Quote:
Originally Posted by caled
I think a lot of modern cars are aiming less at 0-60 times and more at fuel consumption, NCAP safety (hence the increased weight) and emissions. And gadgets, lots and lots of gadgets. Sad but true, gone are the days of the ridiculously cheap litres of petrol and insurance for a couple hundred quid.
I noticed for the first time a start-stop system on a car, a 60 plate BMW at the lights. Lights went green and there was a split second where you could hear the car start up before it started moving. Dont think it works too well on petrol cars, but hybrid petrol-electrics I think could work ok. I dont like the idea of a car that keeps turning itself off...
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True, running a car will never be cheap as it used to be...
Start/stop system is a good point, but as said, annoying to many. I think KERS is much better approach, it provides much needed power exactly when you actually need it (green light launch, quick blast on the corner exits and a couple of overtakings). Volvo claims it will put the main engine up to 50% less needed, increasing it's life span and provide benefits of 20% fuel savings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieSJzDi4rAk
Amazingly simple, yet brilliant (the flywheel reaches 60k rpm)... Really looking forward to this being installed in most of the cars of the near future.