In Europe about half of all cars sold are diesel powered. Now with cleaner diesel engines they are about to be reintroduced at affordable prices in the US. Some of these diesels now have MPG numbers very close to the current hybrids without the significant higher cost. However if hybrid technology is the future then why not pair the diesel with electricity to produce the ultimate MPG car with currently available technology?

Honda's hybrid Accord using a powerful V6 was not a sales record breaker since the central idea of HYBRID is SIGNIFICENTLY MORE MILES PER GALLON, not higher performance with a little better MPG.

Seems that the infallible Japanese car makers don't always get it right.