Bubble-car Badge

I've been bothered by news Danny posted several months back (Summer of 2005), that sales are down because the Highlander Hybrid looks too much like the gasoline model. What is it we want? Do we want a car with an environmental conscience or one that claims to by its appearance? Do we want a car with better engineering or one that simply looks high tech?

As for me, give me Sequoia. I own a Suburban. I love it! I hate that it burns too much gasoline. I hate more the fact that it burns only gasoline. Ethanol comes to mind. But I still crave that other kind of juice, and Sequoia likes that diet. It looks, and handles, much like an ordinary Suburban.

Sequoia's sibling, Yosemite is even more appealing for those who don't need the pure hauling capacity of a Suburban. Yosemite further has an emphasis on the plug-in option, which is getting popular as a mod to the elegantly engineered Prius. It also looks, and handles, just like a gasoline powered Explorer. That's what I'm talkin about.

Now ... don't take my Prius! I love it! But don't tell me all good hybrid or electric designs have to look like a bubble car.

-- R;