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HomeFuel economy

Fuel economy

1974 Ford Galaxie 500 four-door hardtop
Current Events

Could the auto industry experience a wake-up call akin to the 1970s oil crises?

March 24, 2026 Steve 5

Oil experts have recently debated how big of a crisis the Iran war could cause. However, even if the impacts to the U.S. auto industry turn out to be relatively short lived, they still could […]

Current Events

Could Iran war show that Detroit is too dependent on gas-guzzling vehicles?

March 9, 2026 Steve 29

As I write this, Automotive News has not yet posted a full news story on how a protracted war in Iran could impact U.S. car sales. The industry’s leading trade journal has only parenthetically made […]

2025 Ford Maverick
Current Events

Debate over whether CAFE killed the small car in the U.S. may be moot

July 28, 2025 Steve 10

Indie Auto reader Troy linked to a provocative comment by bzcat (2025) at Blue Oval Forums about why small cars have disappeared from the U.S. market. Here’s what he has to say: “Americans like small […]

Links

Motor Trend dares to complain that 1974 personal coupes had grown too big

November 11, 2024 Steve 2

Motor Trend magazine’s 1974 road test of seven personal coupes may have been rather vapid in many respects, but it did offer one useful critique. Writer Jim Brokaw complained that the largest models — the […]

2017 Toyota Prius V
Current Events

You know things are bad when an Automotive News reporter swears off new cars

October 9, 2024 Steve 13

I recently came across an Automotive News column that I never thought I would see — a reporter who argued against buying a new car. Richard Truett (2024) explained that in recent years he has […]

Parody ads about the auto industry and media
Our Sponsors

Automotive Views is really quite sure about this one

March 17, 2023 Steve 0
1983 Ford Thunderbird
Media Analysis

How accurate were Popular Mechanics’ predictions about 1980s cars?

March 16, 2023 Steve 3

For its September 1975 issue, Popular Mechanics’ Detroit Editor Robert Lund asked executives from each of the Big Four U.S. automakers to predict what cars would be like in the decade ahead. Lund started off […]

BMW i3 recharging
Letters to the Editor

Looking at battery-powered vehicles from both sides now

March 3, 2022 Steve 1

George Denzinger took the time to write a lengthy follow up to our “Quotes” post, “If automakers focused more on efficiency would there be less pressure to go EV?” This is the kind of deeper […]

2020 Ram Rebel 1500 Hemi
Quotes

If automakers focused more on efficiency would there be less pressure to go EV?

February 23, 2022 Steve 14

“Just think, a little more focus on efficiency and we wouldn’t be forced to go all electric in the future. I love power, so don’t get me wrong. But with such dismal mileage that these […]

Birds chatter about the 2019 Jeep Gladiator
Bird Chatter

Jeep Gladiator is the brick that could save world

August 7, 2020 Steve 0
  • 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
    Is David Kiley right that Ford should replace Lincoln with a new brand?
    September 2, 2026 16
  • 1972 Buick Skylark Custom grille
    1972 Buick Skylark Custom represented the end of an era
    September 1, 2026 5
  • 1959 Ford Thunderbird
    1959 Ford Thunderbird was a gimmicky but hugely important car
    August 26, 2026 11
  • Compact cars became the neglected stepchildren of U.S. automakers
    August 21, 2026 21
  • 1980 AMC brochure cover with picture of American Center building
    AMC’s Roy D. Chapin Jr. succumbed to the illusion of bigness
    August 19, 2026 2
  • 1980 Ford Thunderbird and 1956 model
    Ford’s design talent in the 1970s wasn’t enough to halt a dramatic slide in sales
    August 14, 2026 13
  • 1973 Buick Riviera
    Why wasn’t the 1971 ‘boat-tail’ Buick Riviera shrunk to compact size?
    August 14, 2026 24
  • Internet problems reminded me of U.S. automakers in the 1970s
    May 2, 2026 1
  • 1956 Buick hood scoop
    Readers brainstorm ideas for future Indie Auto stories
    October 14, 2022 141
Society of Automotive Historian award to Indie Auto

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