(FORTUNE Magazine) – -- PEHR GYLLENHAMMAR, 57, executive chairman of Volvo, on the possibility that the Clinton Administration will raise the gasoline tax: ''Compared with what Europeans pay, gas in the U.S. is practically free.''

-- NOBUHIKO KAWAMOTO, 56, president of Honda Motor, whose sales fell 4.3% in the U.S. and 9.3% in Japan last year, on how he views his company: ''I definitely do not think that Honda is an excellent company. In fact, the present Honda is ill. Success has led to 'large company disease.' For those ((employees)) who are inflexible and refuse to do what they have to do, the only option is to fire them.''