Oregon Public Broadcasting

The race for the Automotive X-Prize is nearing the final round and a team from Western Washington University is still in the running. It's a $10 million competition to build a car that can get 100-miles-to-the-gallon.

Austin Jenkins / Northwest News Network

Western Washington University's Viking 45 -- a gas-electric hybrid.

Eric Leonhardt is the faculty advisor. I caught up with him by cell phone as the sporty two-seater was put through the paces.

Eric Leonhardt: "I'm at Michigan International Speedway sitting in a mini-van going around the track watching our vehicle, Viking 45, attempt to pass an emissions test."

Leonhardt says Viking 45 has been averaging 82-miles-to-the-gallon, but it almost didn't make it this far.

Eric Leonhardt: "We did not pass the technical inspection. The team worked really hard to turn that around. We had a long ways to go."

Now, Viking 45 is one of 18 cars left and the only one built by a university team.

If the scrappy hybrid can survive this second phase of the competition, then it's onto the finals next month.