Is the 35.5 mileage standard feasible?

Power/Fuel
81

35…45…55 mileage standard,… Whatever!

Lets do a little history lesson, shall we? Baby boomers, remember in the '70s during the “Iran-Hostage-Crisis”, when we were told to cut-off our dependency on foreign oil? Did it happen? In a rather “slow transition” over the next decades, by mostly foreign competitors, RE: Honda, Toyota, and yes that infamous Yugo. Just how was the MPG jump improved? Smaller, lighter, and less “litre consuming” engines. Remember the 1.6L, 12 valve-4 cylinder, Honda Civics? Those models used carberators, at the time, to achieve improved fuel economy at 32 miles per gallon! So I ask you, with all the “quantum leap” technology available now, we can’t get to 35.5? What the…?

While this debate and monumental “poli-technical” war of wills takes place, and the same slow moving auto industry continues to haggle over “what to manufacture”? I simply jump on my Twin V, at $5 a refill, and 58 miles to the gallon… use the same roads and enjoy the ride. Alternate transportation, built “gas friendly”, IS the only way to go until the “Big Boys” come around.

In my lifetime, an absolute gas-engine, at 100 miles to a gallon, is NOT likely to move from R&D to mass production. We already have “politicized-in” higher dollar replacements; Hybrids, Electric, etc.

So be prepared to kiss the “pure gas engine”, good-bye! Relatively soon, the only marketable gas vehicles will be 2 and 4 strokes, with a lot of diesel!

82

Um…in respect what the brothers have accomplished, but neither is an engineer.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/profile-0602.html

83

We can. And we will. And IMHO it’ll come from a combination of manufacturers’ adding minis (probably from China, India, and Korea) to their product lines (overdue in my opinion) and hybrid technologies to their larger vehicle lines.

I don’t see diesels as a major part of the mix here in the U.S.

84

I had a 2005 Malibu. 6cyl. On the open road, interstate, 70 MPH, it got 37/38 miles per gallon. I got a 2008 Malibu, 4 cyl, and can only squeeze 29/30 on interstate.
I told Chevy it was under- powered for its size. They won’t comment.
I don’t believe the earth is flat but I believe we are being taken for a ride,please excuse the pun, when it comes to MPG.
rhinos

85

. Just how was the MPG jump improved? Smaller, lighter, and less “litre consuming” engines.

OBVIOUSLY that’s NOT true…I can show you HUNDREDS of cars that are BIGGER, FASTER, LARGER ENGINES, SAFER…and GET MUCH BETTER GAS MILEAGE then cars of the 60’s or 70’s. Find a comparable vehicle in size and weight of the 60’s or 70’s and a modern car equivalent will be faster, safer, and probably 20-30% BETTER gas mileage.

86

Take out the extra weight junk they put in cars, use lighter weight plastics to make the dash, how about an electrinic display like the space shuttle and or aircraft and have all electric vs mechanical connections. then make electric power steering, a/c compressors, brake mechanisms. lets get away from fan belts except for the alternator.

87

Diesels, more modern technology such as better valve control, 2/4/6 firing, hybrid technology, can easily do it. But it might not be very safe or comfortable. I figure I need 0-60 in 10 sec. or less just to safely merge on a highway where the folks are polite and let you in. You run into XxXX all the time where 0-70 in 5 sec. is barely enough! That kind of sets an upper limit on size/weight/drag etc.

Frankly, the best way to do it is through pricing. When gas hit $4 per gallon LOTS of people started thinking more economical cars. I don’t like the idea of the government applying limits. People can balance their own wants/needs just fine.

88

given we drove 50-60mph hwy for 3 hours, 38.6 mpg was the best eve!!! Average hwy mpg is 29-30mph for saab 9-3/1999.