Can Supercars Go Green And NOT Lose Their Chutzpah?

Can Supercars Go Green And NOT Lose Their Chutzpah?
According to one writer, he thinks that electric and alternative energy cars are the way of the future AND that supercars have to reflect such changes.

My problem with that is although it sounds really good it just isn't realistic at this point. We STILL have yet to see a compelling electric solution -- besides the Volt -- which delivers realistic mileage and is fun behind the wheel. Yeah, you can cite the Tesla Roadster all you want but if you want to drive without range anxiety, that's not the car for you.

If we want to be true to ourselves, I think it would be fair to say that we shouldn't force revolution for simply revolution's sake. Do we need low volume supercars to be energy efficient? In my eyes, that shouldn't be a top priority as say getting large volume sellers like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion or Nissan Altima, up to spec.

THOSE cars should be the leaders in alternative energy technology -- electric/hybrid/whateverisnext --, not low volume products that don't make up the majority of sales across the nation.

Am I right or am I WAY off base here?

Weigh in, Spies...


It’s time for supercars to go green, and Acura is pointing the way. Anyone who says that high-performance cars can’t also be environmentally friendly has never driven a Tesla Roadster Sport, or taken a ride in the company’s forthcoming Model S. I’ve done both, and the experiences lacked nothing in vividness, let me tell you. Yeaaaagh!

Earlier this week I wrote a piece for CBS Interactive suggesting perhaps that the storied Corvette, at least in its current huge V-8, rear-drive format, has outlived its usefulness. I got savaged by car blog _______, where raw meat is still in the diet and they like 18 mpg gas guzzlers. Well, I don’t, no matter how iconic they are...


[Source: Mother Nature Network]


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diesel007Rdiesel007R - 5/9/2011 12:30:22 PM
+1 Boost
Funny, this take is both correct and incorrect.

Yes, the majority of our hybrid and electric efforts should be focused around volume-models where everyone can see improvements in fuel economy.

However, car manufacturers need to develop (AKA R&D, TEST, MODIFY, REGRESSION TEST) these technologies, and bring their cost down. Hence why Porsche is going to roll out the 918 as a flagship to this effort, to showcase the technology under development, and ask for $845K per example. Because the technology running the 918 is so far ahead of what is in existence now, and those 918 buyers are actually funding Porsche electric research (and Volkswagen et al. for that matter).




Agent00RAgent00R - 5/9/2011 8:14:56 PM
+1 Boost
@Diesel

Although you could make that argument, I could also say that if the tech was developed in a cheaper go-to-market car, the company's break-even point would be a lot lower.

I don't think the trickle-down effect that you're implying is really applicable.

Remember, the Chevrolet Volt is suppose to be one of the most advanced vehicles yet it bases at $41,000. Granted, a 918 is certainly no Volt.


Arsen89Arsen89 - 5/10/2011 11:49:05 AM
+2 Boost
Ever heard of the Prius, yeah thats been around since '97. The fact the GM, after 13 years, finally released a plugging says a lot about where their focus is and where their money is going.


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