Consumer Reports Minivans

New mileage standards show gas is here to stay

A blueprint announced on Friday by President Barack Obama would boost fuel economy requirements 53 percent by 2025. This target is unlikely, as some suppose, to prompt a dramatic ramp up in production of electric cars and hybrids, which are only a fraction of the U.S. sales market.

"Automakers will meet the standards by improving technology on the road today," said Brendan Bell of the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Bell, automakers and other experts say industry will accelerate development of cleaner burning gas engines, enhanced transmission systems, lighter materials — like stronger steel and alloys — and more aerodynamic designs.

These changes are already taking place as is a shift toward production of small cars to meet consumer demand and new government mandates in an era of high gas prices.

In particular, U.S. automakers, led by Ford Motor Co, have been working feverishly on making those changes after long over-relying on gas-guzzling trucks, SUVs and minivans. Big trucks, including full-size pickups, will have the hardest time meeting the new goals.

"The Detroit Three have finally and really discovered fuel economy and it's a real focus for them," BorgWarner Inc Chief Executive Tim Manganello told analysts.

Manganello, whose company makes turbochargers and other engine technologies, noted that getting better fuel economy, undoubtedly comes at a higher cost to automakers.

The backdrop for Obama's announcement at the Washington Convention Center included a General Motors Co Chevrolet Cruze, a 4-cylinder compact that is the resurgent U.S. automaker's best-selling car. Not present was GM's mostly electric Volt sedan, a production novelty GM promotes in Washington to draw attention to its efforts on fuel economy.

Obama is especially interested in more electric car production and developing improved battery technology as part of a green jobs initiative and a bid to reduce oil use.

Environmentalists warn of potential loopholes that could skew the new fuel standards program away from the most efficient fleet possible. But overall, industry has made good- faith efforts so far to focus on fuel saving improvements.

The emphasis has been to not subtract from many of the features that U.S. motorists want in their cars and help them sell, like engine performance, smooth handling, cargo space, and extras like motorist assist services and systems that enable mobile phone compatibility and GPS.

Hyundai Santa Fe: the Best Small Suv According to Consumer Reports ...

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Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide

Industry studies

Used Car Buying Guide 2007

Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide 2003

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