The new Tranformers? Large Diesel Trucks into Small Diesel Cars?

Have you noticed the number of huge pickups that seems to be showing up? I thought high gas prices were supposed to be making them things scarer, but it seems like there are more than ever. The other day I was coming out of Wal Mart and there was a massive pickup backing out of a parking space. Huge thing that was not helped in the appearance of size by the fact that had a bright fire engine red paint job. I literally looked for anything on it that might mark it as being a fire engine.

There was another one, smaller than the first, that had waited for us to leave so he could make a really sharp turn into our space as he backed up. Truck was so massive he had to make a three point turn to get out of the parking area.

I can see getting a nice extended cab to drive around, maybe even a king cab, but some of those bigger sizes are more like semi trucks. Unless you have a large farm and need the huge truck for hauling bales of hay, what's the point in having a truck that large?

I've heard that one of the attractions is that the large trucks have diesel engines, so maybe they will taper off in popularity when Isuzu and Toyota get their diesel engine for passenger cars developed? The two car companies are apparently looking to create an engine that is environmentally friendly. The President of Isuzu, Yoshinori Ida, states, "By teaming up with Toyota, I am certain that we will be able to create the world's best diesel engines." He seems to see the alliance as not only strengthening the competitive edge of the two companies, but as being something that will also contribute to the global environment.

The President of Toyota, Katsuaki Watanabe, seems to agree, "Toyota sees protecting the environment as the biggest mission for an automaker." Watanabe goes on to note that hybrid technology is one effective way to protect the environment, "but given that each country has different energy policies and regulations... we believe it is necessary to further strengthen areas related to diesels."

Maybe soon the rush to get large trucks because they run on diesel will be a rush to buy small cars for the same reason? And with things like bio-diesel... I can't wait to see where this all leads to.