CAFE rules are supposed to be released tommorrow. It'll be interesting to see how things ultimately play out.

 

Did they intentionally select Earth Day to release this info?

 

I think so.

It sounds like it's gonna be more agressively implemented than thought/hoped. MPG must rise 4.6% per year and be 31.8 (that's combined - including trucks), by 2015.

Even if Camaro gets an Ecotec, it will probably still be CAFE negative - if it lasts until 2015..

 

But as some of us have already wondered, will Ecotec really do much of anything positive for the fuel economy in the Camaro given the weight of the vehicle? I suppose if they pickup 1mpg on the test it will be a small victory if the line is negative.

 

You're absolutely right. Mass is the issue on that.

 

But is Ecotec the answer? Sure we all know that the 2.0L turbo Ecotec puts out more horsepower than the V8s in the Camaros of the mid 1980s, but why not develop a smaller more efficient V8? I'm thinking more along the lines of a 4.0L NA high revving screamer.

Also, engines alone won't be the only answer. Look how much mpg the Malibu 2.L-4/A6 package picked up over the A4 version. Heck its almost as efficient as the Malibu Hybrid now.

Can you imagine what a 4.0L V8 combined with an 8 speed automatic might do?

 

Like HAZ-Matt says, maybe an Ecotec will squeeze out another 1 or 2 mpg. Is that the ultimate answer? Nope.

Getting back sort of on topic - 2 ton, supercharged, ponycars, ( I use the terms '2 tons' and 'ponycars' loosely together), like the GT500, are at the end of the road, I think. And maybe that will end up being a small silver lining in all of this CAFE mess. The forced discipline to focus on reduced mass.

You mean a 4.0L V8--- like on the M3?

 

Funny how the govt is one of the main reasons cars don't get better mileage, the govt said cars had to have air bags, anti-lock, stablity control, better crash protection. Guess what, that **** adds a lot of weight which in turn kills gas mileage. There is always an unintended consequence, just look at how the E85 bull**** is driving up food prices when it was suppose to help save us from foriegn oil. Maybe the govt should try reducing it's consumption of foreign oil first, like how about a more fuel effecient B-52 bomber, that thing burns more fuel in a day than I do in probably 10 years.

 

P.S. Except it better do better than the M3 V8's 16mpg average.

 

I don't see this happening at all with the fullsize models unless they shed 2500lbs and get 100hp diesel motors. So will car makers just pay the fines or stop making them all together?

 

Very true, and we're all being robbed by a bunch of thieves legally. No one is doing anything about it either.

 

I think it's more like 20 mpg. But anyways.

But, I predict that the smallblock still has plenty of life left in it. We're going to see all sorts of technologies for it over the next few years. Stratified charge for one, which should make a smallblock as efficient as a diesel.

 

I agree with STOCK1SC, we should be looking at other fuel sources, mixed fuels etc, not making vehicles that have 90hp, weigh 2500 lbs and get 50+ mpg.

Diesel at over $4/gal here is driving food costs up along with gas hitting over $3.55/gal reg. today. The most I've ever paid for a gallon of reg.unleaded gas.

Trucks can go TDi(bio, etc) and add some V6 tdi's and possibly some 4cyl TDi's and pick up their part.

A turbo 6 Camaro could be a good way to grab some extra mpg with very little extra weight, the Ecotec may not make enough torque to help mpg much.
I still say, add a couple of cylinders in the middle of the V6 VVT DI motor and get a 4.8L that'll rev like the Beemer! Most of the work is done.

 

Oh, it's gonna happen. The products will change.

On a good note, every interview I've seen from auto execs, indicate that performance is not dead. Essentially, they all say, that the goal is to deliver the same performance, but in lighter, smaller, more efficient pacakages.

A quarter ton lighter Z/28, could have blistering performance with a normally aspirated Gen V or Gen VI 5.0L smallblock.

 

I'd still like to see a twin-turbo version of the upcoming 4.5L Duramax running on biodiesel.