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"Photos: Detroit&amp;#039;s Wild Concept Cars &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   Hybrids have dominated the headlines during the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, but that doesn&amp;#039;t mean automakers haven&amp;#039;t added some fun into this formula for fuel-efficiency. This year&amp;#039;s show has seen a renewed sense of optimism after several years of doom and gloom (and plummeting sales) that hammered the automotive industry.   Ironically, one of the stars in Detroit is hybrid-powered race car built by perhaps the world&amp;#039;s most iconic sports car company. Meanwhile, a brand known for building small cars is branching out with a larger 4-wheel-drive coupe. Small trucks and crossovers have also played a major role here in Detroit, proving that Americans still love SUVs\u2014albeit in a size or two smaller than before.   So here they are\u2014the top concept cars from the 2011 Detroit Auto Show:f   Porsche 918 RSR           Photos: Porsche 918 RSR Concept &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   A mid-engine racecar probably doesn&amp;#039;t spring to mind when you think of a hybrid. Porsche, however, wants to change your perception of green engineering with the 918 RSR Concept, a seductive and incredibly quick racing coupe. Based on the 918 Spyder Concept revealed at last year&amp;#039;s Geneva show, the 918 RSR shown at Detroit continues to combine a turbocharged 3.4-liter V-8 engine with electric motors that are powered by a flywheel mounted right where a passenger seat is normally installed. The total output of this technological tour de force is 767 horsepower. Via a paddle behind the steering wheel, the driver can send the electricity to electric motors at the front wheels for some added performance, but only in 8-second bursts before having to recharge the flywheel using the car&amp;#039;s regenerative brakes.   Hyundai Curb Concept           Photos: Hyundai Curb Concept &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   Hyundai says the shape of the Curb Concept represents what is calls a &amp;quot;technology rugged&amp;quot; design language. Judging from the amount of positive buzz and comments we overheard on the show floor, the South Korean automaker might be onto something good. The Curb has the standard 4-door layout of a small SUV, combined with the wild details of a high performance sports car. The exaggerated black grille, exotic headlights and sculpted flanks give the Curb tons of attitude without being over the top. A nice touch: orange highlights in the tires match the cabin&amp;#039;s saffron-hued seats. We were surprised to discover the powertrain beneath the Curb&amp;#039;s dramatic skin is actually very much production-ready. A 175-bhp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, mated to Hyundai&amp;#039;s new dual-clutch automatic transmission, sends power to the front wheels.   Kia KV7 Concept           Photos: Kia KV7 Concept &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   The upright design of the KV7 has elements of the cute Kia Soul wagon, but Kia might prefer that you compare this concept to a wild boar. The South Korean automaker says the shape of the Soul (and indirectly, the KV7) was inspired by the come-hither contours of a wild boar. Yes, we&amp;#039;re serious. Despite this bizarre comparison, the KV7 Concept is actually quite a cool-looking ride. The front doors open normally, while the rears arch upwards in the same gullwing style as found on the Mercedes-Benz SLS sports car. Wood covers the floor and part of the dashboard, which has minimal instrumentation and a very Zen-like atmosphere. Swiveling rear seats in the back are a fun touch, but don&amp;#039;t expect them\u2014or the lounge-like layout\u2014anytime soon in a production model.   Mini Paceman Concept           Photos: Mini Paceman Concept &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   If you love the 4-wheel-drive hardware beneath the Mini Countryman SUV, but you aren&amp;#039;t enamored by that vehicle&amp;#039;s boxy profile, the Mini Paceman Concept might be your dream machine. Based on the same platform as the Countryman, the Paceman Concept ditches the rear doors in favor of a rugged-looking coupe layout. Powering the Paceman Concept is the turbocharged 211-bhp 1.6-liter inline-4 we&amp;#039;ve seen in previous Mini Coupe and Roadster concepts. Mini has also fitted the Paceman with its &amp;quot;ALL4&amp;quot; permanent all-wheel-drive system, the same one used in the Countryman. Mini has not committed to bringing the Paceman to market, but it seems like only a matter of time until this macho mini-machine joins the lineup.   Ford Vertrek Concept           Photos: Ford Vertrek Concept &amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;gt;   Strange as it sounds, the best aspect of the Ford Vertrek is that it doesn&amp;#039;t look much like a concept. Okay, color flashes and some of the more extreme edges found in the Vertrek&amp;#039;s cabin are total show car whimsy. But unless we&amp;#039;re very much mistaken, the Vertrek represents the handsome new design direction of Ford&amp;#039;s next-generation SUVs. The sleekly sculpted exterior has a luxurious look, one that could make the competition very nervous if this SUV ever does come to market. A turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-liter 4-cylinder\u2014part of Ford&amp;#039;s new range of EcoBoost engines\u2014powers the compact Vertrek. An Auto Start-Stop feature helps save fuel by shutting off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/a16698/detroits-wild-concept-cars/>