OT: how far we've come?, 35 years of non-progress Options

[lapuwali]

Hybrids are the buzzword now, and people marvel at how the latest Civic hybrid gets 50mpg.

Autoweek had a short article on the early Civics, which got 55mpg with a carb. 1.2L, 50hp, 1500lbs. Sure, they were slow, but they were described as still being fun to drive. The way most people drive modern Civics, I doubt they'd notice if they suddenly only had 50hp.

(yes, I know emissions are much better, it's quieter, it crashes better, yada, yada...)

[johnmhudson111]

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Mar 7 2006, 04:59 PM)

QUOTE (anthony @ Mar 7 2006, 01:47 PM) People keep mentioning diesels. The reason we don't make more diesels is because of the relatively high particulate emmisions. WAS the reason. I'm led to understand this has been fixed for several years in European cars (where they have LOTS of diesels), but hasn't appeared here, largely because the EPA is still using the same data you are to decide diesels are too dirty.

If I remember right the EPA is changing the regulations that concern diesel fuel to match or get closer to the European standard. The heavy truck manufactuers are having a number of issues getting engines to perform using the new standard.