Now it is for us to decide, is the future of autos the gas guzzling SUVs with price tags of $30-98K USD or is it modest conserver vehicles that save the environment?
BTW, with americans now being the fatest nation in the history of mankind, they might have to go on diets to even fit in this vehicle. No kidding or jibing intended, average wieght of adults in usa has increased 50# in past 20 years.
These vehicles will catch on in the n.american market only under 2 conditions, oil will have to hit $200Bb, a recession bordering on depression will have to hit american consumers in the wallet and waistline.
I am an average, active healthy educated male and still gained 10Kg over the holiday season, its compelling when food is nearly free and widely available at every sitting.
We are in a society of excesses, we are now at the overabundance, what the future holds is widely uncertain but i think inflation will soon become a major factor.
Personally, i would go on a diet and buy this type of vehicle as i am concerned about the permanent and irrivocable damages we in n.america are doing to our air, soils and water.
I just did a stint at the athebasca tar sands. They do not allow you to take pictures of syncrude or its surroundings. A team is hired just to clean and dispose the wildlife that daily dies after drinking the water or trying to swim in it. That team is kept busy 7 days a week and is comprised of 12 members.
Just looking at the 'tar pond' backwash system makes you want to puke, fresh water fish caught 100 miles (60Kms) away stink of gasoline, moose and deer taken 200Kms away are found to have tumors and cancers at age 2.
Cancer rates of sands workers and residents are 35 times the national average.
An enviromental disaster is being allowed so that america can shop at walmart and drive rediculously large cars. In a "free & open" society cameras are inspected by oilsands security teams and pictures deleted.
The media in canada and the USA sends messages about china being a major poluter, yet they ignore disasters in their own yards.
Things have to change, smaller cars are the first step.