By Jacob Gordon of TreeHuggerIf you want to own a car that provides cushy comfort and tons of sex appeal while leaving behind as little a carbon footprint as possible, then you're in luck. The luxury hybrid market is expanding into all shapes and sizes, offering opulent amenities on top of cutting-edge gas-electric technology that will reduce noxious emissions and deliver impressive fuel economy. As a follow-up to our slide show of the winners and losers among the current crop of luxury fuel-sippers, we decided to take a look into the not-too-distant future at 10 upcoming high-heeled hybrids that will satisfy those who want to have their cake and eat it, too.
Bing: Luxury Hybrids
Nissan made its first foray into hybrids in 2007 with a gas-electric Altima, and now is diving deep into the bosom of luxury with the Infiniti M35h sedan. While the Altima's hybrid technology is licensed from Toyota, the M35h will be the first car to carry a hybrid system engineered in-house by Nissan. The rear-wheel drive M35h will carry a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, and its hybrid system will supposedly carry it in silent electric mode for longer distances than any other hybrid currently on the road. No word yet on pricing, but the M35h will likely go on sale in the spring of 2011 for the 2012 model year.
MSN Autos: Hybrid Research Center
Henrik Fisker, known for his high-end design work at BMW and Aston Martin, founded Fisker Automotive in 2007 to create luxury plug-in hybrids. The company's first model, the Karma, will charge from a standard electrical socket and offer up to 50 miles of all-electric driving. When the battery runs low, a gasoline engine will rev up to supplement its charge. For a 4-door, the Karma is no slouch: It will sprint from zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and have a top speed of 125 mph. Fisker expects this "plug-xury" hybrid to be in full-scale production is scheduled for early 2011.
Video: Fisker Karma
To the shock and amazement of Porsche fans everywhere, the No Substitute carmaker recently announced that its ubersexy 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid supercar will become a reality, and soon. The racetrack-inspired 2-seater garnered enough interest from potential buyers after its unveiling at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show that Porsche decided to produce the car in limited quantities. With a midmounted 500-horsepower V8 gasoline engine and twin electric motors, one on each axle, the 918 is reported to make the leap from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Though the exact availability date is unknown, the 918 Spyder will be the most expensive production Porsche ever.
Read: Porsche Goes Electric
Fans of Bavaria's best will soon have another hybrid option in the stable. As early as 2011, we could see the BMW 5 Series in hybrid form. This addition to the blue-and-white bloodline will join the burly ActiveHybrid X6 crossover and the stately 7 Series. The hybrid 5 Series will carry a straight 6-cylinder engine and 8-speed transmission accompanied by an electric motor, all of which will result in more than a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, according to BMW. And, like many of the high-end hybrids on our list, the ActiveHybrid 5 Series will be able to go notably farther in electric-only mode than today's hybrids.
Bing Images: 5-Series Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz has already shown its ability to play matchmaker between luxury and economy. The S400, carrying Benz's lithium-ion hybrid technology, is holding its own in the wild, as is the ML450 hybrid, though it's still lease-only. Mercedes has also partnered with Tesla Motors to fully electrify the pint-sized Smart, as well as the breathtaking SLS AMG. But perhaps the boldest move is the high likelihood that Mercedes will push its hybrid technology all the way through the S-Class lineup. This will include the S550 and S600, as well as the top-shelf AMG models. Precise details remain nebulous at the moment, but with Mercedes' aggressive investments in hybrids and battery electrics, we're certain to see exciting things coming from the Benz.
Read: Mercedes S-Class Gets a Hybrid