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Everett @ May 5th 2008 11:19AM
Adding lightness sounds easy enough, but that will involve expensive materials (such as aluminum), which invariably adds to the cost of the car...which most consumers are quick to complain about. However, if all manufacturers move in this direction, in the same time frame, at least the increased price should be felt across the board. There are no easy solutions to this problem. Also, weight has increased with the number of safety systems in demand by the public &/or gov't regulations.
RDL @ May 5th 2008 12:25PM
Everett @ May 5th 2008 11:19AM
"... weight has increased with the number of safety systems in demand by the public &/or gov't regulations."
Yeah. I wish there was some way to opt-out from weight-increasing safety features. Maybe sign a waiver at the dealer, or something. I'd love to be able to pick a new, bare-bones, lightweight car again.
Dan @ May 5th 2008 1:12PM
There's an incredibly easy solution to this problem, remove features and add smallness.
Making a 3500 lb Sonata weigh 3000 lbs through high tech alternative materials would price it out of the family car market.
Putting a Sonata badge on the Elantra they already have would give you a 3000 lb, 3 mpg higher Sonata tomorrow.
(Of course if you liked having an adult sized car you're out of luck, but this isn't about you it's about mother Gaia.)