Is the Prius Passe?

Looking for a new car? If you're into luxury, chances are you're not looking in the direction of the clunky Toyota Prius. In fact, you may be debating your options among the high end, classier gas guzzlers.

Soon, though, you'll be able to have your high end luxury vehicle and save the planet too. According to an article in The New York Times, "Even luxury automakers that once publicly scorned hybrids, especially diesel-centric European companies, are readying electric-bolstered cars for showrooms. Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti, Audi, Porsche, Cadillac and Land Rover are among the brands whose inaugural hybrids are either hitting the market or in the works."

These cars won't be cheap (they'll range between about $35,000 and $80,000). But after all, who expects luxury on a budget?

What can you look forward to in the way of luxurious hybrids? The Fisker Karma S convertible will be a "voluptuous and exotic" choice, offering as much as 100 miles per gallon.

The Mercedes S400 hybrid, already on the market, is described as a "huge, sumptuous sedan." It doesn't hold a candle to the Prius in terms of gasoline consumption (29 miles per gallon is about the best you can expect), but it's a start.

BMW plans to put its ActiveHybrid X6 crossover SUV on sale in December, along with a hybridized version of its ActiveHybrid 7-Series ("the world's fastest hybrid").

Right now, it looks like the trend toward high end, high performance hybrids is on the rise. In part, of course, you can thank your tax dollars at work in subsidies and incentives that make this type of car manufacturing particularly lucrative.

Photo courtesy of Gnsin, via Wikimedia Commons