what the heck ever happened to the Volkswagon Rabbit that got 50 MPG and others that did close to that?

did the oil companys buy them all up?
I just wonder why since the 70's, cars have progressed backwards in the MPG area, doesn't make sense.

Oil companies only care about money not the realistic things like the enviroment or the real world economy.
It's 2008, there should be cars capable of getting 50-75 MPG easily on gas alone, nevermind the hybrid crap.
