This morning, I wrote a story about how the United States and Europe are potentially working on a trade deal where both parties might agree to lower trade barriers by accepting each other’s standards. Here’s what the White House said:
With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other’s standards.
We have no idea how this would play out because, as of publishing, no clarification has been given. But let’s have some fun. Let’s say a scenario happens where you can now import a brand-new European market car without having to convert it to U.S. standards. For the purposes of this exercise, the car has to be new and on sale in Europe right now. For this, we’re assuming the rule would not be retroactive. That means no Renault Avantimes or Smart Roadsters, sorry!
With those rules set, I have a couple of ideas for what I would buy. An obvious enthusiast pick would be the Alpine A110. I got to see one of these at the Lane Motor Museum, and I immediately fell in love. What I really like about the A110 is the fact that it’s not ridiculously overpowered and not bloated with all kinds of weight.
As MotorTrend once wrote, the A110 weighs an entire middleweight motorcycle less than a 2.0-liter Porsche 718 Cayman. It’s a small car that hits 60 mph in the low four-second range, hugs curves, and looks beautiful without all of the sharp creases and jagged edges that so many modern cars have. What’s not to love? Read Adrian Clarke’s review. I highly recommend it! I mean, he says, “It’s Sort Of A French Lotus But Better.”
The A110 is an easy pick, but what about regular cars? Admittedly, if given the chance, I’d probably try one of the new Smart electric crossovers. One of my life’s missions involves owning at least one of every Smart put into production. That means I’ll have to buy these “huge” Smarts, too. But honestly, these SUVs don’t even seem that bad.
Here’s the Smart #5, which I once said looked like a Jeep Renegade. I still think that, today. Now, this crossover thing is about the exact opposite of what a Smart is, but I’m sure I wouldn’t care, given its output of up to 638 HP. It even has nifty 800-volt architecture, 400 kW charging, and LFP batteries.
On the two-wheeled side of things, Europe also gets motorcycles that are apparently too cool for Americans. Let’s say that the proposed rule would include bikes. I would love to try out one of those new BSA Gold Stars and see if they’re just as fun to ride as a modern Royal Enfield.
I would also be more than crazy enough to try out the Italjet Dragster 700 Twin. I mean, who could say no to a sportbike in scooter clothes that has a top speed of 118 mph?
Here’s where I turn things over to you. Let’s say that, tomorrow, the American government says that you can now buy any new European car or motorcycle that you want. But it has to be new. What are you buying?
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