How different are US reqs for cars from Euro ones?

[Roadster44]

On follow up of TV tuner subject. I want to know everything...safety, emissions, etc etc.

[SHEPO]

Well somehow Euro-spec cars always end up looking better than the U.S.-spec ones. I don't know why. Even if they're almost exactly the same, they look better. AHHHHHHH!!!

[PinzVidz]

I believe American cars have more powerful firing front airbags to compensate for the majority of American idiots who don't wear seatbelts? The Euro spec ones wouldn't fire as hard.

[Roadster44]

I also see that a lot of US spec cars from EU tend to have higher suspension due to poor roads here, and high curbs. Look at the GTi US vs EU spec.<p>Also there are some lighting laws...case in point is Phaeton, it is not allowed to have rear fog lights. <p>Personally I believe all safety regs in Japan, US, EU should be as close as possible to lower costs to regionize a vehicle.

[Superfresa]

Not a criticism, but in Europe cars are made to have to handle on tight winding roads very often, where as in the USA, relaxed cruising and acceleration is more relevant, hence theres a different focus on the way they produce their cars.

[Jim Davidson]

Main differences are crash and emissions legislation. <p>However, one of the best pieces of US legislation in recent times is for occupants in the boot (sorry, trunk) of cars so that they are provided with a flourescent emergency escape handle!!!! SUV's are exempt. Hahahaha... Does this happen a lot over there? Luckily Even the EU commission haven't dreamt up anything near as daft as that YET! Although there was something about bovine ear tags...<p>One affect on design considering NA vs EU, is pedestrian impact legislation. There is currently none in NA which I reckon puts EU cars for sale in NA at a disadvantage (bigger front overhangs)! <p>Also, for similar reasons, the bonnet leaper is still on Jags for NA but not for EU.

[MitzXJ220]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Jim Davidson</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Main differences are crash and emissions legislation. <p>However, one of the best pieces of US legislation in recent times is for occupants in the boot (sorry, trunk) of cars so that they are provided with a flourescent emergency escape handle!!!! ...<p>Also, for similar reasons, the bonnet leaper is still on Jags for NA but not for EU.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>*Puts on best cockney accent* Damn, no more locking muppets in the boot!!!<p>About the leaper on the bonnet, don't Jags sold in Asia-Pacific come with a spring loaded leaper that moves if you run somebody over. I know that Arden have been selling something similar in the EU for a long time.

[Jim Davidson]

The NA leaper spins around abit too, but guess there are also break-off loads to consider in Euro req'ts. <p>I guess Jaguar probably don't want to buy an EU compliant leaper from Arden either - that assumes that the Arden one actually does... (sure it does otherwise they'd be in plenty of bother!)

[Roadster44]

lol Yes the best regulation US could come up with was the inside trunk release. I'm sure all the mafia guys are disabling them. We also have this two-stage airbag system, which I admit is a step forward.

[Jim Davidson]

a step forward unless you happen to be the MD / CEO of Lotus, Ferrari, Morgan or Maserati etc...

[Roadster44]

Of course...I think its silly to require low-volume manus to install these. I would never think of Elisa, F430, *gasp* Veyron as children carriers.

[syclone]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Roadster44</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also there are some lighting laws...case in point is Phaeton, it is not allowed to have rear fog lights.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Anyone know what exactly the deal is with rear fog light regulations in the US? I know that we don't get the combination of one reverse lamp and one rear fog lamp, but I know some cars do or did have rear fog lights. The previous gen A6 springs to mind since some of them had the fog lamps flanking the plate, and as I recall they were controlled via a switch on the dash.<br><A HREF="http://imageshack.us" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/6602/dcp0759ho5.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><br>

[Cozz]

Rear fog lights are allowed in the US if that's the question.<p>Windshield glass are also different spec.

[Nurburgring]

Headlight reflectors are required in North America and vice versa for the other markets. Canada requires 8km-impact resistant bumpers whereas the US, I think, the bumpers dont have to be that much resistant.

[Blackraven]

Am I allowed to bump this thread?

Anyhow, I think Canada requires Daytime running lights on ALL cars (whereas it is optional on other markets).

