gas guzzlers

The automaker said Tuesday that net income rose to about $2.5 billion, up from $2 billion in the same quarter last year and its best first-quarter performance since 1998.

Ford sold plenty of F-series pickup trucks and Explorer SUVs. But unlike in the past, when big gas-guzzlers were cash cows for American automakers, it's Ford's smaller, fuel-efficient cars that are driving its earnings.

The Toyota Corolla sedan is the most popular car among consumers buying new vehicles under the government's "cash for clunkers" program.

It gives drivers up to $4,500 to trade in gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient cars. Initially it looked like the Ford Focus was the big winner, but the Corolla pulled ahead.

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The government's so-called "cash for clunkers" program goes into effect Friday. People who trade in their gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient cars can get a government subsidy — even if they trade in old pickups for ones that get just 2 miles per gallon more.

Which means the program could provide an unexpected boost to the beleaguered Hummer brand. Its H3T pickup gets 16 mpg.