Bayer Ford

The wait is almost over! The Ford C-MAX is coming to the U.S. However, unlike the high-roof, seven-passenger crossover that's been available across the pond now, since 2010, the U.S. variant will feature a hybrid or plug-in-electric system, making this one good thing definitely worth waiting for.

The decision to change out the gasoline and diesel powerplants under the hood of Europe's Ford C-MAX in favor of hybrid and plug-in electric systems is a direct response to U.S. consumer demand. It's also part of the American automaker's goal to grow hybrid production numbers…

Cars aren't the only things getting smaller as gas prices get larger. We're not talking wallets either...that would be just a little too tongue in cheek. The innovation we're referring to is a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine - the smallest engine Ford has developed in their century-plus long history.

As the name implies, the tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine gains turbocharging. For drivers interested in geeking out a little bit, turbocharching utilizes otherwise wasted exhaust energy to ultimately increase output per liter of the engine.

In addition to turbocharging, Ford's new 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost…