Quote:
Originally Posted by Unforgiven
A few things are getting more aerodynamic, but sadly the true innovation and real fuel savings are not coming to the consumer like they should.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post98620
The above post is in regards to the new Honda Insight, and specifically how it is getting less EPA rated fuel economy than the Honda Civic Hybrid (both are hybrids).
Add into the mix, my "large" Chevy Impala, getting great fuel economy on the highway, and we have 4cyl smaller cars not able to even break 30 mpg??? Come on, aero is one thing, proper balance of hp/weight with the right gearing, right design, and a caring foot are the other things needed to get us rolling with less fuel. Too bad we cannot give the bigwigs running around in Excursions and BMW 7 series(just a couple of examples, no picking meant) a 20 dollar per week fuel allowance and see how they deal with thier beloved fuel suckers.
/rant |
Actually. . .let them drive their big fuel suckers. . .then show them a Lamborghini Reventon, a Ferrari Enzo and a McClaren F1 LM and tell them they could drive those cars if they fired their marketing/design people and let their engineers do their job.
Designers always want to add things that don't neccessarily help FE and aero and other things. Engineers pretty classically like to strip away as much as possible. Then allow one designer in with 10 engineers and let him make modifications that don't hurt the design but allow a little bit of style in. Problem solved. Also designers and marketing people are the ones that really push this idea of bigger engine huge car. I don't know very many engineers that like massive cars. . .they usually go work and build tanks instead(who would rather build an SUV than a tank. . .same gas mileage and you get a 125 mm gun and treads!)