In anticipation of new CAFE standards, Honda introduced a new model, the Honda Accordion* today...
*Not a Honda
Much as President Obama and other liberals may think natural laws for things like physics and economics don't matter, the reality is they do and nowhere more so than on American highways. The president reportedly has secured agreements from Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Honda and Hyundai to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy fleet average standard to 54.5 mpg by 2025. The new standard will be reviewed in 2018, but that won't change the fact that automakers will immediately have to embark on efforts to lighten and downsize all of their models.
Don't hold your breath waiting for your favorite Congress Critter to lead by example on this any time soon. Anyone want to bet that government limos won't be exempt from CAFE standards? Or will the fleets just have to make more wind up cars to offset them? Part of that "shared sacrifice", don'tcha know?
Update : From edmunds.com (for every Doubting Thomas and Willie):
"The cold hard facts show that smaller, lighter cars are generally less safe than larger, heavier cars."
"...According to the IIHS figures, there were 96 fatalities per million registered vehicles for the small car category. That figure drops to 62 fatalities for the midsize class of cars and 64 per million for large sedans."
The two highest fatality rates are for small cars and small pickups.
See also:
CAFE Standards Kill: Congress' Regulatory Solution to Foreign Oil Dependence Comes at a Steep Price
H/T Rob Port
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