Audi is on the pole for the 24 Heures Du Mans (24 Hours of Le Mans). This is the showcase race that shares the name with the series for France, Europe and even the American Le Mans Series. This French race has been one of the centers of racing lore and history for decades.

These Germans have had a long history with Le Mans, including the pole and the win for 2011 at this race with their TDI R18. For 2012, they have taken the pole with a hybrid. A hybrid!!

This one stocks a V6 TDI (diesel) engine for the rear wheels putting out around 510 HP. As we understand it, the braking at the front is transferred as kinetic energy which is stored to power an electric system on the front wheels making the car a four wheel drive system in speed situations set forth by Le Mans rules.

It reads like stereo instructions as written by Sheldon of “Big Bang Theory”. The rules permit 70hp of stored energy to be transferred to the wheels between two braking ‘events’ at speeds above 75mph.

Really… Either way, rules or no, it is pretty nifty technology in the “R18 e-tron”. Technology that Audi continues to test and race for use in production cars.

Which brings us to other “E” systems in development by Audi. They have a completely electric concept out pulling the name from the race car on the pole at Le Mans. The “E-Tron” has no combustion engine on board and utilizes a totally rechargeable battery / electric motor.

The concept Audi features 313 HP and an amazing 3,000lbs+ of torque! It also boasts 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds. It has a range of 154 miles and a charging time of as little as 6 hours on standard power and could be as low as 2.5 hours with a featured high transfer unit. Beyond that, it is quite a pretty thing as well.

The Audi hybrid production cars work similar to many others. The power is transferred between electric and combustion engines depending on need and driving. Racing technology will continue to push the performance figures for production street versions.

It should also be noted for the 24 Hour Le Mans that Toyota also made top 5 qualifying with two of their TS-030 hybrids. Toyota, of course, is no stranger to hybrid technology. The Prius has been around for years and they have apparently developed the science enough to begin looking at the styling.

The real point, however, is not how fast or how pretty the Audi or Toyota cars may be. They are racing them at Le Mans with hybrid technology. Chevrolet has entries as well. Corvettes. They are running in the LMGTE classes. They are not hybrids.

Oh my!

Now we get to the marrow of the matter. One of the most prestigious races of the year and the maker of the Volt does not have a hybrid entry. The United States government and the President Obama “green” initiatives pumped as much as a reported 2.3 billion in tax dollars into the Volt development at General Motors. The thing was halted in production for several weeks because they weren’t selling to match production although some studies showed they outsell the Corvette.

How hard is that? The ‘Vette’ is a specialty, muscle/luxury car. Many smaller models outsell the Corvette. Saying the Volt does is just silly propaganda on the face of it.

Audi and Toyota are racing hybrids. They are building and marketing hybrids. They are developing technology beyond the basic and working towards function, style and even speed.

The kicker… They did it, and they have done it better, without a massive government spending program.