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Old 02-28-2014, 12:56 AM   #26 (permalink)
Frank Lee
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sarguy01 View Post
Back on topic, here is a question to ponder...what technology will there be 11 years from now? We now are seeing direct injection engines, Skyactiv, Hyundai's new spark plug-less gasoline engine, etc so there will probably be a few more major changes to current engine design to aid in better fuel economy.
I don't know how much further ICE efficiency will improve, but to improve city ratings the weight will have to go down and to improve highway ratings the frontal area and/or Cd will have to go down.

Pickups, SUVs, and even cars currently have needlessly huge frontal areas, all due to fashion. When the high mpg requirements kick in, someone will have to convince the buying public that long and low is better than high and boxy. It's not impossible- the 50's and 60's were all about long and low. What goes around, comes around.
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