The world has changed: pickup buyers want better fuel economy

The problem is not the trucks, but the fact that people drive them in the first place. They're an inherently fuel-inefficient type of vehicle due to the aerodynamic design. If people want fuel economy, then they need to switch to a different type of vehicle.

And to preempt all of the people who will reply saying they NEED a pickup truck for their work, they should explain to me how the modern civilization we refer to today as "Europe" got built and exists without the use of such a vehicle. I've lived there, and probably seen two ever.

I suppose you think a lorry is a passenger vehicle too.

I understand your thought process, but your comment is still naive. While I will agree with you that a lot of people can make due with a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle than a full-size truck, there is a sizable group of consumers who value these trucks because they fit people of greater than average height and girth. Tell a contractor that he/she can use a Corolla/Civic/Focus/Prius to haul around four-five large guys, a hundred pounds of gear and still make that crucial run to "the Depot" for plywood, bricks, mortar or a few hundred pounds of roofing shingles.

If you take your argument to the next level, then Europe is behind the Asian cultures because Europe still uses cars when most of the Asian cultures walk, ride bikes or use public transportation. America is unlike Europe as Europe is unlike Asia.

Also, tell them they have to have a car for work and one for home. Those same business owners may find it more cost effective to just have the one vehicle for personal and business use. So that means a pickup to the grocery store, mall, etc...

Get over it!

The only real way to provide better fuel economy for trucks is to offer smaller diesel engines. Like it or not. Think I'm joking? Try to find an 18 wheeled Kenworth or Freitliner with a gasoline engine and see what happens. Zilch. Heavy duty vehicles use diesels for two reasons. Economy and torque. As for Europe, there is a huge difference in how the economies were developed. For straters there aren't huge expanses of land to be farmed or traversed. Neither did there exist truly free-enterprise as did the case in the US. It's unfair and frankly, irrelevant to try to use that comparison. What is far more relevant is that Europeans a) prefer diesels for the commercial vehicles 2) primarily employ more efficient manual transmissions 3) don't normally use commerical vehicles as day-to-day drivers, as Americans tend to do. All the manufacturers of trucks in the US have brilliant diesel engines offered south of the border in Mexico and beyond. All they have to do is man up and offer them.

Don't forget, the U.S. actually produces domestic diesel passenger vehicles that it imports abroad. You'd never know they existed.

Where is the El Camino Diesel Greenline Hybrid with Bi-Mode transmission when we need it?
This discussion is unamerican. Between this and the fact that there is no new construction or decent memorial on the WTC site, the taliban have won. Saddam is rolling in his grave. Game Over. Time to buy me a forrester diesel and one of those Dyson Air Distributor fan things at target.

On a serious note- US automakers have access to many very economical and reliable diesel engines, transmissions, and chassis from the domestic bins AND from all those offshore suppliers. Everything from Ford Festiva sized cars to Road Train Lorry's. They are sold and proven in everyday use in all market tiers. Maybe they will be kind enough to introduce the technology to mainland US noncommercial customers and fleets in the near future.

I'm pretty at least 6" of grill height in the last few generations of pickups is purely for looks. That's a start.

I hope this comes as no surprise, but drivers of trucks have always wanted better fuel economy, but when gas was hovering between $1 - $2/gallon US, no one cared and no one is going to turn down increased capability.