It may be too late for Ford (NYSE: F) to get back some of its market share in the U.S. It may have waited too long to offer a wide variety of small cars with good gas mileage.

But, the company refuses to give up the ghost, at least for now. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ford "is preparing plans to retool some U.S. plants to produce small passenger cars that the company has been making and selling mainly in Europe."

By using products that are already fully developed, Ford will cut its time to market with cars designed for an environment with high gas prices.

Making the plant changes necessary to manufacture the car will take over a year-and-a-half. Because the new product is not a hybrid, it does not help Ford offer direct competition to the best cars from Toyota (NYSE: TM).

Ford has a band-aide, but it will not work on a wound that is gushing blood.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Apparently rock musician Sammy Hagar is not one of U.S. Sen. John Warner's (R-Virginia) constituents.

Sen. Warner has suggested that the U.S. Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices, The Associated Press reported.

However, Warner has not specifically sponsored legislation calling for a roll-back to 55 miles per hour: he has only asked U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to research which speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology, and also wants to know if the Bush Administration would support a Congressional effort to mandate a lower speed limit, The AP reported.

Last 55 mph law: 1973-74

The United States last imposed a 55 mph speed limit in 1974, as part of an effort to conserve gasoline in response to the world's first oil shock, the 1973-74 oil crisis.

With the U.S. Federal Appeals Court of San Francisco's ruling that threw out proposed fuel economy standards, look for a renewed effort by the current U.S. Congress to pass new, tougher standards, possibly by year's end, a source familiar with various lobbying groups told Bloggingstocks.

Based in Washington and familiar with Democratic Party and energy-issue constituencies, the source told Bloggingstocks that some legislation, albeit minor, was now likely.

"Don't expect miracles, but the public sentiment and Congressional support appears to be there for a modest increase in CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standard," he said, speaking on condition that he not be identified by name. He added that to-date the Bush Administration has resisted raising the CAFE; if the administration does so again, it's unclear whether Congress would have the votes to override the veto.

General Motors Inc. (NYSE: GM) kindly sent me the promotional material I've been waiting for about the new Buick Enclave. As a life-long fan of GM (six Buicks, four Chevys, and one Jimmy thrown in), I greatly looked forward to getting a look at promotional materials for the well-crafted Enclave. While that little beauty met all my expectations in regard to looks, style, appointments, and detail, one particular issue has left me a bit deflated.

The 2008 Buick Enclave sports an overall mpg rating range of 16/24 for all types of driving. I would have overlooked the gasoline use issue if not for the fact that these promotional materials use the words "superior fuel economy " when revealing the numbers. This fuel economy rating applies to an "advanced" 275hp V6 engine, which I'm sure makes the Enclave a blast to drive, but my issue is this: I already get similar mpg numbers for my 1997 Chevrolet half-ton pickup with its 5.2 litre V8!

Really GM, it's not that I have a particular problem with the rating as it stands. The fact of the matter is, at a list price of between $32,000 and $37,000, anyone who purchases the Enclave is probably not too concerned about the price of gas anyway. My point here is this: if the company is not interested in stoking the fire under loudmouth goofballs like me who enjoy spewing our opinions, until the day GM puts out a half-ton pickup that gets 30 mpg in town and a crossover SUV that rates closer to 36 mpg, it would do better to reserve the words "superior fuel economy " for when it's speaking of GM's goals.

But that's just my opinion.