Drive-in dreams Affordable style Top designs The future of hybrids

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OO TT OO HH PP Ferrari, Porsche and Viper Corvette engineers are never For ultimate ZR-1 performance, In Corvette tradition, the ZR-1 is drives a Plymouth Valiant and is drives a Plymouth Valiant chased through the mountains by a Peterbilt tanker that looks like it crossed over from hell to ravage unsuspecting motorists. No matter went, it could- how fast the Valiant outrun the hefty demon. n’t owners will live a rerun when they encounter the Corvette ZR-1. satisfied, so they supercharged V8 engine to pro- the base Vette’s duce 638 horses. Expect 0 to 60 runs in about 3.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200 mph. Those are numbers that put any previous Corvette into the next are plenty to weeds and county’s outrun any lurking 18-wheelers. Still breathing? Scared? Me too! excessive amounts of aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber were integrated into its design. fenders carbon fiber front Wider and hood are beautiful and light. An air splitter and ZR1-specific spoiler with raised outboard sec- tions prevent the front and rear from levitating. designed to be daily driveable. Magnetic Selective Ride Control provides a comfortable ride by checking the road surface 1,000 PHOTO COURTESY FORD MOTORS PHOTO COURTESY Horror flick: 2009 Horror Chevrolet CorvetteChevrolet ZR-1 No horror flick gave me more 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com Texas, but a gay moviegoer Texas, needs to show some style, match- ing his ride with the film du jour. A real fashion queen would accessorize her movie with a con- veyance like these. nightmares than Spielberg’s “Duel.” In the 1971 telefilm, Den- nerdy character nis Weaver’s C4 DRIVE! Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice Drive-ins were always about Drive-ins still have their fans in The stunning new Corvette ZR-1, above, could practically outrun a sunbeam. For a more family-friendly ride, the Ford Flex, belo The stunning new Corvette ZR-1, above, could practically ideal for the couple with kids. more than locking face and twitching about on the wide pick- bench seat of a muscle car, woodgrain up or your mother’s wagon. They were as much a part as club hop- of young love ping and back room banging are Somewhere between suck- today. ing face and running for the refreshment stand, teenagers actually watched movies. one of these

Can your car specialty looks

By Casey Williams movies? It can with movies? It can

reflect your taste in reflect your taste Drive-in dreams Drive-in times per second and making instantaneous adjustments. When put to the test, it stiffens up imme- diately and helps the Vette turn in over 1g of cornering grip. Car- bon-ceramic drilled disc brakes dissipate heat like a blown radia- tor. With impending fuel efficiency standards, cars like the ZR1 may become endangered species. Until then, we’re in for an incred- ible adventure — a freakin’ hor- ror flick not only for passengers, but also for Lamborghini, Ferrari and Dodge. Ready for a duel?

