Tesla has faced quite a bit of feedback, both positive and negative, around its electric powered sports car.  During their existence, they have dealt with some internal turmoil, losing Darryl Siry, but with his departure comes the addition of an experienced leader in the marketing and sales department.  Tesla has hired former Harley Davidson executive Michael van der Sande.  Mr. van der Sande began his time with HD in 1996 and in 2007 he was named the managing director of European operations, which included overseeing 370 dealerships throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

Today's budding gearheads are different in a few ways from the motoring enthusiasts of the past.  Where the old school guys are all about big power from big engines, the newest enthusiasts have been raised to "think green", and due to the shift in the performance automotive market, that same big power is made by small engines.  The idea of a performance economy car breathes life into the possibility of a "green" race car, and Braille Battery, in cooperation with Nissan Motors, is using the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show to display their awesome high performance hybrid.

It seems unlikely that a 268 horsepower electric powered Dodge concept wearing a Lotus body could beat a new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in a short race from a stop, but during a recent show-off session of the new Dodge EV, that was exactly what happened.

The Rose Bowl parking lot was the site of the showdown between high-performance and high technology, and the result helped to secure the idea that not all electric vehicles are just for low-cost commuting.  So many companies have turned to hybrid and electric vehicles as a solution for "responsible efficient transportation", that the enthusiasts' standpoint has been forgotten.  The alternative power vehicles are a great alternative for those who only use their car to get from point A to point B, but for many of us, driving is an enjoyable experience, and the Dodge EV plans to prove that electric vehicles can provide the same fun as a combustion engine powered vehicle.

While the rumors of a whole brand of Prius from Toyota, similar to what we have seen with Scion, are still unproven and unverified by the company, more credible rumors are ramping up about more variants of the popular Prius, mainly in the form of a Prius coupe.  When the Prius hit the market, it was the only real option in its class, and while cars like the Civic Hybrid came along, the Prius was relatively unchallenged.

The 2008 Chevrolet Corvette comes equipped with a 6.2L LS3 engine, making 420 horsepower and 424lb-ft of torque and yielding around 16/20 mpg.  By no means is the new Vette considered "green", even though it is one of the most popular sports cars in the history of the American automobile, and with rising fuel prices and consumer demand for better economy, the performance car market has slowed, even for the Corvette.

The release of the new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid.is still months away, but Ford Motor Company has given us a sneak peak at their newest gadget; the SmartGauge with EcoGuide.

 

Ford found that the key concern with hybrid owners was that they are maximizing the efficiency of their car, so Ford has added a series of programs to let the driver know when he or she is doing a good job conserving fuel.  The system consists of a set of LCD screens flanking the analog speedometer on both sides, and there are four different modes that display not only the normal gauge cluster readouts (fuel level, engine temperature, etc), but also a variety of information about the vehicles electrical drive system.  Also, as the car is driven, the driver is rewarded by seeing leaves and vines grow, and the more efficiently the driver controls the vehicle, the more leaves and vines grow.  For those less interested in the theatrics, there is also a typical graph readout to let you know how youre doing. 

BMW debuted their M1 Hommage Concept at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este earlier this year to celebrate the 13^th birthday of the legendry M1.  This sleek mid-engine sports car had obvious styling cues from the original M1, with a modern touch of flare.Rumors have surfaced that BMW is now working on a production model based on the M1 Hommage, and the most exciting portion of those rumors are around the drivetrain. 

After recently taking a new electric powered Mini for a drive, new CEO Tom Purves decided that the company that some may consider the grandfather of super high end luxury cars should offer a green solution.  While someone who can afford the nearly half million dollar model likely doesn't worry about dealing with the prices at the pump, concerns about the availability of gasoline, along with government restrictions of vehicle usage in major cities has Purves concerned.  He feels the considering the amount of Phantom owners who live in major cities around the world, that it would be important to offer a completely electric powered package.

General Motors was the first to hit the streets with a full size sport utility hybrid, but Chrysler countered with their Aspen and the Dodge Durango.  Initially, there was no clear leader in the class, but with the 2009 models, Chrysler has pulled ahead in the segment, thanks for the fact that the two-mode hybrid system coupled with the 5.7L Hemi engine makes a whopping 400 horsepower and 380lb-ft of torque.  This makes the Durango and Aspen the most powerful full-size SUVs, and with their new EPA hybrid mileage ratings of 20 in the city and 22 on the highway, the Chryslers Utes are the most efficient AND the most powerful.

The BMW Group will be the world's first manufacturer of premium automobiles to deploy a fleet of some 500 all-electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic. The MINI E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles. The MINI E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey. The possibility of offering the MINI E in Europe as well is currently being considered. The MINI E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.

The MINI E's electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Newton meters, delivering seamless acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph). Featuring a suspension system tuned to match its weight distribution, the MINI E sports the brand's hallmark agility and outstanding handling.