Btw, regarding the rear fog lamp thingy. I dun think there is a case (yet) where a country bans/forbids such. Hence, probably the reason why Lexus models have these as standard (even in American, Japanese and even the Asia-Pacific versions; not just in Europe).

Just sharing :)

[Mr. Fusion]

The UK motorists will have to start using daytime runing lights in 2011 since it'll be the law. I think rear fog lamps improve safety for night-time driving in adverse weather conditions like the recent snowstrom we have had or rain, so IMo it's just as important as daytime running lights.

Northern Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland & Norway, Czech Republic and some other EU nations require daytime lights due to low light levels.

[anonms]

Headlight reflectors are required in North America and vice versa for the other markets. Canada requires 8km-impact resistant bumpers whereas the US, I think, the bumpers dont have to be that much resistant.

in the US, it's 5 MPH. No clue how fast that is in km.

[Losna]

in the US, it's 5 MPH. No clue how fast that is in km.

5 MPH = 8 km/h


Omologation safety test in USA, with regard of being HIT FROM THE REAR, are much stricter than european one.
Sitting in the backseat is safer in USA than in Europe.

[Puffhead]

We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.

you forgot the bottle of Spumante, Asti boy!!!

[mario_128]

Why not just make laws the same world wide

[Losna]

you forgot the bottle of Spumante, Asti boy!!!

I doubt Joliet Jake & Elwood even knew Spumante..... they were more about FOUR fried chickens (and a Coke) and dry white toast... ;D

[Rob]

Why not just make laws the same world wide
Every country is different, and they all have different laws, priorities and requirements.

[boston]

The EEC countries are uniform, or close to it. The US is uniform (Canada has some preferences ) Every other country has its own regs.

The question is FAR to big and complex to be covered here. Auto companies that export (for the most part NA manufactured cars are not exported outside NA) spend millions a year adapting their vehicles to satisfy local regs.

[eightballsidepocket]

I'll tell yah who or what keeps us U.S. folks from having an abundance of fuel efficient European turbo charged diesels..........................
CARB = California Air Resources Board!

This agency is a home grown California emissions compliance/rule making entity that is as bloated as the U.S. IRS.

At this time if all of your U.S. states were to follow Federal EPA emissions guidelines, we would get to enjoy the new clean turbo diesel cars, that Europe has to offer, and also our domestic vehicle manufactures could be making them too.

Only one vehicle is 50 state compliant as a diesel, and that is the VW Jetta TDI.
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Americans have this problem with thinking in the past and not what is changed in the present. Their biggest gripe is noise, smell, shakey engines, and lack of power, regarding diesels, which have all been remedied.
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California uses it's CARB agency as a political power type tool, and now has roughly 16 other states that are nose-ringed with them and observe CARB regulations.
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Both domestic and foreign vehicle makers are presented with a problem that equates to monumental costs. They must spend much money on R&D to make their vehicles Fed. EPA compliant for emissions, but to sell these vehicles to California's sweet CARB 16 states they must spend additional R&D in the many-millions of dollars to meet these incrementally higher standards.

What is unfortunate, is that the Federal EPA emissions requirements are very stringent and would be positive for California. True, there was a time when California was the only state with very strict emissions rules, and the Fed lagged way behind, but that is not the case for many years now.
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Bottom line, California's CARB requirements are robbing folks in other states of owning some real nice cars that would most likely be hear if they just had to meet one Federal emissions requirement.
*******
Manufactures can only spend as much money on passing emissions as they can "recoup" in sales and then go above that with more sales to make a profit out of that vehicular platform.

California's CARB agency has crushed that possibility, with adding additonal and prohibitive costs to vehicle manufactures to meet two separate emissions standards.

Also the 35 MPG fleet average requirements coming up in the near future are ridiculous. Where does that put larger vehicle, that are designed for towing and heavy work... i.e. P.U. trucks.
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[Blackraven]

Sorry to bump this up:

In some places in the United States, cars don't have front license plates while some do.

My question is:
I seem some USDM Nissan GT-R vehicles imported here (via parallel/grey importers) which don't have license-plate holders in the front.

Question is: How can you attach front plates then?