As fuel prices increase substantially, consumers will turn to more fuel efficient vehicles on their own, with out congress legislating their personal choice right out the window. Witness the sales figures for hybrids, light trucks and SUVs so far this year. According to R.L Polk, the information source of record for all things vehicle related, sales of hybrid vehicles for Q1 2007 increased a healthy 31% over the same quarter of 2006, while new car dealers sat on a whopping 102 day supply of new Chevy Silverado pickups.

While it’s certainly well within reach, is this economy goal realistic? Who will pay to meet the new standards? You will, of course. There will be a price to be paid on the dealer's lot and possibly in safety, to meet the new standards. In addition, the healthy power output we've been enjoying from our new vehicles is sure to be reduced dramatically. For those of you that thought the high performance car was dead in 1979, you may be right this time around.