OK, so a Jeep Patriot or a Chevrolet Impala qualify for a rebate, but a Honda Fit doesn't. That'll help, uh, someone.... Maybe Honda could add some lead weights to the Fit to make it qualify as a minivan.

Apples to oranges. That's the flex-fuel E85 regulation (for the Impala - I think the Patriot is just the most efficient non-hybrid SUV - though I could be wrong).

To make the Fit qualify, Honda just has to make it better (or add E85 capability). An optional taller 5th gear or final drive would put them over the top. (I'd rather see them do this than E85 - since you can't even get E85 most places.)

And it would reduce fuel consumption, which is the point of the exercise.

What I don't like about this whole rebate thing is that most won't make the EPA numbers but if you show documentaion that you can beat it in your own older car there's no break for you. I rather give a fuel rebate to someone in a fireflea that get's 70 mpg than a FF van that gets 17mpg.:mad: I guess it would be to easy to cheat and impossible to track but there are lots of older cars out there that will beat those numbers. Find a why to base it on actually numbers.

Yes, in an ideal world, our ScanGauges would all connect via WiFi to the government's Central Rebate Computer which would cut our efficiency cheques at the same time it calculates our road tax based on distance driven, and our fines owed to the police departments for speeding. ;)

But seriously - I think that, as in the US, the E85 rebate is a loophole which will be abused.

But I'm behind this efficiency-based carrot & stick system. I look at it this way: perhaps with this approach, in 5 or 10 years we may have more efficient "older" cars to choose from again (assuming consumers & manufacturers respond to it).

In the U.S., the consumers are responding(at least a sizable section of them), but the manufacturers refuse to produce something that will compromise sales of more profitable models.

The most efficient cars for the next 5 years will probably be the Prius and perhaps some form of TDi when VW brings them back here.

TheStar.com - Green rebate expected to fuel Toyota sales


more: https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/194225

Thinking about the Aveo/Wave question...

I just had a quick look, and the Daewoo Kalos (the same car in European and Asian markets) is sold with three smaller engine options than the 1.6 we get in North America. All 4-cylinder, they have 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5L displacements.

Surely one of these would let the car meet the $1K rebate threshold. GM could hike the price of the car by $500, and still undercut the Yaris by $500.

The more I think about it, the more I believe the action in response to this program will be in the price-sensitive econobox market. I'm sure that ALL the manufacturers selling 3 and 4 door hatches here already have EurAsian market engines they could offer that would move their car into at least the $1K rebate category.

In a ideal world you wouldn't have cradle to grave government and numb skull folks that believe in big brother. Sounds like the Big brother thing is alive in well in Canada.

I just wrote my politicians promising a war on my part if they dare do something stupid like this. I also advocate pulling our industrial interest out of Canada. And tightening up the borders.

The thought of this sickens me to my core. Things have to change... God knows they do. But to go to such government in your face orders. I just don't get it. Nor the people that support such insanity.

All this is going to do,, at least if it comes to the states is make a busted machine worse. I guess our neighbors up north love the sheep and the rock rule. Good luck sheep,, cause it looks like your government is squarely on the rock....

psy

Umm.........yeah?

MetroMPG -

Does this sound like a mild version of the Japanse "Kei car" class to you?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car

Based on what you said, the law would encourage automakers to offer smaller engine displacements.

CarloSW2