Hybrids at the 2011 Melbourne Motor Show

This may have been the show where pure electric cars finally made the transition from dream to reality, but the hybrid brigade still came out in force.

No specifics have been announced yet regarding the Prius C's hybrid drivetrain.

Rather, the C is designed to gauge demand for a sub-Prius-sized hybrid hatch.

Toyota has said that it will introduce a number of hybrids in 2012. One will be a tall-body, people-mover version of the third-generation Prius.

Overseas, the tall-body Prius is sold in a number of different guises and under a confusing array of names. There's the American Prius V that seats five, and the European Prius+ that seats seven and utilises a more advanced Lithium-ion battery pack. Oh, and in Japan, both versions are sold under the Prius Alpha badge.

Due for launch locally later this year, the CR-Z marries a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor for a total output of 91kW of power and 174Nm of torque. With a body shape that recalls the fabled CR-X, the CR-Z can be had with either a manual or a continuously variable transmission.

It's not quite production-ready, but, come 2013, a car very similar to this will see the light of day, and will be badged as the BMW i8.

This is a supercar with a difference, as it's a hybrid — and a diesel one at that. An electric motor and a three-cylinder turbo-diesel will together produce 241kW of power, and will take the car from zero to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

For more information, check out our in-depth photo gallery.

Pronounced "blue squared", the Blue2 mightn't be adorned with the company's distinctive fluid-like motion style, but it does have a fuel cell electric drivetrain.

The electric motor can deliver 90kW of power, and the inside entertainment system centres around an iPad dock.

We're rather impartial to the V60's shapely wagon form; even more so when it's clad in matte white paint. The car seen here is a precursor to a production plug-in hybrid that's due to go on sale overseas in 2012 — no word yet on Australian availability.

The drivetrain features a 150kW/440Nm 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel engine and a 50kW/200Nm electric motor located at the back and powering the rear wheels. Electric-only range is 50km, fuel consumption is rated at 1.9L/100km and zero to 100km/h can be done in 6.9 seconds.

This plug-in hybrid SUV mates a 70kW/125Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, one each for the front and rear axles. Together, the two electric engines can provide 60kW of power and 200Nm of torque.

Fuel economy of 2L/100km is claimed, as the car works primarily as an electric vehicle until the batteries are nearing empty. Depending on the situation, the petrol motor will kick in and either recharge the batteries or provide extra power.

It's not entirely clear from this shot, but the LF-Gh's most distinctive feature is its oddly shaped grille.

Shrink the alloys a tad, add on wing mirrors and normal door handles, and you essentially have the next-generation GS sedan.

This rather banged up CT200h was raced by Brian McFadden, he of Australia's Got Talent and Delta Goodrem fame, at the celebrity race prelude to this year's Australian F1 Grand Prix.

According to Lexus, the race car features the same hybrid drivetrain as road-going CT200h models. Changes from the road car include the fitment of a roll cage, a racing harness for the driver and a more easily accessible kill switch for the electrical system.