DENVER -- Whether you drive a compact or intermediate, large car or sport utility vehicle, you probably wish you got better gas mileage.

President Barack Obama announced new fuel efficiency standards Tuesday that will mandate an industry average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

"The president has clearly put the pedal to the metal for a clean, green economic recovery," said Keith Hay, energy advocate for Environment Colorado.

Hay said that history shows that auto manufacturers don't always get things done until the government forces them to.

"The great thing is that once they have that push to make a change, the engineers in the auto industry have always been able to step up to the plate and hit the ball out of the park," Hay said. "We believe they'll be able to do that here."

The new standards will also reduce pollution from new vehicles by 30 percent.

"That's equivalent to eliminating the pollution from 177 million of today's cars, or 194 coal plants," Hay said.

But that change won't come without cost.

"It will change the vehicle mix that's in the showroom," said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. "The manufacturers will be required to make the heavier, larger vehicles more expensive as an incentive to get people to move to smaller, more fuel efficient cars."

Obama said he estimates that the required technological changes will add about $1,300 to the price of a new car.

And just what technology will boost fuel economy?

Jackson told 7NEWS that the auto makers will focus on low sulfur diesel engines, hybrids, all electric cars, compressed natural gas and hydrogen cars, which he described as "nuclear cars."

"They're being tested by at least five manufacturers around the country today and they do show promise," Jackson added.

Several SUV drivers told 7NEWS they’re all for better fuel economy.

"I want to see more miles per gallon," said Brian Bennetts.

When asked why he drove an SUV, Bennetts replied, "Because of the room."

When asked if he'll buy another SUV when it comes time to replace his existing vehicle, Bennett said it depends on how much more it costs.

"If it goes up like that I'll probably get something smaller," he said.

This isn't the first time the feds have gotten involved in fuel efficiency. Congress mandated gas mileage standards in the late 1970s, when huge four-door sedans and station wagons ruled the roads. Those big cars had big fuel appetites.

The early mandated standards helped usher in the K-Cars.

Then, leadership changed in Washington, the standards were relaxed and America began its love affair with the SUV. Whether that love affair undergoes a major shift with the latest fuel efficiency mandates remains to be seen.

Former state Sen. Tom Wiens has another take on the new standards.

"What's really important is not the overall miles per gallon, it's the amount of miles per gallon of petroleum, " Wiens said. "By adding alternative fuels, we can make a real difference and move toward energy independence for the United States, and also have clean burning fuels."