Fuel Efficiency Standards Will Change The Way Autos Look
Under CAFE standards approved last August, automakers' 2,025 fleets must average 54.5 miles per gallon—which would make them nearly twice as fuel efficient as currently required. Those standards and other previously approved rules mandate smaller improvements in the interim. Design experts say future models could include lighter materials, more aerodynamic shapes, or more powerful engines. Or all of the above. Some of the changes drivers might encounter are:
Performance components: Automakers are continuing to experiment with engines that use alternate fuels, but there are also more powerful gas engines and power trains that greatly improve fuel efficiency.
Many of the new engines are also smaller and lighter, further improving efficiency. Smaller components free up designers to change the shape of a vehicle—such as with lowering the hood.
Materials: Drivers could see more cars, or pieces of them, made from alternative materials that are strong but less weighty, such as carbon-fiber composites.
Technology: The shift from interior buttons and knobs to touchscreens or windshield displays contributes to lighter-weight vehicles. There are fewer components needed, and it results in a more streamlined vehicle interior.
Vehicle aerodynamics: The Toyota Prius isn't fuel efficient solely because it's a hybrid. A significant portion of its efficiency is coming from aerodynamics, which can often come down to tweaks such as the size, shape, and placement of mirrors and grilles. In smaller doses, those changes aren't likely to be noticeable to consumers.
Advancements won't come cheap. Steps taken to make cars more fuel efficient could push up purchase prices by $1,000 or more in coming years. The biggest price jumps could show up in smaller models that have already been optimized for fuel efficiency—and may require more drastic changes than larger vehicles. But automakers could opt to raise the price of bigger vehicles substantially, too, as a way of subsidizing pricier changes on other models.