You are not PREVENTED from having a choice. Hey, look, I bet you can
find an importer, and place an individual order to have your favorite
euro model imported. If necessary, you can have the mods done to make
the car street-legal in the US.
"Oh, but that would be too expensive", you say "why can Detroit mass-
produce just that kind of car?" Because there is not enough demand,
and unit costs would be prohibitive anyway!! Just because you and a
couple of your tree-hugger buddies would buy it, doesn't meant that
the auto manufacturer would get enough orders.

Like with everything else, free market forces should dictate what
kinds of vehicles are produced.


On Apr 12, 7:06 pm, "Himpg" wrote:
On Apr 2, 3:13 pm, wrote:

On Apr 2, 11:01 am, "Himpg" wrote:

snip

In Europe, the BIG 3 already have 50 mpg(US) combined average!

The European versions have smaller engines. E.g., they have a 1.4L
Civic in Europe. Americans want more hp.

You a correct that the engines are generally smaller but the turbo
diesel give you the torque at lower hp and significantly lower fuel
consumption. Personally, I don't need 0 to 60 mph in less than 10
seconds. I'm not willing to pay $0.10 per mile fuel cost penalty to
get it ... but that is my preference. So not ALL Americans want higher
hp! But you are certainly welcome to your preferences. I just wish we
had the choice!

These types of cars are definitely not for everyone ... many want /
need larger machines and that's OK. But those that do want smaller
engines and lighter cars should not be PREVENTED from having the
CHOICE!

The Cadillac BLs [diesel at 38 mpg(US) combined average] has gotten
significant praise in Europe ... and awards ... I don't know how the
sales have been.

The problem seems to be that Detroit wants to increment mpg 4% per
year.That (1.5 mpg improvement) does not offer economic inducement
based on fuel economy improvements to purchase. Would a fuel economy
improvement of 3 mpg attract your interest. I don't think so! However,
if you were offered a 50% reduction in fuel consumption (a 15 or 20
mpg improvement), it becomes much more appealing. That is, if the
vehicle is large enough and featured to meet your needs.

What I am afraid of is that if Detroit doesn't step up and
deliver .... an interloper is gong to jump in within the next 36
months and that will probably push Detroit out of its' position of
dominance to a second tier status from which they will probably never
recover.

Well ... that's my view of things.