NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds - EPA to Lower Fuel Economy Ratings for 2008 Models by an Average of 10 to 20 Percent

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By JOHN HEILPRIN Associated Press Writer
The Associated PressThe Associated Press

WASHINGTON Jan 10, 2006 — Consumers may be in for a different kind of sticker shock starting with 2008 model cars, trucks and SUVs.

Fuel economy ratings on the stickers of new models would drop an average of 10 percent to 20 percent in city driving for most 2008 models, and 5 percent to 15 percent in highway driving, under testing changes the Environmental Protection Agency proposed Tuesday.

Gas-electric hybrids will be more affected, with ratings for city driving decreasing an average of 20 percent to 30 percent. Those models are due to appear in showrooms in the fall of 2007.

EPA's new fuel economy estimates will include vehicle-specific data from tests designed to reflect more accurately high-speed driving, rapid acceleration, use of air conditioning and cold temperatures, the agency said.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said the agency intends "to empower consumers with the most accurate information possible about a vehicle's fuel economy," including more details about the effects of "power-hungry accessories" used to lower windows, adjust seats, even play DVDs while driving.

"They can be confident those estimates more closely reflect real-world conditions," Johnson said.

Congress ordered the changes in its energy bill last year, responding to consumer complaints that the fuel economy they get is often less than advertised. It is the first time EPA has revised its fuel economy ratings in 20 years.

EPA said it also plans to redesign the stickers so they are more consumer-friendly.

Despite the lower ratings overall, Johnson said the test results will not be used to gauge whether automakers comply with the law requiring the U.S. fleet have an average fuel economy of 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 21 mpg for light trucks.

That's because the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program run by the Transportation Department uses separate requirements to determine vehicles' fuel economy, he said.

"It's obvious that the driving world has changed a lot since 1985," said Johnson, who noted that 20 years ago he proudly drove a full-size coupe Pontiac Catalina back and forth to work. "My car really would not match up to today's vehicles."