The 2012 new car models are shipping already, lead by the 2012
Ford Focus scheduled to arrive at dealerships this month. These
are the first new cars that have to comply with new, stricter
fuel economy standards passed by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2009. The changes are the first
major increase in fuel economy standards for cars since the
requirements originally took effect in the 1970s. Automakers are
expected to adopt a wide range of technologies to meet the new
targets, including direct injection, continuously variable
transmissions, hybrid systems, and plug-in electric cars. The
new standards require a new-car Corporate Average Fuel Economy
(CAFE) of average 33.3 mpg this year and light trucks to average
25.4, for an overall average of 29.7 mpg. These standards are
scheduled to ramp up all the way to 34.1 mpg overall by 2016.
Under the new system, each automaker has an independent fuel
economy target to meet, based on the types and sizes of vehicles
it plans to produce.