Also characteristic of Worldview Two is the idea of pursuing freedom through possessions and technology. Although most drivers never venture off-road, it is a powerful comfort and feeling of freedom to know that they can if they so choose. Based on these consumer motivations, automotive engineers are faced with a reasonably straightforward set of design criteria. Consumers want big, heavy cars with good power that can go anywhere if asked to and that make them feel safe. Building such a vehicle is easy, but making it fuel-efficient is almost impossible.
Big cars have very bad aerodynamics and energy is lost through wind resistance.
Fast acceleration and high cruising speeds require a large engine. A heavy body and frame make it even more difficult to attain good acceleration and cruising. Various fluid and thermodynamic laws combine to yield a vehicle that manages between 14 and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, technology does exist to nearly double the fuel economy of these SUVs and light trucks without compromising safety or performance. Even if that is true, the auto manufacturers have no incentive to implement these design and production changes.