New cars in the United States are getting both more powerful and more fuel efficient, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed.
In recently-published data for the 2016 model year, the EPA has confirmed that average fuel economy ratings across all personal vehicles hit 24.7 mpg, a 0.1 mpg increase over 2015. Additionally, average new car horsepower climbed to 230, a 1 hp gain over the previous year. Both of these figures are all-time records.
The records don’t stop there, however. CO2 emission ratings hit a record low in 2016, sitting at an average of 359 grams per mile, 2 grams less than the previous year.
Another interesting titbit of information from the data is the fact that roughly a quarter of 2017 model year vehicles already meet or exceed 2020 model year targets. Factoring in expected air conditioning improvements and off-cycle credits, the EPA has determined that 26 per cent of project MY 2017 vehicles already meet or exceed MY 2020 CO2 emissions targets.
Of the thirteen largest auto manufacturers, the EPA has concluded that Mazda had the lowest fleetwide average adjusted CO2 emissions and highest adjusted fuel economy performance, followed closely by Hyundai, Honda, Subaru, and Nissan. All told, seven of the 13 largest manufacturers decreased CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy in their MY 2016 vehicles.
