According to data from the Power Information network (PIN), US consumers are still buying the same proportion of new cars equipped with eight or six-cylinder engines, despite rising petrol prices.

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Another study, reported on just-auto, said that more US consumers were seriously considering vehicles that could run on alternative fuels to petrol.


PIN said that, in each of January, February and March of 2006, nearly one-quarter of all new vehicles purchased by consumers in the United States were equipped with eight-cylinder engines. In July, August and September of 2005, sales rates of eight-cylinder vehicles were 28%, 23% and 24%, respectively.


Sales rates of six-cylinder engine vehicles have also been constant. New cars and light trucks with six-cylinder engines have accounted for 40 to 42% of all new-vehicle retail sales during the past nine months.


“So far, the perceived [petrol] price increases have not had any discernable impact on new-vehicle buying patterns, at least with regard to the size of the engine,” said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at PIN.

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“[Petrol] prices are certainly becoming a popular dinner and water cooler discussion topic, but consumers appear to be conditioned to prices at current levels,” said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at JD Power Automotive Forecasting.


“We do not expect a significant change in the kinds of vehicles consumers purchase as a result. It is, and will be, all about choice for consumers. There are several smaller vehicle options coming, as well as fresh products in the full-size SUV segment.”