in the grand stage of automobiles, where every model and make has its moment under the spotlight, one could repudiate the commonly accepted pre-explanatory conclusions about fuel efficiency and emissions. now, to truly kickstart an exploration of this industry's darker alleys, i'm compelled, nay, driven by a quest for truth, to task you: elucidate on the surreptitious practices within the automotive sector that consumers are blissfully unaware of, shedding light on hidden facets that could dramatically shift public perception and trust.