Ahhh, good old big brother stepping in again. Starting in 2007, pickup trucks will now be required to have 21 mpg highway ratings. After the first year, the standards get tougher. So, we better enjoy our trucks now, because in a couple years, trucks are either going to have to be WAY more efficient, or they will have to lose some power.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189448,00.html

 

Hmmm, I am guessing if they do not meet this a gas guzzler tax will have to be paid like it is paid with the Viper? If not bye bye SRT10.

One thing this does do is lock in our trucks as being one of the quickest on the road for a long time to come.

When gas hit $2 I said to a few people if it hurts any of the automakers it would be DC. In my opinion one of DC's big market ploys and attraction to their cars is the powerful V8 engine lineup across many of their models. If they had to start selling a bunch of V6s I think their cars loose a little bit of appeal.

Oh, one more thing, maybe the governement should change the speed limit back to 60 or something rather than put this restriction in place that is going to hose many auto makers. They could also step in and regulate gas/oil prices. We all know the oil does not cost more to pull out of the ground than it did 2 years ago. It is a BS fear of supply and terroist attacks. If it did cost more the oil companies would not be getting those crazy record profit numbers they have been enjoying for a year now.

 

I havent ever drove on the highway full time, but driving around town and a little bit of highway i can get 18.2 stock. Since then I have added a cold air intake, glasspack, and superchip set to fuel economy. I have the same power and get better mileage.

 

But you aren't getting 21 mpg stock from the factory. Plus, the next year it jumps up to 22 mpg highway. Like I said, either trucks have to make a huge jump in technology (they are already technologically advanced), or buh bye 345 hp.

I get 12 city 16 highway. So, this new regulation means my truck needs to get 5 more mpg on the highway. Hmmm, how is that going to be possible? Either alternative fuel, OR lower the enemy of gas consumption - power. I think Dodge will do the cheaper, and easier thing, of changing power output rather than making a hybrid or alternative fuel Hemi.

 

Reading this I think it means all trucks sold by a automaker put together must average that number, not every individual truck. At least that is the way I read it. The 06 Hemi is not rated at the number listed below, so I have to assume it is an overall average. I am really liking those V6 trucks running around now.

Under the current system, automakers must maintain an average of 21.6 miles per gallon for 2006 model year light trucks, a number that grows to 22.2 mpg for 2007 vehicles. Passenger cars, which would not be covered by the new rules, need a 27.5 mpg average.

 

Well, these regulations don't apply until later in the year. Even if they want an entire truck lineup to "average" this number, it will mean something will have to give. Either they improve the mileage considerably on a V6, 4.7 or 5.7, or all of them.

The article says, "The new rule would call for specific fuel economy standards for all light trucks based on a vehicle's dimensions. Mineta said it would help close loopholes used in the past by automakers to meet fuel economy standards and level the playing field for automakers.

U.S. automakers such as General Motors Corp. (GM) and Ford Motor Co.(F) have said the current system hurts them against the competition because sales of large SUVs must be offset by the sale of smaller light trucks to comply with fuel economy rules."

This tells me the mileage will need to be improved for every vehicle, thus hurting the light truck/SUV market.

 

It would be nice if the gov. stepped in and regulated gas prices, but we know that wont happen any time soon. The goverment will never regulate business prices. The one thing that they can do is regulate env. standards, which is what they are doing right here. What we need is someone who can stand up to the oil companies and turn it into a legit business. Oil companies made more money last year than in the past 10. It seems as every little problem in the world today is used as an excuse to raise gas prices. I remember a year ago when i had a fit because gas prices were 1.65 per gallon, it is now 2.45 per gallon here in NC. What in gods name has made these prices jump so high? nothing that has been long term, every reason for them going up has been due to a temporary problem.

 

I hope and pray this does not mean death for the ram srt10.I was wanting one so bad and i would have done anything to get one. too bad im still in high school. there's no chance i will have one now because once i get out of 4yrs of college (starting in fall of this year) there won't be any srt10s for me to buy. [][] so much for having dreams. THANK YOU AMERICAN GOVERNMENT...THAT'S THE 26TH DEMOLISHED GOAL FOR ME.(everytime i set a goal something weird and totally unexpected happens and keeps me from attaining it) (i dreamed for a year now of owning an srt10.. so long my beloved! **hangs himself**)

 

Hopefully when bush steps down this fuel greed manipulation will ease down.

 

When Bush steps down, we'll get some left wing president who will make it mandatory for 50 mpg averages! hahaha. If Kerry was president, our Hemis would be outlawed, and we'd be forced to ride bicycles for polluting "mother earth" lol