On this small scale, hybridization may be affordable in diesel cars. Remember, it's not about maybe one day producing 10,000 super-duper-efficient cars a la automotive X prize. It's about actually selling hundreds of thousands of cars right now, with each a little more frugal than its predecessor.

Citroen PSA introduced Valeo's stop-start microhybrid system in their diesels a few years ago. This next iteration featuring supercaps takes the concept one incremental step further. I would not be surprised to actually see it in a future C4/C5/C6 before the EU's fleet average CO2 regulation goes into force (currently planned for MY 2012).

It is nice to see your positive comments about a mild (some say micro) hybrid, when for years GM has been bad-mouthed on these very pages for its efforts on the Silverado/Sierra, Vue, Aura, and Malibu. Why, when it is a European OEM, are the comments so positive? Just something I wonder about. Perhaps I, being a [dumb, stupid, energy-hungry truck driver, ugly, pick your pejorative] American, am too sensitive?

To the above poster: 50 -> 60mpg isnt likely. Maybe more like 50->55mpg for a mild hybrid.

Also, the difference between 10mpg and 13mpg for "average" drivers is much more impactful than the difference between 50 and 60 mpg. Lower MPG vehicles suck much more fuel per mile, and if an "average" driver puts say 12000mi/year, that's a lot more fuel saved.

I think the real interest in these vehicles isnt American vs Euro, it's diesel hybridization in light duty vehicles. Heavy duty consumer-oriented diesels arent so interesting, and yes, people figure that at 10mpg, theyre not the best approach for saving fuel for the masses anyway (i.e. few people really "need" large, heavy duty 10mpg vehicles).

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