Last year, we told you about an upcoming Dodge Concept that never made it past the production phase – 2008 Dodge Zeo. It was to be CDJ’s crowing achievement – combining a sports car with an all-electric layout…you know, that stuff Al Gore is always chatting about. As popular as alternative fuel/hybrid cars are nowadays, Dodge’s economic downturn left concepts like Zeo on the showroom floor.

But all hope may not be lost. Recently, 2008′s Zeo (Zero Emissions Operations) popped up at random car shows and press events. Chrysler Dodge Jeep has been working on new ad campaigns ever since their Fiat Merger. Could an electric car be in its Italian-made future? There’s no news on Zeo becoming a production car, at least until 2012 – so why has Dodge laid out a Zeo Microsite on their official web page?

It’s probably wishful thinking that Zeo, or a car like it, will see the light of day before 2020. We can all dream, right? I mean, look at these stats according to Dodge: Zeo is a “268 hp rear-drive motor,” sending driver/passengers from 0 to 60 in approximately 5.7 seconds. ZEO is powered by a 64 kilowatt lithium-ion batter pack. Think cell phone battery, only much, much, much larger. Price is something yet to be discussed, as ZEO is merely a case study for the moment. It has yet to be proven how a fully-electric vehicle would fare in the world of diesel and gas power (meaning mostly the United States).

The Dodge ZEO Concept (ZEO: Zero Emissions Operations) captured stares and camera flashes of many American concept lovers at 2008′s Detroit Auto Show, and also raised questions such as “how fast,” “how much” and “where do you plug it in?”

Answering the first, according to Dodge, is a “268 hp rear-drive motor,” sending driver/passengers from 0 to 60 in approximately 5.7 seconds. ZEO is powered by a 64 kilowatt lithium-ion batter pack. Think cell phone battery, only much, much, much larger. Price is something yet to be discussed, as ZEO is merely a case study for the moment. It has yet to be proven how a fully-electric vehicle would fare in the world of diesel and gas power (meaning mostly the United States).

Outside, ZEO appears to be a 2-door coupe…and it sort of is, but is it really? Well…we’re not sure. But you have to admit those scissor doors are very Blade Runner. The vehicle itself stands roughly the same size as Honda’s current Civic coupe.

Inside, ZEO shows off her curves every chance she gets. Even the seats look like something straight out of a graduate school’s visual arts program. And is that a steering-mounted shifter? Dodge’s ZEO concept has the looks and can dish out the speed future car buyers are going to be on the hunt for. However, is the world truly prepared to cut their “addiction” to fossil fuels? At $4 a gallon, maybe…just be sure to budget your electric bill from now on.

The ’71 Demon’s front end displays classic American muscle car design – along with a mean grill and hood scoops that burst with ferocious horsepower that would give Starsky & Hutch a run for their money.

2008′s Demon concept looks more like a morph between the ’71 original, a Viper and Dodge Avenger. Still a scary front end to see barreling down at you, this update looks less muscular and more coupe. No word yet on if a hard-top Demon will also be available.

Remember Al Bundy’s “Mighty Dodge” a.k.a. 1974 Dodge Dart? The rear end of ’71′s Demon has similar qualities. Yet, Demon’s butt-end has a lot more power then the Dart’s ever did – where you could blast-off from 0 – 60 in 7 seconds! Plus, you could probably fit two weeks worth of groceries in the trunk. Or, as they would say on the Sopranos, “a couple a badies in dere.”

No official word on the 0-60 from 2008′s Demon, but the rear is obviously ultra-modern. She’s even reminiscent of a Porsche. Duel exhausts remain while trunk size diminishes radically.

Step inside the 1971 Dodge Demon – You have a pretty basic dash (is that a cup holder to the right of your AM radio?), and yes…a steering column shifter! Haven’t seen one of those since riding around in Mom’s 1980 Malibu.

In 2008 drivers demand comfort as well as spectacular design inside and out. The race car set up for Dodge’s Demon concept wraps you in luxury along with horsepower. And my, what a fancy dashboard!

When all is said and done, it’s hard to compare a classic muscle car from over 30 years ago to the space age designs Dodge pumps out today. One fact is certain – the thirst for rebirths is alive and well in car land, and the Dodge Demon could soon be on her way to reincarnation.

A Plush Interior

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I can haz skid-marks?

Gorgeous Grill!

Photos from the 2008 Chicago Auto Show & Dodge