Why Are Automakers Shying Away From Hybrids For Smaller More Powerful Powerplants?

Profit!

Well because given the choice between a "normal" car and a hybrid that gets the same gas mileage, consumers prefer a car that drives and costs "normal".

While some hybrids are better in the driving dynamics area, many still are not.

smaller engines are a stop gap until a cost effective platform is developed by their company. Nissan system will be able to fit in any of their vehicles, in the engine bay, with a smaller battery packet in another part of the car. No special chasis no bulky battery unit. great job in the methond of approach

Doesn't the title just answer your own question? Because its smaller (more fuel efficient) and more powerful...

And theres also the development cost to reconfigure models to hybrid drivetrains.

Smaller and more powerful doesn't necessarily mean that it's more fuel efficient though.

That said, your post gives tremendous insight into what the general populous believes/has bought into.

Wise manufacturers are shying away from products that have limited market appeal. Regardless of the hype, Political Correctness, and government subsidies, at the end of they day, they go where they can make more profit.

Not so much profit as cost. Hybrid systems are expensive and heavy. An automaker can get improved mileage with responsiveness by going with a small efficient, turbo charged four. As a benefit, these turbo powertrains are cheaper to produce and keep retail costs lower to entice consumers into the showrooms.

Electric Hybrid systems will be come more prevalent when there are evolutionary improvements in engine efficiency and revolutionary improvements in battery manufacturing, weight reduction and power storage capacity.

Hybrid is better but GM can't afford the tech. that's the simple answer.....Toyota has improved so much they are impossible to catch without spending lots of money. Other MFG's use earlier design's that they bought from Toyota.....

Bad article, tho I can only blame Autospies for reposting, at least they did not come up with that drivel. Hybrids were down slightly this year. Hmmm, tsunami anyone??? Gasoline engines made some great strides in the past year, but so did hybrids. Just look at the best new hybrids, the Prius c and the Fusion. Some amazing numbers that gas only engines cannot touch (nor can diesels, another rant for another day).

Once supply issues got sorted out, hybrids had enormous growth in the past couple months. Sure Ford has given up on the Escape, but they are all in with the Fusion and other vehicles. Lexus has a couple more planned. The Jetta has been hybridized (maybe this is one where Europeans can finally figure out how to do hybrids??) Even GM finally figured out what to do with their mild hybrids in the form of eAssist. Honda might have even gotten their heads out of their butts, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Hybrids are poised for phenomenal growth in the next 2 years. Clean diesels made a huge efficiency and emissions leap a couple years ago. Last year, gas engines made a huge leap. And now hybrids are back.

Automakers are in no way shying away from hybrids, and not just for marketing purposes. They are jumping full force into them, and hybrids are getting beter and better as a result.