Efficiency

Efficiency is coming. I have already written a post on the horsepower wars, but I just got done reading through my new Automobile magazine (the best car mag IMHO). It has an interesting dichotomy. They are reporting on the new ultra-hot-mobiles, like:

Rolls-Royce - $412k - V-12

Porsche - $175k - 530 hp

Mercedes-Benz - $500k - 617 hp

Maserati - $115k - 405 hp

Lexus - $50k - 400 hp

Ferrari - $220k - 503 hp

Ford - $70k - 540 hp

Dodge - $87k - 600 hp

Chevrolet - $45k - 430 hp

BMW - $62k - 414 hp

Aston Martin - $300k - 510 hp

Bentley - $300k - 530 hp

Audi - $115k - 420 hp

Callaway - $305k - 700 hp!!!

While at the same time there is the Tesla Roadster, $98k, 0-60 <5 sec., ~200 mi. range, ~5 hr. charge time. They also report that Tesla will be releasing it's sedan (4 door) model in '09, for probably ~$40-$50k, which is earlier than I had anticipated. That means that their probably ultra-efficient and should-be-very--affordable--civic-esque-model will be released maybe only a year or two after that! They are going to take the new car market by storm! You watch! I'll buy one! You should be able to get a solar kit as well, to help offset the effects of substituting where your power (and pollution) come from. I believe that the Tesla also owns or is partnered with a solar cell company, hopefully they will sell a garage roof solar kit optional with each car.

They also report on the Smart ForTwo, ~$12-$17k, Jan. 2008, 20,000 reserved as of now, 40 MPG. I am tempted to get one of these as well. Super cheap, very efficient, perfect for commuting. All you need is a roof to protect from sun and weather, and A/C to keep you comfortable, and you are good to go!

The second coming of the age of ultra-compact cars is coming to America... I can feel it! They will not only be accepted, but will be popular... demanded even! Just like the Prius is a status symbol, so too shall be the ultra-efficient models.

Granted, most of the monsters are in the monster price range as well, but I think that the shift in American perception of what an automobile can and should be will have to permeate into the super-car market as well. They clearly won't go ultra efficient like the Smart ForTwo, since that is not what they are after, but this ridiculous horsepower war has got to stop at some point, it can't just keep going, or we will end up with cars that have a train engine on the front that they are pushing around to generate the 3 jiggiwatts of horsepower that is the standard of the market... see what I am getting at? Technology will have to go the way of efficiency and power, like I mentioned in my other article, concentrating on torque and not horsepower for acceleration, just as the Tesla is doing, very very admirably too!

OK, enough, I'm done... :)