This January I visited the North American International Auto Show held in Detroit, Michigan. I was simply amazed at the number of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles on display by the manufacturers. Everything from subcompacts to high performance sports cars were offered in either production or concept form with some sort of propulsion source other than pure gasoline or diesel. Obviously the market has expressed an interest in alternative fueled vehicles.
Here's a sampling of vehicles I found especially interesting.
AFS TRINITY EXTREME HYBRID SUV
AFS Trinity Power Corporation utilized a converted Saturn Vue to display their XH™ Extreme Hybrid power system. The AFS stands for 
American Flywheel Systems and the minds behind the XH™ technology are former space and atomic energy scientists. AFS claims 150 mpg and bases the majority of this claim on driving 40 miles per day, six days a week, on strictly electric power. This 40 mile range on pure electricity is the same as that claimed by the Chevrolet Volt concept. AFS says the system will recoup its additional $8,700 cost over a conventional gas-powered SUV. Ultra-capacitors are used in the design to control excessive heat generation in the onboard lithium batteries, making them safer and extending their life. The XH™ SUV must be plugged in to recharge, with no means of onboard recharging of the batteries. When the batteries are empty the vehicle runs solely on the internal combustion engine. AFS wants to license their technology to an existing auto manufacturer, but says they will manufacture a vehicle of their own if an agreement can not be reached.
Unveiled at China's Auto Shanghai 2007, the Buick Riviera concept was designed in China for Chinese auto buyers. It's a clear indication
that Buick has found a new home in China, where the mark is seen as a status brand. It will accommodate a new hybrid system also being developed in China, at GM Shanghai. The car is the result of design input by Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), and a design and engineering joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). It has gull wing doors and tightly stretched carbon fiber body panels. The interior is designed to provide a sanctuary space, with the use of rich blue and subtle creams that are intended to represent water and earth. The interior was also created to provide a lounge feel, and with the use of ambient lighting, high-quality leather bucket seats, plush carpet, and luxuriously padded steering wheel there's little doubt the designers hit the mark.
Chinese automaker BYD had a cutaway display of their plug-in hybrid car, the F6-DM. BYD claims the car can go 60 miles on pure
electric power and another 190 miles on the hybrid system. The car uses a ferrous battery developed by BYD that they say is safer and will recharge faster than lithium-ion batteries. In fact, BYD claims the onboard battery can be charged to 50% in just 10 minutes at a special charging station. BYD is one of the world's top suppliers of cell phone and other batteries, and got into the car business in 2003 when it bought Tsinchuan Automobile Co. Last year BYD sold 100,00 vehicles in China. BYD hopes to begin selling the car in China by the end of the year and in North America in another three to five years.
The Cadillac CTS Coupe concept on display in detroit was outfitted with a 250 hp, 406 lb-ft, 2.9L turbo diesel and six-speed 
manual transmission. This combination of engine and row-the-gears shifting is aimed at markets outside North America, but I know more than a few people here who would buy it. In North America, the current sedan's 304 hp, 273 lb-ft, 3.6L Direct Injection V6 would probably be the standard engine although the design can accommodate other engine configurations. Personally I've never been a big fan of the CTS, having driven a manual transmission V6 version when it was first introduced and finding it lacking. However, it's a popular choice in the near luxury market with its edgy styling and Matrix movie credentials. And I have to say, in 2+2 form it's a great looking car. I've always been a fan of the 1995 Ford GT90 concept, with its "New Edge" design, and like hard creases on a car when done right. And in my opinion, this car was done right.
CHEVROLET BEAT, TRAX, and GROOVE
Sitting on what was one of the most tasteful displays at the show was the Chevrolet Beat (lime), Trax (copper), and Groove (gunmetal). First 
unveiled at the New York International Auto Show last April, they've been described as "minicar global car concepts designed to appeal to young car buyers in urban markets." All three were designed at GM's Design Studio in Inchon, South Korea. The Beat is an actual "runner" and built in India, while the Groove and Trax are just for looks and built at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. The Beat is powered by a 1.2L turbocharged gas engine with an automatic transmission and is the tech-heavy one of the three. The Trax will be powered by a 1.0L gas engine and is an urban crossover. The Groove will have a 1.0L diesel engine and according to GM is a “funkastalgia”-themed vehicle too tough-looking to be “cute.” Hmmmm....
