http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09...be-brought-to/

I don't think this will ever happen thanks to the Safety *****, but it is a very good idea. Its not like Euro safety standards are not up to US standards.

 

If they can make the Smart for 2 up to safety standards, then you can make any small car meet the standards.

 

It would be a marketing disaster.

Outside of performance enthusiasts, saftey is a top priority for most car buyers.

Better idea, design the cars to meet the safety standards.

 

They will, but they won't show up for a few years. In fact many of the Euro GM cars now might, but it takes too long and cost too much to certify them to US standards.

 

I'd feel perfectly safe in a car that was validated to Euro safety standards; in some aspects, the Euro standards are substantially better. The US standards are more stringent for unbelted crash performance, so the mouthbreathers who don't like to wear seatbelts perhaps wouldn't be as happy.

I'd also be satisfied with the halt in post-crash safety standard evolution, as I'd like to see more emphasis put on pre-crash safety.

 

It's not worth the additional costs. They might as well make a whole new car at that point (which they normally do).

 

I've seen this article posted on some other non-GM forums and it's sick how much Lutz's wording is being twisted to make it seem like he's wanting to bring over untested death traps from Korea to sell to people who value mileage over their life.

 

When I read this thread title I knew there would be people like that. If this hits the big media airwaves it's going to make GM look atrocious...... "GM DOESN'T KARE ABOT ME AR MYE KIDZ!!!!"

 

Smart 2 isn't the gas sipper you would think it is.

 

The Euro standards ought to be given a green light here. I suppose that would reduce the red-tape workload, and what would be the fun in that?

 

Yes, I was quite surprised on how mediocre their gas mileage was. Those damn cars only get 36 average mpg. The gas mileage would have to be a lot higher to make me drive a beefed up grocery cart with an engine and a body.

 

Don't forget that premium is recommended. Why on earth would I feed a 70 HP engine premium? What merry band of engineers designed that lump?

 

To be honest, I haven't kept up on the NCAP standards and all of the other European crash stuff, so I'm not sure how they'd compare to what we have here in America.

But from what it looks like, NCAP standards are pretty stringent, so it would make sense that maybe we could bring over some of the small European cars. I personally wouldn't mind something like a little diesel Polo for commuting. When it's just commuting an hour a day, the GTI really is excessive--in both size and fuel consumption.

 

I'm sure that GM previously didn't mind differences in safety standards because they acted as a small barrier to entry in the US market.

So I don't really see this a question of "evil regulators", but just the process necessary needed adapt regulations to the current needs of the american auto industry.

 

Even if that was his intent, would it really be that evil? Really it wouldn't, it would help natural selection in probably the best way for our lifestyle. Everyone that's "green" would buy on instantly cause they're sheeple, they would lower gas prices cause they are using less gas on a large scale (if the market actually worked that way, but the general public thinks it does), we could continue to live our lives the way we like because our "carbon footprint" would be negated by theirs (even in their death if they died in the car). We'd be out of a bunch of environmentalists.

*I'm all for being responsible with use of stuff, but most "greenies" go overboard to ridiculous lenghts.