So we've all heard a lot of doom and gloom stuff about what CAFE is going to do to our beloved muscle and pony cars, especially from the automotive media. Obviously, bad news grabs attention. So it was a little surprising that coming from Motor Trend, of all places, was this article in the most recent issue concerning the effects of CAFE on mainstream performance cars. Here's a notable excerpt:
Quote:
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To find out what sorts of "replacements for displacement" might power the next generation muscle cars, we contacted the go-fast gurus at the Detroit Three, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz AMG. All were adamant on one point: performance cannot be sacrificed as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. Corvette chief engineer Tom Wallace echoes everyone else's sentiments: "What matters is pounds per horsepower. Horsepower is technology and displacement. If you can take mass out, you can take horsepower out. If you can take horsepower out, you can take displacement out and improve fuel economy." Lowering mass improves every sporting aspect of a car, so this is exciting news for Mustangs, Camaros, and Chargers, which can afford to shrink a bit. Further reducing mass from cars like the Corvette, however, will require exotic, expensive materials. And, unfortunately, many other efficiency technologies like gasoline direct injection, cylinder-shutoff, variable intake and valvetrain systems, and active aerodynamic aids add weight...Bottom line: expect muscle cars to evolve, offering equal or better performance in a lighter, smaller, more aerodynamic form bristling with new technologies.
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Article: Muscle CAFE by Frank Markus, Motor Trend April 2008
Isn't it so refreshing to hear that the performance guys at the auto makers aren't going to just surrender performance cars so we repeat the 70s and 80s again? In so many other articles we hear "cancel this" or "delay that". I'm always worried that by the time I can afford a Camaro, the only thing I can buy is a 75 hp subcompact because everything else we've heard indicates they're just going to throw in the towel and take the easy way out. It is so nice to hear that through innovation, we may actually have great performance cars that are also very efficient. I definitely needed this little attitude pick-me-up.