By Jorge Sosa
During the past decade or so, Americans have witnessed a fascinating paradox. As our cell phones and PDAs have gotten continually smaller, our cars and trucks have been stricken with gigantism.
Now that $4-per-gallon gas is here -- and, although fluctuating, it's showing no signs of going away soon -- the time is high for Detroit to learn once again that small is beautiful. Sadly, it appears the Big Three aren't quite hip to that yet -- and they might not be for some time.
What American automakers need to produce, and what American consumers are clamoring for, are smaller hybrid cars to compete with fuel-efficient offerings from Toyota and Honda. We desperately need some red, white and blue Prius-beaters. But the immediate future isn't too promising.
Are we there yet?
The oil crisis of the mid '70s sent Detroit's Big Three on a grudging diet, with average passenger car curb weights dropping to a low of 2,805 pounds by 1987. The diet was to be of the yo-yo variety, as average curb weights have steadily ballooned right back to 1970s levels.
For a number of political and economic reasons I won't get into here, oil prices are now at record highs. Just as in the mid 1970s, dealers in domestic cars now have a surplus of big gas guzzlers on their lots and a surfeit of customers demanding more miserly cars. It's not uncommon to hear tales of dealers demanding (and getting) thousands of dollars over the sticker price on Toyota Priuses. Meanwhile, sport-utility vehicle sales are plummeting and General Motors is seeking to offload its iconic Hummer brand.
It would be nice if I could report that Detroit has learned since the last gas crisis, and is ready to offer American consumers exactly what they need. But, a survey of available domestically produced hybrids shows that most of them are SUVs. Sure, these SUVs get somewhat better mileage than their traditional brethren, but the strong sales of Civic and Prius hybrids show American drivers are demanding even greater efficiency.
As of this writing, GM is the only domestic automaker that offers hybrid mid-sized cars (a Chevy Malibu and a Saturn sedan). Chrysler doesn't offer any hybrids, but is on the verge of introducing hybrid versions of its Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs. Ford plans to launch a hybrid version of its Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize sedans next year, in addition to its current line of hybrid SUVs.
Compare those limited offerings to what our rivals to the East are selling. For nearly a decade, Japanese automakers have sold hybrid economy cars. Their hybrid product lines have expanded to include midsized cars, SUVs and luxury sedans. They offer something for just about every new car buyer.
