From 1980 to 2009, there have been significant gains made in automotive technology, but those advancements have been applied toward improved performance and safety rather than fuel economy. Horsepower has more than doubled, top speed has climbed from 107 miles per hour to 139 miles per hour, and "0-to-60" times have dropped from 14.3 seconds to 9.5 seconds. Average vehicle weight has increased 27% during the same period, primarily due to increased vehicle size as well as reinforced structures and added equipment such as airbags that improve crashworthiness. Fuel economy has remained relatively unchanged in the period, with only a 2.9% increase in average light-vehicle fuel economy between 1981 and 2009.

New Light Vehicle Characteristics, 1980-2009
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Supporting Information

Light Vehicle Characteristics, 1980-2009
Model YearMPGWeightHorsepower0-60 TimeTop Speed
198019.23,22810414.3107
198120.53,20210214.4107
198221.13,20210314.4107
198321.03,25710714.1108
198421.03,26210914.0109
198521.33,27111413.5110
198621.83,23811413.4111
198722.03,22111813.1112
198821.93,28312312.8114
198921.43,35112912.5115
199021.23,42613512.2117
199121.23,41013812.1118
199220.83,51214511.8120
199320.93,51914711.8120
199420.43,60315211.7121
199520.53,61315811.3123
199620.43,65916411.1125
199720.13,72716911.0126
199820.13,74417110.9126
199919.73,83517910.7128
200019.83,82118110.6129
200119.63,87918710.5130
200219.43,95119510.3132
200319.63,99919910.2133
200419.34,1112119.9135
200519.94,0592099.9135
200620.14,0672139.8137
200720.64,0932179.7137
200821.04,0852199.7138
200921.14,1082259.5139

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2009, November 2009.

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