Detroit Auto Show: Our 5 green picks so far

The North American International Auto Show is still in full swing in Detroit, with the largest electric and hybrid vehicle lineup to date. While many of these cars are still just concepts — likely to undergo substantial change before hitting dealerships, if they ever do — they represent important steps toward a slicker, cleaner automotive market emerging by 2013. To give you a taste of what’s on offer there, we’ve combed through the green attendees and picked out our five favorites.

1. Audi E-Tron — Shorter, narrower and lower than its cousin the Audi TT, this electric R4 concept car can hit 60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 124 miles per hour. It may not be greased lightning but it’s surely fast enough for the typical commute. Its driving range is expected to be 155 miles, and it features a new brand of LED headlamp. UPDATE: This concept car has been confirmed as the next Audi R4.

2. Toyota FT-CH — Other journalists have been following the company line, that this car was designed for the 8-bit generation with design cues taken from 1980s video games. To anyone else, it looks like a sportier version of the Prius. While it’s maller than the company’s current, wildly-popular hybrid, more fuel efficient, cheaper and lighter, not much else is known about this vehicle. Toyota says that something like it will probably roll into showrooms within two years. The current Prius has a stick price of about $22,000. Selling a greener car for less than this could really jumpstart wider adoption.

3. Ford Fusion Hybrid — The 2010 Ford Fusion is an incredibly practical car. You can wring 700 miles out of every tank of gas. Ford is even using eco-friendly fabrics for the interior of the car, the icing on its 41 miles-per-gallon mileage cake. The car also transcends green with its tech savvy. It comes equipped with a blind spot detection system, a rear-view camera, a Sony 12-speaker sound system, voice-activated navigation and more. It’s packed with features to make the daily commute safer, easier and cleaner.

4. Tesla Model S — This might be the most hyped car at the whole auto show, but we’re only giving it fourth place. Why? Because even though its positioned as the more affordable and family friendly offering from Tesla Motors, its still well outside most people’s price range. Even with the $7,500 government purchase incentive, it will probably require a $50,000 outlay. On the pro side, the car comes with three battery options. The basic package gives you 160 miles of driving range, while the top-tier package gives you 300 miles between charges. Because EV charging stations have yet to become commonplace on highways, the Model S wouldn’t be practical for long-distance driving. But the car is certainly pushing the envelope on battery-powered range.

5. Subaru Hybrid Tourer — This car uses 2-liter horizontal engine to deliver power to the front wheels while dual electric motors drive the rear end. While the car already debuted at the 2009 Tokyo auto show, it makes our list for two reasons. First, it’s a Subaru, made by a company that specializes in legendary all-wheel drive. Second, its sure to be moderately priced. Look for it (probably without the gull wing doors) by 2012.