Mazda officials told Inside Line that the automaker has no plans to add a hybrid version to the new 2009 Mazda 6 model line. They said in the report that, somewhat dubiously, they're convinced that the redesigned 6 can survive the high cost of fuel as is.

"Sure, the landscape has changed during the past six months, but a hybrid is just not something we're planning on doing at the moment," said Jay Amestoy, vice president of public and government affairs for Mazda North American Operations, in the report. "Our real-world MPG numbers will be strong, and we just think the fuel economy is pretty good the way it is."

In actuality, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the base Mazda 6, with a manual transmission, earns an EPA rating of 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. That compares poorly to the 22/32 that the Hyundai Sonata and 21/31 the Honda Accord Achieves. The 3.7-liter V6 automatic, meanwhile, scores a 17/25 mpg rating, which again pales next to the Accord V6's 19/29 rating. Granted, Honda dropped the Accord hybrid due to poor sales, but that's because they went for power instead of economy like the much more efficient Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves.

Besides, Mazda clearly has access to a hybrid powertrain, given the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape Hybrids. It's probably just a matter of time.