Electric Spark and car parts made from ... coconuts?

(General Motors)

Electric spark
General Motors will launch an all-electric version of its Chevrolet Spark minicar in 2013, the company says, bringing the automaker back to the pure-electric market for the first time since the EV-1's demise. A gasoline-powered Spark (shown) will debut in the U.S. in early 2012. GM has sold more than 400,000 Sparks worldwide in markets such as China and India, where it is called the Beat.

(Thinkstock)

Coconut parts
Ford and Scotts Miracle-Gro are researching the use of coconut fiber as reinforcement for molded plastic parts to reduce the use of petroleum and make the parts lighter and more natural-looking. The husks are a waste material from Scotts' soil and grass seed products.

--The Associated Press, NWautos staff