With the rise in gas prices, today’s car buyers say fuel efficiency is not just a necessity, it’s also fashionable. If Americans had to choose between driving a car that was beautiful vs. one that was “green”, nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) who plan to buy or lease a car in the next year or two would choose the greener car. These statistics come from a national survey recently conducted by Challenge X – a nationwide college engineering competition that is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM).

The survey also shows that more than one in three Americans (36 percent) who are thinking about purchasing a hybrid vehicle say that if gas prices rose to $4 a gallon they would seriously consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle. Nearly three in four car buyers (73 percent) say the rising fuel cost will influence their decision to buy a hybrid vehicle.

Here are some additional Challenge X survey statistics:

Fuel- efficient — The new chick magnet? Close to nine in 10 women (88 percent) say they’d rather chat up someone with the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car.

How to win friends and influence people. Eighty percent of American car buyers would find someone with the latest model fuel-efficient car more interesting to talk to at a party than someone with the latest model sports car.

Not green? That’s a fashion don’t. More than four out of 10 (45 percent) 18-43 year-olds say it’s a fashion faux-pas nowadays to have a car that is not green or environmentally friendly.

Project roadway. More than seven in 10 (73 percent) car buyers say if there were a reality TV show like “Project Runway” that was not about fashion design, but instead about designing the best-looking fuel-efficient and emissions-free car, they’d definitely watch.

Aside from the fact that it’s hip to be green, 86 percent of American car buyers say that when it comes to innovation in fuel-efficient cars, our country has some catching up to do. An overwhelming 97 percent also agree that a nation’s commitment to innovate should include encouraging the spirit of innovation in young people because they bring a fresh perspective.

About Challenge X

Student teams from 17 universities in North America are where asked to re-engineering a Chevy Equinox with alternative propulsion systems to reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions, while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal. The vehicles range from hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cells and run on ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen or electricity.

Sorce: GM Press Release

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