10 MEANEST AND GREENEST CARS AT THE 2012 LA AUTO SHOW

10 Meanest and Greenest Cars at the 2012 LA Auto Show
By Automotive Editors, Popular Mechanics, 30 November 2012.

High-performance vehicles are alive and well at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, but so are hybrids, EVs, and diesels. Here are our five favourite fast and furious cars - and five alternatives to gas guzzling - from the latest debuts.

1. Mean: 2013 Porsche Cayman S

The Porsche 911 has a problem, and its name is Cayman. For the first time, the 911 has serious competition within its own family.

Once again, the new Cayman is based on the Boxster, and both cars share quite a bit with the new 911's architecture. But what makes this car "mean" is the 325-hp 3.4-litre flat six that comes in the $64,775 Cayman S model. It comes paired to a six-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. When equipped with the PDK and the Sports Chrono package, the Cayman S hits 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

2. Green: 2014 Audi Q5 TDI

Audi has a one-word plan to boost fuel economy across its model range this year: diesel. The company will offer the same 240-hp 3.0-litre V-6 diesel with 406 lb-ft of torque in five new cars and crossovers, ranging from the flagship A8 down to the Q5 crossover. Since the A8 is estimated to deliver 24 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, we can only assume that the smaller and lighter Q5 will beat those numbers. And with 406 lb-ft of torque on tap, it should be one of the few on this list that could qualify for "mean" as well as "green."

3. Mean: 2014 Nissan GT-R

Another model year brings another round of minor updates to every video game racer's dream car. For 2014, the GT-R gets 15 more hp and 15 more lb-ft of torque, for total figures of 545 and 463, respectively. The engine gets new fuel injectors and adds an oil-pan baffle. Plus, each one comes with a plate signed by the engine builder. A revised suspension changes the anti-roll bar mounting and also reduces the centre of gravity. It's enough to make every previous GT-R owner wish they had waited to buy until now. Well, maybe.

4. Green: BMW i3 Concept Coupe

The slab-sided styling might seem a little pedestrian, but it's what's inside this concept that counts. The i3's body and chassis is made from carbon fibre and is powered by a 170-hp, 184 lb-ft electric motor. The lithium-ion battery pack sits under the floor, opening up space for a spacious cabin. While deemed a concept, the i3 will probably closely resemble the production 4-door version that launches in 2013.

5. Mean: 2014 Jaguar XFR-S

Following the XKR-S in Jaguar's R-S line-up, the XF version will be limited to just 100 cars in the United States. Power comes from the same engine as in the XKR-S, a massaged version of Jaguar's 5.0-litre supercharged V-8 making 550 hp. Launching next summer, the wicked exhaust noise and carbon-fibre rear wing could be yours for $99,000.

6. Green: 2014 Mazda6

The Mazda6, a car that has never offered a hybrid option, probably isn't the first car that comes to mind when one thinks of fuel-efficient transportation. But that could change midway through next year when Mazda adds a new Skyactive-D diesel to the Mazda6's standard engine, a 184 hp, 2.5-litre. Mazda has reduced friction in this new 2.2-litre diesel by 20 percent over its outgoing global diesel, and it's 10 percent lighter. The specific fuel economy numbers haven't been released, but we'd expect them to be competitive (as least on the highway) with today's modern hybrids.

The old Mazda6 has always been one of the most rewarding midsize sedans. Since the diesel will be the Mazda6's flagship engine, it's sure to be as torque-rich and fun as it is frugal.

7. Mean: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

Following up the C63 AMG Black Series, the 662-hp SLS is the most powerful in the Black Series line-up. It's not just about the 39 hp jump from the standard SLS. The Black Series engine also increases the maximum revs from 7200 rpm to 8000 rpm. Weight-saving parts like a carbon-fibre hood and a lithium-ion starter battery contribute to a claimed 154-pound curb weight reduction, though US-market customers won't get the lightweight sport seats. This SLS AMG is also the fastest Black Series car ever, with a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 198 mph top speed.

8. Green: 2014 Spark EV

After being so impressed by the gas version of the Spark, we're looking forward to seeing how the EV performs. The Spark EV will have a 20-kwh lithium-ion battery pack with a peak power output of 100 kw and an eyebrow-raising 400 lb-ft of torque. It will also use the newly approved SAE combo standard for DC Fast Charging, allowing for an 80 percent charge in roughly 20 minutes. The standard charging system will be 120-volt, but a 240-volt charging cord option is available to give the car a full charge in less than seven hours. After the $7500 government rebate, the Spark EV will cost $25,000. It will be available first in California and Oregon.

9. Mean: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST

Well, it's about time. Ford introduced a spiced-up version of the Fiesta to the European market in 2005, but we've had to wait until this second generation to see the hot hatch on American shores. The Fiesta ST will come with a high-output version of the Fiesta's base 1.6-litre Ecoboost producing 197 hp and 215 lb-ft. Ford says the ST should get 35 mpg, but that seems unlikely given the target demographic. The ST also comes with a sportier skin, heated Recaro seats, and the Ford Raptor's Molten Orange paint option. We'll take eight.

10. Green: 2013 Fiat 500e

We've been expecting an EV version of the 500 since the concept was first shown at the Detroit International Auto Show in 2010, and it fittingly made its debut in LA, the only market in which the 500e will be sold when it debuts in the second quarter of 2013. The Fiat 500e will have an 83 kW electric-drive motor and a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery that produces 111 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. Range is supposed to be 82 miles with an EPA-rated 107 mpge, and fully charging the battery should take roughly four hours on 240-volt power. The 500e is positioned to be a direct (and more stylish) competitor with the Nissan Leaf, which has a shorter range (73 miles) and has suffered from sluggish sales.

[Source: Popular Mechanics. Edited. Top image added.]