1970's 100 MPG Subaru 360

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by jimepting

As a first gen Insight owner for a while, the answer to your question is sales.

I'm a bit surprised that it "only" got 100mpg. A car of that type should have done better, but I suppose the electronic engine control of the day was pretty primitive. Doubt that there was any lean burn capability.

That Cars motor is an automotive 2cylinder 2cycle 660cc motor out of a Rex Kei car. They were better efficiency than most 2 cycles but are definately no where near the efficiency of a modern 4 cycle. They are more efficient than a V-twin 4cycle like is put in lawn mowers though and are 100% mechanical, no electronics except ignition and even that is old coil stuff.

Cheers
Ryan

[Frank Lee]

Many design similarities to Vigillante and Tri-Vette... even the same time period...

Welcome to the home of the VIGILLANTE

You would not want to put heavy things in a trunk in the "bullet".

Trikes can be as stable as quads- read about it in the Vigillante articles.

[pounsfos]

parking would be a pain though but on the highway it would be brilliant, and theres nothing wrong with the old coil system haha, i would love to drive that to work, i work at a petrol station so it would get a few looks haha

[aerohead]

In the June 1983 issue of ROAD&TRACK Magazine there was an article about Alex's work on another project,the X-200.
Tremulis had just become aware of Honda's new 248cc,35-bhp engine and he thought that if he could get the drag down to Cd 0.11 ( presuming the same 10-ft-sq frontal area ) and at 700-pounds,he predicted that the trike might see 253-mpg at a constant 55-mph.Road load at 50-mph was estimated at 2.1 horsepower.
In May 1982,Doug Malewicki (sp?) had driven his 'California Commuter' down state on the freeway,returning 155 mpg,so Tremulis wasn't just blowing smoke.

[5EFE]

I bet with those aerodynamics, that 360 could break 60mph!

[pounsfos]

imagine seeing it going down the road...
DON'T DISTRACT THE DRIVER!!!, you would get some weird looks,but for 200mpg i think it would be worth it,

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by 5EFE

I bet with those aerodynamics, that 360 could break 60mph!

Mine goes somewhere north of 75mph and its not very aero, not real sure what its CD is though. Trouble is I get rather loose at those speeds and my FE drops to around 50mpg which is not acceptable.