>http://www.reghardware.com/2012/03/06/preview_peugeot_3008_hybrid4_worlds_first_diesel_electric_hybrid_car/
>>>>
>>>>Good reviews. I don't think I've actually seen one on the road yet - and they are pretty pricey......
>>>
>>>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:
>>>
>>>- 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
>>
>>Isn't it odd. Each of those points (or the contrary one) would also explain why Europeans rarely buy U.S. models:
>>
>>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
>>
>>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.

Sometimes it gets up to a +50 cent/gallon differential. The only reason being padding the oil companies profits. They know commercial trucking is even more hostage to whatever the price is than the general (stupid) public.

>
>
>>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...
>>