Although the battery-powered Porsche 997 (aka the 911) concept car is drop-dead gorgeous and certainly looks quick, its 204-horsepower motor isn't any more powerful than the one BMW is putting under the hood of the forthcoming electric Mini. But what it lacks in horspoewer, it more than makes up for in torque, cranking out more of it than a Corvette Z06. Head speedmeister Alois Ruf hopes the E-Ruf will hit 160 mph, and he's shooting for a 0 to 60 time under 7 seconds.

Seven seconds? In a Porsche?

The problem is the car's weight. The E-Ruf tips the scales at more than two tons. Getting something that flabby up to speed ain't easy.