Tighter fuel standards to herald the end of the American SUV? Iconic Jeep Wrangler to ‘go on a serious diet using aluminum body panels’ due to mandated federal weight savings regulations

In 2012, The Obama administration released new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, requiring automakers to raise the average fuel efficiency of new cars and trucks to an “historic 54.5 MPG” by 2025.

The new fuel standards are part of the Obama Administration’s “national program to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” But the impact on cars and trucks will be to make smaller, lighter and thus potentially less crash worthy vehicles.

One analyst has described the potential impact of the new CAFE standards:

“The auto industry has not raised the expected squawks — could this be because the Obama administration has shown no hesitation to use its loan power to force out top management, like it did with Rick Wagoner of General Motors? Expect the effect of this new standard to impact heavily on SUVs. Though there is some lip service being paid to consumer choice, in reality, auto manufacturers will be forced to make smaller, more efficient cars and to concentrate their efforts on hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. CAFE standards won’t affect used SUVs or the SUV that you already have in your driveway — but enjoy them while you can.”

The Jeep Wrangler is but one example of the impacts these new federal regulations are set to unleash. 

2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4X4

Excerpts via Auto Blog: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/10/29/2016-jeep-wrangler-to-ditch-solid-axles-to-save-weight/

2016 Jeep Wrangler to ditch solid axles to save weight?

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Hey, Jeep fans. If you think the idea of a funky-looking, car-based Cherokee revival is offensive, have a listen to what might be in store for the next-gen Jeep WranglerAutomotive News is reporting that as Jeep develops the 2016 Wrangler, weight reduction is a crucial target, and the Wrangler’s rugged solid axles could be sacrificed in the name of better fuel economy.
We’ve already heard the next Wrangler will go on a serious diet using aluminum body panels and an air suspension system, so the idea of a four-wheel independent suspension setup for this OG SUV isn’t all that surprising.

There are probably still a couple years before we’ll start hearing any concrete details about the 2016 Wrangler, at which time it will be interesting to see how stricter fuel economy and crash safety regulations have been balanced with traditional Wrangler cues like its removable doors and roof and folding windshield.

Related Links:

SUV sales booming! Jeep Wrangler so popular Chrysler

Global sea ice areal extent at highest level since 1994; Southern Hemisphere continues on an amazing run of daily record highs of expanding ice

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By Paul Dorian, meteorologist with the SI, provides detailed forecasts for employee locations in the Mid-Atlantic

The southern hemisphere sea ice areal extent continues its recent impressive run at daily record high levels when compared to all prior years in the satellite record-keeping era which began in 1979. This stretch of daily record high sea ice areal extent in the southern hemisphere has actually been occurring for the past several weeks. In fact, the southern hemisphere sea ice areal extent has had quite an amazing run during the past few years from below normal levels to the current well above normal values (above map courtesy University of Illinois “cryosphere”).

On a global basis, sea ice areal extent is currently above normal and, in fact, has now reached levels not seen since around 1994 – thanks in large part to the happenings in the southern hemisphere.

The northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent is still below normal for this time of year although it has gained significantly compared to one year ago. In general, the northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent has been at below normal levels since the mid 1990’s. Two distinct trend lines can be seen in the northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent dating back to 1979. First, the northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent featured an “above normal” and general “sideways” trend until the mid 1990’s and then, following that point in time, there has been an overall downward trend to the current below normal values. This directional change in trend during the mid 1990’s correlates quite well with a northern Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperature cycle that is tracked by meteorologists through an index called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO).

Indeed, the Atlantic Ocean has a significant impact on northern hemisphere sea ice and the AMO index flipped in phase during the mid 1990’s from negative (cold) to positive (warm), and the northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent has been in a general downward trend ever since.

Once the northern Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperatures flip back to cooler-than-normal values – perhaps 5 or 10 years from now – the northern hemisphere sea ice areal extent should return to the normal or above normal levels seen prior to the mid 1990’s.

More here: http://thesiweather.com/2013/12/03/1215-pm-global-sea-ice-areal-extent-at-highest-level-since-1994-southern-hemisphere-continues-on-a-record-run-for-this-time-of-year/

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