Scare up $104,820 for one to PHOTO COURTESY be yours. DEAD SEXY: The Solstice, above, boasts the luscious curves of a steep mountainside road, and has the engine to make it up Family comedy: any hill in style. For rough-and-tumble cowboy types, the F-150, below, is macho reliability incarnate. 2009 Ford Flex For families ready to hit their cans, four half-liter bottles or two low-profile tires. To make the from the Solstice, and looking up own Holiday Road, watching 20-ounce bottles. moment last, Pontiac is introduc- to its big brother from Chevrolet, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is Instead of a squawky micro- ing a Solstice Coupe. the Solstice Coupe touches all the more of a horror flick than family phone, maybe future drive-in As with the roadster, two pow- right spots. Not only does it look comedy, but Chevy Chase and his owners could broadcast high def ertrains will be available. Base hot, like a downsized Corvette, it entourage made it hysterical. In a sound through the in-car satellite models come with a 173-horse- opens up reasonable storage starring role in it and the sequels receiver. If not, there’s always the power 2.4-liter four-cylinder under the hatch and lets in the were Ford “family trucksters.” Flex’s own entertainment system, engine while GXP editions step up sunshine and starlight through a If a Subaru Outback is the sym- which puts a drive-in in any drive- to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four- removable targa top. Ah, the bol of gaytopia, then the Ford way — no need to hit the road. cylinder that generates 260 romance. Flex — with its mega Mini looks Borrow $28,995 to start your horsepower. Keeping that in per- This movie date starts under and corrugated bodysides to sim- vacation. spective, a 1990 Corvette gener- $30,000. ulate woodgrain — could ated 245 horsepower from a 5.7- become its larger alter ego. Date movie: 2009 liter V8. Expect scorching 0-to-60 Western: 2009 Ford F-150 The Griswold clan would be Coupe mph runs to fall below 6 seconds On the silver screen, John envious of the Flex’s DVD enter- One of my favorite movies is for GXPs. Wayne played ruffians who could tainment system, in-dash naviga- “Under the Tuscan Sun” starring Nobody knows how to build a shoot straight and work hard. Off tion and Sync, which was co- Diane Lane. Based on a book by like GM. Corvettes are screen, after his job was done, he developed by Microsoft. By the author Frances Mayes, it is set in comfortable, fast, solid and reli- was debonair in shirts and tails. If magic of Bluetooth connectivity, Cortona, Italy, where Lane’s char- able. By leveraging all it learned See DRIVE-IN on Page 14 cabin microphones and a button acter buys a dilapidated farm- on the steering wheel, you can house, then goes through the make phone calls, check e-mail, adventure of restoring it. In the access music and conjure up end, she finds love. I, of course, directions … all by voice com- imagined screaming through the mand. Italian countryside in an Alfa Spi- Three rows of fold-flat seats can der with my lovey at my side. carry up to seven cohorts, or This was close to the movie open a mega rumpus room. playing in designers’ minds when When it comes to really steaming they created the Italianate Pontiac up the windows, you don’t want Solstice roadster that looked like it to be bothered with leaving the came from Maranello instead of vehicle for any reason. Sneaking Detroit. If only they could get in snacks is oh-so-risqué, so stuff enough luggage in the trunk, a the Flex’s optional rear seat refrig- couple of lovers ensconced in this erator with all you munch and sip. tight cabin could make steam and It can hold up to seven 12-ounce rock its tight little suspension off its PHOTO COURTESY FORD MOTORS C Dallas Voice • DRIVE! 5 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com PHOTO COURTESY SCION PHOTO COURTESY 2009 Honda Fit: Puggy and pretty Compact cars used to be for An as-tested price of $16,230 An experienced queen knows It also took a few tantrums to Exterior styling of the Fit is famil- cheapsters and the poor. The xB The cheapsters and the poor. would make almost anybody the devi- even if it weren’t happy, ous little box it once was. is like stealing. how to throw a convincing fit to get her way — I once threw one dealer to get at the Volkswagen $2,000 off the price of my part- Beetle. ner’s convince Honda to emigrate the Fit from Europe and Japan, but they paid off. Breaking wind with pug nose cuteness usually Andy Bell, reserved for Erasure’s the all-new edition is worth all the theatrics. but takes on a more sculpted iar, form. A domed hood, alloy wheels, elongated side window- line, rear spoiler and clear lens taillamps give the little car a To gain command of this ship- To smooth power roils the Turbo 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com more like a mini-crossover. Many more like a mini-. special effects and wheels can be added by the dealer for complete customization. Check out the ethe- real interior lighting. All hail disco! one slides through ping container, wide-opening doors and into com- chairs or fortable front captain’s high rear bench. A center-mount- flanked ed digital speedometer, by auxiliary gauges, highlights a wide dashboard. XM Satellite Radio, thumpin’ Pioneer speakers, CD player and iPod jack get the party started the moment you roll homo away from domesticus. front wheels via a 158-hp 2.4-liter crisp five- engine and four-cylinder speed manual trannie. There’s footwork, nothing fancy in the xB’s but it is perfectly competent on the Stability Con- Vehicle dance floor. disc anti-lock trol, four-wheel brakes and traction control move you in all the right directions. Fuel economy is rated 22 city/28 highway. C6 and DRIVE! Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice homo domesticus Scion xB: Party for Shaped like a streamlined ‘40s If either by choice or the result Buying a new car may seem Flared fenders, high window- HEIR is a fuel-conscious juggernaut. APPARENT: The compact but smoothly-powered Scion xB, above, locomotive, the Scion xB puts a box around homo domesticus of the recent financial crisis your bum is hanging in the wind, there is no need to fret. A boy has to get around, and peddling a mountain get him a chap to bike won’t strap. like the ultimate thumping, but there are some hot, cute things that will make you look sexy with- out the proverbial draft. party spontaneous. When launched in 2003, the first gener- ation xB looked like the box a in. Starkly different, it came Volvo won raves on the street and at the loading dock. Rounded, enlarged and significantly refined, version 2.0 is even better. lines and thick pillars hint at ‘30s street rod, looking less like a reject and from the backroom of Target transports Don’t let the Don’t financial crisis

