As I’ve just before, this whole trend and push to make cars more economical has resulted in a decrease in driving fun. But at the same time, it’s inevitable since times are changing. For example, a research poll conducted by Opinion Research Corp. and commissioned by the Consumer Federation of America showed that 62% of Americans support Obama’s mandate requiring manufacturers to meet a 60 mpg standard by 2025. The survey was based on 2,000 Americans with a margin of error of minus-plus two percentage points.
“Rising gas prices nationwide have ratcheted up support for stricter standards and electric and hybrid vehicles,” said Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America, “The average household is expected to spend more than $3,000 on gasoline this year, compared with just under $2,000 in 2009.”
As a result, manufacturers have been resorting to introducing electric vehicles, which is not news to us. But they’re not going to be as prominent as their sales suggest since it’s estimated that electric and hybrid powertrained cars are only expected to make up less than 10% of sales in the US car industry through 2016, according to J.D. Power and Associates.
However, two-thirds of Americans also think that state governments should remain responsible for setting vehicle emissions standards instead of one federal standard.
To me, receiving this kind of information makes me ponder some questions. Is the enthusiast crowd really shrinking to such an extent that manufacturers no longer see a major market in it? Because lets face it, in order for cars to be more economical, they need to sacrifice performance and well, that kills the fun, especially since cars are becoming heavier and bigger. And if a supposed percentage of the population supports the fuel economy mandate, well, it sounds like our kind are slowly falling off the face of the Earth. At the same, 2000 Americans is a minute number compared to the mass population that is able to buy a car. Maybe I’m just stuck with a conservative mindset and don’t want to accept the fact that times are changing.
- By: Chris Chin
Source: Detroit News
