[Big Dave]

I think the notion of “economy car” needs to split in two. On one hand you have the short range, easy-to-park CITY CAR. Two passengers and a couple bags of stuff. No more. 40 MPH tops. 40 mile range, tops. Never goes on high speed roads but rather sticks to its natural habitat – city surface streets. Surface street environment limits ultimate MPG, but limited performance envelope leans toward a straight electric (work out a heater and AC, please). At low surface street speeds, aerodynamics is not a big consideration. A slightly shorter Scion X-Box in straight electric might be just the ticket for the urban-only mission.

The other leg is the LONG-RANGE COMMUTER. This is for the person who lives in the exurbs and drives the superslab on a regular basis, albeit within a mostly urban milieu. Two adults, two kids, four bags of stuff. Gotta go at least 80 MPH top speed. This consumer expects a range of 300 miles. Aero is more important in the higher speed range and parking ease is less of a consideration, so this car is longer and lower than the CITY CAR. Think Aero-Civic with diesel or hybrid drive train.