Big announcement from GM !!!!!!

[workinallthetime]

WASHINGTON (AP): The Senate voted today to increase fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon for cars and SUVs, the first significant boost demanded of automakers in nearly 20 years.

"It closes the SUV loophole," declared Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, referring to current requirements that allow much less stringent fuel efficiency standards for SUVs and pickup trucks than for cars. "This is a victory for the American public."

The compromise removed a requirement that automakers would have had to meet an additional 4 percent increase per year for 10 years after 2020.

The measure tacked onto the energy bill would require a 35 mpg fleet average — including SUVs and pickup trucks — by 2020, and require that automakers make half of their vehicles capable of running on 85 percent ethanol fuel by 2015.

Democratic Rep. John Dingell a longtime protector of auto industry interests, said his House Energy and Commerce Committee will not address the matter until fall as part of global warming legislation.

The Associated Press
Published: June 21, 2007

here we go again

 

[BTDT]

here we go again


Yeah, but at least now we'll be going further between fillups.

And it's funny that the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, etc (foreign car makers), can get that kind of mileage without a govt. mandate, yet the U.S. car makers have to be made to do it. Seems like I heard something like that in Mr. Gore's movie a couple months back.

 

[Builder]

here we go again


Yeah, but at least now we'll be going further between fillups.

And it's funny that the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, etc (foreign car makers), can get that kind of mileage without a govt. mandate, yet the U.S. car makers have to be made to do it. Seems like I heard something like that in Mr. Gore's movie a couple months back.

Riiiiiight. Now show me a japanese, Korean or Chinese truck that can do what a GM or Ford can do.

Honda has the highest epa standards of any car company. When they can build a truck that can do the same heavy work as a Ford Superduty or GM HD, then I'll buy what you're saying.

We all know that fuel standards set by the gov't are the average of the entire fleet of vehicles each car company builds, right? Look at Honda's lineup compared to say Ford's or GM's.

They simply build lighter, smaller size trucks (and cars), but they can't cut the mustard when it comes to real work. Well guess what? Americans like head room, leg room and back seat room because we're bigger than Asian people and we have bigger families.

Seems to reason that their cars would be more fuel efficient by default.

 

[workinallthetime]

note to self;
dont ever bash the big 3 with builder around.

i love the "proud to be american" stickers on the kia's

 

[Builder]

note to self;
dont ever bash the big 3 with builder around.

i love the "proud to be american" stickers on the kia's

HA!!!!!

Ya know???????

........ like the stinkin' CHINESE are gonna build better friggin trucks than us?

Seriously, GM & Ford have faults, but until a foreign truck comes out that's better and stays that way for 5-10 years, than I'll say we're still on TOP!

 

[cp1969]

WASHINGTON (AP): The Senate voted today to increase fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon for cars and SUVs, the first significant boost demanded of automakers in nearly 20 years.

"It closes the SUV loophole," declared Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, referring to current requirements that allow much less stringent fuel efficiency standards for SUVs and pickup trucks than for cars. "This is a victory for the American public."

The compromise removed a requirement that automakers would have had to meet an additional 4 percent increase per year for 10 years after 2020.

The measure tacked onto the energy bill would require a 35 mpg fleet average — including SUVs and pickup trucks — by 2020, and require that automakers make half of their vehicles capable of running on 85 percent ethanol fuel by 2015.

Democratic Rep. John Dingell a longtime protector of auto industry interests, said his House Energy and Commerce Committee will not address the matter until fall as part of global warming legislation.

The Associated Press
Published: June 21, 2007

here we go again

How typical of us these days--Solve everything with a new law. Don't ever let the market determine what size our vehicles should be or determine what the fleet mileage should be. Why not let the Japanese (and Korean, etc.) manufacturers build fuel efficient cars for those who want them...and let Ford, Dodge, and Chevy build trucks for those who need them? Why do we have to end up abolishing whole types of vehicles to satisfy some arbitrary requirement dreamed up by those who haven't owned or driven a car or truck in their adult life?

The only new law I would like to see passed is this one:
Congress shall enact no new legislation for a period of ten years or until the economy recovers from the effects of previous legislation, which ever occurs last.

 

[mjncad]

note to self;
dont ever bash the big 3 with builder around.

i love the "proud to be american" stickers on the kia's

I often wonder if the marketing wonks for Kia ever considered that KIA is an acronym for Killed In Action when they brought their cars to the USA.

In Japan, the 240Z and its successors are called the "Fairlady." That model name may work in Japan; but Datsun/Nissan knew it wouldn't fly with American sports car buyers.

 

[SkyPup]

It's a shame that Chrysler never took their super 2.7 liter I-5 common rail turbodiesel out of their Dodge Sprinter and put it in a pickup @ 30+ mpg, thing would have sold like hotcakes.

Even their new 2008 V-6 3.0 liter common rail VNT Turbodiesel would have been awesome in a pickup, but they only offer it in the Dodge Sprinters?

 

[Builder]

It's a shame that Chrysler never took their super 2.7 liter I-5 common rail turbodiesel out of their Dodge Sprinter and put it in a pickup @ 30+ mpg, thing would have sold like hotcakes.

Even their new 2008 V-6 3.0 liter common rail VNT Turbodiesel would have been awesome in a pickup, but they only offer it in the Dodge Sprinters?

If you think that's great, you oughta see the diesels available in Austrailia, Mexico, S. America. lots of economical, peppy tubo charged 4 & 6 cylinder diesels that are easy on fuel and still 200/450-ish in power output.

 

[SkyPup]

I towed a two horse Featherlight trailer behind a 2006 Dodge Sprinter 2500 van with the 2.7 liter common rail I-5 engine with the five speed automatic transmission and it was superb, plenty of torque to get the job done.

Why they cannot put a pickup body on this 2500 or dually 3500 chassis is insane, even Winnebago takes the same chassis and puts a beautiful motorcoach on it with a GVW of 13,500 pounds, more than enough for any pickup!!!!