As we go into the future and we have to face uncertainties such as oil supplies and climate change, as well as givens (IE: CAFE regs), the question has to be asked. Can technological advances make up for the brute force engines that we may have to give up? Let's look at a few things.

First of all, take a look the Nissan GT-R and it's 3.8TT V6 engine. It produces 473 HP, but it also achieves ULEV emissions standards. It propels a 3,800 lb. vehicle from 0-60 in a mere 3.3 seconds (Edmunds), but allows that same vehicle to achieve an average of around 20 MPG. (According to Nissan specs.)

Another prime example is the Porsche 911 GT2. 530 HP TT F6, 0-60 in 3.4 and a top speed of 204 MPH. 23 MPG highway. Plus, there's Ford's new EcoBoost technology, which promises to bring significant performance gains to the lineup while increasing fuel economy.

And as for "normal" cars? Diesel technology will allow daily drivers to achieve excellent efficiency (often 50 MPG or better) while retaining good performance. Don't forget that Audi's dominating LeMans cars are diesel powered. With clean diesels burgeoning everywhere else, it's inevitable that they will start making the transition to the States in the next couple years.

So in conclusion, about that question I posed a paragraph or two before; the answer is yes. Absolutely yes. In my opinion, of course. Discuss.

some good points, but a couple other things to throw out there. the two main performance cars you talk about are WAY expensive. i'm more curious about what will happen to our mid-priced performance cars. hopefully Ford's ecoboost allows us to still have the Mustang and chevy's Volt might offset the Camaro enough to allow it to stick around.

once you get up above $100K, you'll be into gas guzzling taxes and all of that so these regs won't have a very large effect on those cars i don't think. it's the main-stream stuff i'm worried about.

I think that EcoBoost, as you said, as well as hybrid and diesel technology will keep the midrange performance market alive and well.

maybe so, but i still want some brute force now and then... i like variety. it would suck if all cars end up having similar characteristics. there's just something magical about an enormous american V8 that can warp a chassis, i don't want that to go away.