I have no sympathy for Porsche in this case. They will be better off owned by Volkswagen, then they can average out their fuel economy stats with small diesel sedans. Or they could produce a smaller lighter vehicle, essentially a Lotus Elise for the masses, and bring their stats up that way. Instead they complain that they are being picked upon because they produce vehicles with a short wheelbase.

It is like when BMW produced the M5 with the V10 engine. There was no excuse for that decision, you could essentially only drive from filling station to filling station as the mileage and range were so ridiculous. Force them to improve the mileage, and you actually end up with a better vehicle, with the twin turbo V8 in the case of the M5. Better performance and 30-40% improvement in mileage? Bring on the regulations that cause decisions like that. Consumers win.

Porsche's problem is that they haven't cared about efficiency for years. They only got with direct injection last year or so. They were too busy engineering colour coded brake calipers and contasting stitching on the leather, and sports chrono packages, instead of working to improve something that mattered.

Why shouldn't Porsche be a fuel efficiency leader? They produce high technology small cars with good aerodynamics. God forbid they should get at least average fuel economy.

I don't think it is like air bag exemptions. Those only matter once (for the first full frontal impact) and then the problem is resolved, the person that bought the vehicle and who didn't believe it was important is dead anyway, a sort of a Darwinian award resolution to the problem. Fuel consumption, on the other hand, carries on for the life of the vehicle.

The alternative to legislating improved fuel consumption would be to raise gasoline to world prices, and then some. You could let the market sort it out. However, since fuel is being priced ridiculously cheaply, legislating average fuel consumption is one of the few options open.

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue