Originally Posted by
Spin Out
And 27 years ago I would have bet you anything that cars buiilt in 2010 would all get at least twice the mileage. Here we sit, and how many cars can even match it.
I still haven't figured that one out!
Actually, the technology is there. It's the market that isn't.
Look at what got 40+ mpg 20 years ago (that's 1990 for those of you playing at home). Cars like the CRX-HF with 62hp hauling about 1900 lbs, or the Metro XFI with 49hp at about 1700 lbs. That's 30-35 pounds per HP... who's gonna buy that today? (Hell, who bought them then? Not too many people.)
Today, everybody thinks they need 200 hp and a big vehicle that weighs 3,500 pounds or more. That's 17.5 lbs/hp, it's what you find in most minivans, which is more than a lot of sports cars had 20 years ago!
Even my Yaris, one of the most economical cars on the US market, has 106 hp for its 2400 pounds... 22 lbs/hp. You won't find too many people in the US who don't think a car like the Yaris is too slow and underpowered. (not because it IS, really... but because they have the belief that they "need" more power for daily driving) Put it on par with the highly efficient cars of 20 years ago and it would have no more than 68-80 hp! With today's technology, that can easily be achieved 1.3 liters (the US Yaris has 1.5), and almost with a 1.0 liter.
Europe and Japan and other markets have it. The Yaris can be had with an 85hp 1.3 or a 65hp 1.0 in those places. (not to mention an even more efficient 1.4 direct-injected turbo-diesel that puts out 90hp and a whopping 150ft/lbs) These lower-powered cars get 25-50% better fuel economy... but they won't sell here. They just don't fit the typical American lifestyle. We're more interested in HP than MPG.
PS: Tod, I thought they were funny, too.
Just pointing out that there likely wasn't any "political" motivation behind the responses, just people being goofy.