By Casey Williams

hot-yet-affordable buying one of these buying one of

scare you away from scare you away Strapped chaps Strapped PHOTO COURTESY SUZUKI PHOTO COURTESY HONDA As a sedan or fully endowed, either model Well-stocked, connectivity are available for a few Benjies more. the SX4 packs a 143-hp four-cylin- want to stroke der punch. You’ll the five-speed manual transmis- sion to wring as many ponies as possible from the baby block, but fuel economy ratings of 23/31 mpg city/highway conserve your paycheck. comes in under $17,000, includ- ing a full tank of gas. Suzuki gives the thrill with a little bill. Best of all, they leave nothing but envy hanging in the wind.  Unique triangular A-pillars 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com ice at dirty-whore prices. Five- door editions come standard with all-wheel-drive, stylish outerwear, neatly tailored innerwear and the reliability of a morning cock-a- but doddle. Sedans diss AWD, are sporty They do and energetic. everything, and on a budget. enable tall roofs and airy space. Just step right in, SUV style. Auto climate control, heated mirrors, CD/MP3 audio and height- seat spoil. adjustable driver’s Alloy strips on the center dash look as much Hummer as Suzuki. XM Satellite Radio and Bluetooth C7 DRIVE! Suzuki SX4: Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice Whether sedaning it or Whether sedaning the feeling sporty, Suzuki SX4 delivers. Versatility in the sack Versatility If you’re going to strap only she If the SX4 were a hooker, one chap, you want him to be ver- satile in the sack. Pleasure should come from all places. Driving a is not so erotic and sensual, but the experience force fantasies to lighten shouldn’t SX4 — sedan your load. Suzuki’s or five-door — could be the per- fect aphrodisiac. serv- would provide Park Avenue

Fit drivers will flip for the quick- Fit drivers Under the stubby hood is For $14,550, you get a puggy A favorite in Europe, the Honda Fit now shows its versatility on this side of the Atlantic. sportyand aggressive stance its large interior. while keeping that open a large fold rear seats so or go cushion up cargo space load sideways. Fit’s bicycles can a sporti-slick interior also harbors steering licious three-spoke and wheel, blue-lit gauges an available in-dash navigation system with voice recogni- tion. For a small, inexpensive car, interior the Fit’s is stylishly designed, well made and fun to use. engine, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder connected to either a five-speed manual or paddle-shift five-speed automatic transmission that gets 28/35 mpg. Sixteen-inch wheels connect to a spirited suspension system for fun handling no matter where you find your thrills. Elec- tronic stability programming, four- wheel anti-lock brakes and elec- tronic brake force distribution are all available. and pretty compact that drives like a highly engineered sports car. The only fit you will have to throw is to get one — the line wraps around the proverbial corner. CION Continued on Page 10 PHOTO COURTESY AUDI PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY SATURN PHOTO COURTESY Saturn Astra 3-Door Saturn looked to General formance of a swift German sportscarlooks of a Jan- and the ice Dickinson model … all with the highest quality materials known to Autobahn romps. Mag- num would have traded his Fer- rari in a half-blink for a ride like this. Auf Audi A5 Coupe The beauty of these rides is, Sporting body ever the hottest 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com you win just by playing — and everyone else will know you real- out. in and what’s ize what’s wiedersehen! to come from Audi, the A5 Coupe stops traffic and causes irregular heartbeats. It has the the per- presence of a Bentley, C8 DRIVE! The Saturnthe traditional 3-door wagon into a sleek road warrior; for eye-popping Astra, above, turns may be the loveliest machine on the Autobahn. the Audi A5 Coupe, below, glamour, like in automo- Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice One more season One more But similar to the So we put on our Heidi hat of listening to of listening Kors and Michael snip Nina Garcia nastily on “Project Runway” might be enough to make me murder Little Orphan Annie on the way to chopping up Grand- underwear. ma’s design reality series — and its offspring — the same automakers that cre- ate divine designs can bomb with hideous rubbish. and took the liberty of choosing what you should tive fashion. These are some of the best-executed automobiles of blending historic cues with today, modern edge-ism to excite driv- also ers and voyeurs alike. (We picked some less-than-terrific looks of years past; see sidebar on Page 11.) for 2009

top designs

in auto styling? in auto styling? By Casey Williams We pick Detroit’s We

What’s in (and out) What’s Project driveway Project 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com

