With rising gas prices and growing concerns about the environment, choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle has become paramount among new-car buyers. A recent Consumer Reports survey suggested that a whopping 70 percent of all motorists would be looking for a model having better fuel economy when it’s time to replace their current ride.
But what if you just can’t fathom the notion of driving a fuel-efficient but otherwise unexciting econobox?
What if your taste in cars runs more toward the fast and the furious — do you necessarily need to own a fuel-swilling environmentally incorrect model?
“Driving a high-performance car and being concerned for the environment aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive issues,” said Jim Kliesch, a research associate for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. “Regardless of what class of car you choose, there are greener choices out there.”
For example, the ultra-exotic Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 sports car can reach 60 mph in a scenery blurring 3.4 seconds, but it gets only a paltry 8 mpg in the process. This means it will consume more than 30 barrels of crude oil and spew up to 34,200 pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year, according to the EPA, assuming 15,000 miles driven per year. These emissions include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, which are major contributors to global warming.
By comparison, the 911 Carrera S is estimated to consume just 15.6 barrels of oil and contribute 16,600 pounds of emissions annually. The two Lotus models do a bit better, estimated to be responsible for just 13.2 barrels of sweet light crude and a comparatively benign 14,200 pounds of pollutants annually.
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