Auto News 5

The first rule in selling hybrids is to engineer them to achieve outrageous fuel economy. Look at the EPA-champ Toyota Prius, now clogging passing lanes all over America. In contrast, look at the entire crop of performance-oriented hybrids like the Honda Accord Hybrid, the Lexus LS600hL and GS450h, and most recently, the Infiniti M35h. All of those cars promised increased levels performance without the fuel economy hit. What they actually delivered was increased sticker prices and decreased sales.