Heartening news rang forth from the renewable energy sector this week as a UN-backed study reported that the building of new renewable energy plants has officially overtaken fossil fuel plants in Europe and the US. We also took a look at two brand new types of power plants -- the world's first hydrogen-driven power plant in Italy and the first hybrid coal-solar power plant in Colorado.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: of mirror cubes and urban icebergs

Herndon, VA - Volkswagen announced today that a 2013 Jetta Hybrid driven by Motor Trend Associate Road Test Editor Carlos Lago recorded a speed of 185.394 mph (298.363 kph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, near Wendover, Nevada, during the Southern California Timing Association's (SCTA) annual Speed Week.

ENGADGET: Volkswagen 2013 Jetta Hybrid sets speed record, gives new meaning to hypermiling

It is a hybrid, powered by both a small internal combustion engine and a battery-driven electric motor.

ECONOMIST: Fuel economy

And in this case, the hybrid model has nothing to do with overhead cams and internal-combustion horsepower but everything to do with using IT-driven insights to get NASCAR fans to buy more tickets and engage more actively with the sport.

FORBES: Can CIO Turbocharge NASCAR Revenue?