Why Not a 40-MPG SUV? Because Washington, Auto Makers, and Even the Public Don't Seem to Want It, Says Technology Review

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Oct. 16, 2002--With technologies that would curb gas guzzling already well-advanced in the lab and in some cases readily available, isn't it possible to build a reasonably priced SUV that can get 40-mpg and still provide the performance, safety and comfort consumers expect? Yes, a 40-mpg SUV could be in showrooms within five years, and the result would reap rewards for society, says Technology Review in "Why Not a 40-MPG SUV?", the cover story of its November 2002 issue.
    What's more, if all new vehicles adopted emerging gas-saving technologies, the average fuel economy of U.S. cars and SUVs would surge to a minimum of 40-mpg. The result: A huge impact on U.S. oil dependence and the environment. The nation would save 2 million barrels of oil a day (75% of the oil the U.S. imports from the Middle East), while also achieving a 30% decrease in greenhouse gases.
    But don't bother looking for such advances anytime soon, writes Mark Fischetti, contributing writer to Technology Review. With no mandate from Washington or outcry from the public, automakers have little motivation to change fuel emission standards set over 17 years ago.
    Further details can be found in the full article, now available at www.technologyreview.com and on newsstands October 29, 2002.
    Other features in the November 2002 issue include:

    --"Digital Entertainment Post-Napster" - Providers of digital content are turning to digital rights management and copy protection technologies as their main weapon in the mounting war against digital piracy, yet the controversy between consumers, artists, record labels, movie studios rages. This special report includes separate stories - one focusing on music, the other on the film industry - that examine the latest technological advances affecting digital media.

    --"The FBI's Cybercrime Crackdown" - With computer hacking and virus threats rapidly increasing (up 20% since 2001), cybercrime has become one of the FBI's top priorities - even above fraud, drugs, and gun running. The bureau's goal: bring computing power to bear against cyberattackers and beat them at their own high-tech game. But, do they have the skills, systems and technical knowledge to get ahead of the hackers? Technology Review steps into the offices of special agent Nenette Day to find out.

    --"Holograms in Motion" - After more than 13 years of development, a new generation of holographic displays promises to provide doctors, scientists, researchers, and product designers with unobstructed 3-D images that can be altered in real time and sculpted like clay. Technology Review outlines the details of the latest holographic technology and the companies that are competing for marketshare.

    NOTE to editors: Technology Review editors are available to discuss topics featured in the November 2002 issue.

    About Technology Review

    Technology Review, MIT's Magazine of Innovation, was first published in 1899 and ranks as the world's oldest technology magazine. The magazine, as well as its signature events and Internet businesses, delivers essential information on emerging technologies on the verge of commercialization. Since 1998, Technology Review's paid circulation has more than tripled, from 92,000 to over 310,000. Several hundred thousand current MIT alumni, faculty and students, venture capitalists, chief scientists, researchers, senior corporate executives, investors, and innovators throughout the world -- constitute the Technology Review community.