If there was one positive factor about 2008's energy crisis, it's that it forced consumers to put more weight on fuel economy when making car-buying decisions. And while we may have moved away from $4-per-gallon gasoline, fuel efficiency still places high on the "must have" list for a lot of new car shoppers. Now that we know how easily these price hikes can happen, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

We've seen major manufacturers expanding their ranges of hybrid offerings, and for the first time, clean diesels are starting to make their way onto American soil, proving that you don't have to sacrifice performance for the sake of fuel consumption. Scroll through the gallery above to see out list of the ten most fuel efficient cars for 2009.

Note: This information is based off of the 2009 FuelEconomy.gov listing.

While it’s well known that BMW’s new Z4 roadster is well down the development path at this point, new rumors indicate that the German automaker may also be contemplating a smaller, 1-Series-derived convertible called the Z2 (speculative rendering above).

Such a Z2 would most likely eschew the 1-Series’ straight-six lineup for a four-cylinder engine, with a hybrid drivetrain reportedly also in the mix of possibilities. Any hybrid system would probably of the “mild” variety, taking tech from the 7-Series hybrid that’s due out this summer. The system uses a small electric motor positioned between the engine and transmission, directing power from a lithium-ion battery.

The Z2 would seem to offer a fine mix of top-down BMW driving dynamics, great fuel economy across the engine range, and the kind of packaging that has made the Z range a huge hit for the company.

+ AutoblogGreen: BMW may build hybrid Z2 compact roadster

Just a few days after Ford debuted the all-new 2010 Fusion, official pricing has been released. The Fusion can be had in five different model trims: S, SE, SEL, Sport, and Hybrid, with a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines and manual or automatic transmissions, depending on the model.

The base Fusion S rings in at an MSRP of $19,270 while the top-dollar Fusion Hybrid can be priced from $27,200. Rounding out the middle of the range we have the SE at $20,545, SEL at $23,975, and Sport at $25,825.

Click through the post to see a more detailed list of some of the features found on each model.

We just caught some images of BMW’s X6 Active Hybrid mule, captured in a trim that seems to be very near a completed product. Though the mule seen here differs only slightly in appearance from the standard X6, the game is given away by the rather bulgy lump on the hood of the vehicle—ostensibly needed to contain some of the new hybrid-style running gear.

The hybrid X6 will be a full, two-mode affair as previewed by the X6 Hybrid SUV concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and will make use of two electric motors powered by nickel metal hydride batteries. The configuration is said to deliver 20 percent better fuel economy, in part because it offers a fully electrically powered mode.

The production car is likely to make its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January. Scroll down below to read the spy photographer’s own notes.

At last year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Chinese automaker BYD surprised industry pundits by bringing an advanced concept for a dual mode hybrid to its stand. Now the battery specialist (BYD’s parent company is also one of the world’s biggest suppliers of rechargeable batteries) claims to be moving the game on even further, saying that it will bring a plug-in hybrid vehicle to the U.S. market by 2010.

BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu has said that the new hybrid, which is most likely to come in the form of the F3 sedan pictured above, will be able to travel up to around 68 miles on electric power alone.

In addition to its previous hybrid concept experience, the plug-in plans are also being greatly bolstered by an alleged investment of $230 million from rich guy Warren Buffet, which should go a long ways towards developing the safety features needed for U.S. regulations. BYD is reportedly getting help with the safety standards via “third-party consulting and engineering companies.”

Despite the fact that BYD doesn’t currently sell any hybrid in its home market, the company has lofty sales goals for the plug-in already—hoping to make the car available not only in the U.S. and China, but eventually in Europe as well.

+ Motor Authority: China's BYD to sell plug-in hybrid in U.S. by 2010

One of the largest hurdles yet to be overcome by the average hybrid car is the inherent high cost of its gasoline-electric powertrain. The average hybrid will set the manufacturer back around $6000 more than a car with a conventional powertrain. However, this difference could be brought down to just $2000 within the next ten years.

Just about every automaker out there is developing a next generation hybrid vehicle. General Motors recently unveiled its new Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and Toyota already released photos of its next-generation Prius. Honda, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan are also getting into the mix with hybrids of their own design.

In a recent Bloomberg report, the potential drop in hybrid costs is said to be primarily due to technological improvements, economies of scale due to rising production numbers, and a greater amount of experience with the technology.

Considering the recent jump in demand for hybrids, pressure for the vehicles will surely increase in the future from possible higher gasoline prices and more arduous emissions standards. This demand rise is expected to be over 16 times its current level or around 10 million hybrids by 2018. JP Morgan Chase and Co. analysts predict that sales of hybrid vehicles will increase to 10.2% of the overall market. The U.S. is anticipated to see the largest growth after 2013, with Europe and China not too far behind.

+ Motor Authority: Hybrid costs expected to drop by two-thirds over next decade

Looks like the boys over at Jalopnik have uncovered what look to be the first shots of the 2010 Toyota Prius. These images first appeared on PriusChat, and when the Jalops showed some Toyota PR people these images, they confirmed that this is, in fact, the next-gen Prius.

No word on any other details at this time, but look for the car to be officially unveiled at the North American International Auto Show this January in Detroit. In the mean time, head over to Jalopnik to see some other photos.

+ Jalopnik: This IS The New Toyota Prius

http://www.dailytech.com/Citroen+CCactus+Hybrid+Promises+100+MPG+/article13172.h...

Sure, you may remember the Lexus LF-Xh hybrid crossover concept from last year’s Tokyo Motor Show but if you’re anything like the wild concept car mavens at Lexus, you’ve probably been wondering how good it might look clad entirely in flat black.

We tease, but Lexus did reprise the LF-Xh for the Paris crowd, and the car which the automaker promises will foreshadow the replacement vehicle for the current RX looked pretty hot in its new duds. Under the hood the Prince of Darkness Lexus still offers the same combination of electric motors and V-6 power that it did in Japan. Have a further look at the concept in our gallery above.

Honda Insight Concept Arrives in Paris

Honda debuted its new Insight hybrid concept today, and while we were happy to find that the car looked less like Toyota’s Prius in person than it had in photos, it is a bit disheartening to think that many of the elements that strongly set the two apart will likely be gone when Honda brings the car to market. The radical multi-element lights and slick allow wheels are likely to fall into the concept car dustbin of history, leaving the future Insight just a bit less desirable than its fancy concept forbearer when it makes it to dealers sometime next year.
 
We’ve got live images of Honda’s ultra-important and ultra-frugal Insight concept in our gallery above, and the full scoop from the company about the car in the press release below.