CAFE is not a Clinton dream. CAFE reg's came after the 1973 oil embargo. Emissions reg's are from the EPA. Unfortunately, there was a convergence in the EPA clean air regs and CAFE requirements.
Lots of families had station wagons back then. This was a problem, because they were hard to make and meet the new regulations. American's liked their big cars. Fortunately for the Automakers, there were loopholes in both sets of regulations. Lee Iaccoca had the great idea to come up with the mini van. It was not a car, it was classified as a truck. Great idea, we'll just build around the law rather than innovate. Euro's and Asian car companies had vehicles to meet their more stringent requirements (and market conditions of higher gas prices) back home, so they adapted products to the American marketplace. US Mfg's found that it was easier to compete in the "truck" marketplace with less rules and regulations (and where there was less competition from abroad) Now the foreign brands are inching into that market as well.
American car buyers are just as much at fault. We buy cars based on the worst case scenario. even though they drive by themselves to work 5 days a week, and rarely need the space afforded in a big SUV, pick-up or van, they buy it because they "might" need that much room. Worse even is they buy TWO such vehicles instead of one smaller and one larger. Why should we have to trade vehicles, it is too inconvenient.
So what should we do?
Examine what kind of car you really need for most of the time.
American's have an aversion to paying high dollars for a so called "economy" car. Detroit has been loathe to build small "luxury" cars. Have you ever noticed that sometimes it is more expensive to buy something smaller? It takes extra innovation to fit all the features in smaller spaces. Be willing to pay for what you get. Better fuel economy is better performance
If you need a bigger vehicle for unusual conditions, you can rent one! You can rent trucks when you need one instead of using it as a commuter vehicle.
Detroit could have read on the walls way back in the 60's that there was a market for small cars. Harley Earl saw it way back when he noticed his young designers driving VW's, MG's and such. As it happens he was pushed out of GM
check this out
http://www.carofthecentury.com/modern_a ... l_cars.htm
Mark