Automotive X Prize teams begin performance testing in Michigan

The 28 teams competing in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize will begin performance testing this week at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The teams are vying for $10 million in prizes, which will be awarded to consumer-friendly vehicles that exceed 100 mpg.

This week begins the first of the three on-track performance testing stages: shakedown, knockout qualifying and finals. During the first stage, officials will perform safety checks and teams will test their vehicles on the track.

Performance testing will finish on July 30, and the remaining cars will move on to three weeks of validation testing.

Winners will be selected from two classes, mainstream and alternative. Mainstream-class vehicles carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels and offer a 200-mile range. Alternative-class vehicles carry two or more passengers and offer a 100-mile range.

Winners will be announced in September. For more information, go to www.progressiveautoxprize.org

In 2004, Burt Rutan won the Ansari X Prize after building and flying the world's first private vehicle into space.

By Izzi Bendall