I keep reading in various places that one of the big reasons we can't have efficient economy cars in North America any longer is because "we" have come to demand the power (and gearing) to give us faster acceleration.
I'm seeing this from both sides, eg. from the "automotive press" (who position themselves as champions of the vehicle-buying public):
Car and Driver lists poor performance as one reason to lambaste used economy cars of the 90's as poor choices for people wanting to save fuel.
And from industry: I recently read a GM executive cite 0-60 mph acceleration times as a reason they can't build the thrifty econoboxes they used to. "Slower cars aren't
competitive in the market." The added mass of safety engineering being the second reason given. (Sorry, I can't find the link at the moment.)
I personally don't give a rat's @$& about 0-60 acceleration.
What in our society has changed so much over the years that we now
apparently demand that plain jane family sedans, minivans and "economy" cars be able to accelerate at rates that would outrun sports cars from the 80's and 90's?