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Old 07-12-2008, 02:34 PM   #1 (permalink)
gascort
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Location: Saint Louis, MO
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Gascort RIP - '93 Ford Escort Wagon
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EPA Ignores Aerodynamics?

I've been looking around on the EPA and fueleconomy.gov websites the past day or so and as far as I can tell, the EPA tests completely disregard the fact that different vechicles have different aerodynamic profiles (different frontal area and different Cd).
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but they just run their lab test with the exhaust analysis with the vehicle on the dyno at a higher speed for highway, then subtract a flat percentage from all vehicles' fuel economy to represent aero drag. I think 22% is the number I saw, but I can't locate a link anymore.
Thoughts?
Mine is that if this is true, where's the motivation for automakers to make their cars more efficient with regard to aerodynamics / the highway? Most people purchase based on the sticker rather than looking at aero themselves.

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