There was a time when supercars were just high-performance, luxury-latent status symbols that reflected the wealth and the power of their owners. Fuel-efficiency was not a priority for those able to afford the grandiose automobiles. That was yesterday.

Today’s supercar drivers still want all those extra-special goodies, but they also want to  show their green side as well. The latest Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT exemplifies the new-era mindset with its fuel-efficient 583-horsepower engine. It is a redefining moment in priorities for the affluent market, according to industry pundits.

"There used to be this maxim that 'There's no replacement for displacement.' Now you can kind of replace that with technology with direct injection. We have start-stop that we've identified from the hybrids," said Rob Moran, Mercedes-Benz AMG spokesman. "It's really the golden age. More power, more torque, less fuel consumption."