Hello -
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
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This thing was started by GM bragging about some piddling "weight reduction" on the Cruze- a small car that weighs half a Ton more than mine. Then I said my old 5 passenger car does have good safety features, including air bag- more than adequate in my book- so it is odd to think that if we want better performance including fe performance, we are saddled with an extra 1,000 It was 3500 lbs or so right? Oh- it was 32xx then the engineering miracles took about 200 out. The point wasn't primarily about Tempos, it's primarily about new cars being excessively heavy. Regardless, just about everything sub-compact and up weighs 3000 or more these days.
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Sorry everybody, this thread is my fault. I posted a quote that Cruze engineers shed pounds on the Eco to gain MPG here :
http://ecomodder.com/forum/204000-post149.html
On a similar note, the next-gen Honda Civic design was replanned for the same reason. The original design was going to be "bigger heavier" than before, but I suppose they "saw the light(-weight)".
The Chevy Cruze was a pre-existing platform in other markets, so the curb weight is what the GM engineers started with. I would imagine that if the Cruze Eco crash tests are shown to be equal to the non-Eco Cruze, the diet-program will be instituted across the platform.
I am happy to toodle around in my 1999 SW2, whose safety design goes back to 1996. While I loved my 2nd gen CRX, I wonder if I would feel safe in one today. I used to drive my Dad's 1972 VW Karmann Ghia, and while I miss it every day, I have no illusions that I would survive a major crash in that car.
I agree that 90% of safety is in the hands of the driver. At the same time, I don't think you can win an argument with any "normal" driver if you tell them auto companies should make cars lighter and less crash-worthy than the competition.
CarloSW2