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The so-called Hybrid-Car-Dilemma
Stingray
Elite Ranger
in Zocalo v2.0
[URL="http://http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/206/the-hybrid-dilemma"]The-Hybrid-Dilemma[/URL]
Well that's a nice article stating the obvious: Ugly hybrids don't sell.
Well, who didn't see that coming?
The only hybrid that seems to be popular right now is the Toyota Prius, and apparently, because it looks differently ugly enough to be noticed on the road.
Another thing they found out is that an existing unattractive car design converted into a hybrid (Honda Accord Hybrid) doesn't sell well either. Are these guys getting paid for this? I think the Lexus brand doesn't count, because its cars cost twice as much as a Prius.
That would explain why we don't have flying cars yet, if they are still stumbling over the fact that ugly doesn't sell. One step forward, two steps back.
Well that's a nice article stating the obvious: Ugly hybrids don't sell.
Well, who didn't see that coming?
The only hybrid that seems to be popular right now is the Toyota Prius, and apparently, because it looks differently ugly enough to be noticed on the road.
Another thing they found out is that an existing unattractive car design converted into a hybrid (Honda Accord Hybrid) doesn't sell well either. Are these guys getting paid for this? I think the Lexus brand doesn't count, because its cars cost twice as much as a Prius.
That would explain why we don't have flying cars yet, if they are still stumbling over the fact that ugly doesn't sell. One step forward, two steps back.
Comments
The Accord failed because Honda simply mated an electric motor to the V6 (instead of a small I4), which resulted in a significant increase in cost, but only a slight increase in economy.
Anyway, the hybrid that I think holds the most promise is GMs Volt concept, with it's plug-in system, with the engine serving only as a back-up, not as a secondary propolsion.
In the meantime, the most cost effective way to get high-mileage: VW TDI Jetta.
Jake
Parallel hybrids are at a disadvantage no matter how they are set up. The engine loses efficiency by not being designed with an undrivably small powerband in mind. The mentioned Volt concept is where things should eb headed. When the engine is used, it is kept at a very particular RPM range and is only operated to charge and suppliment energy supplies.
The Ford Escape hybrid has fantastic reviews, but the early models were ruined by the fact that they didn't come stock with the fancy in-dash LCD screen like the prius did or any other distinguishing features beyond the "hybrid" badging.
As far as cars go, I agree. People don't understand that they drive [B]torque[/B] rather than horsepower. Diesels are where the market should be, but Americans are far too image-centric to even consider tolerating a "clunky ticking smoking oil-burner." Nevermind that times have changed. *sigh* And then there's the EPA's take on emissions, but that is just a whole 'nother post.
I used to have a 1.9 diesel Golf. Could do about 350 miles on a full tank (about £40 to fill it) if driven economically. Think it could do 50mpg at a push. My Golf GTi does 34.7mpg on a motorway run but around town it drops to 25mpg... but then so did the diesel, as they're much much better on long distance avg speed 70mph journys. I still don't get the stigma with them. A friend bought a Mk4 Golf 1.9 TDi after having driven petrol cars all her life. She's been gobsmacked at the milage she's getting. I do see a problem though... more and more research is going into make diesels perform like petrols. This is great from a performance perspective, but bad from the economy one. the Golf GTTDi PSD pumping out 150bhp is bloody good but if you nail it then you may as well be in a petrol. And annoyingly over here, diesel is more expensive than petrol and has been for a very long time (in Ireland it was the other way round but that all changed a few years ago).
Did any of you see that documentary on the GM electric car from the 80's?? The one that got pulled rather quickly and literaly buried. Haven't seen it myself but I've been told its a very good watch.
As seen here: [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdBVwwRgThU"]Top Gear Toyota Prius Review[/URL] :D
[QUOTE]The Lexus Hybrid 4x4 though is an amazing hybrid.[/QUOTE]
A friend of mine has one of these and it's a very nice hybrid, but if you do a lot of trips on the highway, you'll end up having just one of those wolves-in-sheep-skin hybrids, so all in all, this isn't the be-all and end-all hybrid yet.
I'm not lined up for new car for a few more years, that is, if nothing unexpected happens. But I keep looking which car I would go for if I had to get a new one and there isn't much out now that I'm really excited about. I'm really not interested into one of those sub-compacts like the Smart and its ilk, I mean if you do get involved in a crash, all that's between you and the other car is a bunch of airbags... and the computations of the crash-test engineers.
As for looks, I do believe they matter, not to everyone, but I still see more BMW's on the roads than say SKODA's or VOLVO's (although both brands have improved a lot over the last years) added together.
And I stumbled over this wacky Top Gear clip: [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26YkUdFgbuw"]Topgear Toyota Aygo vs VW Fox Soccer[/URL] (for those of you who don't like soccer, you might actually enjoy this...) :D
If you are talking about a bicycle, then I'm afraid, that does not qualify as a hybrid, if it did all wheeled vehicles would be hybrids... get out and push, see human powered and gravity powered. :)
I suppose those small motorcycles with pedals probably do, but do they still make those at all? :D Silliest things I ever saw, quite embarrassing too. Might as well use a lawnmower to get to work.
If you live close to your workplace, riding a bike to work is probably the sensible thing to do.
And then those two-wheeled gizmoes... where you lean forward to move forward and lean backwards to break. I don't know, makes as much sense as an electric toilet....
How lazy have we become? We are devolving into slobs...
Well that's a nice article stating the obvious: Ugly hybrids don't sell.
Well, who didn't see that coming?
The only hybrid that seems to be popular right now is the Toyota Prius, and apparently, because it looks differently ugly enough to be noticed on the road.
