The three-wheeled Carver is a hybrid, but not in regards to its engine: It's half car, half high-performance sports bike. It's controlled by throttle, brake, and steering wheel, like a traditional car, but with a front half that pivots like a motorcycle and tilts up to 45 degrees in each direction in order to turn. Its rear remains fixed and parallel to the road on conventional car tires, which allows for excellent grip and handling, while the front runs on motorcycle tires.

The Carver runs on a bike-size 660-cc turbocharged inline engine. Though tiny and producing only 60 hp, the lightweight Carver has a 0-to-60 time of 8.1 seconds and can reach a top speed of 115 mph, with 43 mpg fuel efficiency. A built-in Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC) system allows it to tilt by taking into account the critical factors involved, for the best balance and performance. DVC is always active except at speeds under 6 mph and when reversing, for visibility reasons.

You can purchase a Carver from Carver North America for $40,000 but it won't be delivered until January, 2007. Venture Vehicles also plans on producing a flexible-fuel hybrid version, which is expected to maintain the current version's performance, while doubling its fuel efficiency, and burning ethanol as well as gasoline, according to Political Cortex. Venture Vehicles hopes to have the flex-fuel version on the road by early 2008 for the much lower price of $16,000.