But then, you can't really fault them. The government issues its fatwas – which aren't suggestions – and it is the job of the engineers to figure out ways to comply with the fatwas.

Hence, the becoming commonplace use of turbochargers and direct injection. Neither makes much sense except as measures to achieve compliance with federal fatwas, chiefly the one ululating that every new car must average at least 35.5 MPG and if not, its manufacturer will be caned in the public square.

Well, financially caned – via deliberately punitive "gas guzzler" taxes that are applied to the not-compliant cars. The taxes are passed directly to the buyer, who thus becomes less apt to buy – which renders it more difficult to justify making the car in the first place, particularly since its less-than-compliant MPG numbers weigh down the "fleet average" of the rest, risking more caning . . . er, fines.

So, turbos and direct injection.

Turbos used to be rare and used mainly to boost the power of diesel engines in heavy trucks and gas engines in high-performance cars. The additional parts could be justified because turbos were power adders, designed to make additional power in vehicles that were bought be people who wanted an extra dollop of horsepower.