[HoosierRon]

Now we know why the automakers weren't screaming over the CAFE rules

There is a sliding scale based on the footprint of each individual vehicle. The footprint is defined as the wheelbase times the average of the track width or the area within the wheels. The larger the footprint, the lower the threshold that vehicle has to meet. Therefore for two cars of similar overall size but one with a longer wheelbase, the longer one would have a lower mileage requirement. Each automaker is then assigned an individual threshold to meet based on the sales weighted average footprint of the vehicles it sells. A company that sells more large footprint vehicles would have a lower hurdle to jump. One that sells predominantly smaller cars would have to get better mileage. As a result a company like Porsche or Ferrari who sell relatively small sports cars would have to meet a higher standard than Ford or General Motors who sell more large trucks. The entire premise of this rule is absurd. This rule will likely have the effect of giving manufacturers an incentive to maximize the wheelbase and track of new vehicles in order to minimize their CAFE requirement.

 

[377Z]

In light of the rising fuel prices, the unintended consequences of this unnatural market force may not get a chance to affect vehicles in any meaningful way.

 

[big swede]

Now we know why the automakers weren't screaming over the CAFE rules

The last time CAFE tried something like this we got rid of station wagons for SUV's. That didn't seem to save much fuel.

You will start to see wheels pushed out to the extremes to create and artificially long wheelbase.

 

[paul8488]

How stupid is this? Sheesh! It actually DISCOURAGES smaller cars, to a degree! Something like a Beat or Mini is penalized because it is shirt and narrow (relatively speaking). Man, does the government ever do ANYTHING that makes sense?

 

[Slideways]

It's nothing new, too many lawmakers are too concerned with their egos and getting reelected, so they make a big fuss and try to grab the spotlight and author bills that do nothing to solve any problem. But they do look good on their 30-second campaign commercials.

 

[Whitesky]

It's is silly (just like CAFE itself) but I like the possible unintended consequences!

 

[377Z]

The last time CAFE tried something like this we got rid of station wagons for SUV's. That didn't seem to save much fuel.

You will start to see wheels pushed out to the extremes to create and artificially long wheelbase.

Yeah, the title should be "why cars are about to get...uglier"

 

[igor]

yes automakers are evil, doing their best NOT to offer the poor public the awesomely efficient cars they demand

This incredibly flawed premise permeates SO MANY mainstream articles it is sickening - SICKENING

The Automakers will build exactly the type of cars people will demand - if they want a 200mpg diesel hybrid and are willing to pay for it - let me be the first to tell you that Automakers will race to sell such a car. However the "poor public" still wants and SUV that costs $25k and SOMEHOW gets 40mpg - t6he poor public is the very reason we do not have more compacts or diesels - they refuse to pay fair price for them. The Poor public is the reason we keep consuming power energy every year even as industry is innovating and increasing efficiency at record pace ... the poor public can suck my ......

Igor

 

[windvale]

Does this wheelbase rule apply just to the recently announced 2015 rule, or does it also apply to the long term CAFE regulations as well ? Anybody know ?

 

[goblue1999]

One more reason why unnatural market forces (i.e, Government intervention) creates unintended consequences.

The simplest answer is a large fuel tax. Drivers will then decide for themselves, and car makers will build what buyers will buy.

Anything else is like temporarily suspending the law of gravity, eventually, it comes down.

 

[Greg Burr]

yes automakers are evil, doing their best NOT to offer the poor public the awesomely efficient cars they demand

This incredibly flawed premise permeates SO MANY mainstream articles it is sickening - SICKENING

The Automakers will build exactly the type of cars people will demand - if they want a 200mpg diesel hybrid and are willing to pay for it - let me be the first to tell you that Automakers will race to sell such a car. However the "poor public" still wants and SUV that costs $25k and SOMEHOW gets 40mpg - t6he poor public is the very reason we do not have more compacts or diesels - they refuse to pay fair price for them. The Poor public is the reason we keep consuming power energy every year even as industry is innovating and increasing efficiency at record pace ... the poor public can suck my ......

Igor

Ford's approach to putting EcoBoost in the Flex, Fusion and other normal size cars seems to make the most sense after all.

 

[goatgary]

Yeah, the title should be "why cars are about to get...uglier"

Long WB = Ugly? Geez, didn't know.

Apparently you are yearning for the return of the Pinto, Vega, Corvair.....Yugo, maybe?

 

[usa1]

All the talk about stupid politicians should know that the major automakers were on board with this and supported its final form. You can bet GM and Ford had their hand in crafting the law to help them and hurt smaller car makers.

Mark

 

[DuSpinnst]

Cars are about to get much longer!

 

[goatgary]

All the talk about stupid politicians should know that the major automakers were on board with this and supported its final form. You can bet GM and Ford had their hand in crafting the law to help them and hurt smaller car makers.

Mark

Methinks you give them WAY too much credit!

 

[tamatt27]

Ford's approach to putting EcoBoost in the Flex, Fusion and other normal size cars seems to make the most sense after all.

So the G8 will be getting a 4-cyl afterall then. I suspect the Camaro will as well.

 

[61BelAir]

This could mean that we could still get a RWD Impala! I'm all for that!

 

[ph39]

No - cars (on average) can't get bigger because the 35 mpg is a industry wide average among all sizes - so if everyone builds bigger cars - they all will just have to get better mileage -

Its intended to help GM, Ford, & Chrysler (who make trucks and large SUVs) by making the Hondas and Kia's (who make small cars and small SUVs) increase their standards slightly above 35 to make up for GM, Ford & Chrysler who will probably be given a task of slightly below 35. Toyota and Nissan who make both will probably fall in the middle.

 

[johnny smallblock]

Cars aren't going to get longer. Read the article, they're going to get longer wheelbases. Which by the way, would help with performance and handling.

Also, cars aren't going to get bigger because bigger cars are heavier, and that's exactly what people don't want, big heavy cars and trucks.

Put your hands up and step away from the endless self-victimization.

CAFE isn't screwed up because of this. Any car maker that decides to build longer cars because they think they've found a loophole is going to find themselves with a bunch of those unsold cars sitting on their lots.

 

[JeffInDFW]

So the 2020 Malibu will be a limo?