New Truck Mpg Standards

[unit731]

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

 

Getting to 35.5: The ABCs of mpg

 

Jason Stein

and Bradford Wernle

 

 

Jan. 1.

 

"The new era will raise fleet fuel economy standards, in annual steps, to 35.5 mpg for 2016 models, a 30 percent rise from the 27.3 mpg of the 2011 model year.

 

The first step is a total fleet average of 30.1 mpg for 2012 models, which officially can go on sale this week. Automakers already are accelerating their use of costly lightweight materials and advanced powertrains on the way to 2016.

 

The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2010 model year show that some companies -- including Toyota, Honda, Hyundai-Kia and Mazda -- are at or above the 2012 standard and are well positioned with their product mix.

 

For others below the 2012 standard -- such as Chrysler, BMW, Daimler and Porsche -- the requirements will mean an acceleration of steps to slash weight, shuffle products and shrink powertrains.

 

Those changes don't come cheap. And when gasoline prices are low, the pricey technology is a tough sell.

 

Transitioning to the new standards is "a tough task, but we're facing it as grown-ups," said Rick Spina, who leads development of full-sized trucks for General Motors Co.

 

Spina said GM plans to trim 500 pounds from its light trucks by 2016, and by the early 2020s, might need to cut as much as 1,000 pounds per truck.

 

"We're going to do everything we can to keep the customer from realizing we've had to make changes in a fundamental way," Spina said. . . . ."

[KMGZ400]

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

 

Getting to 35.5: The ABCs of mpg

 

Jason Stein

and Bradford Wernle

 

 

Jan. 1.

 

"The new era will raise fleet fuel economy standards, in annual steps, to 35.5 mpg for 2016 models, a 30 percent rise from the 27.3 mpg of the 2011 model year.

 

The first step is a total fleet average of 30.1 mpg for 2012 models, which officially can go on sale this week. Automakers already are accelerating their use of costly lightweight materials and advanced powertrains on the way to 2016.

 

The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2010 model year show that some companies -- including Toyota, Honda, Hyundai-Kia and Mazda -- are at or above the 2012 standard and are well positioned with their product mix.

 

For others below the 2012 standard -- such as Chrysler, BMW, Daimler and Porsche -- the requirements will mean an acceleration of steps to slash weight, shuffle products and shrink powertrains.

 

Those changes don't come cheap. And when gasoline prices are low, the pricey technology is a tough sell.

 

Transitioning to the new standards is "a tough task, but we're facing it as grown-ups," said Rick Spina, who leads development of full-sized trucks for General Motors Co.

 

Spina said GM plans to trim 500 pounds from its light trucks by 2016, and by the early 2020s, might need to cut as much as 1,000 pounds per truck.

 

"We're going to do everything we can to keep the customer from realizing we've had to make changes in a fundamental way," Spina said. . . . ."

 

 

oh god GM, please dont use any thinner of sheet metal on the GMT900's or any more cheap shit parts, PLEASE!!

[[email protected]]

It's funny, the technology is already out there for us to get that kind of MPG and not have to skimp on parts and whatnot. Just the EPA won't allow this technology to be used. 500lbs=4wd gone. 1000lbs=shitty chassis and drive train.

[MikeNH]

500 lbs. is tough, I have no idea how they'd get 1000 lbs. out of a truck and not loose capability. I'd keep making the gradual improvements to the trucks but leave the weight reduction to reasonable levels and just sell more of the crossovers.

[P71_CrownVic]

Maybe if truck makers (cough FORD cough) didn't make their 1/2 tons so damn big...this wouldn't be an issue:

 

[MikeNH]

Maybe if truck makers (cough FORD cough) didn't make their 1/2 tons so damn big...this wouldn't be an issue:

 

 

 

For one I'd love to put the same 97, 06 and current GM trucks side by side to see if they're the same. And the oldest Ford is a 2WD, the others look too tall to be 2WDs.

[P71_CrownVic]

For one I'd love to put the same 97, 06 and current GM trucks side by side to see if they're the same. And the oldest Ford is a 2WD, the others look too tall to be 2WDs.