The last three cars I've owned have been Dodge's. Not because I'm a big fan of the Ram, but simply because they built a vehicle at the time that best fit 
my needs and captured my imagination. The all-electric, rear-wheel drive Dodge ZEO 2+2 sport wagon concept is another car that captures my imagination and one day may fill my needs. Having similar speed (0-60 in under six seconds) and range (250 miles between charges) to the Tesla Roadster, the ZEO adds practicality with seating for four and a wagon design that allows you to carry something other than your wallet. It's like an electric version of the Dodge Magnum R/T and is described by Dodge as a 21st century musclecar. The ZEO motor is rated at 200 kilowatts (268 hp) and is powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Yes, you read that right. Ferrari has entered the "green scene" with their F430 powered by bio-fuel. Utilizing the same 4.3L V8 as found in the
regular F430, the bio-fuel model runs on the same blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85) as used in several less powerful cars and trucks. After modifications were made to the F430's CPU and fuel system, the bio-fuel Ferrari actually made a small gain in horsepower and torque, netting 493 hp and 356 lb/ft of torque. Emissions were lowered 5%, but let's face it, a Ferrari is still a Ferrari and this car's carbon footprint is not very eco-friendly. Although Ferrari has made a goal of cutting their cars' emission levels by 40% by 2012. Ferrrari gained experience with bio-fuels in their racing program, where Formula 1 cars must use 5.75% bio-fuel and FIA GT and American Le Mans Series races require the use of 10 percent ethanol. No information for the F430 Bio Fuel could be found on Ferrari's website at the time of this writing. Another E85 powered supercar on display at the show came from Jay Leno's Garage, a 600 HP Pratt & Miller Chevrolet Corvette C6RS.
The $80,000 Fisker Karma is the luxury plug-in hybrid concept. It combines the looks of a Maserati Quattroporte (maybe even better) with the
economy of a plug-in hybrid. Fisker claims the Karma can run on its lithium ion batteries in pure electric "Stealth Drive" mode for up to 50 miles, besting the claims of the Chevrolet Volt. The battery pack is placed at the middle of the car to lower the center of gravity and improve weight distribution. The car also has a sport mode, which combines the four-cylinder internal combustion engine with the electric drive for maximum acceleration. Fisker says the Karma sounds like a combination of a jet fighter and a F 1 race car when operated in sport mode. The car is claimed to reach 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, with a top speed of 125 mph. The car has a full-length solar roof to help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin while the car is parked. The Fisker concept was built by Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies which developed the Q Drive hybrid system.
Just how fast can a hydrogen fuel cell car go? Ford thought they'd find out and with collaboration from Ballard Power Systems, Roush, and 
Ohio State University built the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999. On August 17th, 2007, the car set a new land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car by going 207.297 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats while emitting nothing but water vapor out its tailpipe. Ford researchers are also giving support to student engineers from Ohio State on its Buckeye Bullet 2, a streamliner-type fuel-cell powered car which will attempt a run at 300+ mph.
First revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show last August, the Ford Verve concept is Ford's idea of the "supermini generation" of vehicles, a 
vehicle segment the company believes will grow substantially worldwide in the future. The car rides on a small European "B-segment" sized platform, which is smaller than the current Ford Focus and about two feet shorter than a four-door Toyota Yaris. Ford's plan is to use the same underbody and tailor different bodies to match specific market tastes. To quote Martin Smith, Executive Director of Design for Ford of Europe, the Verve is “Bold, even radical, it demonstrates the dynamic possibilities for expressing Ford’s kinetic design philosophy in a small car that is a chic, modern and individualistic statement for a sophisticated, fashion-aware generation.” Sounds a lot like the Chevrolet Beat, Trax, and Groove thinking. No decision yet on what will power the production car, but you can bet it will be some type of small four-cylinder engine with direct injection and possibly a turbo. In other words, using conventional engine technology and smaller size to achieve significant gains in economy.
Ever wonder what Japanese car design is supposed to look like? Well, here's one example in the Mazda Furai. The Furai, which translates to 
"sound of the wind," is inspired by Mazda race cars and utilizes Mazda's unique Nagare (Japanese for "flow") design philosophy to create a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racer. The car uses the Courage C65 chassis Mazda campaigned in ALMS a couple seasons ago, and a 450 hp three-rotor rotary engine burning 100% ethanol (E100) produced by British Petroleum. The Furai is yet another bio-fuel supercar to add to the growing list. The design is a little over the top for my tastes, and almost cartoonish in some respects (especially the front), but it's certainly not something you can easily ignore.
Developed in California and first unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year in a specially designed Volvo C30, the Volvo ReCharge 
concept joins the list of plug-in hybrids that can run solely on electric power for several miles allowing most commuters to never use gas except on weekend trips to grandma's house. The ReCharge claims it can do this for 60 miles, besting claims of the Chevrolet Volt and Fisker Karma, and matching those of the BYD Auto F6-DM. The ReCharge uses lithium-polymer batteries that are claimed to take only three hours to fully recharge from a standard household outlet, and are supposed to last longer than the car itself. Four electric motors, one at each wheel, drive the car with the 1.6L Flexifuel engine used only to charge the batteries when needed (like the Volt). Performance numbers for the car have been listed as 0-62 mph in nine seconds (about half a second faster than a Dodge Caliber R/T), with a top speed of 100 mph. Certainly fast enough to get you where you're going.
More images from the NAIAS/ Detroit Auto Show can be seen on my flickr page.