About five years ago, super-engineer Steve Fambro realized that up to 70% of the total power that it takes to run a vehicle goes into dispersing air from it’s front side. With that in mind, he stripped the car’s exterior design of everything inessential and asked: What shape offers the lowest drag, and the most flexibility. The design would have been much easier had Steve decided not to include space for two passengers.

His answer is this teardrop-shaped three-wheeler, which has the drag coefficient of just 0.11. In comparison, the eco-friendly Toyota Prius has a relatively parachute-like coefficient of 0.26. High strength composites drop the weight to roughly 1,400 pounds, and an electric motor combined with a one-cylinder engine that powers this futuristic beauty.

The resulting commuter pod, the Aptera, will chug one gallon of regular unleaded gas for every 300 miles driven. Once production starts late this year, prospective drivers might need a motorcycle license, approximately $30,000, and a West Coast address - initially. The Aptera will only be available in California. But look for eco-friendly people everywhere to ramp the car into a possible national production model by late 2010.

Wondering about the speed? Of course you are. The aptly named Aptera will travel 0 to 10 in just under 10 seconds and it tops out at about 95 mph. To protect passengers that are used to driving on four wheels, the Aptera also boasts a roll-cage design similar to that of an F1 Racecar. Not bad!

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