It is pretty close, but the width is where the greatest differences are. With the top/center perfectly aligned, the gap from the fender to the *frame* of the windshield was ~8".
Here's the PT Cruiser next to the CarBŒN; showing that the PT Cruiser's windshield is too wide, too steep and too short and could not fit:
It is more curved at the top, but unfortunately, it won't fit...
...try contacting your local autoglass replacement dealer (Safelite, etc.) to see if they have any scaled images of the windshields they use which you might consider feasable to use.
I tried a Saab 900 from the Google SketchUp 3D Warehouse -- and it was way too wide.
Here's CarBŒN Mk 2.6 with the Smart windshield lowered slightly and sloped back very close to the angle used in the Smart; in other words less vertical. I have much improved curve on the roof; though the flare at the base is necessarily bigger. Here is the view set as close to the original blue Bionic model for comparison:
Different in several ways, and similar in others. The blue Bionic has more creased chines, a little more hood and steeper windshield (in my estimation) and the sides are quite different. The rear wheels strakes are not joined with a panel, and they are closer to the ground.
I am seriously considering a reverse trike with tandem seating for three.
I would prefer four wheels, but licensure makes it virtually impossible for me on a scratch built vehicle. In my state at least, I would have to conform to all the safety regs, crash testing, etc etc etc, ad nauseum.
Three wheels allows it to be licensed as a motorcycle and makes the paperwork with the state possible at least.
Perhaps in your state, you do not have this restriction? If your state has the same problem mine does, you may have little choice but to start with the chassis of a production vehicle, despite all the compromises that would entail.
I am completely engrossed in your design process, but I would hate to see a finished product that was unusable on the highways and byways.
I am fairly sure that building a car from scratch is like building a kit car, or a heavily modified car. I think you either have to apply for a new VIN, or you use some component (suspension, windshield, etc.) and then transfer the VIN. Or, you take it to Florida or some other state with "friendly" regs and register it, then transfer the registration.
To get 150mpg in an ICE will be a major challenge, btw. The best that Edison2 got was ~120MPGe IIRC and they had a 250cc single cylinder engine (max ~34% efficiency with lots of EGR) in an 800 pound car with a Cd of ~0.16. To do even fractionally better would be Herculean.
On the other hand, EV's are pushing close to 200MPGe and there is room for improvement. We'll see how the Edison2 VLC does with an electric drive -- it might even surpass 300MPGe (<100wH/mile).
Do we have a list of states that are "friendly" to this sort of project?
Would michigan, or any other state, be obligated to do the transfer if I pursue an unorthadox 4-wheeled vehicle?
Yes, 150 mpg would be exceptional.
On the other hand, Basjoos gets 70-80 in a gasser that weighs much more than any of the Very Light Car concepts and is still improving aerodynamically, so I think double that amount is in the realm of the possible.
The other example of a very high MPG diesel is the Avion; elsewhere in these pages. He got 119MPG. The only diesel that gets better than that that I have heard of, is the latest VW 1L car, with it's electrical assist, ultra-light weight, and amazing low Cd. You'll need to model yours on the VW, I think?
Video of CarBŒN Mk 2.6:
New images showing reworked windshield, revised hinged front wheel skirts with their "half-hourglass openings on the underside, revised inside firewall area, and a few other tweaks...
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