>>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...
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>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.
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>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.
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>What are your fuel costs over there? Here in Vancouver, 89 octane gasoline is about C$1.40 / litre.

At the moment the cheapest unleaded around here is about £1.40 / litre. Diesel normally about 5/6p more. A few years ago diesel was substantially cheaper than gasoline in the UK - but when they decided that diesel engines weren't so green after all the government raised the duty. End result is that you probably get about the same costs per mile for both....

In most of Europe (at least the bits I drive in) diesel is still cheaper than gas....