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After months (if not years) of waiting, Acura has finally unveiled their next-generation NSX Supercar. Though still a concept, the it boasts the car’s future exterior design inspiration as well as what’s under the hood. Power comes from a mid-rear V6 engine that’s made to an electric motor to form a hybrid setup. The SH-AWD setup also features a dual-clutch transmission for added performance, while the two motors can instantly send negative or positive torque to the front wheels for improved handling. No word yet on horsepower figures but expect the power-to-weight ratio to be top-notch.

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Yesterday at the 2011 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show, Porsche took the covers off their latest concept car, the 918 RSR Racing Lab. It looks magnificent but it’s really what makes it move and punch it’s packing that’s got our attention. The supercar is built on a stiff carbon fiber plastic monocoque and is gets power from a direct-injected V8 that dishes out 563-hp, the same found in the RS Spyder. There are actually two electric motors on the front wheels which contribute a burst of 150 kW bringing overall output to peak drive power of 767-hp. This additional spark is generated during braking and is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator and is available for roughly 8 seconds when the system is fully charged.

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The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show isn’t until next month, but BMW’s letting some of its soon-to-be unveiled beauties out the bag. The 2010 ActiveHybrid 7 is fitted with a 4.4L V8 engine that has a max output of 440-hp and a peak torque of 475 lb-ft. When mated to a 3-phase synchronous electric motor, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 produces a total of 455-hp with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft. Power is driven to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission with the electric motor (powered by lithium-ion batteries) positioned between the engine and the torque converter.

Go 0-60 in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 150mph, all while enjoying a 15 percent increase in fuel-economy over the 750i. Official EPA numbers as well pricing will be released closer to the release in Spring 2010.

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This week, Range Rover’s set to unveil the Liberty Electric Range Rover that will get 200 miles on one full charge.  Pretty good, right?  It’s been designed by a team out of Oxford and could hit dealerships by next year.  Pricing is looking at £95,000 to £125,000.  Hefty price for going green, but if you’ve got it, then why not, right?

Zero emissions and a whole lot of overall savings will definitely entice consumers into getting in the driver seat of one of these. Most electric cars on the market are much cheaper, but they also don’t get 200 miles on charge.

Performance and luxurious details are trademarks for Range Rover, and the Liberty Electric will not sacrifice neither.  It’s accepted to have “swift acceleration and a high top speed, while costing 80 percent less to run than a gasoline equivalent.

Other innovations include roof mounted solar panels, which will provide additional charge for the batteries as well as powering some of the car’s electrics while it is stopped. Some versions will also have technology designed to extend the car’s range even further.

Source: telegraph

California electric sports car-maker Tesla Motors has announced its plans to build a plant that will cost a whopping $250 million and be located in Silicon Valley.  The plant produce sedans that will hopefully hit the highways by 2010.

The Tesla Roadster has grabbed everyone’s attention, even California’s Governor, the Arnold.  The car’s got solid environmental credentials, and with the technological pioneering the brand resembles, we weren’t surprised that San Jose will be the place for its plant.

Tesla Chief Executive Ze’ev Drori said he expects manufacturing of the five-passenger, $60,000 Model S sedan to hit a rate of over 15,000 a year by the last quarter of 2011. Tesla will build the factory on its own.  They definitely have the capital to do so, with money coming from private equity financing of $100 million, the U.S. Department of Energy approving $150 million in loan guarantees, and California offering significant tax breaks.

Let the building begin, Tesla, so that we can push out 225 miles off one charge.  That’s pretty hefty, compared to the 40 miles the new Volt offers.  Boy, do we love competition.

Source:  Reuters

It looks better than we first suspected from all the spy shots.  Heck, we can actually see ourselves buying one and popping a Por Homme banner on it.  The Chevrolet Volt was revealed at GM’s 100th year celebration.

So what did you expect it to be?  Well, the 2011 Chevy Volt is a 5-door front-wheel-drive sedan known as Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.  It can go 40 miles on electric-power alone with its lithium-ion battery.  And for all the miles you put on after the first 40, a gasoline/E85-powered engine kicks.  No word on the efficiency of the E85-side of the engine.  The Chevy Volt’s electric drive unit produces 150-hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 100 mph.

Charging isn’t too difficult.  The 2011 Chevrolet Volt can be plugged into a standard household 120v outlet or a 240v. The Volt’s battery will reach full charge in 8 hours when plugged into a 120v outlet and 3 hours when plugged into a 240v. GM is estimating a cost of 80 cents per day for a full charge and 40 miles of electric driving – not bad at all. The General is estimating a cost of two cents per mile compared to 12 cents per mile when using gas priced at $3.60.

The number’s are looking good and we hope that the Volt is as good on the road as it is in the showroom.

gallery after the jump

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

Head over to eGMCarTech to check out the full press release and more pics.