The Renault Zoe Z.E. is scheduled for production in 2012, but the “spa” concept car has  a curious partner: L’Oreal’s Biotherm skin care department. The Zoe Z.E. is “aimed at people making daily local trips and looking for a car that brings them health and wellbeing,” according to a Renault press release.

The all-electric, zero-emissions car has a roof with an intelligent membrane to insulate against heat and cold (both of which can wreak havoc on a person’s  complexion) and photovoltaic cells to capture the sun’s energy (so drivers can glow with eco-self-satisfaction). And, in case you think I’m making fun, here’s another line from the press release: “ZOE Z.E. boasts the finest in air filtration and purification technology to fully protect the health of passengers and keep their skin young-looking.”

The ZOE Z.E. does have some practical tech bits. Standard recharging takes 4 to 8 hours, depending on the voltage at the socket. It’s capable of fast charging in 20 minutes at special charging stations, and it uses a “Quickdrop” system for swapping out battery packs at exchange stations.

• Team Hydrophi Ford 500 PHI Ride
• Team Future Vehicle Technologies eVaro
• Team Edison 2 Very Light Car
• Team EVI Wave 2
• Team Tango
• Team Optamotive Surge
• Team Aptera 2e

Daimler says that the electric Smart Fortwo will go into large-scale production at a plant in Hambach, France, as early as next month.

The first run of 1000 electric Smarts will be built in November 2009 and delivered to customers by the end of the year (Merry Christmas!). The car will be at full production and in Smart car dealerships by 2012, said Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche.

Specs for the new electric Smart Fortwo:

• Lithium-ion battery housed between the axles
• 30 kW motor in the rear
• 88 lb-ft of torque from the get-go
• 80-mile range
• 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds
• Max speed limited to 100 km/h (62 mph)

Small-car, clean-diesel enthusiasts will be glad to hear that the 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI will be sold in the U.S. next year. Why should you be glad? Well, for starters, it was name the “World Car of the Year.” Here are the deets, if you’re in the market for a fuel-efficient car while you wait for the Nissan Leaf to be available in your town:

• Two doors for $17,490; four doors for $19,190
• 2.0-liter TDI clean diesel engine
• 140 hp, 236 lb-ft of torque
• 30 mpg city, 41 mpg highway
• 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds
• CFC-free air conditioning standard

Arcimoto of Eugene, Oregon, revealed its three-wheeled electric vehicle last week, called the Pulse. It may look like low-speed neighborhood electric vehicles of recent years, but this little guy can go a bit fast and a bit farther than many three-wheeled EVs.

The Arcimoto Pulse is a two-seater with a range of 50-100 miles, depending on terrain and speed, and a top speed of 55 mph. It can charge at a standard U.S. 110-volt outlet in six hours.

The car isn’t quite ready for the road yet, but Arcimoto is taking preorders. $500 will hold a place in line for a car that’s expected to come in under $20,000 when it rolls off the assembly line in Eugene in Fall 2010. If you take a look at the Pulse and decide it’s not for you, the company will refund $450 of the deposit. If it is for you, and you want to trick it all out with more power and a schmancy radio, they can do that, too.

Renault Twizy Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Two-seater, with the passenger behind the driver
• Developed for city driving
• Performance comparable to a 250-cc motorcycle

Renault Zoe Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Optimized climate control for better fuel economy
• “Hydrating,” “detox,” and “active scent” functions for the interior climate

Renault Fluence Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Designed for families
• 100-mile range

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Based on an existing model
• Made for business use

The Volkswagen L1 diesel hybrid concept created quite a stir at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show — which despite a slew of high-end exotics was more green than ever this year. Volkswagen says its one-liter concept car would be the most fuel-efficient car in the world. Actually, they say it is the most fuel-efficient car in the world, but I’ll withhold that title until the car leaves the “study” stage and reaches production.

The L1 is light, thanks to a carbon fiber body; compact like a VW Fox, and short, with a height similar to the low-slung Lamborghini Murcielago, according to Volkswagen. The hybrid has an electric motor and a teeny diesel-powered engine, plus start-stop technology for further fuel savings.

The VW L1 Concept by the numbers:

• 837 pounds
• 12.5 feet long; 3.75 feet wide
• 170 mpg combined

The Mercedes BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS inches ever closer to the real world, according to the company’s latest press release. The concept appeared at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show as the electric-only BlueZERO E-CELL; engineers have been working on an extended-range version ever since.

The E-CELL PLUS combines a bank of lithium ion batteries and a gasoline-powered generator to extend the car’s range to about 375 miles. It can travel about 60 miles on electric power alone, where the electric-only E-CELL can go about 120 miles before needing a recharge.

The company said that in addition to its range of electric vehicles, it will produce a small batch of fuel cell vehicles in 2009. A small batch of the battery-only vehicles will follow in 2010. No word on when any of these cars might hit showrooms, or how much they might cost.

Image of the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS courtesy of Daimler AG.

Automotive News, and industry publication, recently did a rundown of the upcoming cars from Japanese manufacturers. Here’s the latest in green cars from the Land of the Rising Sun (and Rising Fuel Economy):

Honda:

• Rumor has it that an electric vehicle from the company could be unveiled this fall and see production in 2015
• The hybrid version of the Honda Fit has been canceled
• The CR-Z hybrid sport coupe will go on sale in Spring 2010

Infiniti:

• The company may introduce a diesel engine in the U.S., like it sells in Europe
• We’ll see an Infiniti hybrid in 2 or 3 years,probably in an M-class sedan

Lexus:

• The Lexus HS dedicated hybrid debuted in January this year, and goes on sale this month
• A hybrid version of the ES will be added in 2012

Mitsubishi:

• The U.S. will get the I-MiEV electric car in 2012
• A larger I-MiEV II with more cargo space could debut in 2012, too

Nissan:

• “By the middle of the next decade, or 2015, something on the order of 10% of our volume will be EV,” said Brian Carolin, senior VP for North American sales and marketing
• The all-electric Leaf will go on sale in 2011, and be built in the U.S. in 2012
• The 370Z sports car might get a hybrid version for 2012

Scion:

• 2011 iQ: The tiny, gasoline-powered car is expected to get 60 mpg and go on sale in the U.S. in fall 2010

Subaru:

• Has neither a hybrid nor a clean diesel in its plans for the next few years

Toyota:

• A two-door Prius could see production in 2012 or 2013
• Toyota is considering hybrid versions of the Yaris, Avalon, and Corolla
• The Sienna minivan will get a hybrid version in 2012

Image of the I-MiEV by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Smart has a couple bits of news this week. First, as of November 2009, the electric Smart Fortwo will have a lithium-ion battery pack from Tesla Motors on board. It’ll sit between the axles, so as not to compromise the already precious space inside the Fortwo, with the motor in the back, where it’s always been. The new battery gives it a range of about 70 miles, and will fully charge at a 220-volt socket overnight.

The electric Fortwo is currently being leased to “select markets,” as they say, in Europe and the U.S. for real-world testing. It’ll go on sale to anyone who wants one in 2012.

If you want 41 mpg in a gasoline car, plus a dash of je ne sais quoi, check out the new Smart Fortwo Highstyle, in chocolate brown with 12-spoke alloy wheels. The interior gets an upgrade to leather and fabric, and the car is available with start-stop technology to increase the gas mileage even more around town.