In 2020, Trump cut CAFE to 40 mpg. Now he’s cut it again to just 35 mpg.
The federal government’s war on fuel efficiency claimed another victim today. The Department of Transportation released a new rule for the country’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which, as expected, discourage the very idea of economical vehicles. Among the changes is a rollback to fuel economy numbers not seen in more than a decade, below even the low standards implemented in 2020, the last time Trump was in power. The new goal is just 34.9 mpg by model year 2031.
This is nothing if not expected. When Sean Duffy was installed as Transportation secretary last January, he immediately announced that any fuel efficiency standards put in place under the Biden administration were dead and buried. Those rules had a slower ramp up than some might have liked but would have required automakers to sell many more electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
GM introduced a 6.7L engine, replacing a 6.2L, in their grocery-getter school run pickup models.
I saw that the new Duramax is getting bigger too.
6.6 L →8.3 L
Wow that’s going to be excellent at $10/gallon
Funnily enough if you use it for its intended purpose, I suspect it might actually be more economical than the 6.6L. More modern engine, even more torque down low so not as much reason to keep higher revs under heavy load. Diesels aren’t SUPER affected by displacement, European 6 cylinders aren’t that much worse on fuel than 4 cylinders in highway usage and that comes with extra cylinders, so more moving parts to cause drag. This is V8 to V8. With the increased towing capacity, you may get shit towed in one trip that would’ve taken two before, or tow loads that wouldn’t have been allowed (or recommended by the manufacturer, anyway) with the previous engine and would’ve required a big rig.
But how many people are actually going to be towing several tons with one? With an empty bed and no trailer, the ridiculous amount of torque does nothing for you other than making pulls more fun, which just means you’ll waste even more fuel.
those lightly used trucks will eventually become used lightly used trucks, and a few owners down might replace the 2000 something f150 for towing multiple tons for budget contractors.
I’m not saying they won’t make ANY gas guzzlers.
Your hope is mine as well, but I think reality will be that the MEXCAUS auto manufacturing industry will be dead in 20 years or less.
And the 5.3 is going back to being a 350 again