 

I got that pic from Ford...talk to them about years and models.

 

And this is my truck compared to the far too big 2006 F-150:

 

 

Ford makes their trucks way too big...that is why they tip the scales at 5500-6000 pounds.

[Bowtie2Sierra]

You are the first person that I have heard that complains about a truck being too big.

 

If the GM was the "bigger" truck, would you hate the Ford because it was too small? Just curious.

[MikeNH]

I checked recently and an ex. cab Ford is about 800 lbs heavier than a similar GM but what's your point? Yes, it's bigger but I've driven slightly older examples of the new F150 (05s or 06s) extensively and never found them to be hard to handle. Fuel mileage is still somewhat of an unknown as I want to see real numbers for the 5.0 V8 but I will guess that the Ford will drink more gas. It's a truck so I'd expect that going in and the fuel efficiency really isn't a deciding factor to me, they're both far better than my 03 RCSB with just the 4.8 in terms of fuel efficiency.

[P71_CrownVic]

You are the first person that I have heard that complains about a truck being too big.

If the GM was the "bigger" truck, would you hate the Ford because it was too small? Just curious.

 

Yes...I would. Because the I would probably be driving one of those Ford POS trucks rather than the better GM truck. I can only get so much truck in my garage.

[P71_CrownVic]

I checked recently and an ex. cab Ford is about 800 lbs heavier than a similar GM but what's your point?

 

You said..."I have no idea how they'd get 1000 lbs. out of a truck and not loose capability."

 

Well...800 pounds is close to 1K pounds...and GM truck are no less capable than the POS Fords.

 

Try and keep up.

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

My last truck ( 1/2 ton sclb, 4.8 l v8) weighed 5500 lbs.

[MikeNH]

I checked recently and an ex. cab Ford is about 800 lbs heavier than a similar GM but what's your point?

 

You said..."I have no idea how they'd get 1000 lbs. out of a truck and not loose capability."

 

Well...800 pounds is close to 1K pounds...and GM truck are no less capable than the POS Fords.

 

Try and keep up.

 

 

 

The Fords are quiet like a bank vault, every GM extended cap I've been is has some wind noise from marginal sealing of the back doors. That combined with the "quiet steel" make the Ford a hell of a lot quieter. The Ford also sits like a 4WD should so you don't have to waste money on lifts just to make it have a proper ride height. Both trucks do have very similar payload/towing ratings but strictly in terms of driving I'd say the Ford is probably nicer, but you pay for it.

[KMGZ400]

I checked recently and an ex. cab Ford is about 800 lbs heavier than a similar GM but what's your point?

 

You said..."I have no idea how they'd get 1000 lbs. out of a truck and not loose capability."

 

Well...800 pounds is close to 1K pounds...and GM truck are no less capable than the POS Fords.

 

Try and keep up.

 

 

 

The Fords are quiet like a bank vault, every GM extended cap I've been is has some wind noise from marginal sealing of the back doors. That combined with the "quiet steel" make the Ford a hell of a lot quieter. The Ford also sits like a 4WD should so you don't have to waste money on lifts just to make it have a proper ride height. Both trucks do have very similar payload/towing ratings but strictly in terms of driving I'd say the Ford is probably nicer, but you pay for it.

 

 

 

my 2 extended cabs dont make any noise.

 

proper ride height? fords f150 waaaaay to big for a 1/2 ton.

 

 

out of curiosity why are you even on here if your so against these trucks... whats the point.. jjust trying to cause problems?

[MikeNH]

my 2 extended cabs dont make any noise.

 

proper ride height? fords f150 waaaaay to big for a 1/2 ton.

 

 

out of curiosity why are you even on here if your so against these trucks... whats the point.. jjust trying to cause problems?

I'm talking about the 07+ trucks. I've ridden in a few and the ec-cabs all had wind noise to some extent. As for height, that's obviously a preference thing, I like their stance.

 

And I'm here because I'm considering both trucks still. The GMs have some things I don't like and the Fords do too- neither truck is perfect. And I'm not trying to cause problems- I just think the blind, baseless hate some people have for the Fords when they have zero experience with them is childish, nothing more.