EPA Wants New Mileage Standards
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
expected to propose new standards for calculating fuel mileage.
Methodology would be changed to reflect current driving conditions, as
well as use of air conditioning, etc. The EPA is expected to propose the
new methods of determining fuel mileage in time for model-year 2007.
The proposed rules could result in lower EPA fuel-mileage numbers on new
vehicles.
20% Diesel Passenger Vehicle Mix by 2015?
An article published on www.dieselforecast.com
describes expected changes in the U.S. diesel market. According to the
article, new midsize diesel SUVs with diesels in the four-liter class
are under development. A 20-percent diesel passenger vehicle mix is
predicted by 2015 in the United States. Diesels have excellent low-rpm
torque and, therefore, are well-suited to towing.
GM to Build Hybrid Escalade
General Motors Cadillac division will get its first hybrid vehicle
in 2007 with the Escalade Hybrid SUV. There also will be a new
transmission coupled to GM’s new dual-mode hybrid drive. In addition,
the upcoming two-mode transmission will be used in upcoming hybrid
versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs. GM says fuel economy
will be up to 25 percent better than on standard 2007 full-size SUVs.