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Old 04-26-2010, 01:11 PM   #29 (permalink)
jkp1187
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MadisonMPG View Post
I doubt safety/emissions has lowered gas mileage that much. Price, yeah, maybe a little. At least one of them will walk away unhurt in a wreck.
I think emissions -- or, more correctly, the cost of getting engines certified for use in the USA -- is a big factor keeping clean diesels out of the country. Like this one:

Frankfurt Preview: 2010 BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition, 57.4 mpg (U.S.) — Autoblog Green

Or this one:

VW Polo BlueMotion Tops 70 MPG | GreenCar.com

Safety by itself probably isn't a big factor in MPG...but the concept of 'safety over everything' is one of those ideas that keeps people buying SUVs because they think they're 'safer'.
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