by now you all know how those of us in calif think about hybrids

Hybrid Sports Cars
By Ron Cogan
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Date Posted 09-14-2004
Special to Edmunds.com from Green Car Journal

In the not-too-distant future, that blur in the fast lane is as likely to be motivated by a high-tech hybrid power plant as it is an exotic, high-horsepower internal combustion engine. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Gas-electric hybrid vehicles are beginning to emerge in various forms these days, from Honda's mainstream Civic Hybrid and Toyota's acclaimed Prius to Ford's hybrid Escape SUV. Ultimately, hybrid power plants will become just another option at the showroom.

Some of the recent concepts forwarded at major auto shows share the direction that automakers have in mind. One of these directions speaks to the performance buff in us — high-performance hybrid sports cars. One such glimpse into the future, Mitsubishi's gas-electric hybrid Eclipse Concept-E, provides a formidable example.

The Concept-E's front wheels are driven by a parallel hybrid system integrating an electric motor with a 3.8-liter V6, for a combined 270 horsepower. The automaker's innovative E-Boost system channels an additional 200 hp to the rear wheels from a 150 kW electric motor located behind the cabin, powered by lithium-ion batteries secreted along the center of the vehicle. E-Boost is activated by aggressive throttle to provide an immediate boost in acceleration, much like a conventional turbo- or supercharger, transforming the car into a 470-hp, all-wheel-drive terror that raises the hybrid performance bar to new levels.