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There may be no better indicator that many carmakers have been unable to adjust to the sudden increase in gas prices and the resulting shift in consumer demand than hybrid sales. Although there was an obvious run to more fuel-efficient cars — witness the Civic besting the Ford F-150 in overall sales for the first time ever — hybrid sales overall were down 11% from April to May, down 24.3% month-to-month from 2007 and even the market-leading Toyota Prius experienced a 31% drop in sales for the month. How did that happen? There are a few factors at work here, which we've helpfully outlined below the jump. First off, there was an overall drop in vehicle sales in the United States — that's obviously going to affect sales of the largest fuel-suckers first, but the current economic situation affects anyone looking to buy right now, even in the hybrid marketplace. But the biggest factor isn't the issue of demand, it's supply. Toyota decided to only create about...
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After a massive 39.5% drop in full-size truck sales last month, the General has decided to follow Ford by upping the incentives on the off-roadin' people-haulers. But not only are they dropping more dollars on the hood of the basic one-powertrain models, they're dropping the same levels of cash on the new two-mode hybrid versions of GM's GMT-900 SUV twins — the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe . While we're not surprised at seeing up to $6,000 thrown on the hood of the non-hybrid Tahoe and Yukon, a $4,000 owner loyalty rebate on the hybrids seems a bit surprising. Isn't this a hybrid sellers' market? Full incentive breakdown after the jump. • Chevrolet — Tahoe (nonhybrid) or Suburban: $2,000 customer cash + $4,000 owner loyalty bonus cash = $6,000 total cash. Tahoe (hybrid): $0 customer cash + $4,000 owner loyalty bonus cash = $4,000 total cash. Silverado or Avalanche: $2,000 customer cash + $3,000 owner loyalty bonus cash = $5,000 total cash. • GMC —...
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var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/environment/2008_Saturn_Vue_hybrid_gets_best_highway_mileage_of_any_SUV'; The GM brand all about Saturnalia announced today the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid will have a fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon in city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. Those are numbers putting it in line with the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid . In addition, Saturn 's priced the hybrid version of the Vue at $24,795 -- pricing that slots it lower than any other hybrid SUV on the market. Plus it gets those Opel-tastic good looks to boot. Full press release after the jump. galleryPost('2008SaturnVueHybrid', 4, '2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid'); New Saturn Vue Green Line is fuel economy leader § Saturn's re-designed hybrid rated at 32 mpg highway; 585 miles on one tank of fuel § Most affordable hybrid SUV at $24,795 Detroit -- Saturn today announced that the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid will have a fuel economy rating...
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With the EPA 's new test methods for calculating fuel-economy estimates in effect for model-year 2008, some new models will get updated numbers on their stickers. For instance, the EPA's figures for the Toyota Prius have dropped from 60 city/51 highway miles per gallon to 48/45. With less marketing value to be gained from the arguably more realistic numbers, some dealerships have decided they'd do the righteous thing, and just stick with the original numbers . A survey of 200 Toyota dealers by CNW Marketing Research shows 33% of dealers still tout the 2008 model year Prius as a 60-mpg machine. And who's blowing the whistle on such dealers of compromised scruples? Other Toyota dealers who are playing by the rules. It's been reported that some of the noncomplying dealers have placed ads featuring with the old numbers on radio and TV rather than in newspapers, where there would be a paper trail of their violations. Hello? YouTube? [ GM Inside News ]
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