Alaska is one of those states and it isn't half as bad as you might be inclined to think. Of course, I didn't realize the Sunbird's front brake hoses were rotted out until one let go on me as I was pulling into a parking space, and someone in another state got life in jail for a stoplight drag race when his hoses let go and he couldn't stop for the next light, but I guess that's the thing about America. Where other countries put everyone in (metaphorical) chains in case someone somewhere is stupid, this one puts the onus on each individual to actively not be stupid. In the vast majority of cases, it works, despite the apparent declining intelligence of the general populace. The payoff is we don't have to have a government-certified inspector pore over our every modification at great cost of time and money, which is why car culture is so much more active here than in some other places. The way other countries do it sounds more appealing to fearful people, and while it might be "safer" in some circumstances it also leads to stuff like some states' regulations on how strong your windshield washer fluid can be, which to me is the very epitome of a dumb law: amazingly petty, probably ineffectual, and borderline unenforceable.
EuroNCAP ≠ Homologation tests. EuroNCAP is a voluntary rating system. Homologation tests on the other hand are mandatory, must be passed in the homologation phase of a new vehicle and are regulated by international standards, although requirements are known to be not as strict as those set by EuroNCAP.
Probably depends on the nation's way of thinking. Might work in US, but some slavs and eastern europeans would never repair or service their car properly unless persuaded by the government. Such people are a minority, of course, but even if 10% of cars on the road might fall apart at any minute, the situation will still be very dangerous. Russia is an example: they have inspections, but like everything in Russia, they can be bypassed with bribes (for extra $5 they will deem your car roadworthy without even looking at it), so few people pass them properly. Result: flying parts (most often wheels), cars and trucks with no brakes. (not all of these are from Russia and not all were caused by brake failure, but most are)
FORD. NO. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.motor1.com/news/237009/ford-mustang-based-electric-suv/amp/
Indeed, being voluntary, EuroNCAP score is more or less irrelevant in this sense. If it was mandatory and/or a requirement for homologation, cars would have to be tested before launch, not 2 years past the halt of production (the Punto is no longer being manufactured, what dealers are selling now is stock). FIAT is able to sell the Punto because it passed the regulation tests at launch. Worth mentioning that the Punto is structurally a 3-4 stars car even with the current EuroNCAP standards, score was zeroed due to some safety equipment not being standard on every export market (much like the 500X was awarded 4 stars while the structurally identical Jeep Renegade scored 5 stars, because of automatic brake assist not being standard across all the range of the former)
Based on documentation from the UK government, as long as you are selling less than 300 of them a year, you only need to pass their handbook in order to get clearance for UK roads, which doesn't look all that stringent . Which if they are a small scale manufacturer, could work for them. Of course that all depends on their production goals and whether they intend to sell them outside of the US at all.
I'd love to see an offroad Mustang, but it would have to be a real offroader, not something with 16 cm of ground clearance and automatic all-wheel drive. And it shouldn't be fully electric, of course. Imagine a cross country coupe that looks sleek and sporty yet puts most of crossovers to shame when it comes to offroading. Who wouldn't want it? However, it will probably end up being an electrified american X4.
This is literally the dumbest thing I have ever seen. It's like the bosses just told some people to "come up with creative ideas" and they couldn't come up with any so they just came up with something random and called it creative.
As much as the speculative render might look mad a bit over the top, I would expect it to just be another half baked and copy paste crossover if it comes to reality. It'll probably not be electric at that point either though.
This is kind of crazy, since it seems on the nose for off-roading, especially something like the GT-R.
Well, that's going to be interesting. Ford's done worse things in the past. *cough* *cough* Pinto *cough* As long as they make that a Mustang subsidiary while still producing the sports car, I don't see where it's a problem.
ZSD Nysa, socialist Poland's most popular heavy-duty commercial vehicle (mostly because it was often the only available). The early models were ugly as sin, and essentially an evolution of a 30s Dodge pickup truck design. '64 facelift. The later, the uglier. Finally, the '69 model came, with an OHV motor that could do something and a decent-looking front. It was still uncomfortable. And they ended up making the damn thing until 1993. You're still going to see some examples in small-town fire service, as restored tour buses, and once in a while, one is also bound to pop up on a junkyard.
It's like how the Lada Niva is still in production today. Also, I think that it was put into production for that long because like you said, it was often the only option.
