New car gets 65 mpg, but Ford can't sell them in the US?

[mm2002]

Amazing isn't it?

The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have

[hooligan]

Now that I've been overseas for awhile... I just have to shake my head and wonder about the US auto industry. It has to be one of the most over-regulated industries in the world. There are so many eco friendly vehicles produced in other countries that are not allowed to be sold because the EPA and DOT have their heads up their A$$. The Japanese emission laws are more strict than the US, but I can't bring my Japanese spec motorcyle back to the states because the EPA standards require different emission equipment even though the current equipment is better... WTF?? Then you have California making their own emission laws so that every vehicle manufacturer has to make a CA version of all there vehicles if they want to sell them there. DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!

[Barberman]

Ya but since it is a Ford aren't they doing us all a favor?

[BoomerNJ]

Originally Posted by Barberman

Ya but since it is a Ford aren't they doing us all a favor?

Seriously though... The US gov't is so out of touch with reality (i.e. auto regulations, the legal system, politics, etc, etc, etc) that our current economy was inevitable...

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by Barberman

Ya but since it is a Ford aren't they doing us all a favor?

Good point!

[mitsuguy]

Wait a minute... this is not DOT or EPA's doing - this is Ford themselves...

They cannot justify introducing them to the American market because they don't project good sales of the vehicle...

It's a diesel - diesel is widely available, but honestly, Americans are turned off of diesel technology as a whole... Personally, I'm all for it, but I see and understand Fords plight...

So, again, nothing with the government or EPA or DOT here, it's Ford that doesn't see them selling well, so, it doesn't make sense to them to launch that vehicle here... For the record, Ford isn't the only car company that has high MPG diesel vehicles in Europe...

[drako]

From my understanding its not a matter of "can't" but wont. I wish they would bring it in here, SMART car had the same issues and they were dancing around the whole thing for years. Now they are everywhere! People will pay through the nose (i think) for that car.
1. You dont have to worry about problems that come with a hybrid, namely batteries.
2. The prius is one of the ugliest cars out there, right with the aztec. This one is actually kinda attractive and can fit a good amount of people.
3. Diesels last forever, and a selling point would be to diversify the auto market in fueling to bring the entire price down.

Edit: Ah Mitsuguy, you beat me to it

[GIFFMANN]

I would love to be able to buy a diesel mini van for the family. My buddy is getting 50 city/highway average out of his VW TDI. Saves even more money since he can run about 20% biodiesel in it.

Diesel runs so much cleaner when tuned properly and they tend to have a much longer usable life. Hopefully, one day, the US will wake up to this and not equate diesel to black smoke belching out of trucks needing a good tune up!

[USF_Diver]

Ford should have had this car in the works for here in the US not just Europe.

[RMur]

Capitalism works - If Ford's research indicated they could sell them for a profit - they would do it in a heartbeat. Supply and Demand (should be Demand and Supply) works every time.