Originally Posted by zimbop

The problem is that the hybrid systems in these muscle cars are not making them more efficient, they're just getting more powerful for the same fuel consumption. There's no savings. A passenger sedan that gets 24 mpg is no environmental trophy. The economic payback can only happen if the vehicle is more efficient, which they aren't.

And yes, for those who want a performance sedan there should be options on the market for them - there was no shortage of these cars before, there's no shortage of them now, and nobody's proposing to get rid of them - but they shoudn't be calling themselves environmentalists. There's nothing inherently "green" about a hybrid system, it's all in how it gets used. If it gets used to boost power instead of save gas then you can't call it an envionmental gain.

On the other hand, if I need to carry a lot of stuff or people, is there any efficient option for me? No. Not a single one. The toyota hybrids are going for power instead of economy. the Jeep liberty diesel went for the power boost instead of economy, the list goes on. Where's just one efficient utility vehicle? There isn't one, and that really bums me out.