Gas prices are rising and government fuel economy requirements are going up, too. This time around, Detroit's ready for the fight.
General Motors, for instance, is entering the increasingly competitive mini-car market with the Chevrolet Spark. Mini-cars are even smaller than subcompacts.
The reason for selling them isn't that they get better fuel economy, though. Generally speaking, subcompacts and minicars don't get better mileage than larger compact cars. Beyond a certain point, there's just no gain from shrinking cars any further. (You won't see actual fuel economy numbers for some of the cars in this gallery, including the Spark, because they've not yet been tested by the EPA.)
The reason for offering a car this tiny is competition. Some customers, especially younger buyers living in crowded cities, want a really small car. If Chevy didn't offer the Spark, those buyers might go get a Scion iQ or Fiat 500 and GM wants every small car sale it can get.
SUV - Ford Escape
Fuel economy for the all-new 2013 Ford Escape will be considerably better for today's Escape, which isn't so bad to start with. In fact, the new Escape's so much more efficient that Ford will drop the hybrid version from the line-up, at least for the time being.
The hybrid Escape is being replaced by a version equipped with a small 1.6-liter engine. Instead of relying on batteries and electric motors, this SUV will wring as much power as possible out of that tiny engine using advanced fuel injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging. Altogether, those engine technologies are much cheaper than a hybrid powertrain.
Big Cars - Dodge Charger
With its gaping grill and sneering facade, the 2013 Dodge Charger certainly doesn't look fuel efficient. But, at 31 miles per gallon, the Charger, along with its close relative, the Chrysler 300, gets the best highway fuel economy of any car in its class. In terms of overall fuel economy -- city and highway combined -- the Chrysler cousins tie the Hyundai Azera and Toyota Avalon for the top spot.
A big reason is Chrysler's new 8-speed transmission. That's attached to an efficient V6 engine to provide very respectable performance without using lots of fuel. Given that the Charger and 300 are two of Chrysler Group's most popular cars, the fuel savings will add up.
Hybrids - Chevrolet Malibu Eco
General Motors does its very best not to call the system used in the new Malibu Eco (and also in its Buick "eAssist" models") a hybrid powertrain. But it is a hybrid powertrain. It's just not a "full hybrid" like that used in the competing Toyota Camry Hybrid.
The lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors used in the Malibu Eco provide some extra boost to the car's gasoline engine. The engine also shuts off altogether when the car stops. But the Malibu can't drive for any considerable distance under electric-only power.
The advantage is that this system is less expensive to build than a "full hybrid" system which would need more battery power. That should allow GM to offer buyers a cheaper option to competitors' full hybrid cars.
It may not look that way, though. The Malibu Eco costs about as much as a Camry Hybrid that gets 41 miles per gallon compared to 29 for the Chevy. GM counters that its car offers more features and is nicer, overall, than Toyota's. It remains to be seen if customers agree.
Engine tech -- Dodge Dart
The 2013 Dodge Dart will import its fuel economy technology from Italy, thanks to Fiat's MultiAir technology. MultiAir takes "variable valve" technology to the extreme. The system can change, moment by moment, how long the engine's intake valves stay open and how wide. It can even do a variety of crazy valve-timing tricks like opening and closing a valve multiple times during a single stroke of the cylinder. Those kinds of gymnastics translate to ultra-precise control over how the engine takes in air and burns fuel, maximizing efficiency at every moment.
The Dart will be available with a range or turbocharged and non-turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Official fuel economy numbers aren't available yet .
The Dart's biggest contribution to Chrysler Group's corporate fuel economy: It will be much better than the carmaker's current compact offering, the Caliber. That will mean more small car sales.
Work trucks - Ford Transit
Getting better fuel economy will mean dealing with big trucks, too, not just selling more small cars. Ford is already selling lots of F-150s with the slightly more fuel efficient EcoBoost V6 engine.
Coming soon, Ford will be replacing the venerable EconoLine full-sized commercial van with this, the Transit van, a model Ford now sells in Europe. In the U.S., it will come equipped with the same EcoBoost used in the pickup. Thanks to that more efficient engine and a lighter body, the Transit is expected to get at least 25% better fuel economy than today's Econoline van.
Mid-sized cars - Ford Fusion
Ford is putting its mileage where its mouth is with the new Ford Fusion, due out later this year. Even though official fuel economy numbers haven't been announced yet, Ford's already saying that gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions of the Fusion will top their respective classes.
Non-hybrid Fusions equipped with the most efficient engine option are expected to get 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, according to Ford.
The Fusion Hybrid is expected to get 47 mpg in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway. The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, is expected to beat the Chevrolet Volt in efficiency, Ford says.
Given that the current Fusion, which doesn't look nearly as nice as this one, is already one of the 10 best selling cars in America, taking the fuel economy lead should help Ford's overall ratings quite a bit.
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