I know what you're thinking: I was going to buy a Bentley, but I just can't live up to my newly green lifestyle standards in a car that emits as much as 16.6 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Bentley feels you. That is why they handed out a 16-page booklet called "Bentley and the Future of Biofuels" at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

In early 2008, Bentley announced that it was going to move forward with using biofuels in its cars but offered few details on its plans. They have more than remedied that with this report, which has such snappy headings as "Macro-Economic Context" and "Should We Adopt Biofuel Technology Now or Wait Until Sustainability Criteria Are Established?"

Lucky for you, I read through the document so you don't have to. Here are the main points of Bentley's biofuels strategy, all of which should happen by 2012:

• Reduce CO2 emissions by at least 15% across the whole Bentley range
• Introduce a new powertrain with a 40% fuel economy improvement
• Make 100% of the line compatible with renewable fuels

So if you can hold off just a few more years on that Continental Flying Spur purchase, you can keep 2.25 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air and possibly achieve as many as 17 mpg in your newly lightened chassis. Classy.

See more Bentleys at the Detroit Auto Show in the image galleries.

Audi won the EyesOn Design award for best design of a production vehicle revealed at the 2009 North American International Auto Show today for the all-new 2009 Audi R8 V10.

A panel of designers, including BMW's Chris Bangle and Harley-Davidson's Willie G. Davidson, toured the 50 or so debut models at the show this morning to determine this year's winners in the production and concept categories. Audi also took home a concept award for its SportBack, as did the GM team responsible for the Cadillac Converj. The second production design award went to BMW's new Z4 roadster.

In addition to the superfine design of the R8 V10, the mid-mounted engine puts out 525 hp, has a top speed of 195 mph, and can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds. While the cars weren't judged on performance, the designs of the production cars did have to be both beautiful and usable. Whoever decided to add cupholders to the R8 V10 should get to keep the crystal trophy on his desk.

This year, Fisker brought its latest Karma concept, the hardtop convertible Fisker Karma S, to the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

Company CEO Henrik Fisker noted that last year, he brought the Fisker Karma concept car, and this year, he brought the production version. He seemed to be hinting that by this time next year, the S convertible could be on the production track as well, as a 2011 model.

The Fisker Karma and Karma S are both plug-in hybrid luxury sports cars using Karma's Q Drive powerplant with lithium ion batteries to propel the cars from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph.

The auto industry may be in the dumps, but doesn't mean there won't be dream cars at the 2009 North American International Auto Show this coming week. In addition to the the Detroit 3 shaking it all about for media and consumers over the next few days, some exotic car manufacturers will have a presence at the show, though others have already pulled out of the hokey-pokey in Detroit.

Put your exotic cars in:
• Bentley
• Lamborghini
• Maserati
• Fisker
• Mercedes-Benz

Take your exotic cars out:
• Ferrari
• Porsche
• Rolls-Royce

We can probably expect Bentley to unveil a Speed version of its Continental convertible, and Mercedes will bring that super hot Stirling Moss SLR roadster. Fisker plans to have the Karma sedan at the show, bringing the exotic and the green together on one dais. For 2009 and beyond, mpg -- not hp -- is what it's all about.