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I will add that the US would have a lot more socialized welfare for its citizens if it took the massive amounts of foreign aid and diverted it back home.
I don't think that the cost of fuel is the only driving force in larger engines. The United States is not as densely populated as Europe. It is a suburban society built around the interstate highway filled with semi trucks. Driving long straight stretches where one might need to accelerate quickly to not be run over by a semi is an environment that screams big vehicle/big engine. European roads that are not as straight or at as high of an average speed place more emphasis on handling, hence smaller cars that dont need such large engines. I would bet that Europeans that have to drive on the Autobahn are a lot more likely to buy more powerful vehicles than the average European, as That is a lot less friendly environment for low powered subcompacts. It doesn't particularly bother me (I drive a 2000 Insight), but virtually all of the women in my family drive SUVs because the size of the vehicle and the 4 or all wheel drive make them feel safer.
The 1.0 ecoboost is the future of engine building, whether in Europe or the US. I believe we will see engines like this worldwide, with the US versions being available with more boost.
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