TO THE EDITOR:
Regarding “Ford to add ‘affordable’ nameplate by 2022,” autonews.com, April 17: One of the best vehicles I have ever owned — for utility, fun, reliability and such — was a Ford Fiesta ST. I would buy another today if I could get it with lane monitoring, adaptive cruise control and automatic braking. One of the best rentals I have had was a Ford Fusion Hybrid with those electronic features. Why is Ford leaving those of us who have enjoyed their cars?
The SUV and pickup binge by American buyers was a regulatory perversion — 1970s rules exempted light trucks from many safety standards and allowed them weaker fuel economy and emissions limits — that made those vehicles artificially profitable. Those oversize vehicles have ruined driving in the U.S. Because of that profitability, the auto companies promote these terrible trucks over cars. I don’t look forward to our automotive future.
CARL NASH, Washington, The writer works in automotive safety research.
