CO2 regulations in my traditionally green opinion is a good thing, and not only for environment. Lower CO2 emissions can be achieved in at least three ways. first is to further perfect the ICE technology by adding DI, turbocharging for smaller engine displacement, DSG type transmissions with more gears and so on. The second is switching to hybrids and especially to plug-in hybrids, both dealing with acceleration/ deceleration energy losses thus making the car in effect "lighter" for a given ICE engine. And the third is the most obvious at the first glance path, which can be combined with the others, is a "simple" going on a car diet. Modern cars bought by average consumers have been getting heavier for decades. Safety standards and must have toys coupled with the HP wars being the main contributors. As we know so well, bigger mass always requires higher energy input to move, on Earth anyway. By shedding those extra pounds our car will not only save resources to produce them, use less fuel, keep the air cleaner but also be much more fun to drive.
My only concern is the car makers will chose instead to suit our "
needs" by putting in even more safety, toys, bells and whistles and then try to compensated by adding a hybrid setup, making the vehicles even porkier, instead of just going back to basics and making a simple, high power/ weight ratio, fun to drive enthusiast car.
