1. A method of automatically generating a simulation model for evaluating performance characteristics of an automotive propulsion system that includes a plurality of levels, the method comprising: capturing automotive propulsion information from a first simulation environment indicative of an existing simulation model characteristic of an associated automotive propulsion system, the system including a plurality of levels, each level comprising one or more automotive subsystems and one or more peripherals, the automotive propulsion information including information describing a configuration of each of the one or more automotive subsystems and each of the one or more peripherals and information describing a layout of each of the one or more automotive subsystems and each of the one or more peripherals; converting the automotive propulsion information from a first format to a second format; for each level of the plurality of levels: storing the information describing the configuration of each of the one or more automotive subsystems and each of the one or more peripherals contained within the each level in the second format in a configuration file associated with the each level; and storing the information describing the layout of each of the one or more automotive subsystems and each of the one or more peripherals contained within the each level in the second format in a layout file associated with the each level; selecting a plurality of subsystems for inclusion into a second simulation model, the plurality of subsystems being characterized in the configuration files and the layout files; building the second simulation model in a second simulation environment from the information contained with the configuration files and the layout files, wherein one or more of the layout files includes a grid element comprising one or more grid blocks and a prototype block that includes a set of property values, wherein the one or more grid blocks include one or more block elements and a filter element, and wherein the set of property values of the prototype block are applied to a block element of the one or more block elements when the block element does not match the filter element; and analyzing performance characteristics of the built simulation model, thereby enabling determination of a desired form of the automotive propulsion system.