I am hopeful that if the hybrid powertrain can drop below 1K additional cost, the small hybrid will become a reality. If it does, nothing available today will be able to compete.


Right now with SUV sales slumping car manufactures are going to start putting stress on the Hybrids and for one main reason MONEY.

SUVs had a extreme markup example:

my 2003 excursion retail was 48K A-plan via Ford was like 38,500 which is just above cost on the vehicle. Nearly a 10K markup.

I don't know of any vehicles in the 20K range that have a 5K markup unless its a hybrid. Kinda interesting all hybrids are the TOP model with NAV and lots of markups.

IMO at this point pure marketing with an added benefit of better MPG and lower emissions but with a higher cost and more profit to the manufactures.

Bottom line is always the most important thing and hybrids are no different than SUVs , at this point in the eyes of the manufactures.