40 MPG SUV thoughts from 2002

[JRMichler]

Why Not a 40-MPG SUV? | MIT Technology Review

Looks like the auto industry actually is making progress.

[nemo]

When it can be bought that will be progress.

[user removed]

And how much battery progress in the last 11 years?

2002, a lot has changed and a lot has not changed.

I wonder if the corporate heiarchy survived their self induced stupidity intact. If so then the auto bailout was an unmitigated FAILURE.

regards
Mech

[oil pan 4]

Didn't GM just dump most of their hybrid SUVs due to lack of sales likely spurred by high cost and little to no highway FE improvement over non-hybrids?

25+ should be do able with out hybrid.

[jakobnev]

I think the combination of cheap gas and CAFE-standards prevent the 40MPG SUV from happening.

CAFE forces the SUVs to be bigger (putting them in a different category from cars) and cheap gas means that people don't give a hoot. (They just buy the thirstier SUVs anyway.)

I wish politicians could understand that you can't force manufacturers to make cars the market doesn't want. It has to be the buyer that is motivated.. the BUYER!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by JRMichler

Why Not a 40-MPG SUV? | MIT Technology Review

Looks like the auto industry actually is making progress.

It would be courteous for M.I.T.and the others to offer a 'flow-chart' presentation of the proposed vehicle,highlighting each technology and it's representative contribution to the overall efficiency, and the context of the driving schedule in which they expect the performance.
In today's vernacular,when they say 40-mpg,they mean a composite mpg based upon EPA dynamometer testing,with 55% CITY and 45% HWY,with some highspeed acceleration runs and other tests mixed in.
Electric and hybrids are afforded arbitrarily high mpgs for the purpose of CAFE fleet averaging.It's a legal form of cooking-the-books,but it remains ledgerdemain.
A 36-sq-ft frontal area SUV,of 6,000-7,000 lbs,running air conditioning continuously, at 70 mph down the interstate,and returning 40-mpg WOULD be remarkable.

[DIMS]

How to Build a 100 Mile-Per-Gallon Car ... Right Now - Popular Mechanics

[Cobb]

The suzuki sidekick already does this when hypermiled and it was made in 89 to what, 2000?

My 95 ljx got 32 mpg without trying and it has the auto lockers and 4wd.

Last I saw a chevy suv commercial I thought the traverst(SP?) got 32 mpg and it was a full size 8 passenger suv?