CAFE standards set to rise to 54.5 mpg for 2025

President Barack Obama on Friday revealed ambitious plans to raise the corporate average fuel economy standard for cars and light trucks to 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year, a landmark move that will dramatically remake carmakers' product portfolios and consumers' buying habits. Unlike the first CAFE standards passed by Congress in 1975, the Detroit automakers now publicly support the high requirements and have begun retooling their fleets to adapt the changes. “[This] represents the single most important step we've ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Obama said in a morning press conference.

Volkswagen, Dogs & Star Wars – a Super Bowl Ad

VW gets the dogs out for its Super Bowl Advert Volkswagen is planning a new Star Wars themed advert for the Super Bowl, this time with dogs singing the Star Wars theme. It may not be a big deal for us on this side of the Pond, but adverts in the Super Bowl are a very big deal for car makers in the US. Last year Volkswagen managed a viral hit with their ‘Little Vader’ take on Star Wars for the Super Bowl Ad, so they’re back this year with a variation on the same theme, with a choir of dogs barking out the Star Wars Theme.

Mercedes-Benz reveals new S-class interior

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the interior for its next-generation S-class in a series of darkly lit photographs aimed at emphasizing the car's ambience. While appearing similar to current models in a number of key areas, the cabin of the flagship Mercedes-Benz sedan has been redesigned in a bid to provide it with added levels of luxury, comfort, space and new multimedia functions. Key among developments is a new dashboard with horizontal architecture and ambient lighting to accentuate its width.