Stepford Husbands and Wives?

I don’t know if this is your impression, but new cars seem to be getting slower and slower. At least they are on TV commercials, where glossy new Mercedes and BMWs  can all be seen travelling at speeds of about 5 miles an hour. Obviously in built-up areas one wants to keep the number of pedestrian deaths to a minimum, especially when filming, but you’d think that once out in the open country the driver might like to get into second gear from time to time. But no, these impeccably groomed young men and women are content to dawdle along at walking speed, clearly interested in communing with nature and blissfully unaware that these beasts are capable of speeds in excess of 130 mph.

Two question arise: Are these Prozac-crazed male and female models in full control of their steeds even at these speeds? And what sort of mileage are they getting?