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OO TT OO HH PP has classic sweep spear styling, toothy chrome grille, starship controls and ventiports on the hood surface. to Buick what It is the CTS is to Cadillac: Elegant, Buick Invicta Concept Stunning! Designed in China 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com where Buick dominates the mar- ket, and coming early next year as the next LaCrosse, the Invicta

C10 DRIVE! Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice raked windshield, stacked head- lamps and razor light tubes as a can tell it’s the CTS sedan. You Cadillac from three miles behind. Buick’s stunning new Invicta is an instant classic. stunning new Invicta concept car is Buick’s Cadillac has not had fins like A flashing high Cadillac CTS SportWagon these since the 1950s — and back then, they were not so high or well-lit. Harley Earl didn’t even come close with the ‘59 models in achieving this kind of sleek beauty. the fin is astounding. Even better, front has the same huge grille, Motors’ German studios for inspi- coming up with the ration in arching windowline Astra. An impression of a tight gives the your eyes away coupe, drawing that takes from the longer roofline the form of a small station can be wagon. Attention to detail under the seen in how the plastic corrugation taillamps lens has curves.that echoes the body As con- “Nice say, Gunn might Tim struction.” They certainly figured out how to make it work. Continued from Page 8 from Page Continued There’s a reason Rolls-Royce makes one of YOU’RE OUT! the most expensive cars on the planet: These rides, from the same makers as those responsible for the They are worth every penny. iconic looks discussed, are, happily, no more. Higgins’ Audi 5000. If I remember, it went off a cliff during the final episode of “Magnum P.I.” Plagued by false allegations of “sud- den acceleration,” and wearing dowdy German clothes, the 5000 was a good car, but was as exciting as your grandma’s ruffles. Saturn Ion. I once got fired for reviewing that car — hideous piece of cat litter. Stuff literally fell off of it and the design looked like somebody’s possessed jigsaw puzzle. It was the Pontiac Aztek of compact cars and didn’t drive any better. Plastic body panels were at least durable. Ghostbusters ambulance. Memorable for hurling itself around cor- ners in the pursuit of spirits, the wagon was better suited to hauling cold corpses than hot homos. It could really haul, but left its ass PHOTO COURTESY ROLLS-ROYCE behind. Hard to believe it shared fins and grins with the gorgeous ’59 Eldorado. Buick LeSabre. My uncle and grandmother both own one. It’s not contemporary and classically Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe pretty. Frump-a-dump styling shrouds what is otherwise an excellent inspired. Primo! Wafting by with the presence of and durable comfort womb. If only Buick designers had conjured a gentleman’s yacht, the Rolls- classic styling, a few buyers younger than John McCain might have PHOTO COURTESY ROLLS-ROYCE bit. Dodge Ram Royce Phantom Coupe bears tradi- Dodge Lil’ Red Truck. What the deuce was Dodge thinking when Created while Daimler still ran tional outerwear with a formal it built this beast in ’79? Painted red like a fire truck with sport- Chrysler, this Ram is as bold as ever, roofline and outhouse-size sides, wood bed inserts and Peterbilt exhaust stacks, the confused but sculpted to reduce drag. Its interior Parthenon grille. Rear-hinged little thing was a pickup-semi trannie. Interesting, but creepy like a is like a Chrysler 300C’s and dressed power doors open to the world’s smoking Dracula. Rolls-Royce Carmargue. Could it be the ugliest Rolls ever? This to the nines with leather, woodgrain finest hides, slain timber, star twin- angular mess was designed by Italy’s famed Pininfarina design and gadgets. Ram Box carves space kle roof lighting and any custom house as a rarefied status symbol, but became the laughing post of in the bedsides for fishing and sports feature your dreams may bring. the world’s most revered automaker. Italian design or not, it was no gear. If Mercedes built a truck, this Ask and R-R craftsmen grant your Ferrari California. would be it. wildest wish. Divine.  C Dallas Voice • DRIVE! 11 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com advertised Chevy Volt, The already- is expected to under the hood. being weaklings of electric cars as dispel all thoughts when it comes out, Honda Insight at January’s Detroit auto at January’s 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Toyota Prices are expected to startPrices are expected Honda Competing with GM are hybrid offers the con- Honda’s is preparing Meanwhile, Toyota 2010 and literally reinvent the 2010 and It employs technology automobile. before come togeth- that has never the benefits of a pure er to give limitations. electric car without the an electric car with stami- Finally, na. around $40,000. which will launch two and Toyota, stunning hybrids of their own. At Honda Paris auto show, October’s electrified audiences with its sec- ond-generation Insight. venience of a five-door sedan and futuristic styling that conveys class- leading fuel economy and per- formance. Honda will not stop its technology display with the Insight. Soon after the Insight launches, it will introduce a sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z Con- cept, like a modern-day CRX, from Motor Show. the 2007 Tokyo Honda has also become the first automaker to offer a fuel cell-pow- ered vehicle — the Clarity — that was designed from the start to run on hydrogen. It is being test mar- keted in California, mostly to high- profile Hollywood types like Jamie Lee Curtis. its third-generation Prius for debut PHOTO COURTESY GENERAL MOTORS PHOTO COURTESY arrive in 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com The cool part is that the back-up is pure Driving an electric car The blogosphere is ablaze with will If GM holds out, the Volt 12

