[Pearls Before Swine]

New CAFÉ standards will increase the cost of buying a new car by $3,000

I wonder if these standards are even feasible or physically possible without forcing the great majority of future cars to be like motorized roller skates, like the "Smart Car".

[Sacajaweau]

I don't think its possible. Lighten that load and you'll be all over the place....perfect for our northern winters....yeh right.

Government is stuck on stupid.

[Road Glide]

“I wonder if these standards are even feasible or physically possible without forcing the great majority of future cars to be like motorized roller skates, like the “Smart Car””

I recall something Chief Engineer Scotty told Captain Kirk:
“Cap’n, ah cannot change the laws of physics!”

Apparently the EPA believes such changes can be made at its diktat.

One of the first things President Romney should do when he reaches office is to request Congressional legislation striking down these new EPA regulations, with the promise that he’ll sign same as soon at it reaches his desk.

[DaxtonBrown]

The only way they are feasible is by downsizing. I have a 67 Camaro (which is admittedly a gas hog) so I have been trying every trick to get mileage up. The Camaros drag coefficient is actually pretty good, and modern cars have close to maxed out on mileage gains there. Changing the transmission helps a lot, but Chevy already has a 6 speed automatic so they’ve gotten the gains there. Electronic fuel injection and computer metering have already been standard.

So, you are really left with downsizing in weight and cross section. I don’t think people will be happy, they will all keep their old cars.

[enduserindy]

The long bed version is only 5 feet long bumper to bumper.

[tbw2]

CAFE has work arounds like giving away electric cars with diesel engine cars. Or classifying golf carts as electric cars to meet the quota.
Only little bitty and dangerous cars meet this standard, and I’m including the current hybrids in that category.
This may just be an effort to end car production, forcing everyone to walk, use public transit, ride bikes or own a small electric car with limited range.

[usconservative]

You're all missing the point. This is less to do about getting higher MPG and more to do with pricing people OUT of automobiles and consequently, suburban American life and back to major metropoitan area's where they can be more easily centrally managed and controlled.

It's another piece of Obama's "war on the suburbs" disguised as an EPA/high mileage requirement. Of course they know millions and millions of people won't be able to afford new (or used) vehicles when this goes into effect. That's exactly what they're counting on.