Part gas, part electric all car. These new to the scene rides have to been slowly growing in popularity and on the dealerships showrooms. Granted the price tags are kinda high but we’re going to talk about the reasons why in 2008 a hybrid should be a idea when car buying this year. We’re going to give you a run down of the top three hybrids on the road today and what the I have to say about them.

First lets start off with the Toyota Prius. The Prius is the main hybrid on everyones minds it wins award after award. With it’s cult-like devotion except the Prius to be around for some time to come. The Prius drives like a charm with its all electric-gas combination that gets up to 110hp and a 0-60 rate in 10.2 seconds and with an emissions rate of about 90% lower than it’s competition gives Toyota a big foot hold with the car and given the fact that they have been on the road overseas since 1997 and in the U.S.A since 2000. And I’m sure it’s 55mpg will hit drivers with a urge to help curve the high gas prices. As for space they have lots of leg room and a lot of storage space.

BUT! This is AMERICAN Car Freak not World Car Freak. Here’s what Toyota doesn’t want you to know about the car. For starters there is the “Prius Blind Spot” this spot is hard due to the car being a hatchback has a hard spot to see around on the drivers side. And the other pink elephant in the room is the RECALLS. In Oct. of 2005 following a report that the hybrids kept stalling out on the road ended up recalling 75,000 hybrid Priuses. The problem lied with the cars computer system and had to be reset. Once the cars computers had been reset everything was just fine. Granted 17million cars were recalled around the states but the idea that the new hybrid was having issues I’m sure made some drivers jumpy.

Up next the Honda Civic, the Civic has the ability to save gas and cut down it’s cylinders until it can preform with the highest efficiency and still giving it the right amount of performance. The Civic hybrid gets the same 110 hp as the Prius with its 1.3 liter iVTEC 4 cylinder engine and a 20hp electric motor which has a 20% lighter powertrain than previous models of the Civic. The engine has tries to capitalize on reduced friction with it’s aluminum die-cast pistons and ion plated piston rings.

The electric end of the car is rather different as well. The electric motor in the newer models has the wire windings in the motor in a rectangluar shape now over the previous round shape which will now provide more surface area for generate more power. This more improved torque by 14 percent and horsepower by 50 percent. The batteries are up 25 percent more in energy and can use up to 158 volts compared to 144 volts.

The safe side of things with the car are almost better than the car itself including its 8 air bags and it’s “load paths” which is a way to limit the penetration of the cars structure which absorb crashes energy.

Bells and whistles of the Civic hybrid includes it sharp rims and optional navi system w/ voice control and its exclusive paint colors: Opal Sliver Blue and Magnetic Pearl.

And last but not least the most popular AMERICAN hybrid is the Ford Escape. Given the fact that Ford cam out with this model back in 2004 they really weren’t aggressive with their efforts and they only produced only 20,000 units, even though it got in the upper 20’s mpg yet claimed to get in the 30’s is currently getting beat up by other SUV models such as the Highlander and the Lexus Rx400h. Both beat the Escape on different levels the Highlander beats up on the Ford in the way of power and seating capacity and the Lexus well… it’s a Lexus what aspects of the truck do you think they beat for on? That’s right luxury. But Ford still deserves a lot of credit they went to the “well” first and they took the first drink and for those of you 20,000 that have them they can enjoy the fact that they can cruise on past all other models mentioned while still in electric mode.

So wether your driving a car from overseas or from here these are some facts that you should know cause yes this is the American Car Freak but even freaks know when it costs too much money in your tanks for gas and your hard earned money could be spent on other important things in your life.

ACF