Experts think new U.S. mileage standards may alter size and shape of future vehicles

Is this where we are headed. How is it that in over 100 years, engineers have not been able to design a more fuel efficient engine. Now instead of a better engine, car proportions are going to suffer to achieve a couple extra miles. This will surely help auto sales. Say good bye to the laid back gangsta style 300 and hello to the Nissan Versa to influence our future.

Good luck fellow auto designers, you certainly have your work cut out for ya. Here is a possible solution for the next ten years.

Over the next decade, significantly higher fuel economy standards are likely to bring about vehicles that are lighter, a bit smaller and taller. The silhouettes of the Ford Five Hundred sedan and Dodge Caliber represent the direction some auto manufacturers likely will take to meet the new standards.

Proposed U.S. fuel economy rules would dramatically increase the miles per gallon (mpg) of every vehicle sold in the country. The rules also could add a dimension – model classifications based on factors such as vehicle footprint (the area bounded by the four wheels), bumper-to-bumper dimensions, weight or passenger volume. In such a system, cars of different sizes would have different fuel economy targets. Similar rules already are being phased in for light trucks for the 2008-2011 model years.

Automakers would not necessarily be able to offset the low mileage of bigger, more powerful cars by selling small cars. That would increase pressure to improve the fuel economy of bigger cars.

“Four, five years from now, platforms may be somewhat different from what we are used to in terms of dimensions,” said Michael Robinet, vice president of global vehicle forecasts at auto consultant CSM Worldwide. “We may need to start ratcheting down at least the footprint of some of our vehicles.”

In some cases, making vehicles smaller may make a better business case than adding such expensive technology as continuously variable transmissions or mild hybrid technology, says Robinet. But retaining interior space will be a priority. The only way to gain more (interior) room is moving upward, said Robinet, and automakers are likely to create taller vehicles with upright seating positions. (Automotive News)