Americans Now Say They Want 60+ MPG Cars

People are dumb. The majority of people are also willing to give up personal freedoms because they believe the person next to them isn't as smart/reliable/safe etc. as they are. Not to get this all political, but look at all of the freedoms the American people lost just because they didn't trust one man (Bin Laden). In my honest opinion, the Government interferes far too much in the automotive industry as it is. Fuel economy and even safety standards should be governed by commercial demand, not social demand.

"...safety standards should be governed by commercial demand, not social demand."

This is why YOU are Canadian, sir!

Will Americans still support this absurd mandate when they realize they will be paying far higher prices for tiny little cars with even smaller engines that will be less safe? It's great to say you support 60mpg cars, but in the real world, Americans have always preferred large vehicles for work and personal use.

On the average they will pay $6K more per vehicle for a savings of $1K (@ 15,000 miles a year)for $4 a gallon gas.

A better proposition than a typical hybrid. I most cases the first owner will never see a savings.

Ahh !!

I guess the 520d is so Unsafe compared to the Huge POS you guys normally drive ?

"Americans Now Say They Want 60+ MPG Cars"
Not this American.

Americans don't know what the hell they want. I think the question wasn't asked correctly. Americans want 60mpg cars, but they don't realize what a 60mpg car actually is. They're expecting the 60mpg cars to be the same cars that are available today but all with 60mpg. Show them a small 75hp 60mpg car and i'm sure they will change their mind.

This is milsleading.
(1) to get 60 mpg with today's technology you have to give up convenience, performance, practicality, etc, etc. if those polled were informed of what they had to give up I think the result would be much different.
(2) does the majority of those polled even understand what 60 mpg means? why 60 mpg and not 100 mpg or 200 mpg? in terms of what is required to get there and what changes are required in lifestyle and use of a vehicle and infrastructure to support this goal?

If you ask me if I could have a vehicle with the performance of an R8 with a 60 mpg rating, I would say bring it on. Give me a Prius and I would say there is more work to be done.

I think everyone wants 60 mpg. Not everyone wants to give up what it takes to get there.

wasn't there an article recently stating that most American's weren't willing to pay a bit more for a "greener" car?

We could get close if cars werent so fat and heavy. I remember back in 1998 when the 160hp civic si could get to 60 in 6.9 seconds with a tiny 1.6 litre. With the todays advanced engine technology in a car that lightweight it is very possible. If Hyundai can have a 2.4l 200hp engine in a car the size of the sonata get 35mpg highway, imagine what they could do with a small 110hp direct injection engine in a car the size of a mini clubman without all of the weight. Better yet, a 1.6 or 1.8l diesel with 110hp and about 200lb/ft torque in a car as lightweight as the 1990's civic hf. I see 60mpg easy while being faster than that same civic hf. We can do it. If a 380+hp pickup can get over 20mpg on the highway immagine what a lighter 245hp one would do. back in the 90's only dodges 5.9 magnum and toyotas new i force 4.7l made 245hp. Everyone elses was less, and those trucks had plenty of acceleration. now a 300hp ford can't match the acceleration of the previous generation 4.7l in the tundra double cab.

Another thing they need to do is put regulations on pickups. There is no need for 400hp under the hood when no-one is going to tow 11,000 lbs with their half ton. With all of the pickups sold here in America, they are the ones polluting the most, and as long as there are no EPA regulations on them they will continue to increase hp to well over 400 when that is overkill. 300hp is more than enough. 245 was enough in the 90's with the dodge 5.9l magnum v8. Trucks are not sports cars, they are made to work. Next, 18 wheelers will be given 1500hp 20.0 litre engines when 13 litre 500hp engines pull just fine.

"...safety standards should be governed by commercial demand, not social demand."

This is why YOU are Canadian, sir!

American's want 60MPG? I can see that in San Francisco, but in the South where work trucks and SUVs are king, I doubt that's possible.

I say...Bull***t

I suggest a straight swap: all Americans swap their cars with China's bicycles. This would satisfy China's growing demand for cars and US's demands for better fuel economy with the added benefit of saving all the energy costs of vehicle production. :)

Unless anyone in North America can have a 0-4 sec, 60 mpg, 8 seater that can haul a 6 ton travel trailer I don't think they'll be all that interested in trading out what they have today or want tomorrow.

Wow most of the comments show so little inspiration and don't get the advantages to the US economy of reducing demand for oil. How about we ask the questions like this:

1. Would you prefer to give billions of dollars to dictatorships or see the US reduce its dependence on foreign oil?
2. Do you think the US would be safer if we cut our use of imported oil?
3. Do you think Auto manufacturers are more likely to find ways to increase fuel economy if set an ambitious goal or left to their own devices?
4. Do you want manufacturers to focus on increasing power and reducing acceleration times [which is basically what they did from 1985-2010] or focus on better fuel economy?

Not saying 65mpg is the right target just that the strength and safety of the US economy may be worth it.

Why not both. 8 second 0-60 is quick enough for most Americans. You don't need 300hp in every damn car. 190hp in the nissan maxima of the 90's was good for over 140mph top speed and great 0-60 times of around 7 seconds. Today's fat bloated compacts can't even do that with 190hp, let alone cars the size of the late 90's Maxima. 200hp is barely adequate today. Imagine if we had this kind of engine technology in the 90's. Imagine the fuel economy you would get from a 1.6 civic lx lith 115hp going 0-60 in 8 seconds and the 160hp civic si doing it in 6.9 sec. a 1,6l 160hp direct injection gasoline engine in the 90's civic would easily surpass 40 mpg, and a direct injected 120hp 1.6 would probably get close to 60 mpg and still hit 0-60 in 8 sec or less. Now apply that to a hybrid drive train and reduce the weight and you are looking at close to 60 mpg. Weight is the enemy. Cars need to lose weight. The internal combustion engine is about at its peak concerning efficiency. You need to lower weight so you can lower power without sacrificing acceleration.

I meant close to 50 mpg with a 1.6 gdi 120hp engine in a car the size and weight of a 90's civic, not 60 mpg

They just HATE the truth don't they ?

60mpg in FOURTEEN YEARS is the best we got?

Do Americans want automakers to make 60mpg cars? YES.

Will American's buy 60mpg cars? NO.