up generator. up generator. be a diesel engine could someday fuel cell, as in the or hydrogen currently Chevy Equinox test fleet New being tested in Los Angeles, Keep in mind: Elec- and D.C. York the tricity costs about one-sixth price of gasoline. Electric motors produce ecstasy. on Step loads of torque instantly. you feel a the joy pedal, and with whoosh of acceleration an absolute almost no noise. It’s powertrain pro- delight. The Volt’s duces 150 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing the car to reach a top speed of 100 mph. is like a swift jet where all The Volt other cars are piston-driven cargo planes. nasty-grams to GM because the original concept was a low-slung sedan with future Camaro looks, while actual production versions are as advanced as a Mars Lan- to though taller and smoother der, improve range-extending aerody- namics. A flush grille, sleek mir- rors, ground hugging bodysides and integrated decklid spoiler greet and displace air with mini- mum turbulence. C DRIVE! Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice 2010 Chevy Volt Unveiled at the 2007 Detroit If gas prices are making you If gas prices plug Before you stick your all going to change. But that’s auto show, the Chevy Volt is the the Chevy Volt auto show, first production model developed by General Motors since the noto- rious EV1 that was engineered from the ground up as an electric — Its lithium ion batteries car. essentially scaled-up laptop batter- ies — can be plugged into house- hold current for a range of about 40 miles. After that, a small gas engine cycles on and off to charge the batteries, extending range to about 300 miles. Think of the Volt as a pure electric car with a back- feel like you’re being charged up being charged feel like you’re in plug empty space the arse to a it might be time for your tank, hybrid. belong, though, where it don’t a little science lesson. The here’s and all the rest of the Prius Toyota are essen- hybrids available today with tially gas-powered vehicles extra power batteries that provide of the when needed. None automak- hybrids from established ers can currently be plugged in and run on battery power alone. Get a shock out of these, and start saving up.

style to spare hybrids could

electric car — and do so with By Casey Williams revolutionize the

The new breed of The new breed Plugging away Plugging (est. GMC Yukon (est. $45,000), Continued on Next Page PHOTO COURTESY HONDA PHOTO COURTESY Chevy Silvera- Cadillac Escalade Chrysler Aspen ($51,405), that can optimize power for tow- that can optimize power The sys- ing or for fuel economy. the Chevy tem can be found in Tahoe ($50,945), ($72,865), do/GMC Sierra Dodge Durango (est. $45,000), $48,000) and upcoming editions of larger BMW and Mercedes models. Large hybrids will never but achieve 50 mpg fuel economy, Ford Saturn get good fuel ($29,750) crossover ($35,445), ($29,305), and ($28,625) hybrids. Saturn is And how do we rectify full-size 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com version of the three-row High- version of the three-row lander the Mer- which competes with cury Mariner Vue developing a plug-in version of the 2011. for Vue SUVs and pickups that can pull big trailers and economy? General Motors, Daim- Chrysler and BMW teamed to ler, develop a two-mode hybrid system Escape

