After years of championing diesel power, high-end German automakers are rushing into hybrids, according to USA Today.

They aren't abandoning diesels -- more are coming. And they know gasoline engines will dominate sales for the foreseeable future.

But they've decided hybrids are the best way to improve their green image, boost fuel economy to help meet tight 2016 U.S. standards that favor hybrids and target what looks to be a bigger market.

"The smart play is to hedge your bets by having entries in both categories," diesel and hybrid, says Michael Omotoso, powertrain analyst at consultant J.D. Power and Associates. "There's still a lot of perception on the part of American consumers that diesels are dirty, so the strategy is to have hybrids for those who think diesels are dirty."