Building a car from scratch- how would YOU do it?
 

So lets say you were going to build a car from scratch and design it from the get-go to get the best mileage possible. The only restriction that I would put on it is that it has to be a full ICE drivetrain- no hybrids, no electrics. Two occupants (driver/passenger) and enough cargo space to have room for a weeks worth of groceries for 2 people.

So, how would you do it?

I personally would build a rear wheel drive with a fwd engine/transaxle in the rear, with the occupants side by side in front of it, and low to the ground, and very low profile. You'd have to step down into it. It would be no taller than required for reasonable comfort and enough height to accommodate the engine and radiator. It would also be just wide enough to handle the tires, with the rears enclosed in wheel skirts, and the fronts fendered but open like on most cars. The engine would be a 3 or 4cyl low displacement engine (1.0l would be more than enough) and the transmission a manual. Tires would be the narrowest I could find, and the body would be fiberglass.

But, I know little about car design. How would you do it?

(bored)

rykoala -

I'd just build this :

Perry Ds 550 Spyder
http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...ica/index.html
http://images.kitcarmag.com/featured...r_replica+.jpg

I like it because it uses a STOCK VW chassis. The only problem from my POV is cleaning up it's emissions. I am sure you could find a replacement engine if you went on a quest and/or deactivated two of it's cylinders. Hrrmmmmm, maybe an OBDII compliannt Porsche Boxer engine with cylinder deactivation?!?!?!?!?

Put your groceries here :

http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh.../photo_06.html
http://images.kitcarmag.com/featured...r_replica+.jpg
The Perry Ds, Inc. 550 Spyder

Here's the main website :

www.perryspyder.com

CarloSW2

Old VW front beam (for simplicity), and the rear half of a motorcycle-- a reverse trike. Small, seats two, handles like it's on rails, and still reasonably efficient, without the terror of an actual motorcycle. A teardrop-shaped body for minimum drag would be relatively easy, without being overly-long.

Didn't Homer Simpson do this and fail? :)

Go with a small diesel motor, maybe an old VW. Then gear it way long, I would take super low revving diesel over a motorcycle type setup anyday, especially if I'm building it from scratch anyway.

I think I'd go with a tandem layout (either 4 wheel or 3), like the VW 1L, or the Jet car 2.5.

http://www.metrompg.com/posts/photos/jetcar.jpg

rykoala
You are describing this:
http://www.arielatom.com/
With a low power engine and more bodywork.

Spectacularly, if I recall.

You know, I'd bet an Atom is already halfway efficient, considering it performs on par with a lot of supercars. Taller gearing and a less aggressively-tuned engine (it comes with a Chevy in the US, and a Honda in Europe, I believe).

See also: Caterham Se7en:
http://www.uscaterham.com/home.html

That's my reasoning, too. A reverse trike is even better, for handling and stability. Hence, my junkyard version of the VW GX3 and Peugeot 20CUP.

I am having a difficult time with this statement. Most folks who ride motorcycles enjoy them immensely, and enjoy good performance/economy and handling to boot. Add a little trailer and carry all the groceries you want.

You shouldn't rule out the obvious winners due to preconceptions :)

Maybe one of these diesel jobs :

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...es/600-klr.jpg


or wrap a 600-klt like this:

http://www.craigvetter.com/images/47...r-w-vetter.jpg