http://www.reghardware.com/2012/03/06/preview_peugeot_3008_hybrid4_worlds_first_diesel_electric_hybrid_car/
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>>>Good reviews. I don't think I've actually seen one on the road yet - and they are pretty pricey......
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>>I regularly read the Reg site, and sometimes check the car reviews there. There are lots of (to me) interesting models that don't make it over here, probably for a variety of reasons:
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>>- maker doesn't want to invest in a North American dealer network
>>- vehicles are "too small" for North Americans
>>- relative dearth of diesel filling stations for passenger vehicles
>>- diesels less popular
>>- cars may not meet some NA standards such as surviving front or rear low-speed crashes with no damage
>>- some diesels may not meet California particulate emissions standards. I know the original diesel Smart FourTwo failed the updated NA standards
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>Isn't it odd. Each of those points (or the contrary one) would also explain why Europeans rarely buy U.S. models:
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>maker doesn't want to invest in a European dealer network.
>vehicles are 'too big' for Europeans.
>petrol less popular (OK -ish)
>cars may not meet EU safety standards
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>On the emissions front - isn't most of the U.S. *way* behind California ?

Not so much anymore - but I do remember a time when the first thing you would see the minute you crossed the California/other state border was huge car saleslots. And the last thing a Californian would do before he moved out of the state would be to sell his car, because it was so woefully underpowered and he'd lose about 5000$ off the resale outside the state.

As far as diesel goes, in the last 5 years diesel fuel went from about 20 cents/gallon less than regular to 20 cents/gallon more than regular, at least here in Texas. That's another reason diesel isn't as popular here. And, on a purely personal note, some of us can't take the smell - even of the 'clean' diesel engines. In fact, I'd much rather be behind an older diesel that the owner has kept maintenance up on than one of the newer. It's a sinus migraine just waiting to happen.


>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...
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