Hasta La Gadget!

Porsche has unveiled more information and specifications about its upcoming Cayenne S Hybrid. The automaker plans to employ a parallel electric motor that’s capable of powering the SUV at speeds up to 86 mph all by itself, without clicking on the gasoline engine. That’s far faster than the upcoming third-generation Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid, the two leaders in that category, can travel on electric power alone.

As with those cars, the Cayenne S Hybrid can’t necessarily accelerate to that speed without utilizing both engines. But it can roll freely, or coast, giving the Cayenne S Hybrid an advantage in situations other than low-speed city traffic, where hybrids usually excel.

The automaker said that the SUV will emit 20 percent less carbon dioxide than comparable vehicles and meet ULEV-II emissions standards, while a 0-62 sprint will take just 6.8 seconds. It will achieve these specs with a supercharged version of Audi’s 3.0-liter V6. That block will output 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque, while the three-phase electric motor will output 52 horsepower and a staggering 221 lb-ft of torque by itself, and also serve as the alternator in the process. Pretty slick stuff. No word yet on an EPA fuel economy rating.

ZAP officials said that the Stimulus Act signed into law by President Barack Obama lets buyers of its electric cars and trucks receive a 10 percent tax credit, up to a maximum of $2,500, CNNMoney.com reports. The credit can be applied to ZAP’s Xebra sedan (MSRP $11,700) and truck (MSRP $12,500), as well as its low-speed neighborhood electric vehicles, the ZAP Shuttle (MSRP $14,700) and ZAP XL Truck (MSRP $14,500).

ZAP argued that the tax credit, which wouldn’t have taken effect until 2010, should be implemented immediately in the spirit of the Stimulus Act. California congressman Mike Thompson took up the cause and argued for it, according to the report.

Earlier this month, ZAP announced that its Alias electric car would compete for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, along with 35 other teams, in an effort to design and build production-capable 100 MPG-energy-equivalent (MPGe) vehicles that are affordable and meet the needs of the average mainstream car buyer.

Tesla Motors has shipped 200 completed Roadsters, with 1,000 more waiting for delivery, the company said in a statement Wednesday. The car is also sold out through November. The company said that the Roadster has a smaller carbon footprint than a Prius, even in the worst possible case where all of the electricity comes from coal.

Next up, Tesla plans to unveil the Model S sedan—a four-door electric car at a lower price point—on March 26th at the Tesla design studio located within the SpaceX rocket factory. Despite recently putting its San Jose-based factory construction on hold, Tesla still plans to put the car into production for 2011.

The company’s shrewd loan application to the government has also been approved. It expects to receive $350 million in loans over the next four to five months, in addition to the $40 million of venture capital it recently signed up. The company also said it is still on track to develop an electric version of the Smart in a partnership with Daimler.

Finally, Tesla addressed what it said was a top concern from potential customers: the battery. Tesla engineers claim that a Tesla battery pack should last approximately seven years or over 100,000 miles under normal use, and that it will cost $12,000 to receive a replacement pack in seven years. The company will also pro-rate it so that it costs less if a customer decides to do it earlier.

Automaker navigation could get cheaper with a hybrid navigation unit developed by Harman International for Mercedes-Benz. It’s partly integrated into the car and doesn’t require the automaker to lock in a navigation design three years in advance. Harman made the announcement in a quarterly financial statement that was reported by TWICE. It’s described as a two-piece solution: a cradle-mounted screen with controls plus a hidden processor unit that also includes Bluetooth and music storage. Harman says the device will first appear in eight Mercedes-Benz models in the second half of 2010, mostly likely meaning 2011 models.

Riding a bicycle at night may have just gotten a bit safer. Designers at Altitude have unveiled Lightlane, a gadget that mounts on a bicycle and shoots two bright red laser beams and the universal symbol for a bicyclist on the pavement below the bike, according to Autopia. The idea is to remind motorists behind the bicyclists to leave a little room for the bike as they approach.

“Clearly one of the biggest benefits of bicycle lanes is that there is an established common boundary that both drivers and riders respect and must stay within,” designer Evan Gant said in the report. “However, this requires a great deal of resources and planning to implement, so we decided to focus on the fact that the bicycle lane establishes a safety buffer outside of the bicycle’s footprint.”

Gant was quick to point out that the Lightlane is no substitute for actual bike lanes, which cities clearly need more of—especially since the Lightlane only works at night. But at $50, this looks to be one safety accessory that could rank up there with headlights and helmets if it works as advertised.