Tardy With Hybrids, Ford Is Still Ahead Of GM, Chrysler

Ford hasn't asked for federal bailout money yet, and if its new hybrid sedan is a hit, Ford could leave its US rivals in its dust.

Toyota and Honda have the current hybrid market almost completely-cornered, and some consumers will be skeptical that Detroit can build a reliable new-technology anything compared to the Japanese, but its Fusion model, and GM's electric Volt promised for 2010 just might help stabilize this bedrock American industry.

Too little, too late?

We'll know in a year.