It's unfortunate that small cars are so undesirable in this country. According to this article:

Last month, at a Senate hearing on raising fuel economy standards, Trent Lott, the Senate minority leader, held up a picture of a purple Smart — another tiny, golf-cart-sized car popular in Europe. He hailed it as the terrifying European vision that tougher fuel economy regulations, since rejected, would impose on America. "This may be fine in Boston or Chicago," Mr. Lott said, "but it's not fine in Lucedale, Miss., or Des Moines or a lot of other places."

Pierre Gagnon, the president of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, said "I think there's going to be some appeal." But his company also plans to double its S.U.V. offerings from two to four by next year. "I just don't know if Americans are ready for that size of car in the long run," he said.

Terrifying? Not ready in the long run? I think we're in need of a drastic change in priorities around here. [via Amit]