Another dual mode dud?

The Saturn Vue hybrid at the LA Auto Show

Several years ago, as the Toyota Prius was making hybrid cars synonymous with green in America, GM and Chrsyler decided to act. Instead of challenging the Prius, however, these two US automakers decided to convert GM's hybrid technology developed for buses into a hybrid powertrain that would turn the worst gas-guzzlers into something more respectable.

Many quickly called the technology superior to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, while claiming it focused on the most fuel inefficient vehicles. I always wondered, how much is it going to cost and how many people really need those gas-guzzlers?

Today, we've found out most people don't really need those guzzlers and the costs of making them more efficient are just too high. Thus, Chrysler's dual mode hybrid vehicles were DOA, and GM's aren't far behind - at least their initial dual mode hybrids.

The Saturn Vue hybrid, due out in a few months, however, is a much smarter sized SUV for today's world and it easily provides the best sale's potential of any GM hybrid, at least if priced competitively. But, now that Saturn is potentially on GM's chopping block, is it DOA as well?