At the Consumer Reports "Fuel Economy: Now and in the Future" event last week, the theme was easy to spot: No matter what kind of car you want, you can find one today that gets good gas mileage. And tomorrow, you'll find one that does even better.

Consumers who buy the fuel-efficient new cars that will roll out to meet tough new fuel economy standards will save thousands of dollars over the life of the vehicles, according to a new report released today by Consumer Reports. Fuel savings will more than offset any additional price increase for the new technology required to meet the more stringent standards. Safety and fuel economy have improved simultaneously, and the new standards will not impact safety.

Over the long haul, leasing is usually not the most cost-effective way to put a car in your driveway. It may not be the best choice for most car shoppers, but there are exceptions. Notably, if you're interested in driving electric, a lease may be the best way to go, as confirmed by our latest analysis.

The Tesla Model S fell short of a perfect score in our testing for one simple reason: You can't jump in it any time you want, and drive to absolutely any point on the map at a moment's notice. But, Tesla has just announced a big step in addressing that problem.

This hybrid is fast! When BMW engineers set out to design a hybrid system for the iconic 3 Series sports sedan, they wanted to break the green-car mold. And break it they did.

Highway repair money is running lean in many states, due to decreased revenue from gas tax--a result of cars becoming more fuel efficient and Americans driving less. To plug the crater in highway funding, several states have proposed new taxes on electric cars and even hybrids. This raises a question of fairness, one we put to our fans on Facebook.

Beyond the fact that it's an all-electric luxury car, one of the surprising things about the Tesla Model S, is that it can seat seven.

It's clear the Tesla Model S dazzles us. But what you might not know is that even the door handles are cool.

Does Tesla envy have you pining for an affordable electric car? Well, we just happen to have two test cars that we need to sell to make room, and funds, for new cars.

With the release of our Tesla Model S road test, there have been many questions regarding what other models stand out. Here, we present the current class valedictorians, those cars that have faced our more than 50 tests and managed to earn an A.

Imagine driving while using your iPad to play music, and look at Google maps. Now imagine your iPad is built into the car and also runs your climate control, phone, and even basic car controls, such as braking, steering, suspension, and sunroof settings. Oh, and it's much bigger than a standard iPad. That's what it's like driving a Tesla.

Auto Test Director Jake Fisher, my fellow Senior Auto Test engineer Gabe Shenhar, and I recorded this Tesla-only episode of our podcast, Talking Cars with Consumer Reports, to share more insights on this top-scoring car. You asked for it, and we delivered.

There, we said it. The Tesla Model S outscores every other car in our test Ratings. It does so even though it's an electric car. In fact, it does so because it is electric.

As the buzz builds around our countdown to the release of our Tesla Model S road test, we couldn't resist having some fun in the luxury electric sedan. In the process, we answered the seminal question: Will it drift?

Volkswagen has carved out a fuel economy niche with its efficient diesel models, but it turns out, the German brand also offers an impressive hybrid. And get this: It's actually enjoyable to drive. Really.