The torque is the issue I have with the hybrids. I think its a valiant effort to solve a plethora of issues relating to fossil fuels, but honestly, as long as I'm a greedy consumer, I need to be able to pull my boat up hills with 4 of my buddies in the back.

So far the only vehicles that can do that are SUV's and we all know that you're not going to be able to get 50mpg on an SUV until these TDI engines graduate to provide more torque. They may be fine for a little golf, but until they can power my 6000 lbs, 7' tall trooper + trailer up a hill, then I'm going to have to stick to my gas guzzler and just bend over grab my ankles and take it at the gas pump.

Actually, torque shouldn't be an issue with hybrids, at least conceptually. The electric motor assist is why - electric motors have %100 of their torque available from 0 rpm on. Once the payload is moving you shouldn't need the assist unless you get to a hill or something. Using the assist continually until the juice is depleted would be the problem. I haven't checked on specs for the current crop of hybrids if they even rate for towing, but if they do I wouldn't expect the rating to be that different from any other car that size. The issue may be more that the transmission and rest of the car is not meant to handle those kinds of loads, or the duration of drain.

The torque characteristics of the electric assist is one of the reason the domestic manufacturers are targeting trucks for hybrid technology - more off the line payload moving capability. But Ford is supposed to be coming out with a hybrid Escape - smallish SUV with the same grunt but better mileage. Not sure what the current schedule for availability is, or if it's been scrapped.

Have you seen the VW Touareg V10 TDi currently on sale in most states ofthe USA? It's 313 hp and 553 ft-lbs of torque, tow rating of 7700 lbs...making it one of the most capable tow vehicles in the world. Oh, and it gets 24 mpg combined mileage.

Mike.

And whats the MSRP? :P

$texas

?