Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
Originally posted by: canadageek
we can, but no one wants it. also, if you took out the batteries and electric motor and other hybrid gubbins, you'd end up with higher mileage.
VW's answer to Hybrids
thats what Germany can do....lets see how america measures up. this baby might only have about 80hp, but it has wads of torque, nice for highway cruising. sure, its small, but with a mileage of 78MPG, who cares?
thats not an answer, its like a geo metro, the prius has the interior space of a camry. people like it because its size is practical.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mareview/mauto497.htm
a few quotes, theres plenty more bad but i'd have to copy the whole article btw the geo metro had very mileage too its not magic, make it tiny and lose weight.
"One way to cut fuel consumption is to eliminate the weight and power drain of accessories. So the 3L Lupo had no air conditioning, no power steering, no anything. You can add such options, but there'd go your three-liter claim.
And the car seemed low-quality for the $3,000 premium price its fuel-sipping hardware commands.
Not only did the seats turn torturous after about 90 minutes, a cup holder came apart in the first 10 miles. The economy-enhancing, easy-rolling tires and lightweight suspension transmitted not just noise but a roar to the passenger compartment on cobblestones, bricks and rough asphalt. "
"What's hard to overlook is the transmission. It's the key hardware that makes Lupo go so far on so little fuel. But even a fuel-economy zealot would have trouble being charitable.
To work its magic, the transmission seeks the highest gear ratio that the engine can handle without stalling, resulting in
acceleration so sluggish it almost can't claim to be acceleration at all. It'll cruise 80 miles an hour all day. But ask it to change speeds and oh, woe. "