At the end of last week, BMW informed us that its Vision EfficientDynamics [ED] green sports car concept would become a reality and be available for sale as early as 2013. Along with the announcement and the release of new photographic material, the Bavarian automaker also published a fresh video featuring an early prototype version of the diesel-electric-powered Vision ED. To watch the new promotional film, hit the jump below.

The Lancia Stratos is a rally legend and one of the most iconic sports cars of all time with legions of fans. One of those fans, German businessman Michael Stoschek, even went as far as commissioning Pininfarina to build a one-off modern-day iteration of the Stratos based on the hardware of a Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

But not many people know that the first spark that ignited this firestorm was a Bertone concept. Enter the 1970s Stratos Zero prototype. It all started when Bertone had the idea to mount the Fulvia's 1.6-liter V4 engine on a new base. This is how the Stratos Zero concept car was born, a 3.58 meter (141 inches) long and just 84 cm (33 inches) tall prototype envisioned by Marcello Gandini, the same man responsible for the designs of the Lamborghini Countach and Miura.

In the 1960s, Van Williams and Bruce Lee starred in a TV series called The Green Hornet. It was a lot like Batman, really: a wealthy, playboy millionaire called Britt Reid fights crime with a gadget laden car. Only Batman didn't have a chauffeur named Kato that knew martial arts and the Hornet drove a Chrysler, not a Ford.

So Seth Rogen and Jet Li are remaking it as a comedy, which is...good? Anyways, the Chrysler Imperial is back, reprising the role it played in the '60s original. Which is fine, but I think it should have had a bit of a remake as well. No, I'm not saying it should be replaced with a Chrysler 300C with green tinted headlights (God forbid).

What I think it should be replaced with is this: Vaughn Gittin Jr's RTR-X Mustang from the 2010 SEMA Show. Here are four reasons why:

Here's the second and last part of our photo collection from the 2010 edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association - better known as SEMA, which came to an end on Friday, November 5. Once again, we have a ton of cars and trucks of all sorts of tunes and colors, some of which may be to your taste, some not. Either way, to browse our high-resolution gallery, simply follow the jump.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hopes to revive the ZiL limousine, a former Soviet symbol of transportational power, for use by himself and other government officials and diplomats. Due to these rumors, which came to light earlier this year, the Slava Saakyan design studio - named after its founder, a former AMO ZiL designer - has dreamt up its own interpretation of the once-presidential vehicle.

Volkswagen's new 2011 Jetta has just landed on European shores, but Germans already have new plans for it. During the European press launch, the media got a taste of the Jetta R with a special prototype fitted with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, six-speed DSG transmission and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

As you can see in the pictures, the V6 prototype's body has not been altered yet. Only the bigger wheels and four-tail pipes at the back signal that there's something going on here.

Should it make into production, you can rest assured that the R division will dress-up the Jetta with a body kit, probably featuring more aggressive spoilers, lowered side sills and other R goodies, plus interior appointments. We reckon racing seats, sportier steering wheels and pedals are safe bets.

Outside of London's ubiquitous TX4, the purpose-built taxi is almost dead. Checker is long gone and Ford Crown Victorias now grace New York's congested streets. It's more to do with economics than anything else: why build something new and unique when you can modify an existing vehicle?

At this week's 2010 Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA), Piaggio presented the NT3 Concept, a three-seater four-wheel mini that could become the TATA Nano's biggest competitor in emerging markets like India or Vietnam.

Despite its small size (it only measures 2.4 meters in length), the NT3 is a highly versatile vehicle, with multiple cabin configurations, also made possible by the center driving position. It uses a spaceframe architecture with crashbox, meaning that it's safer than it looks. Power comes from internal combustion engines or a hybrid powertrain.

A little over a year after the presentation of the Vision EfficientDynamics [ED] concept study at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, and following a month-long tease of what turned out to be an early prototype mule with the body of a 6-Series of the plug-in hybrid on the 'Dontblogaboutthis' website (see pictures below), BMW today officially confirmed plans to build a production version of the eco-friendly sports car.

"There was a widespread desire to put the car on the road, and the realisation of this desire is moving considerably closer," the Bavarian firm said in a statement. And by this, BMW means it will have the Vision ED on the road and ready for sale in 2013.

"By developing a sports car based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study for serial production, the Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer underscores its position as a global leader in the production of sporty vehicles with exemplary efficiency," said BMW.

If we were to write up an article for every single car presented at the 2010 SEMA Show a) it would take us until Christmas to finish up and b) you'd be flooding our comments and email box with French brickbats... Our alternative solution is to bring you two mega galleries with a sample of the tuned vehicles that made their way to the halls of the Las Vegas Convention center. Scroll down to enjoy the first part and stay tuned on Carscoop for part deux.

