I've driven a few cars over there
and I've noticed the same thing. They massively de-tune the engines in the cars, put big, wallowy suspension on them and fit an auto 'box that will change up well before you get into the engine's torque band. Very odd.

I guess they build them to be long distance cruisers, but coming from a country where cars are set up to be short geared and high revving, it does seem strange.
( Kroney, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 12:26, 1 reply)

My 2l turbo diesel car
is high geared, but because it's a manual I can extract the torque as I need it and it keeps going in top gear even on steep hills, if I'm going fast enough. But even huge American V8s seem to find a need to change down gears on motorway inclines. It shouldn't annoy me, but it does!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 12:33, closed)

1980s
Mustangs had de-tuned V8s that produced 140 bhp in povvo spec trims.
( Kroney, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 12:35, closed)

FFS!

( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 12:37, closed)

oh come on, be fair
the 5.7 V8 did at least produce 155hp...

Or less than the BMW 2.5 straight six of the same era :(
( Grrrmachine the indifference engine, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 15:06, closed)