35-MPG CAFE Could Drastically Alter Detroit's Future Product Plans
DETROIT — The increasing likelihood that Congress will pass legislation hiking Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to 35 mpg could have a dramatic impact on Detroit automakers' plans to build and sell large rear-wheel-drive cars.
General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz already has grumbled publicly that higher CAFE standards will likely cause the automaker to tear up a portion of its product plan. More specifically, GM suppliers say several proposed vehicles based on the corporate Zeta platform, including a big sedan for Chevrolet and a performance coupe for Pontiac, could fall victim to the change.
GM, however, appears to be going ahead with plans to build a large luxury sedan for Cadillac and a companion model, a premium sedan for Buick, off the same Zeta platform, which also underpins the new Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro.
At Ford, development work continues in Australia on a new large RWD platform that is intended to provide a replacement for the Falcon as well as the Mustang in North America. Ford has been considering development of production versions of the Ford Interceptor and Lincoln MKR concepts off this new platform, as potential replacements for the Crown Victoria and Town Car. But tougher CAFE standards could scuttle those two vehicles, suppliers say.
At Chrysler, insiders say the company is studying how best to redesign the big Chrysler 300 sedan, with one proposal said to involve a move away from the current upright, boxy silhouette to a sleeker, more aerodynamic profile in order to enhance fuel economy.
What this means to you: Of course, this doesn't even begin to address the issue of what will happen to Detroit's full-size trucks and SUVs. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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