, and their advantages.

HEVs, apart from having a positive environmental impact, can also reduce gas costs. A regular vehicle mostly uses gas, in comparison to a regular HEV which uses mainly gas but also uses electricity.

There is also another kind of hybrid, the plug-in, which has residual use of gas and but mainly uses electricity.

And finally, there is the all-electric vehicle, which only uses electricity as a power source.

Another hybrid innovation that one might want to consider buying or leasing is the flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or flex-fuel. Several models from different manufacturers in the US have already developed and applied this type of engine, where different sources of fuel can be used.

Biodiesel, an alternative fuel, can also be used in diesel engines. It is a renewable fuel that can be made at home and produced domestically, practically eliminating the factor of importing gas, whose price is getting steeper and steeper nowadays.

Ethanol is another alternative fuel that promotes environment-friendly benefits. It comes from different agricultural feedstocks, such as corn and switchgrass. However, since it is essentially more expensive than gasoline depending on your location, and is only available in the Midwest for now, it is not highly recommended yet.

Other examples of alternative fuel are gasohol (gasoline mixed with bioethanol), hydrogen (though this is still being debated upon), and natural gas fuel (mostly methane mixed with other natural gasses).

Various Hybrid Manufacturers

Guest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:11:08 +0000

The search for earth friendly automotive options is ongoing. There are many fuel alternatives currently under serious scrutiny as viable choices. Hybrid vehicles are growing in popularity and are now available is mass amounts all over North America. There are many different types of hybrid cars available. Though they began in very small quantities, they have risen in popularity and consumer demand so intensely that they are not marketed in various different makes and models. As more automotive manufacturers enter into this market, consumers are finding their favorite models available as a hybrid.

Full Overview of The Mazda Tribute Hybrid

Guest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:11:07 +0000

For some reason Japanese manufactured vehicles seem to be some of the better made cars, truck and SUVs on the face of the Earth. We have from this small island country Toyotas and Hondas, and jumping into the SUV fray we now have the Mazda. Mazda Motor Corporation has had marginal success on the international market and they are seriously trying to get into the game. In the 1970s Ford Motor Company secured a controlling stake in the Mazda Corporation and in its own way, the vehicles that were produced by this venture were more interesting and durable.

With Mazda being a Ford subsidiary, Ford is making sure they don’t left in the dust in the hippest market in the world: the hybrid SUV. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner have had overwhelming success and both companies are now looking to the Mazda Tribute to follow suit. It was built on the same hybrid platform as its predecessors and so far it seems to be living up to its name: a Tribute to the excellence in manufacturing the two companies share.

If you confuse the Tribute and the Escape, however, don’t be surprised. The Mazda looks like a revamped Escape but with few tweaks that gives it its own panache. Yes, the exterior and interior and performance features are slightly less than spectacular with the initial product release, falling short of the Escape, but that doesn’t make it any less desirable to consumers looking for a sturdy SUV hybrid.

The Mazda Tribute Hybrid’s design was based of the regular gasoline version of the vehicle. It has all the basic features of the standard SUV with the same size of the regular Tribute and all the same amenities. The big difference obviously is the engine and power train which runs on electric batteries and gasoline. This makes the SUV environmentally sound and in its own way better than its regular product sibling.

Okay, so the Mercury Mariner, the Ford Escape and the Mazda Tribute side by side look like twins. The should The Escape was the first of the line to be ‘born’ and the Mariner and Tribute were built off the same design platform with the same single power train structure and interior pieces. There are subtle differences, but you simply say that you are also looking at three of Ford Motor Companies best hybrids, even though the Mariner and Tribute carry the Mercury and Mazda names respectively.

As a hybrid SUV, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid is a very practical and capable sports utility vehicle. When you consider the style, you will find that it is boxier without the newer rounded lines and planes that the other hybrid’s in Ford’s stable seem to have. The Tribute is a classier and style that has veered away from the sleek and sporty look. The Mazda is the one that looks like it can get down and dirty and hang with the toughest of trucks. Plus, it’s a pretty low-key vehicle. Remember, Mazda is just getting into the hybrid business. The drive train makes its fuel-efficient. Mazda made it appealing to everyone in every class.

Get Federal Tax Breaks – Own An Ethanol Or Hybrid Vehicle

Guest — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:10:55 +0000

When you filed your federal tax return this year, you might have noticed an option if you own an alternative fuel car. The government is giving tax credits to those who use alternative fuel vehicles, which started in 2006. The United States is looking at a way to promote greener cars to help the environment. The country is trying to push consumers to get more fuel efficient vehicles with its ethanol fuel tax breaks.

A tax credit works better than a tax deduction. A credit takes away money dollar-for-dollar on your taxes and a deduction is just a percentage. Getting an ethanol vehicle will not only save you at the pump, but also on your taxes for the year you buy the car.

There are certain cars that are eligible. Hybrid vehicles are eligible for the ethanol fuel tax breaks if the hybrid uses less gas than an average vehicle of similar weight. The car also has to meet emissions standards to qualify.

The ethanol fuel tax breaks really help consumers because one of the knocks on alternative fuel vehicles is that the cars are too expensive. If you want to convert existing gas vehicles than you spend money on top of the cars price. Hybrid vehicles usually cost thousands more than their gasoline counterparts. In some of the more expensive cars, such as hybrid SUVs, it takes several years to make the money back in gas savings. However, with the government’s ethanol fuel tax breaks, the savings will come much quicker. The tax credit can range between $250-$3,400 depending on the gas economy and the weight of the car.

There are some states that already offer advantages to its residents who use alternative fuel cars. California, Texas and Florida allow drivers who have ethanol or other alternative fuel vehicles to drive in the car pool lane even if they are all by themselves. Using alternative fuel cars is saving gas just as the carpoolers do, so they are given the same advantages. This is just another benefit to owning an alternative fuel vehicle.

