Environmental Leader

Eco cars are dominating this year’s Detroit Auto Show with a number of new concept hybrids being launched by both large and small automakers. The Ford Fusion Hybrid won the 2010 North American Car of the Year, at this year’s 2010 North American International Auto Show, which opened for previews Monday, reports The Washington Post.

Ford calls the Fusion “America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan” with an EPA-estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway. Ford also won the Truck of the Year award with its Transit Connect, a fuel-efficient commercial van.

The Detroit Auto show is also devoting an entire section of the floor to “Electric Avenue,” displaying the latest in electric cars, mostly from small companies, reports The Washington Post.

Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the latest hybrid and electric concept cars.

Some of the hybrid gas-electric and battery-powered vehicles on display include the Nissan Leaf, Commuter Cars’ 39-inch wide Tango, a concept version of Toyota’s Prius called the FT-CH and Honda’s CR-Z coupe, reports Cabot Headline News.

General Motor’s also unveiled its Cadillac plug-in hybrid luxury concept car, reports ABC News. GM says the Cadillac XTS Platinum can run on a rechargeable battery-powered electric motor or a 350-horsepower V-6 engine, and also boasts touch-screen entertainment, and navigation and information systems, according to the article.

Subaru also unveiled a concept car at the show. The Hybrid Tourer concept is a two-door, four seater that features a 2-liter four-cylinder engine and two sets of electric motors, which the company says is key to offering all-wheel-drive in all vehicles, reports The Plain Dealer.

Toyota unveiled its “dedicated hybrid” concept car that is smaller and cheaper than the Prius, report USA Today. The FT-CH concept is 22 inches shorter than the Prius, and offers higher gas mileage than the Prius, according to the article.

Toyota is also debuting its mini hybrid hatch Scion iQ, reports Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fuel economy is expected to be around 60 mpg, according to the article.

Volkswagen AG also unveiled a concept car code-named the New Compact Coupe that combines a hybrid motor with a turbocharged, 1.4-litre engine, reports The Globe and Mail.