185. As part of a plan to overhaul a car company's lagging sales due to its image as environmentally irresponsible, consultants recently proposed the release of a new car line. The new line of small, high-mileage and hybrid vehicles would appeal to a set of consumers who would never have previously considered buying from the company. In that way, the company could easily retain the market for its traditional vehicles while tapping into a new market niche and expanding its revenue base.

Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the consultants' proposal?