I think this new standard includes SUVs and light trucks. You mean have them all at the same number?

 

I mean a mandatory minimum for all non-commercial vehicles which is higher than what it already is.

Yah BMW stopped selling the 318 in the US a while back. According to the Wikipedia the smallest engine you can get now is the 3-liter 6 with 215 hp.

 

Is that just a supply and demand thing? Do Americans feel the need to have more powerful cars than Europeans? Or is it simply that that Europeans are more careful about fuel economy because of higher fuel prices? Or something more sinister...?

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090427/carnews/904279995http://

 

I think BMW's niche in America was not to be economical. Americans who buy BMW's weren't buying them for better gas mileage, but for premium perfomance. If they want a small engine, they will buy Japanese.