The new efficient hybrid sports sedan

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The most successful"power hybrid" is the Lexus RXh, but its not all that successful because the value proposition (amount of extra cost versus fuel savings) is not good. The bmw activehybrid and lexus gsh and lsh add even more cost for not much fuel savings.

The Lexus Esh, Avalon hybrid, and Lincoln MKZ all have a good value proposition in a not so fast hybrid system. With low gas prices people aren't that willing to give up acceleration in a car of this class, They might downgrade to the camry hybrid or fusion hybrid though. The bmw 330e changes the value proposition to no compromise handling and acceleration. Its only a couple of tenths slower than the lexus es v6 and about ties the mkz v6, but will use half the gas. Yes some of that gas really is substituted for electricity, but the bmw seems to have that high tech smoother drive train that people are willing to pay more money for. I think if bmw does it well, we have a new formula for a power hybrid - downsized engine + electric motor + battery + plug. As batteries get smaller and less expensive the formula will make more sense.