Another thing they found out is that an existing unattractive car design converted into a hybrid (Honda Accord Hybrid) doesn't sell well either. Are these guys getting paid for this? I think the Lexus brand doesn't count, because its cars cost twice as much as a Prius.
That would explain why we don't have flying cars yet, if they are still stumbling over the fact that ugly doesn't sell. One step forward, two steps back.[/QUOTE]
I think the only reason the Prius remains popular is because of its image. It was the first practical hybrid to really come out. When people think hybrid, Prius is the first thing that comes to mind. If it had come out last year I have no doubt it would have failed like the rest. Part of the Prius ugly design has to do with it being based primarily around function rather than looks. Its designed to create less aerodynamic drag while others are just regular cars with hybrid drive.
I don't have a problem with aerodynamics dictating a certain shape to get better performance, but look at all the sports cars, SUV's and pickup trucks out there. I mean even the Smart looks more sexy than the Prius. But I grant you that, Toyota isn't really in the business of making sexy cars anymore if it ever was. But every brand seems to make poor design decisions once in a while and I really don't know why.
I still think the Prius design was a political decision, rather than an attempt to bring out the automobile equivalent of the iPod. They wanted to be careful in their attempt to break in a new evolutionary path and not bring the entire industry into a downward spiral. This would also explain why the manufacturers are dragging their feet to produce more cars with lower CO2 emissions. They are getting there, because they have to, but their heart isn't into it yet.
Oh god, US regulations. A car can't be sold these days without achieving a fantastic crash test rating. Nevermind that cars are getting enormously heavy in order to do so well. I can't even begin to say what I would give to have a car that is just barebones and light weight due to not having anything more than a steering wheel airbag and maybe a couple of other random features. In these instances, I save weight by not buying ten to fifteen additional airbags/pyrotechnic restraints/whizdoodle gadgetry that just plain does not serve me much benefit in the long run. I don't typically carry passengers and usually keep the rear seats of my wagon flat or simply remove them, so why should I have to haul around the additional weight of six other airbag packs and other gear that I do not want or need?
Impact rigidity can be achieved using any range of modern construction techniques without resorting to that stuff.
Also, why does the world seem to love bright LCDs glaring at them from the dash while driving? I barely tolerate a brightly lit dashboard, often turning mine down to the lowest visible level at any time. I can't stand being in my friend's mercedes ML320 with the bright blue radio/gps LCD in the center of the dashboard. The same goes for radio displays, as well.
I wonder how lightweight someone could reasonably make a cheap, four-seater hatchback/wagon that would be considered safe enough to sell in this country. With direct injection and a range of computer controls, variable-valve timing and such, one can extract more than a sufficient level of power from a sub-1.3L engine. More than enough to make the car usable in a mixed urban-highway environment. Hell, My parents' old Toyota Tercel with a 1.somethingL engine mated to a three speed auto did more than fine on the highway.
Also, on the topic of wagons...Why the fuck doesn't anybody make any real, mid-to-low end station wagons anymore? The BMW 5-series ones are too pricey and I can't stand the banglegasm they represent. The Dodge Magnum is practically useless due to its uncomfortably low greenhouse. The Mazda 3 Wagon is fantastic, but doesn't come with a 4cyl or a stick. (I think that might have changed, though). The Ford Focus wagon was killed off this year. The Scion xB was replaced with a god-awful camry-based beast that barely holds a candle to its predecessor. The Suzuki options just don't have any cargo capacity. The Chevrolet Malibu Maxx was (apparently) a sales failure due to terrible marketing on GM's part and an absurd price. The new Volvo models are all too costly and far too low on reliability, and the Jaguar X-type is just a joke. And my biggest peeve: a lack of fold-flat rear seats. Of all those listed, only a few have/had this. And of the list, only two were rear-wheel-drive. My 740 Wagons have, with the seats folded down, more cubic footage than a last-gen chevy tahoe (and I suspect more than the new ones.)
I was (barely) able to fit a full-size refrigerator into the back of my 88 740 turbo and successfully close the tailgate. I wouldn't imagine this to be a hard feat to reproduce, but apparently it is. I don't think I'll ever be considering a new car when I could easily spend the far less on installing a modern engine, transmission, and interior into a refurbished RWD chassis. $29,000 on a new car, or $18,000 (parts and labor) and change for a [B]perfect[/B] car? Add a couple thousand more for extras (redesigned front- and rear-fascia) and I end up with not only a mechanically sound vehicle, but an aethetically pleasing one, too!
I really get on tangents, don't I? :D
Sounds like most people I know. ;)
I think there's a word for that, I believe it's, wacky? :D
If you do a search on Top Gear on youtube.com you'll come across quite a selection of their segments and they are indeed quite entertaining if not informative. I certainly wouldn't base my purchase decision on one of their reviews, disregarding the fact that most of the cars reviewed are outside most mortals' budget. I mean the Mercedes Maybach looks a tad bit old-fashioned, wouldn't you say? :D
Overall I must say, they usually find something to complain about in any car brand, even the Jags and Astin Martins get their feathers ruffled.
Gotta love their challenges though... always cracks me up. Check out the amphibious challenge videos... I think they were trying to best Japanese television. :D
[QUOTE=croxis;162814]The [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Fortwo"]for-two[/URL]? I would really like one of those cars as I almost never drive with more than one person.[/QUOTE]
See, that's the Smart, I mean perhaps saying that it looks sexy is pushing it, but it's certainly cute. It would probably look ridiculous on a guy who's over 6 feet tall. :D
Looks like the intro price is $12,000ish