Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

The vast majority of crossovers that are certified as light trucks do it by having 3 rows with fold down seats or by being designed for off-road travel.

Being designed for offroad travel requires minimal dimensions for ground clearance, approach angle, breakover angle, and departure angle. Oh - and AWD or 4WD makes it easier. There are 2wd vehicles that meet the off-road standard but they are rare.

Sometimes I drool over the new Ford Bronco with the 7 speed manual transmission.

About the closest I'll ever get is if I put suspension spacers on the Prius after I get it running.

[freebeard]

Aftermarket A-arms.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

First and third generations of the Ford Ka. Odd enough, the third had a version which was marketed in India as if it was an actual SUV

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

It also seems that there are a lot of what people would consider "light trucks" out there that don't really fit any of those descriptions, at least not any better than a sedan would.

Some "light trucks" effectively took over the role of a sedan for a part of the new car buying public. And it happens everywhere...






Well, had some models such as the Brazilian Fiat Fiorino still meant to be specifically used as a commercial mini truck also been available with Popemobile-style rear windows and one or two rear bench-seats, most likely it would not be so attractive for those who look at a coupé-utility or a crossover SUV as an aspirational model. Yet it could be much better for most purposes considering some SUVs nowadays are available as FWD-only...

[freebeard]

justacarguy.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-hanomag-210-ps-two-taxable-ten-brake.html

With 59 mpg it was the world's most fuel efficient mass-production car between the two World Wars due to the low-friction one-cylinder engine and its very light weight

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

According to Amaral Gurgel, every car with a thumper was a commercial failure, so even though he often took a minimalistic approach to his "people's car" project a twin-cylinder was intended to make it less likely to fail. Yet it failed mostly due to political reasons than anything else.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Same underpinnings of the Chevrolet Onix which used to be made in Mexico, but is now made only in Brazil and China.



Well, had the Onix not been phased out in Mexico, and so economics of scale dictating this trucklet being made only in Brazil, I guess that would be the closest to a no-frills compact GM would ever dare to offer stateside. Would need to be made in Mexico in order to overcome the Chicken Tax.

[freebeard]

Here's one you'll probably never hear from again:

Is THIS the Route to Super Cheap Electric Cars??!

The frame is bolted up T-slot rail!
A coiled wire hanging between the front wheels.

They combine knock-down kits and a rental program. ??

[Isaac Zachary]

I saw a Ford Maverik for the first time. They are huge. I thought it would be smaller, but no, these are about the size, if not bigger, than what full sized trucks used to be.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

I saw a Ford Maverik for the first time. They are huge. I thought it would be smaller, but no, these are about the size, if not bigger, than what full sized trucks used to be.

Not sure how far back you are thinking but a 1980 F150 crew cab is 49 inches longer than a maverick crew cab.

The Maverick is 7 inches longer than my wife’s old Ford Ranger extended can that had the fold down seats that you had to sit sideways in.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

Not sure how far back you are thinking but a 1980 F150 crew cab is 49 inches longer than a maverick crew cab.

The Maverick is 7 inches longer than my wife’s old Ford Ranger extended can that had the fold down seats that you had to sit sideways in.

It just seemed bigger than our 1957 Chevy Pickup we had. Maybe it isn't but it just seemed like it is.