My sport sedan gets 35mpg on the highway. Why is Fox News saying that number is only possible in a smart car?

Falafel &

Fox News, both on radio and television today, is framing Obama's plan to increase emissions standards over the next 8 years as "making cars unsafe". The assumption they're operating under is that in order to increase fuel efficiency, auto makers will have to skimp on structural elements and safety features.

I have a sport sedan that gets 35mpg on the highway, while earning a five-star government crash test rating for front, side and rollover tests. It cost less than a reasonably equipped new American car (I bought a 2008 "certified pre-owned"), and outperforms any Ford, Dodge or Chrysler you could buy for less than $40,000 new.

Why is Fox trying to convince its viewers that a 35mpg fuel economy standard is unreasonable, and that my Audi A4 is apparently a "smart car"?
Speaking as someone in the auto industry, and someone with a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, the claim that a higher MPG car will somehow be less safe is nonsense.
To the truck owners:

No doubt, this will be a difficult change. If you drive a car with a V8, you're not going to get 35mpg with today's technology.

However, the idea that "a 35mpg car is an unsafe car" is blatantly false. The first 30 seconds of fact checking will reaffirm this, so I guess Fox either doesn't care about facts, or is choosing to ignore them.
"Its not Fox stating ,this is the car manufacturers here in America. That's who the target of these emissions standards are hitting"

Incorrect. No automaker is saying that "a 35 mpg car is an unsafe car". I already drive one that's perfectly safe, and we can expect better technology in 2016 when the new standard would be in effect.
"And here is a study by the National Academy of Sciences explaining why 2002 CAFE standards caused 2000+ traffic deaths a year, it is a good read."

Safety features are rapidly improving, and even only 7 years after 2002, they're much better. Rear curtain airbags will be standard on most cars made three years from now.

There's no reason to expect cars to get LESS safe as technology improves, and there's a point where the size of a car really doesn't have any impact on your ability to survive an accident.
"If you understand mechanical engineering then you understand the physics of objects at speed, and you can figure out using mathematical formulas why making cars lighter after a certain point makes them less safe. That is unless you spend a ton of money making them crash resistant like a race car."

First off, there are no "formulas" for automobile safety, at least none that aren't gross oversimplifications (i.e., assuming rigid body motion, assuming linear deformation, etc...).

What you're saying is true, but not in the context of the issue. At some point, you have to compromise the safety of the car. Fox News says that it's at 35.5 mpg or below, and that is flat out FALSE. The proof is that I drive a car that gets 35.5 mpg, goes 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, and would save me in a 110mph crash.

Over time, alloys improve, techniques of getting the car to absorb collision energy improve, airbags improve, etc... 35.5 mpg does not mean the car is unsafe

Answer
It is nonsense. I am not nearly as educated about cars as you are , and even I can see it. They just want to spread hate. They make a lot of money doing it. It makes no sense to go against the president on things that he is right about doing.

Can I buy A Nano Car in the U.S.?

feeddaneed

The Indian car company Tata unveiled a four-seat automobile that will sell for just $2,500 yesterday. The Nano should be available later this year, and is aimed at people who might otherwise purchase a motorcycle. Can I buy one in the U.S.?

Answer
TATA NANO is intended for the Indian market and in the future, the developing countries. It is not aimed at N America or EU.

Therefore, TATA will not be marketing it in the USA.

Regarding Pollution:
TATA NANO adheres to Euro IV norms, and as a matter of fact, emission norms in India are far stricter than in the USA. That is why Harley-Davidson cannot enter India.

Regarding Safety:
Although not ideal for highway speeding, this car does pass the Indian frontal crash tests and has side impact resistant features and body-bonded rear window. TATA said, that with some modifications, it could be made to conform to US safety standards. They also said that air-bags cab be installed, but that will hike the price of the car.

The real reason why it will NOT be available to Americans is:
The powerful oil companies' lobby will not allow this car in the USA, because if people started trading their gas guzzling 8-cylinder SUVs for this car, the oil price will drop, and so will their profits.

If allowed in all fairness, this car will dominate the US market, and that is what is feared by the Detroit 3. They don't want this car in USA.

What US carmakers do:
Make a product and artificially create the need.

What Indian carmakers do:
Study the need and create the product.

It is however refreshing to see many Americans today are less gullible to be brainwashed into buying a gas-guzzling Hummer or a truck-sized sedan.

So, finally, the answer to your question is, it will not be sold in the USA.

IM me if you need more details.

Edit:
Carissa and sukbunny - are you two even aware that TATA NANO is Euro IV compliant? From where did you learnt that they do not meet US emission standards? Fox News?

Indian emission standards are far stricter than US emission standards - I hope this is loud and clear! The only area where it might lag behind is the air-bag thing!

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