Green Machines

A New Fleet of Eco-Friendly Luxury Cars has Arrived.

It’s no longer enough for your luxury car to have power, performance and a sexy body when it gets only seven miles to the gallon. A combination of regulatory pressures and consumer demand has prompted luxury carmakers to embrace energy efficiency, and the results are both impressive and beautiful. The green luxury cars on the following pages can travel faster and farther than green cars ever could before. Plus, they’re cleaner and greener than their predecessors. From electric cars to hybrids, extended-range electrics to biofuels, Worth explores the luxurious side of green motoring.

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST

Base MSRP: $246,500 | rolls-roycemotorcars.com

The Ghost is the most powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce ever built. While its 20 mpg on the highway doesn’t exactly give the Prius a run for its money, it does certify the Ghost as a Low Emissions Vehicle in the United States. The car also boasts the lowest CO2 output in the ultra-luxury class. And Rolls-Royce makes the Ghost at its Goodwood factory in England, one of Europe’s most sustainable production facilities; the factory features 400,000 newly planted trees, the country’s largest living roof and green production processes. But perhaps the most sustainable aspect of Ghost is its life cycle. “Our cars have been collected for over a century, and the vast majority of Rolls-Royces are still roadworthy,” says company spokesman Wayne Kung. While many modern cars are considered disposable, Rolls-Royces endure.

Factory Recommended: The Ghost is made at Goodwood, one of Europe’s greenest production facilities.

FISKER KARMA

Base MSRP: approximately $100,000 | fiskerautomotive.com

Henrik Fisker of Aston Martin and BMW fame has designed the new Fisker Karma in Southern California for the environmentally astute set. Boasting style and performance, the hybrid sports car “will hit the marketplace in April 2011,” says Fisker spokesperson Russell Datz. Its 300-mile range—comparable to that of some gas-powered cars—means drivers don’t have to deal with the “range anxiety” associated with other electric cars. The Karma’s first 50 miles are electric-only and free of tailpipe emissions. Once the battery is depleted, the four-cylinder “Ecotec” engine kicks in, resulting in an average 100 miles per gallon. The car’s interior manifests even more green ambitions: leather seats from a closed-loop manufacturing plant and sustainably sourced wood accents.

Range Power: The Karma’s solar roof can charge the car battery or run its air contidioner.

PORSCHE 918 SPYDER

Base MSRP: approximately $650,000 | porsche.com

Just months after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show last spring, Porsche revealed that its 918 concept car will be available in two to three years. Steve Janisse, media manager of Porsche Cars North America, says the company’s decision to produce a green sports car should come as no surprise. “Porsche has a legacy of being green,” he explains. “We were always the little guy, producing lighter cars—it’s in our DNA to be fuel efficient.”

The plug-in hybrid works by coupling a 500 horsepower V8 engine with a pair of 109 horsepower electric motors, giving the Spyder an impressive 78 mpg. Performance does not suffer: With acceleration from zero to 60 mph in just under 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph, the 918 is faster than the Porsche Carrera GT. The Spyder will likely feature an advanced coasting or start/stop mode like the Cayenne hybrid for maximum fuel efficiency. “The Spyder can accelerate like a race car and handles like a supercar,” says Janisse. “It’s the epitome of green sports car luxury.”

Gas Light: By combining a V8 engine with two electric motors, Porsche plans to create a hybrid with 78 mpg.

JAGUAR C-X75

jaguar.com

Jaguar celebrated its 75th birthday in 2010 by giving us the C-X75 electric supercar, which debuted at the Paris Auto Show in July. With a top speed of 205 mph, the four-wheel-drive supercar can run in electric mode for 68 miles on a charge that lasts for six hours. But once the miniaturized gas turbines ignite, the car can reportedly travel another 560 miles. Unfortunately, the British car company has no immediate plans to produce the C-X75. Stuart Schorr, vice president of Jaguar, says the vehicle “represents some of the forward-thinking ideas being evaluated within Jaguar for solutions to lower fuel consumption and the environmental impact of mobility.” Meaning, the C-X75 could provide clues about how Jaguar will power the supercars of the future.

Flight of Fancy: The C-X75 reflects Juaguar’s best ideas for eco-conscious driving.

TESLA ROADSTER

Base MSRP: $109,000 | teslamotors.com

The Tesla Roadster holds the distinguished title of being the only electric supercar in serial production today. It can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds—faster than many sports cars—yet it’s twice as efficient as any hybrid. Handmade from carbon fiber, this visually striking car can travel 245 miles on a single charge. The Roadster can be plugged into nearly any conventional wall outlet: An overnight charge provides the equivalent of a fresh tank of gas but costs less than $8 in electricity. “It drives just like any high-end sports car only without using a drop of gasoline, freeing drivers from gas station stops, smog checks and oil changes,” says Tesla Motors spokesperson Camille Ricketts. “The Roadster is for consumers who want to drive a high-performance vehicle with a clear conscience.”

Electric Avenue: The Roadster plugs in to any conventional wall outlet.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT

Base MSRP: $189,000 | bentleymotors.com

Not only is the new Bentley Continental GT the fastest car Bentley has ever produced, it’s the first Bentley to be powered by biofuels. Bentley’s Flexfuel technology allows drivers to fill up with gas or E85 bioethanol—or a mixture of both—without affecting performance. The GT comes with a V8 engine that propels the car from zero to 60 in an impressive 4.4 seconds, while the new aerodynamic body helps deliver top speeds of 197 mph. “With the new GT, there’s no compromise,” Bentley president and COO Christophe Georges says. “Customers will be a part of the magic of the super coupe that has luxury, athleticism, looks and environmental credentials.” Look for the GT this spring.

Choices: The GT runs on gas, E85 bioethanol or a mixture of both.

FERRARI HY-KERS

Base MSRP: not yet available | ferrari.com

Modeled on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the HY-KERS concept car is Ferrari’s foray into marrying hybrid technology with a high-performance supercar. An appropriately bright green experimental vehicle was unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, but eager fans will have to wait a bit to get behind the wheel: Ferrari spokesman Matteo Sardi says a production vehicle will “not be ready before 2014.” It should be worth the wait: The V-12 HY-KERS boasts improved mileage by combining a lightweight hybrid drive train with a regenerative braking system, both of which were modeled on Ferrari’s Formula One program. While the hybrid HY-KERS seems an unlikely choice for the iconic Italian sports car manufacturer, the car, Sardi says, represents Ferrari’s commitment “to reduce the environmental impact of its cars while boosting their performance across the board.”

Anticipation: The HY-KERS is slotted to debut in 2014.

Curator