Topic: Fuel Economy

President Trump signed the "Freedom Means Affordable Cars" executive order, which may pave the way for the return of "tiny cars" and small pickup trucks to the U.S. market. The move involves rolling back corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards and addressing crash rating barriers. The hosts discuss the potential return of small Toyota trucks and the "AdBlue" diesel exhaust fluid scam.

Adam Curry reviews a Mercedes C220 diesel station wagon used during his travels in Italy. The vehicle achieved approximately 1,200 miles on a single tank of fuel and featured a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite a lack of high-end features like adaptive cruise control, the car's ride quality and efficiency were noted as impressive for a standard rental vehicle.

Volkswagen reaches a deal with U.S. authorities to buy back 500,000 diesel cars involved in the emissions cheating scandal. Simultaneously, Mitsubishi admits to falsifying fuel economy data for cars sold in Japan, leading to a 20% plunge in the company's stock.

Gina McCarthy, the nominee for EPA Administrator, testified before the Senate regarding her commitment to addressing climate change. She cited administration goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six billion metric tons through doubling car efficiency by 2025. Critics dismiss her claims of saving consumers $8,000 at the pump as "bull crap" based on future projections.

A listener email from the UK explains that "Eco Mode" or "Start-Stop" technology is becoming standard in Europe to meet CO2 and fuel economy targets. The hosts discuss how these systems, which shut off the engine at stoplights, are often disliked by drivers but necessary for manufacturers to hit the 54.5 MPG average required in the U.S. by 2025.

The "economy mode" in modern cars, which shuts off the engine at stoplights, is criticized for being unnerving and potentially unsafe on steep inclines. Dvorak recounts a test drive where a vehicle rolled backward before the engine restarted.

The hosts discuss the high cost of fuel for their upcoming RV tour, noting the vehicle gets only eight miles per gallon. They conclude the segment with birthday wishes and karma shots for several listeners and their family members.

Federal regulators seized two major corporate credit unions with combined assets of $57 billion. Separately, a Russian designer claims to have invented a revolutionary 600-horsepower engine that operates without noise or emissions, though the hosts remain skeptical of the report.

The history and efficiency of fuel injection systems are debated, with one host suggesting that early injection technology was less efficient than carburetors. The counter-argument posits that modern fuel injectors are essential for high horsepower and fuel economy because they allow for precise fuel metering. The discussion also touches on the difficulty of implementing new automotive breakthroughs due to the high cost of retooling manufacturing lines.