The CR-Z also gets a three-mode drive system

The long-awaited 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe made its world premiere in production guise at Detroit Motor Show today. Compared to last year's Tokyo show concept, the U.S.-spec model seen here has remained more or less the same with changes limited to the different alloy wheels, the larger exterior mirrors, the Honda logo that has moved from the grille to under the bonnet and the revised tail lamp crystals.

The strictly two-seater CR-Z also retains the concept model's lightly futuristic interior boasting a multi-layer dashboard and three-dimensional instruments with a blue color scheme.

The coupe also gets a mid-ship console behind the front seats to optimize cargo space while a hard-shell separator can be closed to create additional hidden storage.

At the heart of the coupe is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda's compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system.

The CR-Z's 10kW electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy that recharges the 100-volt IMA nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off during vehicle stops to further improve efficiency.

The hybrid system delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and 123 lb-ft when combined with the optional CVT.

The CR-Z also gets a three-mode drive system that allows the driver to select between individual modes of performance for Sport, Normal and Economy driving styles. The system, which affects the settings for steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning, is activated through three backlit buttons to the left of the steering wheel.

While Honda did not announce performance figures for the U.S.-spec model, a leaked brochure of the JDM CR-Z makes word of a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 9.7 seconds, which if true, isn't exactly what you'd expect from a car that's the spiritual successor of the CR-X.

What the Japanese automaker did reveal are the preliminary fuel economy estimates. Honda anticipates that the CR-Z will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 36 city/38 highway mpg for the CVT-equipped models and 31 city/37 highway mpg (7.6 lt and 6.4 lt/100km respectively) for the manual cars.

Again, nothing to be excited about. For example, the latest Toyota Prius that is powered by a 134HP hybrid powerplant and can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 9.8 seconds returns 51mpg city and 48mpg highway. Heck, even the BMW 335d sedan with its mighty 260HP diesel achieves 36mpg on the highway.

When the CR-Z arrives at Honda's U.S. dealers later this summer, it will be offered in two trim levels, base and EX.

Standard features on the base model include Vehicle Stability Assist, an audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control.

The CR-Z EX will add High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off, fog lights, a 360-Watt premium audio system with seven speakers including subwoofer and Bluetooth, and perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

But even this brilliant engine fails to save this car

Who said Germans don’t have sense of humor?! Well he should check this out! Behold the magnificence of Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS, a car that is based on Porsche Cayenne Turbo and designed to look like Porsche Carrera GT inside and out. If there were an award for the ugliest tuned car ever, this would won it in a heartbeat!

Gemballa has actually gone to simply enormous length to make this car look like a CGT, but they should have stopped somewhere along the way and ask themselves WHY?! It’s a big chunky SUV, what’s the point for it to look like a wide and low supercar? But they haven’t, and they made the car. The result is, well you see what the result is! A ridiculous car which is like the bastard child of a snake and an elephant! GOD it’s awful!

Now if you scroll down and see the car’s interior where they have ruined the whole design for the sake of that CGT-like central console, you’d be convince too that something’s really wrong with the designer’s brain!

The Tornado has one good feature though, its engine. Based on the V8 Turbo, the car packs a massive punch in form of 750 horsepower and 1,050 Nm of torque. That means 0 to 100 Km/h in 4.3 seconds and top speed of as near as makes no difference 300 km/h.

But even this brilliant engine fails to save this car, as it costs an insane 400,000 Euro! Who in the world would say no I don’t want a McLaren SLR, I don’t want a Pagani, I wanna spend half a million dollar on a stupid and ugly car which scares children!

This engine is known for delivering good performance while being really

In 2010 VW will offer the lovely Scirocco with the award winning 1.4 TSI engine from the Golf, as an entry-level model for the British market. This engine is known for delivering good performance while being really efficient and fairly clean. It develops 122 hp and 200 nm of torque, and returns 6.4 liters/100km (44 MPG) and 146 g/km of CO2.

However if you are looking for performance, this is not the car for you. 0 to 100 km/h in this takes 9.7 seconds and it has a top speed of only 200 km/h. So if you want a fast Scirocco you are much better off with a 2.0 liter TFSI engine.

Pricing for Scirocco 1.4 TSI starts at £18,860 and for that you also get a decent amount of kits. It comes standard with six airbags, six-CD changer stereo with iPod connectivity, rain and light sensors, air conditioning, multifunction steering wheel and 17-inch Donington alloy wheels. It also has ABS and ESP by default.