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Changes in the performance requirements of passenger car (PCEO) and heavy duty (HDEO) engine oils are dra-matically impacting the design of tomorrow's automotive lubricants. Specifically, lubricant base oils are shifting toward higher quality API Group II+ (100 - 120 VI) and Group III versus more traditional API Group I and Group II. A feature of premium base oils is high Viscosity Index (VI). Since base oil VI is linked to volatility at a particular kinematic viscosity (KV), higher VI reduces base oil and finished oil volatility. This is key for ILSAC GF-3 PCEO requirements where significant volatility reduction is required to reduce oil consumption. High base oil VI also allows for higher base oil KV and reduced viscosity modifier (VM) treat which improves shear stability of finished fluid. This also provides opportunities to formulate PCEO against the European engine oil requirements where volatility and shear stability are key performance requirements.