Cadillac

We salute any effort to increase fuel economy and reduce tailpipe emissions—regardless of the size and shape of the vehicle. But the hybrids from Cadillac are hard to take seriously. The combination of conservation and ostentation is weird. The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is a $70,000 17-foot-long vehicle that can seat eight and offers real-world fuel economy in the high teens. We hope it sells like an extra-large stack of gourmet organic hotcakes. Potential future vehicles, like the Cadillac Provoq—a plug-in hydrogen-electric fuel-cell luxury hybrid concept SUV with his and hers plug-in ports—and the handsome and muscular Cadillac Converj plug-in hybrid concept sedan—complete with solar panel rooftop—could reveal Cadillac’s sustained green direction characterized by an odd blend of unrestrained luxury and tightly constrained efficiency improvements. By the way, what’s with the cute spelling of these hybrid models?