[Style Mantra]

Fisker Karma

A straight up stunner. When the Fisker Karma comes out in 2010, it will make the Mercedes CLS and other upcoming four-doors from Porsche and BMW look like dinosaurs.

An all-new car - a plug-in hybrid with a solar-paneled roof - is a huge move for Henrik Fisker, whose company builds custom bodywork for the BMW 6-series and Mercedes SL. Fisker promises up to 50 miles on electricity, and will even sell solar panels for the owner's home to charge it in the garage.

Some 7500 examples are planned for $80,000 each. When these type of cars start selling in the 20s and 30s, no one will think of buying a Prius ever again.

[Style Mantra]

Mercedes-Benz S300 Bluetec Hybrid

Mercedes is doing in 2010 what Lexus should have done now. Instead of a hulking V8 is a 2.2 liter diesel four-cylinder, and a claimed combined 44 mpg rating.

Yes, diesel. With better fuel efficiency and torque, diesel engines should be the de facto choice for all hybrid cars, and Mercedes (as well as Audi) is banking on it. Forget about dirty tailpipes with Benz's Bluetec, their own urea-based system that effectively neutralizes most of the fuel's harmful nitrogen oxides.

Europe will see the sedan first in 2010 and pricing hasn't been announced. Right now the mileage sounds too good to be true, but that's probably because most American buyers have negative vibes about diesel cars. Those old Mercedes clunkers with their rears covered in black soot are exactly that - the past.

[Style Mantra]

Jeep Renegade Concept

Leave it to Jeep to inject some macho off-road capability into the pedestrian crop of production hybrids. On paper, the Renegade concept is impressive: up to a 400-mile range and 110 mpg from a diesel-electric powertrain, electric motors at each axle, and locking differentials.

The playful summertime attitude of the Wrangler is here and emphasized further with the low and decidedly windswept profile. Treading lightly, indeed.

[Style Mantra]

Audi Q7 Hybrid

Launched as a concept in 2005, the Audi Q7 Hybrid looks to be on sale this year. The electric motor helps the 4.2 liter V8 make 148 pound-feet more torque and shortens acceleration to 62 mph from 7.4 to 6.8 seconds.

Everything else is pretty hum-ho, but the Q7 Hybrid's roof solar panels allow air-conditioning to run when the car is off, a trick feature all dogs should love.

[Style Mantra]

Toyota 1/X Concept

The Toyota Prius is a gas guzzling, inefficient barge of a car. Compared, that is, with the same company's 1/X Concept, which at 926 lbs. is one-third the weight and supposedly returns up to 150 mpg.

Unlike the Prius, the 1/X is a plug-in hybrid and uses higher capacity (and higher price) lithium-ion batteries, in addition to a teensy 500cc engine. Toyota promises a 600 mile range on only four gallons of gas.

While the body is reinforced with carbon fiber, it's plastic, so avoid those lead-footed toddlers bombing around in the Power Wheels Jeeps. It could get ugly for you.

[Style Mantra]

Ford Fusion Hybrid

While not the model pictured on the left, the Fusion Hybrid won't look much different, save for some special badges. It's likely to share the Escape Hybrid's powerplant, a 133 horsepower 2.3 liter four-cylinder coupled with a 94 horsepower electric motor.

Ford isn't too late following the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord hybrids, but the Fusion Hybrid can't come a moment too soon.

[untruefeelings]

ohh thnkz nice info