Ethanol vehicles do more than give people ethanol fuel tax breaks. The car will help you save money at the pump because ethanol and E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) are cheaper than the gasoline at the pump right now. The mileage is also better, usually between 10 to 50 percent greater than gasoline vehicles as well.

By driving ethanol vehicles you are gaining advantages that other people cannot get. You save money with gas, get to your destination quicker in the car pool lane and get money back with the ethanol fuel tax breaks.

Mercury Mariner Hybrid Interior and Exterior Features

Guest — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:08:52 +0000

SUVs have been known to look refined and elegant, and most importantly visually appealing. At first sight, the casual observer will find it eye-catching and be immediately intrigued with this vehicle. When you look at the Mariner your eyes will be drawn to the satin-aluminum grille that is common with vehicles by this company, giving the front end a different look from similarly styled vehicles. The head lights, tail lights, side panels and rear bumper are also eye catching and unique to the Mariner.

The entire exterior of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid follows the same theme as all of the other vehicles in the Mercury line. Each vehicle has clean lines that can be considered contemporary. The design is modern, sophisticated, and very urban. It easily stands out in a crowd of other compact SUVs, classy, elegant, but not showy.

The Mariner also sports other exterior qualities that are distinct to this SUV. The rear-quarter window of the driver’s side window has a built-in air ventilation unit that is designed to help manage the temperature of the battery pack on power train. The badges stating that the vehicle is a hybrid are mounted discretely on the vehicle so as not to seem boasting and of course, it has clearly defined and identifiable 16″ wheels that just simply sing down the highway. To finish off the classy design of this hybrid SUV, consumers will notice the door handles are integrated and color matched to the rest of the vehicle. The sides have protective bumpers and cladding, and the overall finish is in satin aluminum with the distinct mercury tail lamps that have been found in the Ford Monterey and Mountaineer minivans.

The Inside

If consumers are impressed by the outside of the Mercury Mariner, then they will like the inside just as much if not more. The entire cabin of this hybrid has been engineered in order to provide the occupants maximum comfort. In addition to the comfort factor of the driver and occupants – and that’s not even mentioning all the options yet – the SUV was also equipped with serious cargo space, making sure that there was plenty of room to haul everything from groceries to luggage and back again.

The inside of this vehicle has an atmosphere all its own. Ford threw out the notion that SUV hybrids don’t have to comfortable and less appealing. Most vehicles today are being manufactured to appeal to that aspect of the human mind. Taking that into account the door trim is lighted and the seats are two-tone. Chrome door handles and bright speaker grilles add to the elegant styling. The chrome and satin aluminum finishes on the outside is also evident on the inside in addition to Sappele wood grain finishing on the center console and stack.

The multi-functioning message center instrument cluster is handy and one of the newer features being added to the SUVs. This message center tells the driver mileage, remaining gas, oil life and trip statistics at the touch of a button. There is also a battery life indicator that gives information about the electrical current flow while driving as well as during the braking process. Plus it tells the driver what the current from the batter to the electric motor is doing while the engine is running on gasoline.

The Mariner has a great audio and navigation system inside of it as well. A four inch LCD display shows the energy flow as it travels between the gas and electric motors, the battery itself, and the wheels. Graphics are used on the monitor, enabling drivers to see quite a bit with a quick glance. It shows how well the regenerative braking system works, the state of the electric and gas engines, and how they hybrid drives are operating.

Other interior amenities include heated front seats, side mirrors, leather seating surfaces – two-toned at that – and reverse sensing system. The safety package that comes equipped standard on the Mercury Mariner SUV Hybrid include driver and passenger side airbags, safety belts, rollover sensors, and side curtains with air bags.

Mercury Mariner Hybrid Overview

Guest — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:08:31 +0000

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid was Ford Motor Company’s offering in 2006. This all-purpose vehicle has become the trendy hybrid, and it is great on gas thanks to the combination engine, a plus in this time of high-gas prices. It’s a unique SUV that has quickly become the choice of people who enjoy having the room and versatility that a sports utility vehicle offers and the low gas cost of a hybrid.

Ford has admitted that the Mariner hybrid used the same basic features and design idea pattern that was used on one of their other hybrids, the Ford Escape. The base design for both vehicles is heavy on the unique body style and seating arrangement, cabin devices, and specialized power train for a hybrid vehicle. The Mariner, however, is looked upon as having ‘full’ hybrid electric technology. This means it can seamlessly switch from using gas to using electric to using bother as needed without any change in the way it drives.

Many people will be interested in knowing that the Mariner has excellent towing capacity, a question that is asked about most hybrid trucks and SUVs. Its performance and handling capabilities are way above the norm and it is considered one of the most reliable vehicles manufactured today. And that’s without even discussing the amount of cargo space it has, which is a lot.

Other hybrids have a similar body style as the Mariner namely the Outlander by Mitsubishi, Honda’s CR-V, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. The style has been refined specifically for hybrid SUV’s in order to ensure they handle well. Ford, however, has added a few changes to make the Mariner stand out, like the rugged appearance and front end grille. It is, after all, a Ford.

The entire exterior of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is modern, sophisticated, and very urban. It easily stands out in a crowd of other compact SUVs, classy, elegant, but not showy. I has a rear-quarter window of the driver’s side window has a built-in air ventilation unit, which helps manage the temperature of the battery pack.

Considered one of the most environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient SUVs available on the consumer market today, the Mariner shares the same technology as the 2005 Truck of the Year award winner Escape. This was based on a poll of fifty automotive reviewers and journalists. The hybrid power train system was based on the technology behind Toyota’s Synergy system, and overall the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is one of the best hybrid SUVs around.