The 55 MPG Ford You Can't Buy in the U.S.

[rbrowning]

GRRR is all I've got to say about not being able to get my hands on a factory car that is really ready to go without having to highly mod it!

The 55 MPG Ford You Can't Buy in the U.S. - FoxNews.com

[kir_kenix]

Citing low demand...that BS. These things would sell over here just fine when gas reaches $4/gallon again.
My guess would be an emissions issue.

[Nevyn]

Most of the time with diesels, emissions is the issue. Also, diesel is an issue - most folks don't like that.

If there's one thing the gov't SHOULD mandate, its that they should make idle stop/start a requirement. Almost every manufacturer does it, either in a hybrid or in Europe/Asia versions of normal cars. Force them to bring that to the USA and watch our fuel use plummet.

[DonR]

If the thing is legal over here I don't understand why we can't order them & when they get a boat full, ship them. That takes care of the demand issue. I'm not sure about the "federalization cost" part of it.

[MorphDaCivic]

Sounds fishy or sulfury to me.

Here's a good Wiki about the Diesel fuels used around the world. According to the Wiki, the EU and US have the same requirements right now, so there is no reason other than Petro/industrial Complex (Exxon/Mobil) keeping the best engines out of the USA.

Ultra-low-sulfur diesel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[JMac]

Interesting. I wouldn't mind buying an American car at some point, even if it is produced in Europe. You know, if it passes safety and emissions requirements, it might be possible to buy the car and ship it over via boat. I wonder about taxes on that...

JMac

[320touring]

There has got to be a way of getting these engines, and possibly cars over to the US..

What are teh Import Laws like?

[Big Dave]

Thank US emissions and crash-testing regulations.

Diesel having 15 ppm sulfur is the standard these days.

Euros don't have the mad-dog US particulate regs.

To pass a US crash tests, a car has to be at least 3,000 lb or made of uber-expensive carbon fiber.

The manufacturer has to submit 50 cars for crash testing.

They are from the government and are here to help.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

To pass a US crash tests, a car has to be at least 3,000 lb or made of uber-expensive carbon fiber.

Man, there are a lot of cars being sold in the U.S. that don't pass US crash tests, then.