57 MPG... FROM A NON-HYBRID?

Fiat 500 Move over hybrids! The Fiat TwinAir 500 may soon make it to U.S. shores. Fiat says the two-cylinder TwinAir will not only get 57.4 miles per gallon, it will also have super low carbon emissions--92 g/km of CO2. How does that stack up with the hybrid-leading Prius? 50 MPG and 89 g/km of CO2. It sounds like Fiat has put a lot of fuel economy bells and whistles on this little car that could. It features a turbocharged engine and start-stop technology. An "eco" mode allows the driver to cut torque to boost fuel economy. Our only question: When can we test drive one? The Fiat 500 will arrive in the U.S. at the end of the year but no word yet on whether this kick-ass engine will make the U.S. lineup. We've said it before and we'll say it again--fuel economy regulations do work to motivate automakers to improve MPG. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

Although new fuel economy regulations don't go into effect until 2012, we're already seeing some solid year-to-year gains show up between some 2010 models and 2011 ones in the mid-size field in particular. The Honda Accord improves the most, going from 21 city/31 highway in 2010 to 23/34 in 2011. The Hyundai Sonata gains 3 MPG in highway MPG. Chrysler has not yet announced its MPG numbers for the Avenger and Sebring, but says there will be fuel economy improvements. Although Ford and GM won't show these gains, it's because they started earlier on improving their numbers. The Ford Fusion gets 34 MPG highway, same as the Accord, and the Chevy Malibu gets a close 33 MPG highway. All of this is good news for fuel economy conscious consumers. Ailis Aaron Wolf, Hybrid Owners of America