BrandonIT

+1

I'm going to jump in here because I am 35 and am a firm supporter of rising CAFE & EPA standards (at a reasonable pace - no 100mpg by 2030 business). I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. I say that to say this: Engineers will find a way.

To bring some perspective to the argument, the standards being recommended would take effect in 2025. That's basically 15 years from now. So, let's take a look back at where we were 15 years ago: (all numbers from FuelEconomy.gov)

Toyota Camry LE - 4cyl. Auto 2.0L - 1995 (19/26 - 125hp) 2010 (22/32 - 169hp)
Ford F-150 2WD - 8cyl Auto 5.0L - 1995 (12/17 - 200hp) 2010 (15/21 - 250hp)

So, what we see is over the course of 15 years we have a 5-6 highway mpg increase (about 20%) and around 50 hp increase (25%). And of course the vehicles have gotten heavier as well but I didn't want to spend the time running down those numbers as well.

Neither of these vehicles takes into account the latest technology just announced now (see Sky-G engines and other gasoline direct-injection systems) which promise unheard of mileage possibilities and more power. You can also add in continued development of the forced induction systems (Ecoboost, et al) over the next 15 years.

I don't really see where this specifically spells the end of anything, large vehicles, sports cars, or otherwise.

Will it be difficult? Yes
Will engineers have to make new ground-breaking steps in design? Yes

But I have no doubt that there will be even further synergies discovered as development of hybrids continue. Weight will drop and battery capacity will continue to increase allowing for even smaller gasoline engines while the electrics perform better.

15 years is an awful long time. Even for automotive design. It's not time to just throw out the entire argument. There can be intelligent discussion of this.

As someone who is sighted and has perfect hearing, allow to say I find your comment stupid. There I said it.

The fact is I have almost stepped in front of a Prius in a parking lot as I had my back turned while loading groceries. The Prius noiselessly came up behind me (on pure battery power without A/C). I had just whirled around to put my cart back and it was only the combined reflexes of the Prius driver and myself that we didn't collide - with me being the losing party.

Blind people (especially in cities with medium traffic) rely very heavily on their ears to tell them where vehicles and other machinery are. The noise generated by an EV is non-existent on well-maintained asphalt.

What's being discussed in not making the Leaf sound like your latest Yamaha crotch-rocket. It's just enough of an electric whirr so that the vehicle can be heard farther than six feet away.

I agree. They broke the law and got ticketed. I don't see the problem here.

Fact is, if they're having problems with speeding broadcasting a crackdown on TV is a quick way to get the word out - STOP SPEEDING.

I'm just gonna throw this out there. Peyton played a decent game, and yeah, his receivers dropped some passes, but the Saints had a few dropped passes of their own that would have also been helpful.

Fact is, the Saints played better than the Colts. Period. The Saints had a better team, better QB, and their defense did what the Colts couldn't, force a turnover. The Saints cornerback jumped the route so beautifully on that throw it should be standard training film going forward.

I feel bad for Peyton, but the better team won. And I'm really getting tired of a lot of excuses being given for why the Colts didn't win. The Saints are the national champions - and they deserved it.

I'm 34 and we're currently trying to have kids. Should we be blessed with children in the next 2 years, a minivan will be my next purchase. I drive two Toyota vehicles already (a '00 Camry & a '06 Highlander). I figure I'll either go with the Toyota minivan for the reliability- probability or an Odyssey for the looks.

I say all that to say that I also foresee the minivan making a comeback with young families.

(If no kids in 3 years, daddy's gonna buy a blue Miata hard-top and enjoy his mid-life crisis!)

Gotta be Trial Mountain.

As close as I can get to my first car...

#522 Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX (Z31) '83

+1 to your first paragraph. I loved those shows and they ruled.

On your second paragraph, we could always give them a black Honda Odyssey... (then they could get in from BOTH sides of the van...)

I was also going to say the same thing about this new line of trucks resembling the early Toyota 4WD pick-ups and range rovers. They were tough, dependable, and you didn't mind taking the thing off-road or pulling stumps or whatever with them because they were cheap and easy to repair and they weren't the best looking vehicles to begin with so a scratch or dent here and there just added to the character - the essence of a utilitarian truck.