C13 crossover DRIVE! ($28,050), ($56,400), as Ford Fusion/Mer- ($105,885) and sport Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice GS430h Toyota Camry Toyota There are mid-size sedans like Lexus has a limousine-sized Honda’s Insight provides futuristic provides futuristic Insight Honda’s efficiency. styling and fuel form. Like other “appliances,” everythere are hybrids for budget and desire. the Chevy Malibu ($26,225), Saturn Aura ($26,685) and upcoming cury hybrids. Milan LS600h sedan well as the RX400h ($42,080). Toyota sells a hybrid ($42,080). Toyota The entire catalogue Sexy toys like the Chevy Volt, Honda Insights will start under Honda Insight and Toyota Prius Honda Insight and Toyota will stun drivers with their technol- ogy and are what most of us envi- we’ve sion as hybrids. However, moved way beyond one flavor or show. Spy shots are circulating on are circulating Spy shots show. car will and show the the Web features and offer additional stray but won’t improved mileage, profile current model’s far from the locks onto Once Toyota and utility. a formulasuccess, it bites like for is also a bitch on a broom. Toyota of the developing a plug-in version give drivers Prius, which will likely of pure elec- as much as 20 miles but will be It is no Volt, tric power. for those of a much cheaper date huge bank us not endowed with accounts. will be $20,000; the new Prius under $24,000. Expect plug-in versions of the Prius to reach $30,000.  If you need it for rough or tumble, they don’t call the backs they don’t it for rough or tumble, If you need with the demise return,All of the popular models however, sold more than Introduced in 1948, the Ford F-Series has Prices start but top $40,000 with all the fix- at $20,345, DRIVE-IN page 5 Continued from the Duke were alive today, he’d drive a Ford F-150, which he’d drive a alive today, the Duke were can turn opening the door. ranch to spa just by from mulch, dirt, for nothing. Bicycles, of trucks “beds” kayaks and A full range of V8 engines offer enough camping gear all fit. loads, pull big trailers or just impress power to haul heavy zeal. All-wheel-drive, electronic sta- cruisers with tire-smoking Sway Trailer anti-lock brakes and bility control, four-wheel those loads and persons a ton safer. Control make hauling is introducing a Platinum edition for Ford of the Lincoln MK LT, know it by its big chrome eggcrate trendier drivers. You’ll dash- alloy wheels and silver-faced grille, 20-inch chrome rippled stitching on the seats, satin gloss board. Tuxedo dash, and power- lacrosse ash woodgrain on the center customers to a new deployable running boards elevate truck plane. It is a Lincoln without the flashy badge. of Model Ts. 33 million units — more than twice the number trucks have servedFrom generation to generation, the full-size pooch. Like Olivia with the undying loyalty of a cowboy’s at 60. Circle the Newton-John, the F-150 is looking great to beat. wagons and make heat; the F-150 is hard ins. 11.07.08 • www.dallasvoice.com

C14 PHOTO COURTESY TOYOTA PHOTO COURTESY DRIVE! mini-van and a Dodge sportsmini-van and a Dodge Dallas Voice • Dallas Voice We are chasing electrically powered We Country its intent to pro- car while announcing If a handcrafted duce at least one. exotic tempts you, the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is blow-me sexy and will sell for $80,000. transportationwill get its juice from that diesel, gasoline, coal, wind, solar, hydrogen, ethanol and many nuclear power plants that will likely be built over the next couple of decades. Tug your plug; the age of the electric auto-  mobile is near. Tesla Chrysler Town and Chrysler Town If what you really want is a pure Roadster, based on the Lotus Elite, has found favor with wealthy Californi- ans. Mini and Smart are launching electrics in Europe with plans to test market them in the U.S. Chrysler recent- ly showed electric versions of the Jeep , Wrangler Continued from Previous Page economy compa- they get in-town fuel rable to mid-size sedans. EV1 – it’s forget the GM electric car, extinct. But the $109,000 The Toyota Prius has been the benchmark hybrid for years, and its third-generation version should hybrid for years, and its third-generation version Prius has been the benchmark The Toyota continue to flex its muscle.