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Are laser-powered cars in our future?

We have no shortage of ideas here in the United States about how to power our cars. We’ve seen gasoline and electricity, and we’ve heard about fuel cells powered by water. The nuclear option is the only thing left to discuss.

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

MINI Paceman: Price from £18,970

The MINI Paceman – the MINI Countryman Coupe – will be available in the UK from £18,970 with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, FWD or 4WD. After a debut in production guise at last year’s Paris Motor Show, the MINI Paceman is now hitting the Uk with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, manual or auto gearbox and front wheel drive or four wheel drive. Petrol engine choices for the Paceman are the 1.6 litre Cooper Paceman with 122bhp, 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and 47.1mpg and the Cooper S Paceman with the same 1.6 litre but with 184bhp, 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and 46.3mpg. There’s also the 218bhp MINI John Cooper Works Paceman that can hit 62mph in a pretty swift 6.9 seconds.