MY behemoth gets better milage than 4 mpg, but I love my SUV, except at the gas pump 
Better automotive technology and better fuels might be a help, if we can get Ford and GM motivated to make some changes before they go out of business.
Better automotive technology does exist, but it's still frowned upon over there.
How's a 3.0 litre turbodiesel V6, that pumps out 200 hp sound? And it does 45+ mpg easily. It was developed by PSA & Jaguar, so Ford *should* offer it in the states, but I guess they don't. If it's good enough for a Jaguar, it should sure as fuck be good enough for a Ford Fusion.
The same engine does 25 mpg in a Range Rover, which is heavy as fuck (2.5 tonnes) and about as aerodynamic as a pile of bricks.
[Comment was edited by beast on December 09, 2005 at 04:49:58 PM]
Problem is, American automotive engineers have been so sloppy and lazy for so long, insulated by cheap gas prices, that they don't know another way of doing things.
You're right, to an extent. But considering how much car companies are intertwined nowadays, getting some european technology shouldn't be that hard.. or hard at all.
Yup, sheer laziness. It takes 5 minutes to zip up a set of CAD files and e-mail them from Europe to Detroit, but they don't feel like it.
Howabout you actually do some research before pissing and moaning so much. Yeah the diesels in europe are spiffy. We don't have them yet because they require higher grade diesel than we currently have available. Laws are already passed requiring adoption of the better diesel fuel and the deadline is 2007. VW and Mercedes are already planning US product for then.
If you like your SUVs and want better mileage, might I suggest looking into the jeep liberty with the diesel engine option. It's been getting some pretty positive feedback.
beast
It's sad that you don't get modern european diesels in the states.
2.0 litre, turbodiesel by Volkswagen, fitted in most VWs, Seats, and Skodas will do ~130-140 hp, 0-62 mph in ~9 seconds, ~130 mph top speed, and will average >50 mpg, on a VW Golf / Seat Leon / Skoda Octavia / Audi A3.
Or, 1.4 litre, turbodiesel by Peugeot/Citroen - will do 62 mph in 10 seconds, push the car (Peugeot 206) up to ~120 mph, and do 65 mpg when driven sensibly.
Yeah, stick to your 4 mpg behemoth.