New-Vehicle Stickers Unveiled

New fuel-economy labels on vehicle Monroneys will not feature letter grades to denote performance.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency confirm the stickers will launch in model-year ’13 and “give consumers better, more complete information” to describe vehicle performance under new fuel-economy standards.

Critics long have assailed current labeling because it does not accurately reflect real-world performance.

The new rating system, which prominently highlights average annual fuel-cost estimates, also denotes powertrain types such as plug-in hybrid or electric and allows for cost-based technology comparisons.

Auto makers may voluntarily adopt the new labels beginning with ’12 vehicles.

“Our new fuel economy and environmental labels are a win for automobile consumers and for the nation’s energy independence,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Also featured on each new sticker will be a “QR Code.”

Devised by Denso Wave, a division of Japan-based Denso, the code will allow smartphone users – with the aid of special applications – to access more detailed vehicle information online.

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A proposed label design boasted large letter-grades.

Critics slammed the idea because it made no accommodation for vehicle segmentation, which automatically spelled low marks for many light trucks.

The new labels are required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.