Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave
What would today’s version of that old Biscayne look like?
Not as big outside as that old chromium bulldozer but something about the size of a Pontiac G8. (Physical size does not much affect vehicle manufacturing cost). Big enough to carry two adults and three teenagers. A big trunk. Make it front-engine, rear drive. You still cannot beat the old Carden drive scheme for ease of manufacture. Use the GM 2.0 liter EcoTech engine with a five speed manual. “2-70” air conditioning. Roll-up windows, manual door locks. (Let the Chinese keep their permanent magnet devices). You’d need power brakes – discs need power assist. Gotta have the air bags to satisfy Uncle Sam. No navigation. No built-in DVD player. In fact, minimal electronics. Vinyl interior. Minimal chrome (chrome has gotten expensive). What you do is to emulate the Scion and make it easy for the customer to hang aftermarket goodies on it as he/she can afford it. Make it a bit more sturdy than a Kia Rio. Try to get it built under 2,800 lb curb weight. Sell it for $15,000 sticker. They’d fly off the lots.
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(Let the Chinese keep their permanent magnet devices).
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you'd prefer constantly filling up and burning fuel instead of letting a permenant magnet motor coupled to a generator recharge batteries constantly for the life of the vehicle with no outside energy, eliminating any need to refuel or recharge? Personally I would take the latter