1934 Ford Pickup Flathead on 2040-cars

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Should reflective paint earn automakers EPA credits?

No matter where you look around the world, governments are cracking down on vehicle emissions and aiming for higher fuel economy standards. Generally, automakers are pushing back against the increased regulation, and in the US, General Motors, Ford, and FCA US are looking for new compromises. The Big Three want to the EPA to grant them retroactive emissions credits for using tech that they claim reduces CO2 but not on the government agency's on-road testing. Among these technologies are things like reflective paint and glass, LED lights, ventilated seats, stop/start, and more efficient air conditioning compressors. Starting with the 2014 model year, the automakers can receive credits for a few grams per mile reductions on models with some of these solutions, according to Automotive News. However, the companies are also petitioning the EPA to make the credits apply to earlier vehicles with them, as well. The emissions advantages for systems like stop/start and less polluting AC refrigerants seem fairly obvious. For reflective paint and glass, the belief is that keeping a vehicle interior cooler should mean a lower need for air conditioning and therefore a decrease in CO2. Margo Oge, the former boss of the EPA's Office of Transportation Air Quality, told Automotive News these credits are part of the plan. "That's the whole point of what we tried to establish," she said. "We wanted companies to invest in and develop these technologies." The EPA wants vehicle emissions at the corporate average equivalent of 54.4 miles per gallon fuel economy by 2025, and so far that seems achievable. It will translate to less than 40 mpg on the EPA sticker. In a report last summer, the industry was about 10 grams per mile of CO2 better than the rules required, and that was solely based on 2012 model year vehicles. In an update for 2013, the companies were up to 12 grams per mile beyond targets. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Mark Humphrey / AP Photo Government/Legal Green Ford GM Emissions Fuel Efficiency FCA fca us

Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch

Just a friendly reminder from Honda: The Honda Challenge Pack DLC is now available for Forza Horizon. To reward you for the trouble of pressing a few buttons on your Xbox controller, you'll get the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe, an HPD Rally Fit and a 1986 Honda Civic Si Coupe in your garage, and you'll get them free. The event of the new DLC has also kicked off a photo contest that will reward someone with an Xbox 360 console wrapped in a Honda Civic Si theme.
Otherwise, the word "Challenge" keeps coming up because of the chance to run an online race against IndyCar driver Scott Dixon. The track for that digital throwdown has already been decided by Xbox players who voted before January 8. Yet it's not too late to hop into the Honda section in Xbox Live and lay down a time fast enough for a shot at the title "The Driver That Shellacked Scott Dixon," and meeting the man in person.
Check out the press release from Honda below, and the sweetness that is the 1986 Civic Si in the gallery above.

Galpin-Fisker Rocket shows up topless in Monterey

The Rocket Coupe, introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, was a collaboration in reimagination carried out by designer Henrik Fisker and Galpin Auto Sports on a Ford Mustang. The next version of that concept has come to Pebble Beach in the metallic red form of the Rocket Speedster Concept you see here. In this guise the Mustang convertible gets a speedster tonneau cover that runs all the way to the front seat headrests, covering the back seats. As with the rest of the bodywork the cover is fashioned in carbon fiber, portions of it visible in places like the stripes running along the hood from the hexagonal grill to the tonneau, and the exposed carbon fiber air ducts that are mesh-filled to improve airflow through the cabin. And yes, it still has that nose. Underhood is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 725 horsepower, all that cavalry brought to a stop by 15-inch Brembo Gran Turismo brakes up front tucked behind 21-inch custom wheels. Although it is labeled a concept, it too will go into limited production like its hardtop forebear. The press release below has the info, the gallery above has the goods. Related Video: GALPIN FORD AND HENRIK FISKER UNVEIL ROCKET SPEEDSTER CONCEPT AT 2015 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Acclaimed Automotive Designer and Visionary Customizer turn the Ultimate Mustang into a Stunning Speedster MONTEREY, Calif. (August 15, 2015) – Galpin Auto Sports and Henrik Fisker unveiled the latest iteration of the "Ultimate American Muscle Car" today at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance; the 2015 Rocket Speedster Concept. Following a short drive onto the legendary Pebble Beach Concept Lawn, Henrik Fisker and Galpin Motors President, Beau Boeckmann introduced the convertible carbon fiber-bodied super-Mustang, intended for low-volume production. The car was featured as one of only a few special designer cars in front the Lodge at Pebble Beach. Featuring a fully integrated carbon fiber speedster cover that transforms the four-seat convertible into a two-seat speedster, this new edition Rocket maintains exceptional visual drama and performance with the top up or down. As with the Rocket Coupe, the Concept carries a carbon fiber hood feeding air into the supercharged 725-hp V8 engine through two sculpted air intakes, aiding the grill and front splitter in maintaining optimal cooling and aerodynamics. Constructed by GFMI Metalcrafters, Inc.