The Ford F-150 now has an aluminum body, and uses a turbocharged V6 instead of regular V8 to generate torque, and it does a good job of it.
Even so, the actual gas mileage owners get is lower than advertised, but still higher than a decade ago.
The increased fuel efficiency standards have actually lead to higher costs of vehicle development to lighten the car and make the engine do more with less.
Your lamenting the surge in trucks and SUV ownership is ironic since the increase is actually a direct result of the newer mileage standards: if trucks are now rated similar to where cars were rated 15 years ago, then why not go for the more utilitarian vehicle?
Even so, the actual gas mileage owners get is lower than advertised, but still higher than a decade ago.
The increased fuel efficiency standards have actually lead to higher costs of vehicle development to lighten the car and make the engine do more with less.
Your lamenting the surge in trucks and SUV ownership is ironic since the increase is actually a direct result of the newer mileage standards: if trucks are now rated similar to where cars were rated 15 years ago, then why not go for the more utilitarian vehicle?