BMW X1 coming to America in 2011, diesel a possibility, up to 45.2 mpg (U.S.)
BMW will be watching the changing U.S. market, regulations and fuel prices and make a final decision on U.S. engine choices closer to the launch date.
Take note: Whether we get the high-mileage version depends, not on market conditions, but on government regulations.
We no longer have a free market. We probably haven’t had one for a long time. Thanks, Dems and GOP!
Submit to Stumbled Upon!
Actually, this type if Gubmint-driven stupidity has been going on for a very long time - for most makes/models of vehicles made (primarily) anywhere outside the U.S., for at least 20 - 25 years, many makers have either restricted what they would sell in the U.S. market or simply not chosen to compete at all in the U.S., based upon Gubmint regs.
Simple reason: The regs in the U.S. make it unprofitable to sell here - the foreign makers can meet emissions/mileage/safety requirements elsewhere at less cost, so they either ship only their highest-profit, highest-priced models (where they can absorb the added costs) or models that they already know will pass the regs - or they ship nothing at all.
Result: Many higher-mileage-getting models never get offered here - since those are nearly always the ones that are either lower-profit for the makers and/or aren’t able to pass the regs while still making money for the manufacturers…
Some of the regulations make sense (regarding basic safety, to a point, etc.) - others are just stupid (regarding minimum mileage-per-gallon, certain kinds of maximum-allowable “emissions”, etc.)