Prius: Litmus test for the auto industry?

Can anyone take on the Prius?

The Toyota Prius has changed the way Americans think about automobiles. Today, according to the latest surveys, most Americans are now interested in hybrid cars and the Prius is the standard. Certainly, the Prius isn't for everyone, but the Prius is the litmus test by which even automakers must judge their hybrids. It's not just about hybrid technology, but hybrid sales, which makes the Prius so important.

GM was the first to name its Prius-killer, the Chevy Volt, offering a totally different kind of hybrid powertrain and one that can plug-in. Unfortunately, it is now obvious that the Volt, at least in terms of sales, will come nowhere close to challenging the Prius until long after 2015. By then the Prius will be on its fourth generation of Hybrid Synergy Drive technology and who knows if the Volt's revolutionary technology will still be a killer by then.

Other than GM, only Honda has reasonable plans for a Prius-killer in the near term, and they have a pretty good plan, in terms of technology and production numbers. A hybrid as accommodating as the Prius, as efficient as the Prius, and cheaper than the Prius. Of course, that's before Toyota launches the third generation Prius. And, it still seems the Prius will easily dominate city fuel economy against this killer.

Sadly, outside of Honda and GM, no other major automaker is anywhere near a Prius-killer, as gas surges towards $5.00 per gallon. Thus, if the Prius is a fair litmus test for the auto industry, the industry is failing, pathetically.