Why does the automotive industry feel we don't deserve diesels?

[goodburbon]

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=601&featureid=383&description=Honda%20Civic%202.2%20CDTi&section=&show=

55mpg, 5 door civic with NAV, 2.2 Litre diesel, and a back seat that folds up OR down!

Over here there is a CRD offered in EVERYTHING, from frickin KIAs and fiats to Grand Cheros and the new JK and BMW 5 series. Why can't we have these in the USA? WTF is going on?

Oh the rest of the world gets a kick ass yota too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0UVI99R8Q

Probably a repost but that was one tough truck!

[RichP]

Real simple, what they sell now sells, to offer diesels here they would have to go thru the expense of getting them thru the epa and quite frankly I don't think the auto industry is at all interested in better milage. My guess is that alot of their, when I say 'their' I mean decison making types who have large portfolios, investments are in the oil industry and have no interest in decreasing our consumption of oil and gas. In fact just the opposite. I would also hazard a guess that the oil industry has alot of money invested in the auto industry.
Look at GM a few years ago with their electric car they leased in calif. The owners loved them but as soon as the legislation that caused them to build them in the first place was rescinded they took the cars back and crushed them.

[BrettM]

quite frankly I don't think the auto industry is at all interested in better milage.

i doubt that. SUV and truck sales have plummetted since a few years ago, and a several manufacturers have come out with sub-$15k 40mpg cars in just the last few months (toyota, nissan, honda, chevy off the top of my head)

[BigG]

We had a very powerfull and functional electric car back in the 80's. Why do we not have them now? Why did it not see production? The oil barons don't want to lose money.

[IXNAYXJ]

We had a very powerfull and functional electric car back in the 80's. Why do we not have them now? Why did it not see production? The oil barons don't want to lose money.Yeah. The technology is in a government warehouse, right next to the 100 mpg carb. :rolleyes:
-----Matt-----

[GSequoia]

We had a very powerfull and functional electric car back in the 80's.
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0002CK9SE.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

Although I had a cool cop bike one.. Man I wish I still had that!
(What ever happened to the forum police smilie?)

[Glenn B]

We tried the Pinto and the Vega back in the last fuel price crunch. The fact is, most Americans would not be cought dead in one of the silly assed pieces of crap the industry offers as hybrids etc... Only retards buy and drive them.

As for consumer diesels, too many still remember the GM abortion of a diesel back in the day. Loud, unreliable, smokey... need I say more?

Modern diesels are great, they just need some time. ;)

[Helltech4x4]

Almost all vehicals in Europe are avalible with diesel....... why not here??

[mdl]

I want a diesel bmw... :)

[Beej]

Almost all vehicals in Europe are avalible with diesel....... why not here?? A hometown boy! Have I seen you around town? Which XJ is yours?

:D

[Helltech4x4]

I got 2.......2000 black 30's and a 88 with 34's beat to hell flat black

[Beej]

I got 2.......2000 black 30's and a 88 with 34's beat to hell flat black Gold rims and custom bumpers? Near Mann and Wilkinson?

[Helltech4x4]

nope black rims in oak bay.......Get on with Island4x4.com

[Beej]

nope black rims in oak bay.......Get on with Island4x4.com Hmm. Now there's a thought...

:D

[GSequoia]

nope black rims in oak bay.......Get on with Island4x4.com

How cute. A Canadian Jeepers website.

:illegalflipoffsmilie:

:D

[mdl]

Hmm. Now there's a thought...

:D

Get a room...

[RichP]

Both sides of the EV1 story
http://www.gm.com/company/onlygm/fastlane_Blog.html#EV1

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/gm_ev1.html

http://www.evworld.com/archives/reports/images/ev1_2.jpg

[bjoehandley]

Almost all vehicals in Europe are avalible with diesel....... why not here??

I think Glenn here has a good answer here

We tried the Pinto and the Vega back in the last fuel price crunch. The fact is, most Americans would not be cought dead in one of the silly assed pieces of crap the industry offers as hybrids etc... Only retards buy and drive them.

.As for consumer diesels, too many still remember the GM abortion of a diesel back in the day. Loud, unreliable, smokey... need I say more?

Modern diesels are great, they just need some time.

About the only good thing I've heard is that it makes a great small block Olds gas drag motor.

Another problem being "solved" by Toyota, GM and Ford is hybrid large cars, trucks, and SUVs which have better cargo and passenger capabilty, but still doesn't account for the loss of efficency when taking fuel/chemical energy, converting it to mechanical energy, converting that to electrical energy, storing then converting it back to mechanical then the losses associated to getting it to the tires and then getting the then heavier vehicle moving on top of all that.

[streetpirate]

check this out for hybrid cars, find the UPS link in there, neat stuff

http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=57107

[Beej]

Something like this: http://www.theaircar.com/

[Lawn Cher']

Blah blah blah hybrid blah blah biodiesel blah blah ethanol blah blah hydrogen blah blah fuel cell blah blah solar power blah blah wind power blah. It doesn't fawking matter, we're all doomed. You got my back on this, right Dzol?