Are these new engine technologies better than a hybrid?

It's a trade off that not everyone wants or can make.

Be it for work or play, sometimes you just need a lot of horesepower. And while sticking a hybrid engine next to a V8 is one way to improve fuel economy, do you really need two engines achieve that goal? To increase mileage without making dramatic changes to engine size and vehicle weight, car makers have revealed a few aces up their sleeve that enable them to retain horsepower while softening the blow at the pump.

EcoBoost: Forget funky shaped cars, installing outlets in your garage, or mapping all the alternative fuel filling stations within a 100-mile radius. Ford figures consumers want the same big, powerful vehicles already on the market but with up to 20 percent better fuel-economy. Using gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology, Ford is able to provide the power and torque of a V8 engine with the fuel-efficiency of a V6.

EcoBoost will make its debut with new 2010 Lincoln MKS in Fall 2009, followed by the seven-passenger Ford Flex in the same year and the Ford F150 in 2010. These technologies aren't new, and Ford isn't the only manufacturer tweaking their engines to eek out every last fuel savings, but they're aiming to implement EcoBoost in nearly their entire range of sedans, SUVs, and trucks with a goal of more than 500,000 of these vehicles on the road in the next five years, according to Ford spokesperson Alan Hall. For the consumer, this means that in the next few years you'll have the option to buy a Ford equipped with a 4 or 6-cylinder engine or purchase the same car upgraded with EcoBoost to achieve the power and performance of a bigger engine but with better gas mileage. But Ford's not planning on doing away with the V8 entirely-they say that some cars, such as the Mustang, just wouldn't be the same without their rightful V8.

BlueTEC: Blue is the new green. BlueTEC would be the coolest thing since sliced bread had sliced bread been banned for sale in California like diesels were in 2003 (note: diesels were never banned, they just couldn't pass the tougher 2004 emissions standards). Drivers in the 42 states that did not adopt California's more emissions ratings have been uninterrupted in their ability to purchase diesel cars that get high gas mileage, deliver powerful torque, and last forever. They may not understand what the fuss is all about. But for the so-called "clean state" consumers who have been denied the ability to drive new diesels home from a dealership, the breakthrough is huge.

Diesel engines are significantly more fuel efficient than gasoline engines, achieving around 25-35 percent better gas mileage than an internal combustion engine of comparable size. But the gas savings comes with the tradeoff: diesels emit higher amounts of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) that causes smog, traps greenhouse gasses, and is linked to numerous health ailments. The introduction of cleaner diesel fuel in 2007 helped solve some problems, but exhaust systems still couldn't trap enough NOx to satisfy California's tough emissions standards.

Mercedes' BlueTECdiesels are the first to clear the high hurdle. BlueTEC uses technology that reduces the amount of NOx by injecting a urea solution into the exhaust of the vehicle. The urea solution breaks down the NOx into water and ammonia emissions. The result is a fuel-efficient vehicle that meets the Tier 2 Bin 5 rating from the EPA and LEV II rating from the California Air Resources Board. To the consumer, all they need to know is that they're clean enough to sell and drive in all 50 states. For now, BlueTEC is available in only the 2008 E320- which boasts a range of 700 miles per 21-gallon tank. According to Mercedes, the gas mileage translates into 23-32 MPG compared to 17-24 MPG for the non-BlueTEC equipped E350. Mercedes recently announced that their 2009 ML320, GL320 and R320 SUVs will also sport a BlueTEC option.

But being this green comes at a premium-the MSRP for a 2008 Mercedes E320 is a strong $52,325. Mercedes has not revealed if and when they will introduce BlueTEC to their more approachable C-class of cars. But it won't be long until meet mortals get a chance to sport a little blue. Chrysler, Audi, and Volkswagen will also be introducing the new technology to their fleets with predictions of a Volkswagen BlueMotion Golf hitting the streets first.

Cylinder Deactivation: You'd be hard pressed to call a hemi green, but Chrysler's Muti-displacement System helps takes the guilt out of driving a 400+ horsepower V8 beast. MDS improves fuel economy up to 20 percent by shutting down cylinders when they're not needed--effectively turning a V8 into a 4 cylinder when cruising on the streets and firing on all cylinders when accelerating or towing. But don't worry-- Chrysler swears that you'd never know the difference.

MDS is standard on all 5.7 liter Hemi engines. The energy saving may not seem like much until you consider how often people choose the Hemi when offered-about half of the Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s are purchased with the Hemi option, according to Chrysler spokesperson Nick Cappa. Though the technology to date has been implemented only in the 5.7 liter Hemi, consumers can expect to see it used in V6 engines starting in 2010.

But Chrysler isn't alone in this strategy--GM is also using cylinder deactivation to make their bigger vehicles more palatable to the cost and environment conscious driver. Their Active fuel management is used in their v8 and v6 engines powering the Avalanche, Impala, Suburban, Tahoe, Silverado, Tahoe Hybrid, Trailblazer, Pontiac G8 GT, Grand Prix, Saab 9-7x, Buick LaCrosse, Envoy Denali, LaCrosse, Yukon, Yukon Hybrid

In addition to MDS, Chrysler is also focusing on variable valve timing, turbocharging, and direct injection to improve fuel economy without having to sacrifice power or performance.