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The Zing is a different approach. I am actually ahead of that project in terms of build and layout. he will have a few surprises, but and I invite the owner/designer of that company to jump onto this thread, and I would be willing to discuss in order to both build a better car.
I have my basic frame laid out, motor mounts designed, steering completed, suspension pretty well ddsigned and laid out on the front. Rear suspension SHOULD be pretty simple.
The car keeps growing and growing.
True tandem seating has some pretty serious issues for mainstream Americans. The basic idea of sitting tandem really sucks for the back rider. If you don't believe me, my seat for my ass is over two feet wide, and most people, especially LADIES, don't want to sit down very long with their knees spread 2 feet apart.
So, we end up making the car wide enough to offset the passenger, and the passenger must be offset to the starboard side in the US. So, now the passenger can lay their legs out to the right side of the driver.
Will we have an emergency brake? Where will the handle be?
Will we have a 5 speed? if so, then the shifter must be on the right side of the driver.
Add that up, and pretty quickly we MUST have a door on both sides of the car.
Plus windows which roll up and down of course.
Add that up, and pretty soon the car gets even wider.
As for length, the steering rack sets the back of the engine, and needs a foot or two from front axle centerline.
Driver needs 4 feet of leg room to make pedals with a low car.
Passenger really ends up needing 3 feet of leg room unless you make the car taller.
Then you need a foot of clearance behind the passenger's behind and tire.
and the back tire is 24 inches tall, so another foot back to wheel centerline.
Pretty quickly 10 feet of wheel base is eaten up.
120 inch wheel base seems pretty long. But the back is a LOT narrower then the front, so it won't cut corners.
Steering is pretty sharp, so turn radius won't be truly ignorant.
And of course you have reverse.
I don't want diesel on this project. I have a diesel truck and if I wanted diesel, I'd just drive it around on the 55 cents per gallon I can do.
I want mainstream commuter car. Diesel is not an acceptable alternative in the US. If I can get 75 at 75 on gas and 100 combined, I'll be happy enough.
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