Sign In Join 



Midsize Sedans 2.0

13296 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 4:56 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Car Comparisons, Sedan


Messages Page 1102 of 1330
1
...
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
...
1330
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#11011 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [biker4] by aviboy97
Oct 25, 2008 (5:30 am)
Reply

Replying to: biker4 (Oct 24, 2008 6:26 pm)

You're right, it does depend on what you consider "mass production". One cannot walk into a Honda dealer and test drive, or purchase a FXC, so, I do not consider it as a mass produced vehicle. I believe they are private or corporate lease vehicles only. Mazda has a hydrogen rotary hybrid that is currently leased to corporations in Japan and Europe. While it is revolutionary, I really don't see it hitting the streets any time soon.
 
I would say the Civic GX is mass produced too. While there are not a lot available, you can actually go to a dealer and request one.
#11012 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [joe97] by aviboy97
Oct 25, 2008 (5:32 am)
Reply

Replying to: joe97 (Oct 24, 2008 8:42 pm)

While the percentage point may be only 1%, the vast majority of the public does not know that. All they see is stars. In the general public's mind, there is a big difference between 4 stars and 5 stars.
 
I agree with you about the Accord and the rear crash test. I'm a little surprised about that.
#11013 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [aviboy97] by explorerx4
Oct 25, 2008 (2:18 pm)
Reply

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 25, 2008 5:30 am)

at one point, the GX was only available in 2 states. has that changed?
#11014 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [biker4] by backy
Oct 26, 2008 (10:24 am)
Reply

Replying to: biker4 (Oct 24, 2008 6:22 pm)

There are some cars today that have mid-sized interiors and trunks and are around 2800 pounds. One of those has an old-tech iron-block engine. So with a smaller, lighter powerplant and more use of lightweight, high-strength steel, I think 2500 pounds is very doable without lots of composites. Of course, this would not be a 190+ inch long car.
#11015 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [aviboy97] by backy
Oct 26, 2008 (11:02 am)
Reply

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 24, 2008 5:29 pm)

I guess under your definition of "evolutionary", anything with 4 wheels and an engine is evolutionary. Thus the Volt is evolutionary--other cars (e.g. Prius) use a gas engine to charge the batteries so it can be driven only under electric power. The Volt simply extends the range of electric-only operation. And since hydrogen fuel cells have been around for about 50 years, their use in a car is evolutionary also. Also, the Prius and Insight were not the first gas-electric hybrid cars, so they were not revolutionary. They (especially the Prius) were the first to be successful in the marketplace, though.
 
I suppose if some totally new form of propulsion, e.g. hyperdrive, were invented and first used on a car, that would be revolutionary,
#11016 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [backy] by aviboy97
Oct 26, 2008 (11:59 am)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Oct 26, 2008 11:02 am)

I guess under your definition of "evolutionary", anything with 4 wheels and an engine is evolutionary.
 
If you go back and read what I wrote, you would see where I said that improving on existing technology is evolutionary, and the implementing introduction of new technology that has not been available is revolutionary.
 
Thus the Volt is evolutionary--other cars (e.g. Prius) use a gas engine to charge the batteries so it can be driven only under electric power
 
The Volt and Prius are totally different. The gasoline engine on the Volt is only used to charge the battery. The Volt is powered by an electric motor only. The gas engine has nothing to do with propulsion. The Prius only uses an electric motor for up to 25mph, and uses the gasoline engine for everything else, just like every other car on the road.
 
They (especially the Prius) were the first to be successful in the marketplace, though.
 
Yes, that makes them revolutionary. Toyota and Honda were the first companies to something no auto manufacturer has done before. It does not matter that the technology existed. We are not debating who invented what. We are talking about who was the first to offer it to the public on a grand scale.
 
And since hydrogen fuel cells have been around for about 50 years, their use in a car is evolutionary also
 
Again, for a company to introduce revolutionary technology does not mean that they had to invent it. Mazda is, and has always been considered a "revolutionary" company for vehicles like the RX's and MX-5 Miata. Did Mazda invent the rotary? No, Dr. Felix Wankel did. Mazda is the only company to continue to offer it to the public. Did Mazda invent the roadster? No, they just offer the most popular, best selling roadster in automotive history. Those are two of their signature vehicles, which no other manufacturer really offers.
 
What makes companys revolutionary is their ability to offer products to the general public that has not been available to them before.
#11017 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [aviboy97] by backy
Oct 26, 2008 (12:06 pm)
Reply

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 26, 2008 11:59 am)

What makes companys revolutionary is their ability to offer products to the general public that has not been available to them before.
 
Good, we are agreed then. A 100 mpg, best-in-class handling mid-sized sedan would be revolutionary because no such product has been made available to the public before.
#11018 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [backy] by aviboy97
Oct 26, 2008 (5:53 pm)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Oct 26, 2008 12:06 pm)

I hope I get to see one in my lifetime....oh.....it has to have 300hp, too!
#11019 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [backy] by kdshapiro
Oct 27, 2008 (5:39 am)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Oct 26, 2008 11:02 am)

Also, the Prius and Insight were not the first gas-electric hybrid cars, so they were not revolutionary
 
Your correct. Porsche had an gas/electric model circa 1910.
#11020 of 13296
Re: 2010 Fusion Specs [kdshapiro] by newowner10
Oct 27, 2008 (9:58 am)
Reply

Replying to: kdshapiro (Oct 27, 2008 5:39 am)

What technology did Porsche use in 1910? Must be very primitive, Did it have a big switch to go between gas and electric. I believe the technology in the Prius is revolutionary as far mass-market appeal. I believe most things evolve these days. Room size computer that adds and subtract to a room size computer that multiplies. 1 transistor per inch to a million in a inch. One technological step allow more things to become possible. If the Transistor was not invented our whole world would be completely different. Heck a bunch of dinosaurs had to die or we would all be driving Stanley Steamers.

Messages Page 1102 of 1330
1
...
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
...
1330
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement