We’ve already seen that cars and trucks are different around the world, but exactly how different are they?
In short, there is a range for how different a car can be within the U.S. market versus everywhere else that vehicle might be sold.
That range of differences can be very minor to so large that they dramatically affect a vehicle’s driving dynamics and appearance.
To show you what we mean, let’s take a look at the 2015 Ford Mustang. 2015 was the first time that Ford actually offered its famous pony car in the European market.
The differences between the U.S. spec and European spec Mustang are minor but noticeable. Most have to do with safety and emissions regulations.
It’s a perfect example just because most people – even those who aren’t into cars that much – are at least familiar with the mustang brand.
The most notable difference, of course, is that Mustangs sold in Europe are right-hand drive. This should come as a shock to nobody since many European countries drive on the right hand side of the road.
Other major differences for the European spec Mustang include less horsepower output, a different final drive ratio, clear rear taillights, and the lack of hood vents, certain lights and reflectors, as well as the inability to add Recaro seats as an option.
All of these differences have to do with varying safety or emissions regulations between countries.
But, this is only the Mustang… what other things are different about vehicles in the U.S. market as opposed to the rest of the world?
Let’s once again break down the three main areas in which vehicles differ from market to market:
Regulations:
We’ve just seen some of the ways in which the Mustang is different in Europe than in the United States. And, most of those differences have to do with tighter or looser safety and emissions regulations.
Both the lack of hood vents and larger side mirrors in European Mustangs conform to different safety standards for European spec vehicles.
The decreased horsepower in European models is due to an emissions regulation that requires a different exhaust manifold. It’s also a little different because of the right-hand drive layout, requiring the slight modification of parts for fitment.
In general, Europe and other countries have different crash test standards, different – most often stricter – emissions standards, and a bunch of other smaller scale regulations that add up to make vehicles much different around the world than they are in the U.S.
Many studies have been conducted to try and show how beneficial it would be to combine all standards into one generally-accepted set of standards throughout the world.
One day that may happen. It would greatly benefit both automakers and us as the consumers as it would offer lower consumer costs and more flexibility within the industry.
Infrastructure:
The most obvious difference in vehicles from various markets has to do with the infrastructure of each market and country – that being the side of the road on which people drive.
It’s unlikely that this would change to a universal system as much more would be involved than just flipping a switch and having everyone in the world now drive on a single, certain side of the road.
Countries have done the same thing for years and years now, and because of that, everything is built around a certain way of life, both in the business world and in own our personal lives.
Should a universal system of same-side driving ever be accepted, it would affect things like mail delivery, parking, and even things like restaurant drive-thrus, all of which would cost huge amounts of money to revise.
Culture:
Culture, though not mandated through any regulation, plays a huge role in what and how people drive throughout the world.
It’s also largely intangible and immeasurable as culture has to do with more than just data.
It’s a calculable fact that markets outside of the United favor manual transmission vehicles over vehicles with automatic transmissions. Sales numbers prove this.
The thing that can’t really be calculated by a straight set of numbers is why that’s actually the case.
Trends can be measured throughout the years. Preferences by certain markets can be tracked. Outside influences can be seen that would shed light on the question of why, but the answer ultimately comes back to the old saying, “to each his own”.
So what are some of the cultural vehicle differences between the United States and the rest of the world? There are a few that stand out.
To make it simpler, we will compare three of the largest, most influential markets in the world: The United States, Europe, and Japan.
Size:
The overall size of vehicles across various markets is one of the differences that comes to the forefront. American vehicles have always had a reputation of being overly large, even if it isn’t as much the case anymore as it used to be.
The term “land yacht” used to hold much truer in years before the global fuel crisis in the 1970’s than it does now. Safety regulations and heavy batteries are once again increasing vehicles’ sizes as a whole, but the American vehicles of the 60’s and 70’s sent this perception to the forefront.
Even now, smaller vehicles are more widely accepted, bought, and used in countries other than the United States.
Large pickup trucks and huge, three-row SUVs still play a prominent role in American culture. While smaller cars like the Ford Fiesta, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris are bought by Americans, they just aren’t quite as popular and well-suited for outside-the-city driving.
Japanese manufacturers have traditionally made some of the best small vehicles on the road, with their famous “Kei” cars famously setting the bar.
Design:
Design language is another difference across markets that is quite noticeable.
European vehicles, especially Italian ones, are known to be very beautifully designed. United States and Japanese manufacturers have made beautiful vehicles before, but not the extent of the European automakers.
Rather, they take the “form over function” approach much more often while European markets emphasize beautiful design over other areas.
Jaguar, Bentley, and Aston Martin have all produced some of the most handsome vehicles of all time – all are British manufacturers.
Ferrari, Bugatti, Lancia, and even Porsche have produced several of the world’s most beautiful vehicles while Maserati and Lamborghini both have their own models in the conversation.
Perhaps the most forgotten manufacturer that has produced some of the most beautiful vehicles ever is Alfa Romeo. To this day, they still produce some stunning vehicles.
Quality:
Because of the massive amount of competition present in the market today, quality has taken leaps and bounds forward in all markets.
But even today, the emphasis in quality can be seen in different areas of each of these three markets.
The United States manufacturers are usually more concerned with what runs the car or truck. Creature comforts and interior materials might be a little farther behind than other manufacturers within other markets.
Durability, strength, and power are all hammered home in the U.S. market, especially when it comes to trucks.
European vehicles are known for their quality materials and over-engineering, especially in Germany.
“Class” is the keyword, with beautiful, high-quality creature comfort luxuries available in many models from Audi, BMW, and Aston Martin. Mechanical durability and reliability isn’t always the highest priority.
Japanese vehicles are often designed to be ergonomically sound, simple, and tremendously reliable.
Some of the most inexpensive and notoriously reliable vehicles in the world are Japanese. They make cars that work well without making too big of a splash in any other area of vehicle design.
Performance:
It’s often said that American’s make cars that are fast in a straight line. Really what that means is that the U.S. automakers generally make higher horsepower vehicles with a lesser emphasis on handling.
European manufacturers make vehicles that are more capable of handling very well around a curvy track or country road.
Japanese manufacturers have done a little of both, making vehicles that can handle well, while also making vehicles that are ultra-tunable to basically perform the way their owners make them perform.
Performance is another area which has evolved with the modern times. It is generally greater in emphasis throughout the world than it used to be due to consumer demand.
All of these difference gaps used to be far greater in the past than they are now, largely because of the constantly changing world in which we live.
Technology has grown, needs have evolved, and vehicles have both improved and gotten worse in various areas of design and function.
Economic impact has changed vehicles.
Political leaning has done the same.
Yet, cars and trucks are still being produced, because the need is still there for transportation to and from the places we need to be.
Now more than ever before, many of these differences transcend markets. A level playing field is being built to offer quality vehicles to everyone in the world from every manufacturer.
But, there are still vehicles being produced overseas that we don’t get here in the United States. There are also vehicles being produced here in the States that aren’t available in Europe and Japan.
That will always be the case, but that also means that somebody, somewhere in another part of the world might be missing out. Next week, we will take a look at some of those vehicles that don’t get to cross the border.
