US To Require That New Cars Get 42 MPG By 2016

Hugh Pickens writes "New cars and trucks will have to get 30 percent better mileage starting in 2016 under an Obama administration move to curb emissions tied to smog and global warming. While the 30 percent increase would be an average for both cars and light trucks, the percentage increase in cars would be much greater, rising from the current 27.5 mpg standard to 42 mpg. Environmentalists praised the move. Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, called it 'one of the most significant efforts undertaken by any president, ever, to end our addiction to oil and seriously slash our global warming emissions.' Obama's plan also would effectively end litigation between states and automakers that had opposed state-specific rules, arguing that having to meet several state standards would be much more expensive for them than just one federal rule. The Detroit News reported that automakers were on board with the new rule and had worked with the administration on creating a timeline for the transition." There's a case to be made that raising the CAFE won't save oil or reduce greenhouse gases.

Comments

Re:Mostly just for cars

[XDirtypunkX]

A friend of mine who is 6'8" and well over 300 pounds has no trouble in my 3 door Audi S3. That's a hatchback.

Sure, he has to adjust the seat a lot, but he fits no problems, passenger or driver.

Re:Well played, Mr. President

[Anonymous Coward]

As a past owner of both makes, I'll pick Toyota's quality and reliability over that of Volkswagen every time, thanks.

My last Toyota saw me through more than twice as many miles as the Volkswagen it replaced; and then went off to college for four more years with my son. Both were bought new, by me, so no possibility of neglect by previous owners or such.

The Prius isn't my first choice either. But I'll certianly not by a car again whose VIN doesn't start with a 'J'.

twnety year old civic gets 57mpg

[cowlum1]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/17/autos/honda_civic_hf/index.htm

I understand that safety is now a major concern and safety drags down mileage. But the numbers are not far fetched.

from the article

"The CRX HF got an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 57 mpg gallon in highway driving. Today, the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid Civic you can buy gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. Even today's Honda Civic Hybrid can't match it, achieving EPA-estimated highway mileage of just 45 mpg. The Toyota Prius, today's fuel mileage champ, gets 46 mpg on the highway."