Australian gov't to help GM, Ford fix fuel economy of large cars
The Australian auto market is an interesting beast. Many of the big players in America offer vehicles there which are completely different from what is available stateside. Ford and General Motors have continued to develop large, rear-wheel-drive passenger cars for the Australian market, and these have recently proven desirable in the states again. New fuel economy regulations, though, may put an end to the idea of importing Australian-designed Ford and Holden vehicles into America. In fact, even the Australians may find it tough to keep these vehicles on the road. Federal industry minister Kim Carr would like to help Holden and Ford make their vehicles more fuel efficient, which could mean an abrupt halt to vehicles like the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore in their current forms. Incentives are being provided which could bring engines like Ford's 3.5 liter Duratec engine to Australia, in both normally aspirated form and even equipped with the new EcoBoost technology. These direct injected and turbocharged mills produce gobs of power while offering a slight increase in fuel efficiency.
[Source: GoAuto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GenWaylaid 11:15PM (6/17/2008)
"gobs of power while offering a slight increase in fuel efficiency"
There, in a phrase, is what is wrong with the American auto industry's attempts to go "green."
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Peekoyle 8:26AM (6/18/2008)
We down here can see the writing on the wall for the Ford and GM plants unless they start making compact 4 cyclinder cars or hybrids.
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MikeW 12:16AM (6/18/2008)
Ford should be offering the 3.5 with direct injection, without turbos.
280hp on regular 91RON gasoline is pretty good.
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BGJ 6:28AM (6/18/2008)
Even the AU gov't is more concerned with USDM survival than our own gov't. At least AU gets it. When will our politicians wake up and realize that protecting our manufacturing industry is good for the country? Every other rational country does this. Oh, because we are run by lobbyists from global corporations. Hello fascism!
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