Gasoline guzzlers near extinction in US?

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

CHICAGO (AFP) — America's decades-long love affair with monstrously large vehicles may finally be coming to an end, US automakers have predicted in the wake of a sharp drop off in sales amid high fuel costs.

Large and midsized sport utility vehicles were down 42 and 38 percent respectively in May while pickup sales dropped 30 percent, according to Autodata.

And perhaps more telling: the Ford F-series pickup truck - which has been the top selling vehicle in the United States since 1991 - was dethroned by not one but four Japanese-made sedans.

Ford, which recently announced cuts to truck and SUV production, responded by offering deep discounts to move the trucks off its lots.

General Motors went even further: it announced plans Tuesday to close four...