One of the things a car nut like me finds out early on is that the US doesn't really get the coolest cars produced in other countries. We don't get any Alfas, Citroens, or Lancias, and most of the really "soopa" Japanese gear is simply beyond us. Occasionally I've been involved in conversations about what, exactly, would be required to bring a car in to the US. Now I've found the last word on importing:

NHTSA guidelines
EPA guidelines

Yup, you have to satisfy two different agencies, and they have completely different rulesets and requirements. Hey, there's a reason you can't just drive it onto a boat in Europe (or Japan) and drive it off in the US.

And don't think you can fool these guys either... according to an Alfa guy that works for Ford the inspection people in both agencies are car nuts and know their stuff. Trying to pass a 2002 Nissan Skyline off as a weird looking Sentra just won't cut it.