The Gas Guzzlers

As gasoline shortages appear (see ENVIRONMENT), and further price increases threaten, how many miles of travel a car gets out of a gallon is once again of concern to U.S. drivers. Moving nimbly to the aid of motorists, the Government's Environmental Protection Agency last week published a fuel-economy rundown on every 1973 auto, foreign or domestic, sold in the U.S. The results were painfully predictable: gas mileage drops with every pound of weight and power accessory. Says Eric Stork, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mobile Source Air Pollution Control: "Far and away the easiest way of reducing fuel consumption is to drive smaller and lighter cars and use less air conditioning."

EPA tested the cars at its laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. Autos were placed on a chassis dynamometer (a device consisting of recording gauges linked to two large cylinders set parallel in a floor; a car is moved onto the cylinders, and its drive wheels move them during the test) and theoretically piloted over a typical 7.5-mile suburban and urban route by expert drivers who followed a computer-prepared strip chart at an average speed of 35 m.p.h.

Foreign cars delivered both the best and the worst results, but the range even for U.S. makes was startling. A sampling of the results for cars fairly representative of their types, in descending order of economy:

Datsun 1200 (71.5-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 28.7 m.p.g., the best performance of any auto tested.

Volkswagen Sedan (96.6-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 23.6 m.p.g.

Chevrolet Vega (140-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 21.5 m.p.g.

Ford Pinto (98-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 21.4 m.p.g.

Toyota Corolla (97-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 20.8 m.p.g.

American Motors Gremlin (232-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 18 m.p.g.

Dodge Charger (318-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 12.2 m.p.g.

Chevrolet Impala (454-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 10.1 m.p.g.

Chrysler Imperial (440-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 9.2 m.p.g.

Plymouth Fury (440-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 8.7 m.p.g.

Oldsmobile 98 (455-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 8.9 m.p.g.

Cadillac Eldorado (500-cu.-in. engine, automatic transmission), 8.1 m.p.g.

Ferrari 365 GTB (268-cu.-in. engine, manual transmission), 6.3 m.p.g., the worst figure for any car.

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