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Natalie Portman Catches the Green Bug

We tend to look at hybrid owners as free thinkers who resist the commercialized, celebrity-centered aspects of America’s consumer society. But can that really be the case with so many celebrities jumping on the hybrid bandwagon. The Prius might offer decent mileage, but it’s hard to ignore the potential influence celebrities have in getting more people to think about the environment.

Case in point, Natalie Portman, who was recently spotted getting out of her own green machine. Being the A-lister celebrity that she is, Ms. Portman shouldn’t have any trouble buying an expensive German-built SUV, but she has chosen to do her bit for the environment.

With rising gas prices, global warming, growing resentment toward oil-exporting countries and fear over Middle East violence, the latest transportation trend among the Los Angeles wealthy and famous is having a frugal hybrid. Among the Hollywood stars who have or have owned a Prius, we would mention Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell, Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor and Harrison Ford.

This is definitely a car that polarizes people’s opinions. While some love what the car stands for, others can’t stand the sight of one. Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson is one such person, as he hired a man by the name of Billy Bob to machine gun one to bits in one of his Christmas videos a few years ago.

Some have even gone as far as to say that Toyota’s manufacturing process is not really green, and that the claimed fuel economy figures are hard to achieve in real life. The upcoming Prius SUV and small hatch-back could potentially silence its critics.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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