5 Cars Sold in Europe that We Are Being Denied

Why Aren't These Cars Sold Here?

While the next couple of years are going to see a massive influx of new European cars into this country such as the utterly adorable Fiat 500 thanks to Chrysler's new Italian ties, for the most part the United States is usually denied access to the best vehicles that Europe has to offer.

For example, why do manufacturers who are represented in every market around the world such as Peugeot/Citroen, Renault, Seat and Skoda refuse to sell their cars here? And why do some European automakers who do sell their cars here hold back some of their best models? To know that, I suppose you would have to learn to speak Italian, French, Spanish, Czechoslovakian or German because the heads of these European automakers show no signs of telling us in English.

But which vehicles offered by these various manufacturers would most likely resonate with American buyers? Are some vehicles just too European to translate? Well, people thought the Mini would flop in the United States and we currently stands as the largest market for the itsy-bitsy premium hatch.

In 18 months I have no doubt that this country will also be gripped by yet another overwhelming automotive trend that I will pre-name 3F-Fever or "Fiat 500 fever." And during that time you will also see yet another miracle—actual lines of people waiting with cash in hand to buy something from a Chrysler/Fiat dealer.

Here are five vehicles and model lines currently being sold in Europe that show no signs of ever appearing on U.S. soil: