News: Chevy Cobalt XFE (new model with top of class highway MPG)

[brucey]

My first car was a '98 Lincoln with a 4.6 V8, and I regularly got over 30 mpg with it.
Was also easily the fastest car I've ever driven. I wonder sometimes about what happened too, whats progress again?

As we move back to small, light cars, I can't help but love the quote "The more things change the more they stay the same."

[Big Dave]

Hey! At least an American car with a manual transmission for a change. supposedly they reworked the final drive gearing, too.

Now all the need to do is to get basjoos and aerohead to work on their aerodynamics.

Too bad Tier II choked the future of diesels.

[bhazard]

Originally Posted by basjoos

When you consider that a 68 VW Beetle got 34mpg on the highway 40 years ago, it makes you wonder at how much progress has actually been made over the past 40 years. Replacing the high maintenance points with an electronic ignition, eliminating grease fittings, and cleaning up the exhaust appears to be about it. They certainly haven't made much improvement in the fuel economy.

They have added a LOT more luxury and comfort to todays cars, as well as weight.

[Cd]

And horsepower.

[Arminius]

And safety features and pollution control.

[apgrok1]

[QUOTE=basjoos;21973]When you consider that a 68 VW Beetle got 34mpg on the highway 40 years ago, it makes you wonder at how much progress has actually been made over the past 40 years. QUOTE]

Your 68 beetle had 45 hp. The cobalt would have at least twice that amount.

[Who]

Originally Posted by Daox

Glad to see this. They also dropped a 6 speed auto tranny in their Malibu LTZ. It now gets the same mileage as their mild hybrid.

I think it can also safely EOC as well.

[JJW]

Originally Posted by basjoos

When you consider that a 68 VW Beetle got 34mpg on the highway 40 years ago, it makes you wonder at how much progress has actually been made over the past 40 years. Replacing the high maintenance points with an electronic ignition, eliminating grease fittings, and cleaning up the exhaust appears to be about it. They certainly haven't made much improvement in the fuel economy.

They've learned a ton about fuel economy, however, emissions standards went up and the mods required to clean up the engines sapped all the power and economy. Impact standards went up and cars got heavier. Marketing helped to convince everyone that 150 HP and 4 cyl. was "under powered" so manufacturers were afraid to market smaller more efficient engines. Gasoline shifted to unleaded which meant lower octane, and therefore reduced compression ratio or timing advance. All that technology they've created to improve mileage is there and functioning, which is why that Cobalt gets around the same mileage, but lasts longer, is safer, has more power, is more comfortable, requires less maintenance and puts out a fraction of the emissions the 68 Beetle did. Roll back some of the impact standards and emissions standards, and they could easily make that Beetle look pretty inefficient. (By the way, I never got much more than 25-30 mpg on any of my stock air cooled Beetles, and I've owned about 4, including a 69 identical to the 68 in question..) Cheers!

[lovemysan]

Originally Posted by basjoos

When you consider that a 68 VW Beetle got 34mpg on the highway 40 years ago, it makes you wonder at how much progress has actually been made over the past 40 years. Replacing the high maintenance points with an electronic ignition, eliminating grease fittings, and cleaning up the exhaust appears to be about it. They certainly haven't made much improvement in the fuel economy.

I drove a 74 super beetle 2 weeks ago. It sucked. It was very well cared for and maintained. But it still sucked. It was slow, loud, handled horrible, hot, stopped lousy, hard to start, smelled like gas, and I found myself sitting in a crumple zone. All of it. Any bad new car is better than an old beetle. There fun for nostalgia though.

[Arminius]

Originally Posted by lovemysan

I drove a 74 super beetle 2 weeks ago. It sucked. It was very well cared for and maintained. But it still sucked. It was slow, loud, handled horrible, hot, stopped lousy, hard to start, smelled like gas, and I found myself sitting in a crumple zone. All of it. Any bad new car is better than an old beetle. There fun for nostalgia though.

Plus it would break 2 dozen modern safety and emission laws if it were produced today.