There's a tradition at the New York Auto Show held annually around Easter, which is the US' big showcase for performance and luxury cars.

美國有個傳統，就是在每年復活節左右會舉行盛大奢華的紐約車展。

The area is after all rich in well-paid professionals looking to turn their bonus checks into high performance playthings.

現場擠滿領著高薪的人們，努力把年終獎金支票換成高價的玩具。

And big cars, particularly sports utility vehicles have enjoyed a fast rise in sales in the last 18 months.

體積較大的車，特別是帶有運動效能的車輛的銷售率在過去的１８個月以來急速攀升。

Falling fuel prices have made consumers forget about the cost of running them.

油價下跌使消費者以為開車都不用錢。

But this year's New York show also betrays signs of a factor that's pushing auto-makers in another direction.

但今年的紐約車展又背棄了原本的市場，將製造商導向另一個方向。

Government rules introduced in 2012 obliged US car makers nearly to double their vehicles average fuel efficiency by 2024.

政府於２０１２年立法強制美國車輛製造商將燃油效率提升到近兩倍。

Vehicles unveiled in the first day of this year's New York show were consequently a strange mix.

紐約車展第一天展出的車輛因此形成了一個衝突的混搭。

There were futuristic highly efficient vehicles like a new version of Toyota's Prius Hybrid.

那裏有充滿未來感的高效能車輛，就像是新一代的豐田普銳斯混和動力車。

There were also vehicles that would be just as at home on a race track as in an urban street, and road hogging-behemoths.

也有大型的跑車，讓你可以在都市街道奔馳。

It's not clear how many people will buy the greener vehicles.

有多少人會出手購買較環保的車輛尚屬未知。

We have not seen people buy alternative fuel vehicles, um... hybrids as much EVs(electric vehicles).

還沒有人購買替代燃料的車．．．嗯油電混和車。

But there may come a turning point in that, I don't know when that will be?

但是未來可能會有個轉捩點，我不知道甚麼時候會發生。

And there may have to be more government incentives.

可能需要更多的政府力量來促使。

To make that work, infrastructure changes have to be made especially for EVs.

要成功的話，必須從基礎構造改變開始，特別是電動車。

I don't know when that turning point is, but we certainly are seeing more electrification of vehicles and the tide's got to shift at some point.

我不知道何時會遇轉捩點，但是我們確實看到了越來越多的電動車，潮流已經在改變。

The clearest example of the resurgences of the big SUV was the unveiling of a new version of the Lincoln Navigator.

大臺的運動型多功能車的復甦最明顯的例子就是新一代林肯領航員的問世。

A SUV so vast and luxurious that when it first came out, rappers like to brag about owning one.

如此大又豪華的運動型多功能車剛上市得時候，擁有一台這樣的車是可以拿來炫耀的。

Yet the chief executive of Ford, Lincoln's parent, insist even this fast beast has been put on a diet.

但是福特，林肯的首席執行長，堅持就算這頭奔馳的野獸也曾節食過。

What's under the hood of this concept is a 3.5 liter V6 engine. That puts out 400 horse power.

它的引擎蓋下裝載的是三點五公升的Ｖ６引擎，足足有四百馬力這麼強。

So traditionally in a vehicle this size, you'd have to put V8 engines or larger.

所以傳統上來說，這麼大台的車至少要裝載Ｖ８引擎。

So clearly we wanna make sure in all of our vehicles and their respective segments,

所以很明顯我們想要確保我們所有的車輛、它們的每一個部分，

they're either the best or among the best in terms of fuel economy in the segment.

不是最頂級的也要和其他頂級高經濟效率燃料並駕齊驅。

Car makers in the US face a conflict between what they want to do and what they need to do.

美國的汽車製造商正面臨他們想做甚麼以及該做甚麼的矛盾。

What they want to do is meet resurgent consumer demand for expensive profitable sports utility vehicles.

他們想要做的是滿足回頭客的需求，給它們高單價高利潤的運動型多功能車。

Like this Lincoln Navigator.

就像林肯領航員。

What they need to do is to satisfy strict new US government fuel efficiency standards.

他們必須做的是要滿足美國政府新的燃油效率標準。

And to do that, they need to sell an awful lot more highly fuel efficient vehicles like the new Toyota Prius Prime behind me here.

要達到標準他們就必須賣一大堆高燃油效率的車，就像我身後這台豐田普銳斯混和動力車。

The good news is that with US auto sales running at boom levels, car makers can afford to satisfy their desires and do what they have to.

好消息是美國汽車銷售市場如此興旺，製造商可以負擔的起滿足他們的慾望和義務。

The bad news is that with fuel prices at such low levels,

壞消息則是油價如此跌落谷底，

the exciting green cars on display here are going to be very rare sights on the roads indeed.

展場上令人興奮的環保節能車上路的機會應該不多。

Robert Wright, Financial Times.

Robert Wright　金融時報

New York International Auto Show.

紐約國際車展。