Electric cars? Americans want more muscle

This is the year of the electric car, or so one might think, based on the headlines of recent months, with new vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt plug - in hybrid and Nissan electric leaf racking up awards and roles in car dealerships.

So we should what this month Chicago Auto show, make where potential customers in the spotlight shining on the latest lithium-ion powered wonders, but also on some of the most powerful cars which roles are found from the Assembly line?

At the booth of Chevy, for example, the Volt made for the new Camaro ZL1 - a 550 PS version of the born again "pony car," way which General Motors design proclaimed chief Ed Welburn "technically advanced Camaro ever built."

A short walk through the huge McCormick Place Convention Center found Ralph Gilles, the Dodge brand's general manager, kneeling a kiss on the wing of the new, 465-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT8 to plants. Who serves as Chrysler corporate design Chief Gilles- - is one of the first in line for the high-performance sedan, traces its roots back to showcase shock era is all muscle cars.

"Performance is back," said Mark Reuss, GM's President of North American operations on numerous occasions.

For all the attention given the GM electric Volt Coupe has supplied more muscle car has the automaker models on the market last year, including an assortment of Camaros and several new versions Cadillac V series, including the CTS-V 550 HP.

The Chevy Camaro was actually (with an EPA fuel economy rating of 19 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway) one of the hottest cars 2010, the King of the Hill Pony Car, the Ford Mustang, knocking down for the first time in 25 years.

Ford used the Detroit Auto show, last month to several new battery-based vehicles, including an electric version new orientation to reveal and the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid version of its new Microvan. But the automaker Burns rubber with the new Mustang GT500 from an impressive 500 pumps also hp.

Even Toyota used to reveal a new family of Prius-badged hybrids, the Detroit show is always in the action. Their Lexus is Luxury Division since short supplies of LF-A supercar and Japanese automakers ready next month Geneva Motor Show, in partnership with the smaller Japanese to show developed a new high performance sports car Subaru.

High performance models like the Camaro, Mustang, the charger and the Challenger (an another Dodge muscle car) collective hybrid electric vehicles restaurant such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion hybrid - the ecological crowd favorites.

But there is a limit to this success. The highest horsepower offered, such as the Camaro ZL1 and Charger SRT8, form a relatively modest niche as the most car buyers more worldly versions of these cars such as such as Mustang V6-powered opt for.

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Ridiculed as a "secretary's car", the Mustang's base model has only minimal muscle, but it delivers a juicy 305 HP still surprising performance (approx. 50% more than the top line Mustang GT two decades ago). But the Mustang V6-powered get also an EPA fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon on the highway that highlights some of the major changes that have occurred since the days when muscle cars dominated the street.

New technologies like turbocharging and direct injection, make it possible for cars to churn out large quantities of makes on demand, but still maintain acceptable fuel consumption. The new Charger SRT8, can, for example, idle of half the cylinders when demand is low, to improve fuel economy shows.

And this is just the beginning. Mercedes-Benz is a pure battery electric version of Gull-winged SLS supercar, prepares the debut in 2013. And little Tesla, the Silicon Valley start-up, has already more than 1,000 sold his two-seater Roadster sports car.

Lotus develops British specialty automotive manufacturers a range of new models, the a special hybrid drive punch is used - originally designed for the formula 1 racing track - out some extra power when the car manufacturers to a smaller allow engine more economical to use.

Porsche takes a similar approach with its 918 sports car, a race version of it on the car was unveiled 2011 Detroit show.

And while official comment the company will not, there were numerous reports that Ford will bring back the legendary GT nameplate. But the new version is reportedly charging and hybrid power use to deliver it in hardly 2 seconds 0-60 acceleration.

Although it's hard these days to find a manufacturer which on a battery car, plug - in, or hybrid, functional conventional can be said the same performance and muscle cars.

Even Hyundai, a brand that known is traditionally low price and high-mileage, for his always to the law. While his Chicago preview show car this year which automaker said it would another 51 Add hp to its popular Genesis sedan, the numbers come up to 429 hp.

And with federal mileage standards set some big jumps in the years ahead, automakers are under pressure, squeeze - but the market also you more muscle, will as of this year's Chicago Auto Show underscores to deliver more miles from every gallon gas. The good news is that the Powertrain technology allow the industry to do both.

© 2011 msnbc.com.