| According to a new survey by JD Power and | | | | The short answer to this question is simple: |
| Associates, approximately one third of | | | | While the U.S. continues to sell its |
| consumers in the United States consider fuel | | | | traditional vehicles, other vehicles are |
| economy to be a key factor when purchasing a | | | | being bought and sold far from America, by |
| new car. With fuel economy, dependence on | | | | the same companies. |
| foreign oil, pollution, and global warming | | | | |
| weighing heavy on the minds of so many people | | | | Vehicles that can attain over 70 miles per |
| recently, it may be a surprise to learn that | | | | gallon have been sold in Europe and Japan for |
| in 1992, General Motors actually produced a | | | | many years. Recently, Volkswagen produced a |
| vehicle that achieved 100 miles per gallon | | | | vehicle called the "Lupo" that is a perfect |
| (MPG). | | | | example. This vehicle, which achieves 78 |
| | | | miles per gallon, likely will never be sold |
| In order to get a better idea of what General | | | | in the USA. For the 2007 model year, Honda |
| Motors has been doing for the last 25 years, | | | | has introduced the Fit to the US Market |
| it is important to first learn about another | | | | (known in other parts of the world as the |
| amazing vehicle: The GM TPC. The TPC (which | | | | "Jazz"). In Japan, the Jazz comes standard |
| stands for "Two Person Commuter") was able to | | | | with a smaller engine and a few fresh ideas |
| obtain 75 miles-per-gallon. It weighed | | | | to help boost fuel economy. In the USA, the |
| approximately 1000 pounds and resembled a Geo | | | | Fit doesn't have the smaller engine and isn't |
| Metro. GM abandoned the project vehicle, | | | | even an option. |
| which contained a frugal 3-cylinder engine, | | | | |
| when they needed to add another 200 pounds of | | | | Americans have always loved big cars, or at |
| reinforcement. This unfortunate turn of | | | | least that's what they tell us. They, of |
| events can be blamed on GM's need to comply | | | | course, are the auto manufacturers. This has |
| with America's then lax safety laws. | | | | nothing to do with conspiracy theories and |
| | | | everything to do with economics. When General |
| While the existence of such a vehicle may be | | | | Motors sells a giant truck or SUV, they make |
| shocking to some, what is even more shocking | | | | a lot of money. When they sell a small |
| is the existence of other prototypes made by | | | | two-person commuter, they make |
| General Motors that met the same demise. | | | | next-to-nothing. As a consequence of this |
| These vehicles included the GM Lean Machine | | | | realization, all that was needed have been |
| (80 MPG) in 1982, along with a number of | | | | broadcasts of a few finely focused |
| other fuel efficient vehicles like the GM | | | | commercials to the citizens of the richest |
| Aero-X, the GM Aero 2000, and the finally the | | | | country in the world. Manufacturers have |
| GM Ultralite (which had achieved 100 | | | | persuaded the citizenry that they absolutely |
| miles-per-gallon). While Honda was leading | | | | need these "Tanks on Wheels". Profits |
| the world with the Civic VX in 1992 | | | | skyrocket. To remind Americans that there are |
| (achieving 50 miles-per-gallon) the USA- | | | | no options, merely look at the fact that the |
| owned General Motors was producing 100 MPG | | | | options heave never been presented. |
| vehicles behind the scenes, all the while | | | | |
| selling 20 MPG vehicles to the public. | | | | General Motors had the chance to be the world |
| | | | leader in fuel economy, which it turned down |
| 100 miles per gallon is not only obtainable, | | | | to be the world leader in SUVs. GM is not |
| but it already has been obtained. | | | | alone, as every other auto manufacturer has |
| | | | produced similar vehicles over the last 25 |
| One obvious question must be asked. Why are | | | | years and denied the U.S. access to them. |
| these high gas mileage vehicles not available | | | | |
| for sale? Why do companies like General | | | | Americans should not only ask how they can |
| Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Ford continue to | | | | get better gas mileage, but most importantly |
| sell 30 MPG vehicles when something so much | | | | ask why they have never been given that |
| better was made before? The answer to that | | | | option in the first place. In a world where |
| question is, of course, a complex one. Market | | | | wars are waged over oil, more options should |
| analyses, surveys, polls, government | | | | be offered to a concerned public. Perhaps |
| regulations, and other red tape held back | | | | blowing the dust off of 25 year old blue |
| efficiency. | | | | prints is a good place to start. |
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