Paradigm Shift in Perceptions

People are no longer content to buy the latest gas guzzler on the market. When people want to by a vehicle, they consider several things: fuel efficiency, size of vehicle, emission levels, etc. And this is not just because of the price of gas, it is also because people are more conscious of their responsibility to the environment; their carbon footprint and how their choices affect their environment. Some interesting reads, indicating this paradigm shift:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0805/gallery.hot_selling_ca...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a6GhF.jHZ_Us&refe...