>>>On the emissions front - isn't most of the U.S. *way* behind California ?
>>>In much of Europe, and certainly in the UK, the cost of fuel, combined with tax breaks for 'cleaner' cars, would lead most people to regard U.S. models as a joke...
>>
>>California may be stricter than the rest of the US, but it's very much the tail that wags the dog. Its economy is comparable in size to Canada's, if it were an independent country it would rank pretty high up the list on GDP. And, for better or worse, it's regarded as something of a trend setter in the States, and even worldwide.
>>
>>With mass production being the way it is, it makes little sense to make "Cali-only" models; easier to make all US vehicles meet those standards.
>>
>>What are your fuel costs over there? Here in Vancouver, 89 octane gasoline is about C$1.40 / litre.
>
>95 octane between 1.60 and 1.70 € depending on 5% (more expensive) and 10% (less expensive)
>part of ethanol (worries with some older cars with higher ethanol%). Diesel ~20€ cents cheaper than
>gasoline, but with much higher yearly car taxes - that is coming from this years easter hike in Frankfurt.

Hmm, it looks like octane "ratings" vary between Europe and NA as well: http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/independent/2069.aspx

Maybe what you call 95 octane ( RON? ) is what we call 91 octane ( ( R + M ) / 2 ) ?

I was slightly off with the earlier quote - C$1.40 is actually for 87 octane. 89 is ~C$1.47, 91 ~C$1.55. Diesel is ~C$1.48.