We're still tuned into the SEMA Show, but the news from the fast approaching Los Angeles Auto Show keep dropping in. Now we've learned that General Motors will stage the global reveal of a never-seen-before Cadillac concept study. not surprisingly, details remain slim. It could be a concept for Cadillac's recently confirmed small sedan (often called ATS), which will go up against the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4, or something different altogether. We just don't know. But feel free to speculate in the comments section below.

We've already told you about the other Kia show cars at SEMA -namely, the Koup Type R, Soul specials and Sportages, but the South Korean firm also brought to Las Vegas a concept version of its Forte Hybrid. According to Kia's own words, the SEMA Show study "demonstrates styling options for those looking for an alternative to a mundane hybrid ride."

It is based on the South Korean market Forte LPI Hybrid, which utilizes a 1.6-liter LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) engine coupled to an electric motor with 15kW and 105Nm and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The SEMA Show tune comes courtesy of Kinetic Motorsports and it includes a subtle aero kit, new alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires and a lowered suspension.

On display alongside the twelve modified CR-Z sport hybrid coupes at Honda's SEMA Show booth, are the HFP (Honda Factory Performance) prepared Accord Crosstour study and Accord Coupe models.

The crossover version of the Accord is a demonstration concept only fitted with a body kit and blacked out front grille, a prototype lowered HFP sport suspension, alloy wheels, color-matched door handles and special black-out door sash trim. Honda did not say when or if these components will be offered for sale.

After improving a previous world speed record for the standing kilometer in June 2010 with a diesel model, Volvo Trucks is now developing a new diesel-electric hybrid version called "Mean Green" to claim the title of the World's Fastest Hybrid Truck in spring 2011.

A well known Swedish truck racing ace, Boije Ovebrink, is going to be the one to drive the hybrid and he's already very confident of a positive outcome. "I'd go so far as to say that 'Mean Green' is the world's fastest hybrid truck," Mr. Ovebrink said.

Some people are just meant to go places. In the case of 16-year old Azeem Hill and the rest of Simon Hauger's West Philadelphia-based high-school hybrid team, that place is somewhere into the vastly expanding world of alternative fuel technology.

The West Philly Hybrid X Team, builders of the EVX GT and EVX Focus, is the result of an after-school program at the Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering meant to educate youth about the future of hybrid tech and transportation. What's more impressive is that this young underdog team was in the running for this year's Automotive X Prize.

General Motors' Chevrolet division unleashed three prototype models fitted with bits and pieces from its forthcoming Z-Spec line of accessories at the SEMA Show today. The cars chosen to showcase the new dress-up parts were the 2011 Cruze compact, the new Volt extended-range electric vehicle and the soon-to-be-launched Spark minicar.

The Detroit-based automaker has not yet released details on its Z-Spec concept models, but from what we can tell by looking at the photos, all three cars receive similar upgrades including unique alloy wheels wrapped in chunkier tires, exterior graphics, mild body modifications and numerous touches inside like the sports steering wheel and niftier materials and colors. Photo gallery after the jump.

At the annual Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA), BMW Motorrad unveiled the Concept C (C standing for "commuter"), a big scooter that is set to expand the German manufacturer's motorcycle line-up and offer an alternative method of transportation in congested urban areas. This segment could be very lucrative for BMW, as registrations for individual transport vehicles have skyrocketed in recent years.

Next up on our Sema Show CR-Z menu after the production-ready Mugen version are two concept models created by Honda's North American racing company, Honda Performance Development or HPD for short. The CR-Z Hybrid R and CR-Z Racer studies were developed to demonstrate the potential of both street and racing performance.

The two cars share the same performance enhancements including a turbocharger and upgraded IMA hybrid system, which result in an estimated combined output of 200 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque. Both models also get a performance clutch, limited-slip differential, 'circuit-tuned' suspension, upgraded brakes and aerodynamic components.

From there on, the Hybrid R model was developed for street use benefiting from certain sport touches to the interior such as the red steering wheel rim and Recaro bucket seats.

Kia is represented by a variety of customized models at this week's 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, including this pair of concept versions of the Soul crossover called the "White Tiger" and "Hamstar".

The first concept study, the Soul White Tiger, is actually a teaser to one of two all-new special edition models that the company is planning to launch before the end of the year. Following in the footsteps of the four special edition Souls introduced over the past year, the White Tiger model features some unique styling cues and added content.

Apparently stretched Toyotas are going to be a big thing at SEMA this year. After recently revealing Cartel's "All Stretched Out" Scion xB, it now appears that Toyota will also show off a limousine/rolling office Sienna at SEMA in order to commemorate the popularity of its "Swagger Wagon" video.

Built in partnership with B.A.D. Company, the V6-powered "Swagger Wagon Supreme" wears a coat of Blue Swagger Opal and been stretched 44 inches. Also, this Sienna now rides on 20-inch KMC rims that hide an airbag suspension setup to make it more comfortable and easier to drive on the open road (...).

Due to the 44-inch extension, the roof panel has been replaced with an acrylic unit measuring about 8 feet. The new roof is meant to improve the "functional family vehicle's" interior ambiance.