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Automakers want to stop the EPA's fuel economy rules change, and why that's a shortsighted move

With a Trump Administration looming, the EPA moved quickly after the election to propose finalizing future fuel economy rules last week. The auto industry doesn't like that (surprise), and has started making moves to stop the EPA. Ford CEO Mark Fields said he wanted to lobby Trump to lower the standards, and now the Auto Alliance, a manufacturer group, is saying it will join the fight against cleaner cars. The Alliance represents 12 automakers: BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, VW, and Volvo. Gloria Bergquist, a spokesperson for the Alliance, told Automotive News that the "EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early - even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags - calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur." The EPA was going to consider public comments through April 2017, but then said it would move the deadline to the end of December. That means that it can finalize the rules before President Obama leaves office. The director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, Jack Gillis, said on a conference call with reporters last week when the EPA originally announced its decision that it is unlikely that President Trump will be able to roll back these changes. Gillis also said on the same call that any attempt by the automakers to prevent these changes would be history repeating itself. "These are the same companies that fought airbags, and now promoting the fact that every car has multiple airbags," he said. "These are the same companies that fought the crash-test program, and now are promoting the crash-test ratings published by the government. So, it's clear that they're misperceiving the needs of the American consumer." There are more reasons the Allliance's pushback is flawed. Carol Lee Rawn, the transportation program director for Ceres, said on that call that the automotive industry is a global one, and many automakers are moving to global platforms to help them meet strict fuel economy rules around the world.

Jaguar takes evolutionary approach for 2016 XF [w/videos]

One week ahead of its debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show, Jaguar has let loose a slew of images and details on the second-generation 2016 XF Sedan. The release comes alongside a high-profile stunt over London's Canary Wharf. A total of 75 percent of the XF's body is made from aluminum, which trims the big cat's curb weight by 132 pounds on the rear-drive model and 265 pounds on the all-wheel-drive variant. Aside from aiding acceleration, braking and fuel economy, the advanced structure promises an increase in torsional stiffness as well as a 50-50 weight distribution. Beyond that, the new car's dimensions differ only slightly compared to last year's XF. The wheelbase has been stretched by two inches, although the new model is 0.3-inches shorter and 0.1 inches lower. Double wishbones are used in front while an integral-link suspension sits in back with standard traditional dampers and optional adaptive dampers. Jaguar is also promising the Configurable Dynamics system that was pioneered on the F-Type. No surprise here, but an electric power-assisted tiller will be in use, although Jag says it benefits from lessons learned with the XE. Jaguar is mum on its full powertrain lineup, although it does mention that both 340-horsepower and 380-hp versions of Jaguar Land Rover's familiar 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 will be offered, paired with standard eight-speed automatic transmissions (likely the highly regarded ZF autobox). Jaguar's designers, led by design director Ian Callum, didn't rock the boat too much for the new sedan. Clearly inspired by the upcoming XE, the new XF gets a wider, but thinner grille. The headlights are slimmer, but retain a similar shape compared to last year's car, and as is the trend, they're now lined with LED accenting. The S trim, shown above, gets wide, menacing grilles in the front bumper as well as a total lack of chrome trim. The XE influence is most evident on the XF's tail, where the Aston Martin-aping taillights of the first-gen have been ditched, with broader, angled units, complete with an F-Type-inspired LED pattern. As with the current car, a thin chrome strip ties the lights together, while the lower bumper on this sportier model features a gloss black surround for the dual exhausts. Not surprisingly, the XF's profile is pretty classic, with a very long hood and a short deck that terminates in a handsome duckbill spoiler.

Jaguar Land Rover remains bullish on diesels

Despite Volkswagen's recent diesel scandal, Jaguar Land Rover is pushing ahead with ambitious plans to roll out the technology across most of its lineup in the coming years. Jaguar and Land Rover will add diesel engine variants to every model in their lineups, except for the Jaguar F-Type sports car. Land Rover launched the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport with available 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesels, and together they have sold more than 330 units so far in September, their first month on sale in the United States. JLA officials say they've seen no fallout from VW's emissions problem and are adamant their diesels meet EPA standards. "That has been our strategy, and it is not changing," Joe Eberhardt, Jaguar Land Rover North America CEO, told the Automotive Press Association on Wednesday in Detroit. "You have to deal with the situations as they arrive. We are confident of diesel." Jaguar will get another diesel next year from its Ingenium engine family, which will initially be sold in the XE sedan and the F-Pace crossover. It's a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit and makes 180 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. A JLR spokesman said the Ingenium has not yet gone through the EPA certification process, and the diesel-powered models will arrive in the fall. Jaguar also plans to add diesel engines to the flagship XJ and XF sedans. Land Rovers, including the Discovery and Evoque, will also get diesel options, and the company estimates the technology will offer 20- to 30-percent improvements in fuel economy, depending on the vehicle. Eberhardt said it is "too soon to tell" if the diesel market will be weighed down by Volkswagen's situation. The German automaker admitted to cheating on emissions tests to make its diesel-powered cars appear to run cleaner than they actually do in real-world situations. The ensuing outrage forced longtime VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn to step down and prompted a reorganization of the company, which faces legal and regulatory action around the world. Still, Eberhardt maintains JLR is "very confident" in its diesels, which are part of its strategy to grow sales around the world. Land Rover has experienced rapid growth under the ownership of Indian conglomerate, Tata Motors, while Jaguar is set to revitalize its lineup with new entries like the XE and F-Pace to reach a broader market segment.