Why do U.S cars have larger engines than European ones?

Question

Obviousely there are a few European cars with big displacements but they are normally sports/exotic. In England most people refer to anything above 2 litres as large, Americans seem to think thats still tiny. I was wondering if driving conditions make it more economical for them to use larger displacement engines etc. please let me know.

Answer 1

just because Americans like big cars...part of the culture. Definitely nothing economical about it.

Gas prices may change all that soon.

Answer 2

The price of gas in Europe in 1960 was around $2.50.00 per gallon. Europeans think economy using smaller engines in their cars. The American government has been feeding the public a line for years, saying we need cars with better gas mileage, and computers to manage the system. In fact the cars today do no better mileage wise than they did 50 years ago. Euporpeans take pride in the products they produce, the last longer and give better service. The american public has become a throw away country, no pride in workmanship. One of the magor problems is, we wont selection when it comes to cars, we pay through the noise of this. Look at it this way, is it cheaper to produce 10 models of cars or 150, were paying for this choice. and getting very sorry products in return. We need to get out of the trash and garbage production, and start manufacturing real products again. I say to hell with cars that can do 0 to 60 in 4 or 5 seconds and run 100 plus M.P.H. Speed limits at the highest i"ve seen is 75. America has the skill and know how to make cars that would get over a 100 miles per gallon. America is asleep at the wheel. WAKE UP PEOPLE. Your being taken for a ride by our Goverment control on the auto industry.

Answer 3

In a word, evolution. All systems evolve over time depending on their environment. In the USA gas was always cheap compared to Europe so large engines were part of this evolution. An engine is nothing but an air pump so big inch engines don't need high rpms to make power. Butt loads of torque permitted two things; gear boxes with lesser number of gears, and large heavy vehicles. Even in the 30's there were enormous cars and trucks with equally enormous engines. In a nut shell, displacement = torque and rpm = horsepower, two entirely different animals.

Answer 4

Gasoline is much cheaper in the U.S. than in Europe. About half as expensive. This is partly because most countries in Europe have no oil, and have to import practically all of it.
Also, most European cities are much older than U.S.cities, and were built before cars existed. They have narrow streets that are not convenient for big cars. So people drive smaller cars with smaller engines.
In general, Americans like everything big. We are a big country with a lot more space and resources than European countries, so we build bigger houses, drive bigger cars and generally waste space and resources like oil. Eventually, we will run out of both, and habits will change by necessity.

Answer 5

The North American drivers have had the luxury of cheap fuel prices for years. I believe Europe has had higher fuel prices mainly to discourage the amount of vehicle traffic in the high density populated cities. We live in a hurry up, no time for anything society. With gridlock in our cities & freeways, the West is finally starting to care more about their environment & realize the amount of pollutants that are being generated on a daily basis. With our various terrains we have grown to love our V8 performance, although with increase in fuel prices, in the past couple of years, more & more consumers are going the rethink their transportation needs. It won't be long before the V8 engine becomes extinct with the development of Hybrid & methanol powered vehicles.
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Answer 6

A lot has to do with the American mid set. In the 1950's, we entered an era I call "Conspicuous Consumption".
What this means is, if so much is good, more is better, and too damn much ought to just about right.

Answer 7

Europe has a gas guzzling tax on cars the have an engine larger then 1.3L.

Answer 8

americans love speed and power and most of us were brought up with big cars so we like them.

Answer 9

maybe cuz many us americans care more for big things that look cool and sound cool rather than function or efficiency...

Answer 10

Because Americans love to waste gasoline at an incredible rate, as if it's a right.