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The conventional automobile of today is an integral part of society. The wide use of automobiles has also caused some concerns. There has recently been much discussion about the potentially harmful gases emitted into the environment by the automobile and the high cost of importing petroleum to supply the fuel needs of our nation's vehicles. In the last two decades much progress has been made to increase fuel economy and lower emissions in automobiles. However, the government of the United States and the major American automobile manufacturers, still concerned about these problems, have embarked on an ambitious program entitled the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). The final goal of this program is the development of a production-ready “supercar” capable of three times the normal fuel economy while still possessing the same performance, cost, and comfort levels of comparable vehicles.