We came across this nugget the other day in the New York Times - Congressional negotiators have reached a deal on energy legislation that would force U.S. automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon on average by 2020 despite bitterly opposition from the auto companies who argued they don’t have the technology or the financial resources to reach that goal.

Sounds great! Then again, as the article notes, though automobiles sold in Europe and China are generally smaller and less powerful than the most popular models in the United States, European auto companies must average 40 miles per gallon and China requires a 35 m.p.g. standard.