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Originally Posted by rick3000
^ They can be great except for the classic engine sound, and manual transmission.
I would like to see what happens, perhaps Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, and other hi-end sports car companies will lobby for exemption, from the green laws because they make up such a small percentage of the auto industry.  |
1) Ferrari is owned by Fiat.
2) Lotus is owned, iirc, by Proton, an Indonesian conglomerate
3) Porsche has a controlling interest of VW which DOES make Porsche a major automanufacturer
So none of these companies is, exactly, a "cottage" industry.
It will be interesting to see how/when/if Porsche lobbies the EU for any concessions. Right now, concessions are looking slim.
Porsche says they won't build diesels (which would be perfect for the Cayenne and Panamera) which then leaves them with "hybrids" to clean up their act, so to speak.
In europe, the big deal is your "carbon footprint" (as opposed to Fuel consumption).. that is a big problem for 400-500hp 6/8/10 cylinder motors to reduce.
Sure it will be tough times. Those who remember the 1970s recall how you went from 400hp Muscle cars one year to 150hp "muscle cars" the next. Their will always be changes.
* Full electric isn't the answer either.. how will you generate the electicity? nuclear, coal, natural gas? wind? solar? somewhere, somehow, you have to build that infrastructure to support "pluggin in" 20 million cars.