What are the car manufacturers doing??

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Here's a (virtually) complete collection of Aptera videos, on YouTube:

Aptera Youtube Group

BTW, there is an active Aptera forum:

ApteraForum.com - Aptera Car Forum -

[88CRX]

Originally Posted by Compaq888

I think it's bull**** to say that the consumers are demanding more bigger engines(car manufacturers), even if they were it was like 10 years ago. What do car manufacturers do??? check their opinion box every 10 years???

The were... perfect example the xB. Customer surveys said they wish it had more power. Toyota complied the new xB got the bigger engine...

but the xB sales are down.

They should have made the bigger engine and upgrade.

[ebacherville]

really i think the auto manufactures have had enough time to gear up for the high oil prices we really should be seeing more new models out now with 35mpg+ ratings.. heck it took chevy about a year to start the cobalt XFE model and that was a ,cam ,new programming and a gears.. come on this is sad ..

Really if manufactures started boattailing tere vehicals they could add load of extra cargo space push the wheel base a bit longer and make a better car over all and make the MPGs higher.. however i think the prius is a good thing even though i thing there a bad investment.. there changing the views o fpwople as there design isnt the norm there slightly radicle and thats a good shift tword better stuff in the future..

However automakers are suffering now.. id love to see where therte R+D is at.. chevy says that they will have the best MPG in the class for the new aveo.. well see.. i hope its a 45mpg car but bet it will be a 37mpg car..

[Formula413]

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

I'm loving this discussion

Me too.

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

I remember this thing. It was in all kinds of magazine adds. Oddly enough it seems to have gone extinct. Who's idea was it, anyone know?

[RH77]

I think it was the Governmental "AD Council" that came up with the "ESUVEE" Animal. The aim was to teach younger divers that driving an SUV was like a "bucking Bronco" -- or Bronco II (pun intended). Increased braking distances, tougher control, and potential rollovers were the focus. Toyota supported the funding as part of a settlement deal.

The animal is since extinct in live form, but can be found in Internet storage...

RH77

[wagonman76]

The automakers will never give us their best work. Because they know the government will keep on tightening emissions, and raising mpg standards, and people will always want something better. Theyve always gotta have something waiting in the wings for when something better is demanded, to keep themselves in business.

They probably continue to use metal because it is recyclable. Dont think carbon fiber is. They could use tube frames and safety harnesses to make cars stronger and lighter and safer. Nascar guys survive crashes at 200 mph. But the general public doesnt want a car that looks like a racecar inside.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

I would tend to agree. Most people I talk to think 25 mpg is good. I think I remember that the National FE in the US is 17 MPG.

I often wondered what planet these people were from. My 1993 350 gas 2wd rusted behemoth Suburban with 175K miles running crap ethanol gas and sea foam got 23MPG with 1500lbs of craft crap inside, tent and a rear platform for our genny off the trailer hitch doing 75mph (no I wasn't driving). Typically this gets 18-21 for the last 10 years depending on conditions but during the last year and some mystery oil later my mileage even in town has been running a tad over 20mpg. Only time it is extrememly terrible is during winter on short trips (which I avoid).

I know the 93 2wd 350's got better mileage than many Burbs, do to some gearing, tranny and computer mods (that were undone a year later do to unacceptable towing performance supposedly)

But come on? Why can't they duplicate what my beater truck does from the factory now? It is rarely hypermiled and is usually loaded to the ceiling as its used for setting up booths at fairs and shows.

Why can't american companies overcome their retarded mileage limits?

With a car rearend my 89 6,2ltr diesel suburban loaded got around 26mpg until the tranny started crapping out (GM like dodge Can't make a decent 4 speed)

Ah well, I will need to invest more time making electrics this oil BS gets me down.

Cheers
Ryan

[rmay635703]

Hmm that looks surprizingly a lot like their previous L1 or whatever it was called that they supposedly scrapped and gave up on in 2005 (it was supposed to be released already)

Funny how that stuff evolves slightly and gets recycled only to get scrapped again.

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hello,

Here's a Volkswagen that gets 282mpg (0.83 liters per 100 kilometers)!


(click on image for a link)

Here's another article:
VW to relaunch 'one-litre' eco car | Green Cars | Low Emission & Clean Cars | Car Magazine Online



It weighs just 300kg (661 lbs)!! It should be available in 2010.

[Formula413]

Back when I had a subscription to Car and Driver (before I got sick of the rightward editorial slant and dumped it) I read an article talking about the ever increasing weights of cars due to things like the need for stiffer chassis' to handle ever increasing freeway speeds and more sound deadening for added refinement. But the article also pointed out that while cars have been porking up motorcycles, in particular sport bikes, keep getting lighter, because the manufacturers spend time in R&D trying to find ways to lighten the bikes while maintaining adequate structural stiffness and strength. The car companies have some very smart engineers working for them, if they would apply that talent to this problem curb weights might start moving in the right direction.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Does anybody know anything about the Think City car, or the Think Ox?

Home - Think