Last October, Volvo inched closer than any major automaker to creating a hypercar: the unexcitingly-named 3CC electric sports car.

It has a carbon fiber body (though still with a steel frame) that tapers for aerodynamics so drastically that there is only one rear seat. It is an all-electric vehicle with a 180-mile range from its lithium-ion batteries, and reduces battery cost by using a huge array of small-but-mass-produced laptop batteries. However, according to Detroit Free Press, Volvo made the vehicle to have room for any drivetrain--normal gas, hybrid, fuel-cell electric, what have you--making the design "future-proof", and more of a hypercar.

The 3CC won "Best Design" at the 2004 Michelin Challenge Bibendum, a worldwide green-vehicle competition, and deservedly so--it has the looks to attract the sort of person who has enough money to buy one. More details and pictures available at Malaysian Auto Trader and ConceptCar.co.uk.