Cars of 2000: Re-evaluating the Internal Combustion Engine

Cars of 2000: Re-evaluating the Internal Combustion Engine

The new millenia was similar to the 1960's with protests, rumors of war, peace and revolution all mixed together. The auto-industry was going through another Golden Age that was plunged into crisis, darker than the Baby Boomer generation could fathom. Dark days loomed with stringent CAFE standards and fear-mongering lawmakers fueling people's anxiety about the future of the auto industry.                                                                                                                                                                                

The Tesla Roadster was an alternate to boring electric cars. It was an awesome looking car which didn't guzzle any gasoline whatsoever. It inspired many unique or retro-fitted sports cars build for speed as well as efficiency.

Another addition to the plug-in car types was the Chevrolet volt. It came with a pretty large ticket price of $40K which made it difficult for the average working person to afford to be "green".

In 2001, the Toyta Prius hit the U.S. as the world's first mass-production hybrid car. It was remodeled in 2004 with the hump-back style that is very recognizable. It's popularity saved Toyota's domestic manufacturers and moved global auto manufacturing to the Far East. People got behind the hybrid, despite its lack of redeeming design qualities.

Resources:

http://www.ridelust.com/goodbye-2000s-the-ten-cars-that-defined-the-decade/