Well, this probably doesn't matter to about 90% of you, as you could care less how many MPG you get...but for some of us that are road warriors, and that live at the pump, we care.

For 2008, the EPA changed how the MPG ratings tests are performed, and alot of companies are having to make adjustments. Example:

2007 Prius stated 60 city and 51 hwy, and 55 combined
2008 Prius states 48 city and 45 hwy, and 46 combined

Same car, just more realistic testing! What a huge F@cking difference.

Well...how much did you car change?
Check out the comparisions here:
2008 Fuel Economy Tests

Charles

 

It's a way of measurement which means it's relative, so what does it matter?

All I see it doing is forcing the manufacturers sell more fuel economy cars based on current CAFE requirements. Fun.

 

Does it really matter to old car what the new standard... they don't even have the info for your 53 caddy, so this seems irrelavant to your budget...

 

Those numbers are off, lol

I know someone who owns a '07 Prius that drives from Sarasota to Brandon that gets more than 51hwy, she claims its near 60ish. Same w/ the Honda Insight she used to own (she total it after she hit tired on the road, yeah, nice isn't it), the Insight was getting more than what Honda evluated.

Sometimes these figures amazed me

 

It's funny how when the gas prices go up, everyone starts advertising alternative fuels and better fuel economy cars, and then somehow the gas prices go back down..and the advertising kinda boils down...then suddenly the gas prices shoot back up.


kinda like a little battle theyre having.

 

All depends on driving habits.

 

But I still don't see any reason to get excited over it. It's like when the SAE changed the way they measured engine output and everyone got another 5hp. So what? It's a unit of measure but it doesn't change anything other than what I mentioned about CAFE.

 

Well, hopefully it will change the way companies manufacture cars. The old standards used a highway test speed of around 55 mph. That's not realistic these days. The Prius was designed so it would get the best gas mileage at 55 mph and consequently get the best possible highway mileage according to the old tests. That's why the change in fuel economy numbers on the Prius is so drastic. So now the EPA is running around saying, "WE CAUGHT YOU, TOYOTA!"

 

The news developing from these new standards is getting pretty interesting. Toyota has thrown all thier dice on Hybrids.
The new 2008 Honda Accord is getting rid of their Hybrid V6 version and replacing it with a 2.2 i-CTDi diesel, which is rumored to get 52mpg!
New Accord diesel to hit 52 MPG? - Autoblog

Also, I cant wait to see the numbers on a mill with the new a-Vtec; its possible with a-Vtec to eliminate the need for a throttle butterfly completely, similar to (yet less bulky and lighter) then BMW's valvetronic system. Fascinating stuff.

*edit* It looks like my cars fuel economy is staying the same 20city-26hwy, based on the 2007 EPA standards. Or are the changes not coming until the 2008 standards?

 

i found the new standards are more accurate than the old ones that were stated by car manufacture. and i agree what a huge difference