Quote:
Originally Posted by tjts1
No, the SI model need a 2.0 or 2.4 to be competitive.
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It wouldn't need so much displacement if they could just make it a little bit lighter than, say, an M1 Abrams. I read an article a while back comparing trends in car and motorcycle design. In motorcycles, especially sport bikes, innovation has made bikes lighter and lighter even as they become more and more powerful. Cars on the other hand just keep getting heavier, partly because of the need to have chassis' that can handle the ever increasing engine output. Why the manufacturers can't invest some R&D time into reducing weight, which simultaneously improves acceleration
and fuel economy, is beyond me. I know higher crash safety standards are partly to blame, but I still think if they really wanted to they could make lighter cars which still meet all safety regulations.