<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Regulations]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Regulations]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/regulations http://jalopnik.com/tag/regulations <![CDATA[Holy Smokey Burnout! GM To Suspend RWD Plans, Wait For Washington To Remove Thumb]]> It's all the government's fault we can't have hoonage here in the land of the stars n' stripes. Or at least that's the argument "Maximum" Bob Lutz makes to Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune today for why the General's looking to suspend — err, "pause" — development of RWD platforms. Lutz claims
"It's too late to stop Camaro, but anything after that is questionable or on the bubble," said Lutz, noting that also means Camaro derivatives — along with a big Impala sedan, "if we call it Impala."
Ooh, sorry — what was that about the Impala not being called the Impala? Interesting, but we digress. What it... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=251139&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No Fun Country! Brit Authority Rules Against Mazda Ad]]> The fervor with which Brits protect the commons gives us a warm feeling in our various bits, but we get ornery when they cut too close to our purview. For instance, a UK watchdog group is upholding a complaint against a Mazda print ad for what they feel is a reckless usage of blurring effects and text promoting dangerous driving. We'll let the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) explain themselves:
The ASA considered that the claims "PLEASE REMOVE ALL LOOSE CHANGE", "Hold on tight", "added exhilaration" and "NOW THAT'S ZOOM-ZOOM", together with the image of a moving car against a blurred background, made speed the predominant message of the ad. We concluded that the ad was irresponsible and encouraged fast, aggressive driving and asked Mazda to amend it. We asked them to seek help from the CAP Copy Advice team when devising similar campaigns. The ad breached CAP Code clauses 2.2 (Social responsibility), 10.1 (Safety), 48.1, 48.2 and 48.3 (Motoring).
(CAP Copy Advice team? Mr. Orwell, call the front desk.) Mazda pointed out the ad was meant to convey a sensation similar to that a driver would experience in a roadster designed to be fun to drive, but was slapped down by the schoolmarms that be. And we thought dealing with the insurance lobby was tough. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=182224&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Upside-Down Game!: New Mileage Regulations Could Lead to Bigger SUVs]]> Holy loophole shift. Government regulators' new fuel-efficency requirements for SUVs could force the size of such trucks upward, say some critics quoted by AutoWeek. The larger the vehicle, they say, the lower the mandated mileage standard, giving incentive to automakers that build larger SUVs. One example given is the Hummer H3, which at its current size would have to meet a four-mpg increase by 2011, but with an extra two inches of track width and four inches of wheelbase could decrease by 1 mpg and still meet the target. Do you ever get the feeling federal bureaucrats got their degrees from Opposite School? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=165770&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Jaguar XK Designer Defends Weak Mug]]> Thanks to its muscular haunches and hearty flanks, it's almost impossible to find a bad viewing angle of Jaguar's new XK. Meet it dead-on, however, and a sad baby-seal face heaves into sight unexpectedly, spoiling the sexy mood. AutoWeek spoke with designer Ian Callum, who staunchly defends his design, but blames U.S. and European government regulations, particularly pedestrian-safety laws, for the sculptural buzz kill. As for the oval grille, don't even think of mentioning the words "Ford Taurus." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=127427&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Why Is the EPA Delaying a Report on Vehicle Fuel Economy?]]> The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is being criticized for holding back a report that indicates a significant drop in the fuel efficency of US automakers' vehicles, just as Congress prepares a final vote on an energy bill that's taken six years to get to the floor. The agency had scheduled the report for publication yesterday, but delayed its release — not before sending one off to the New York Times. (Note to the EPA's communications department: Nice one!) More »
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