High MPG cars already available....

[RningOnFumes]

Just not to NA.

http://cars.uk.msn.com/greenmotoring...mentid=1379476

Why can't we get these cars? This isn't bashing of the Big 2 1/2. They own these cars, why can't they just bring them over the pond? I understand that we have diesel emissions constraints and safety restrictions, but hell....these cars get 50 + mpgs without hypermiling!


DISCUSS..

[kevintomb]

we have always been behind europe as far as cars go.....I used to live in germany and they perfected high mileage cars 30 years ago. we are waay too into the whole SUV craze and got caught with our pants down again as america seems to do every 25 years. Now american car companies CANT just change their entire car line overnight...it will take years literally...they have to pay for tooling on full size pick ups and suvs...which are on a serious sales decline now...

[kevintomb]

im sure its mostly related to financial things such as the american big 3 employing a lof of people and they cant import more than so many cars...and they cant change what they have spent literally many millions on making...thinking thats what americans want........Look at the honda insight and toyota prius,....a lot of americans laughed at those cars....now where is the american version to compete...??

[touringcamry]

Because they're diesel. Due to the fact that they make your Yaris look big, they probably wouldn't have sold well until the past year or so when gas hit $4.50+.

[kevintomb]

Originally Posted by touringcamry

Because they're diesel. Due to the fact that they make your Yaris look big, they probably wouldn't have sold well until the past year or so when gas hit $4.50+.

True...for some reason the U.S. believes everyone should drive a BIG wasteful SUV with an oversize V-8 engine. When I lived in germany there were many high mileage gas engines also, just in case you didnt realize. Their whole lifestyle is not wasteful like ours is in the U.S. They are not of the belief that almost every car should have an automatic transmission there also....most cars are manuals, even luxury cars. Its actually a bit rare to see an automatic on any mid to small size car. A lot of their cars have engine CHOICES also, not how it is here. Most have a choice of 3-4 engines sometimes....a VERY High mileage diesel, a turbo diesel a small gas engine and a somewhat mid sized gas engine. If we has those choices ( instead of just one fairly powerful engine) our country would be better off.

[PhatRoyale]

Fifth Gear did a segment on the VW Polo BlueMotion.... didn't even come close to hitting the estimated fuel mileage numbers.