Most are fuel-sipping compacts or subcompacts, like the Chevrolet Cruze, hitting dealerships now, or the overhauled Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year.

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These include the family friendly Toyota Highlander crossover SUV, the budget-minded Yaris subcompact and the fuel-sipping Prius hybrid hatchback, along with the upscale Lexus ES 350 sedan and RX 350 crossover.

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Boeing claims the 7E7 would cut fuel burn by 20 percent over current aircraft and save airlines 10 percent on overall operating costs, citing new, fuel-sipping engines and lightweight materials that will also cut maintenance costs.

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Ford, for instance, has tied its wagon for the last few years to boosting fuel economy across its spectrum of products, ranging from the new subcompact Ford Fiesta to a line of gas-sipping EcoBoost engines that has even buyers of F-150 pickup trucks grasping for big gains in fuel economy.

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