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More new cars running on premium gas

From Brian Sy, Featured Contributor
Posted on April 14, 2008
Filed under News

As if there wasn't already enough pain at the pumps, new statistics show a marked increase in the proportion of cars designed to use 20-cents-higher premium fuel.

In 2002, premium was recommended for 166 new car models; this year, it's jumped to 282. Some of the cars needing the expensive stuff are the ones you'd least expect, such as the Mazda Miata, the SmartForTwo, and the Chevy Cobalt with the 2.4-liter engine. The shift can be explained by our nation's obsession with horsepower, and given the emerging trend towards downsizing engines while maintaining performance, it will likely continue. Still, the numbers seem exaggerated. Since there are only about 300 actual vehicle models on sale, our guess is that the word "model" in this study includes all the various body style permutations and/or trim lines. In the real world, you can count on less than half the cars of today needing, or even recommending, premium fuel. (via USA Today)
Brian Sy is a featured contributor for vLane.
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    From Stergios
    Commented on April 14, 2008

    My SmartForTwo requires premium! The car is so underpowered at 71HP, that I need everyone of those ponies premium gas can harness out of the 1L engine.

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