T he car is perhaps the closest thing Germany has to a national symbol. For this reason, the success of the auto industry and the happiness of motorists has long been a barometer for the standing of the Federal Republic. Since the beginning of the war on Iran, German news has been filled with stories about drivers. Journalists have filed breathless dispatches from petrol stations all over the country, reporting scenes of anger and frustration at the hike in fuel prices. The anger is understandable. Diesel rose briefly to over €2.40 (£2.08) a litre, a more than 50% increase on the price a year ago. Because the effects of the war have been quickly felt in the form of inflation, the crisis in the strait of Hormuz has revealed just how fragile the European economy is – although it is not the first time Europeans have been forced to learn the lesson of their energy dependency.…