Performance and Gas Miles Can Go Together, But Why Don't We Have This Over Here?

Ok I admit it.  I'm jealous.  Not that Agent001 is over in Sweden taking in the beautiful sites, or those awesome Swedish ladies that seem to be EVERYWHERE!.

I can handle that part. 

It is when he teases us with the vehicles they have over there we don't have!  Call it a case of Gearhead envy or something, but when I see something that you know fits a niche that is wide open over in the states. It make me wonder "why don't we have this?".

Take the economy car market.  You can get fun, and you can get hyper milers, but not both in one package.  But over in the EU you can have this simply awesome MINI D Camden Edition that does both. 

Yeah I know it to the casual observer it is "just a Mini" but the real enthusiast knows the diesel designation means this little sucker gets 75 real world miles per gallon!  Combine that with practically zero performance loss with a diesel and you can see my line of thinking.

Compare that to the Prius and you see VERY quickly that most any conventional Hybrid pales in light of these new generation clean diesels!
















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lock - 9/28/2010 11:56:31 AM

+1 Boost

Is the 75 mpg Euro rated? What is the real difference between the US and Euro scale for mpg?

Joe_Limon - 9/28/2010 12:11:41 PM

+2 Boost

from what I've seen, the euro rating is anywhere from 20% to 60% higher. Diesels benefit the most on their rating scale for some reason or another.

atc98092 - 9/28/2010 3:26:41 PM

0 Boost

His comment was "real world", not the local gvmt ratings. However, what I am wondering is this Imperial (British) MPG or is he translating L/100km? I don't quite believe 75 real world MPG in US units. Low to mid 60s, yeah.

Joe_Limon - 9/28/2010 3:40:48 PM

+1 Boost

I like how you quoted "real world". You do realize he never said "real world" right? And no, I'm pretty sure he was wondering what the difference between euro mileage and EPA mileage was. Lets use the Prius as an example. EPA states it gets 50mpg-us, or 60mpg-imp. Where the European cycle gives 60.3mpg-us or 72.4mpg-imp.

lock - 9/28/2010 4:13:26 PM

0 Boost

Thanks, Joe...I was wondering the difference between euro mileage and EPA mileage. Too bad we can't have a global measuring system in place...

Patronus - 9/28/2010 2:18:57 PM

+5 Boost

"Why Don't We Have This Over Here?" Because most Americans are automotive idiots and still think that diesels are loud, smelly and slow and are not open minded enough to realize that they have changed.

And it does not help that the tree-huggers hate diesels. Let them drive Priuii - one of the few justices left in the world.

Joe_Limon - 9/28/2010 2:31:00 PM

+1 Boost

lol +1

thstone - 9/28/2010 4:21:28 PM

-4 Boost

I have driven diesels in Europe and they suck compared to their petrol counterparts. Diesels are underpowered, loud, and costly - but I will admit that they are no longer smelly.

LexSucks - 9/28/2010 5:13:25 PM

+2 Boost

The Audi S4 offers decent fuel mileage for the performance it has. The BMW 335 is supposed to be the same, But after driving one for a week the 335 eats up plenty gas fast (if you give it gas).

Audiphile - 9/28/2010 7:52:44 PM

+2 Boost

Audi offers a 4.2-liter diesel engine in their new A8. The A8 4.2 TDI offers performance equal to the petrol-powered A8 and significantly better fuel economy. Why they don't offer this engine in the States is beyond me. (Unless, of course the 4.2 TDI engine can't meet our more stringent particulate emission standards.)

nguyenvuminh - 9/29/2010 6:26:05 AM

+4 Boost

Why don't we these cars here? Because unlike us, their gov't actively guide companies to produce cars with higher standards of fuel economy, pollution, noise and safety measures, and small size to fit into their older and crowded cities. They know the companies will compete to get the product with the right mix of these aspects along with performance. Here, we let the "market" do that and the market tends to think short term which is personal gratification. Why would US companies voluntary step away from cheaper technology. In terms of size of car, their gov't also actively establish standards on health standards, food size and they don't glorify big and brawny so their people are nearly as obese as we Americans. They therefore don't need large cars like we either. But we're too smart to pay attention to what they're doing of course because what the hell do these Socialist know anyway? We have the great minds from the like of 009 to look after our well being right?