At current fuel prices I could envision a scenario where within 5 years hybrids represent 15% or more of all new car sales.

However most of these hybrids will be small ones tweaked for fuel efficiency. Not those that offer a marginal 1-2mpg improvement for auto-shutoff.

Small car sales are soaring. The larger segment (trucks/SUVs) are tanking.

At $4.50 gas a consumer may very well consider ultimate MPG over anything else: even a Prius looks superior to a Camry HCH at $4.50 gas if they're used to commuting 15k miles/year.

Goldman Sachs, the only brokerage firm that predicted $100/bbl oil correctly over a year ago, is now predicting $200/bbl oil within 2-5 years. I really hope they're wrong, but..