Luxury hybrids take center stage

This Lotus sports cars is driven by two electric motors, one for each rear wheel, capable of producing a total of 408 horsepower. Like General Motor's Chevrolet Volt, this car has a small gasoline engine -- a 3-cylinder unit, in this case -- to generate electricity for long-range driving. Electric cars don't ordinarily have transmissions with different gears but, in this case, a "sport mode" provides the driver with an impersonation of a seven-speed transmission with paddle shifters. Also, a choice of different engine sounds can be be produced by speakers inside and outside the car.

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