Volkswagen re-evaluates hybrid plan

We can say goodbye to the Jetta hybrid even before it enters the market. The planned Jetta hybrid, originally set for launch in 2009, has now been scrapped. Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen's new head honcho, has decided that the cost for outfitting a hybrid system to the Golf and Jetta will not be worth it, citing a $2,000-$3,000 premium that would be to high in a competitive compact segment.

That said, all is not lost. Volkswagen will not be completely ditching hybrid technology. Instead of outfitting a hybrid system to their smaller models, Volkswagen will be adding it to the Touareg. Obviously, Volkswagen (or some of the people running Volkswagen) doesn't think hybrid is ready for primetime.