Okay, so maybe secession is too strong a word. Still, buying a new car in California in the coming years may mean less horsepower and more bureaucratic red tape [Ed Note: Though the death of fun cars has been predicted ever other year for the past 3.5 decades, and new cars are more potent than ever]. Today the EPA granted California complete control over emissions standards for new cars and trucks beginning with this model year. Apparently, due to the crazy amount of pollution in California (and I would know as I live 20 min outside Downtown LA) California feels, nay, felt that it needed more stringent pollution control and thus petitioned the EPA. After originally rejecting California’s bid for independent regulation in March of last year, the EPA reconsidered as per a request made by President Obama in January. I am not sure how the state plans to cut down on emissions, be it bigger catalytic converters or more restrictive air filters but one group of new vehicles is going to be hit hard: new diesels. Stay tuned on this issue as I am sure more issues will arise. [Source: EPA]