Style still Brings Customers through the Showroom Doors
When I was first driving cars back in the early 70's, small cars were not considered "cool." VWs, Hondas, Toyotas, and other cars from other countries were expected to be small and get good gas economy. But they weren't too exciting unless they were a sports car like an MG, Triumph, or a Porsche.
One reason why cars from overseas were smaller than American cars were the roads and cities of Japan and Europe. The streets were narrow and the buildings were almost on the streets. A Cadilac would have a hard time maneuvering through a town in Italy that was over 1,000 years old. It was hard enough for our tanks during WW II, let alone a car as wide as a tank.
Another reason why cars were smaller and got better mileage was the price of gas. Taxes make gas in Europe so much more expensive than in America. I was in England nearly 30 years ago and the price for gas was around what we pay for it today in this country. Most of the cars looked ordinary, but they had great fuel economy. The flashy ones sometimes had better fuel economy than comparable cars in this country for various reasons.
Take the Lotus, for instance. It could do well over 100 mph even with a relatively underpowered engine. The reason was the weight of the car. Fiberglass and plastic made it lighter, faster, and better with the fuel economy. The same two things, smaller engines and lighting body material, makes small American cars better when it comes to fuel economy.
In order for a small car to be a better buy than some larger cars in the future, the advantages have to outweigh the disadvantages. Safety should be a priority. VW bugs were designed to roll over well. But the sides were so thin that passengers could get crushed if a truck broadsided them. Side protection is a must. Safety bracing inside the doors and side air bags are needed.
Composite materials will reduce weight and increase the strength of the car. They are still a bit expensive. But their price will eventually go down.
Using layers of lighter material will aid in crash protection along with air bags all around. That way, if there is a crash, the material should absorb the impact instead of the driver and passengers. This is important when driving with children.
The engine can be small as long as it is powerful and durable. The new type of spark plugs that use capacitors to store a charge produce better combustion and both increase fuel economy and reduce pollution. The power also increases. This is important for highway driving when a semi looks like it's going to eat you up. You can pull out and head for where it is clear quicker.
The newer types of plugs in the future may use a plasma to produce a hotter ignition. The engine materials will have to withstand the heat better. But with a plasma, you can use a lower grade of gas and maybe burn water since it is so hot that water can become a fuel. With the price of gas being so high, being able to burn water as well as gas will be welcomed.
The cab-forward design of Chrysler products which allows the driver to sit farther forward and allows more room inside to be available will be applied to smaller cars. The engine in the front will slide below the passenger compartment during a collision instead of into the compartment.
The idea of surrounding the passenger compartment with a roll cage works for NASCAR and will work with smaller cars. Newer materials that are stronger and lighter could be used for the roll cage. That will add much more safety to the car.
Small cars have a big advantage over larger cars. They can be parked easier and move in and out of traffic better. Once small cars have an automatic parking system, they will be perfect for those who need to park in a tight spot but are afraid to.
Good mileage, easy handling, increased safety, and more room inside due to cab-forward design will make small cars the obvious choice for so many in the future. It will also help if they don't look like boxes because style still brings customers through the showroom doors.
