EPA tells automakers: "The Horsepower War is Over"

[StangTV News]

"We must bring about an end to the horsepower arms race among automakers and replace it with another, different kind of race, a race to produce the most affordable and desirable low-carbon vehicle each year," said Margo Oge, EPA's director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

If the EPA gets it's way -- the battle between vehicles like the Shelby and ZR1 Corvette seen below will be long gone.



The EPA wants the automotive makers to stop building 500-600 horsepower sports cars and rather focus on building green machines, cheap, affordable low powered cars that will be about as much fun to drive as flossing your teeth.

The funny thing - Oge doesn't seem to realize that the automarkers are pouring billions into making more efficient, cleaner cars and even are making a heavy move to Ethanol. Does she know, or care?

What about the twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost and the GM's commitment to 4-cylinder turbocharged engines.

Is this a return to the 1970s?

[60s Refugee]

I remember the last time this happened. It caused the mass extinction of all the muscle cars. We suffered. America lost it's lead in the auto business. Several generations of otherwise normal men became whipped woosies (if you don't believe this just watch reruns of "That 70's Show"). But, evolution being the natural force of things that it is, over the next 30 years new breeds of cars emerged, bigger, better, faster, safer, cleaner, more fuel effecient, and yes, more expensive.

Now a new environment threatens the very existance of the new horsepower race. I fear another mass extinction is near. But fear not, for a new breed will again emerge, perhaps burning hydrogen, perhaps not, but our grandchildren will themselves become the new race of pistonheaders who will enjoy the next horsepower race. They just won't have cool wheels 'cuz cars probably won't have wheels by then!

The bones of dead classic Mustangs will continue to be excavated and restored to fill the gap until that day comes. Perhaps that faint glimmer of life will sustain the generations of yet unborn Americans who will not wish to become the woosies of the future. Their fate rests in our hands. We must preserve our Mustangs until a newer better day returns.

But, you know, I bet our Mustangs will still be cooler than theirs will be!

Harry

[powerjames]

Harry the thing I find hard to understand is the "political" side of the EPA. If the manufacturers meet the EPA regulations on economy - who cares if specialty cars make big horsepower numbers.

It's like the "horsepower wars" are spat upon by greenies who don't realize that the masses of people don't drive Shelby GT500KR's or ZR1 Corvettes.

[60s Refugee]

Worse than that, the Tree Huggers think we are actually lagging BEHIND the rest of the world in green tech! Guess maybe they think WE are forcing China to burn all that coal!

But you are right. And, the congress can't say what they really think for fear they might offend a voter somewhere. They act like it would be voting against God, Mom, puppy dogs, and Martin Luther King to support our car industry. Heck, most of the House and Senate members are old baby boomers who probably had a fast car once. How quickly they caved in.

I expect to live long enough to see the oil start to run out (become too expensive to burn in cars), but I don't think I'll ever see a politician stand up against "political correctness".

I won't try to argue whether or not our Mustangs have had anything to do with global warming, even though we can't deny global warming is happening. In the end it's probably what happens naturally just before the next ice sheet starts coming down.

The last ice sheet killed off the Saber Toothed Tigers. I would say that was probably a good thing, but as long as my 'stang can outrun the glacier I ain't worried about myself. Those guys in the electric cars won't be so lucky.

Harry

[blue92notch]

i'll tell you what gets me pissed off about this. it has nothing to do with being eco-friendly or whatever crap term is being created. it's that the epa sets the rules and the automakers play by them. so if chevy wants to make a 2,000 hp car, why does the epa wage a public war against them if gets 20 mpg?

i don't get it, never will

[Fool_Fire]

As a mechanical engineer by trade, I can relate to the need of large political governing bodies to dictate not only the end results of a process, but the process itself.

You don't truly expect a member of the EPA to care about vehicle performance do you? They are too busy making love to a tree.

That being said, I absolutely know that economy and clean air are important to the entire world.