Toyota shows lightweight hybrid concept car

[Wiyosaya]

Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp. showcased Wednesday a new hybrid concept model that is packaged in carbon fiber to reduce weight, fuel consumption and emissions.
Full article

[Tideland Prius]

1/3 the weight, 1/3 the engine displacement but only 2x the economy?

[Godiva]

Okay.

But I'd rather they build the EV/X instead of the 1/X.

[RinMI]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 25 2007, 01:31 PM) [snapback]530326[/snapback]</div>

1/3 the weight, 1/3 the engine displacement but only 2x the economy?
[/b]

Movement through air is a hard force to reckon with and the Prius is already designed to slip through the air very cleanly.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 25 2007, 01:31 PM) [snapback]530326[/snapback]</div>

1/3 the weight, 1/3 the engine displacement but only 2x the economy?
[/b]

Movement through air is a hard force to reckon with and the Prius is already designed to slip through the air very cleanly.

[usbseawolf2000]

Yea, city mileage may be 3x but the highway MPG will drag it down and probably averaged at 2x.

[V8Cobrakid]

So does this article promise carbon fiber for everyday car use? Toyota could be taking this into an interesting direction.

[DaveinOlyWA]

carbon fiber cars??? makes one fantasize a new revolutionary process that takes carbon out of the air to make carbon fiber economically (considering the cost of GW.. wouldnt have to be that cost effective...) killing two birds with one stone.

but then again, that would take long term planning, major financial investments... oh wait, in our here and now society, that would never fly

[daveleeprius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 25 2007, 03:51 PM) [snapback]530431[/snapback]</div>

Yea, city mileage may be 3x but the highway MPG will drag it down and probably averaged at 2x.
[/b]

My milage goes *up* on the highway vs. city.

[usbseawolf2000]

I believe Toyota is balancing the spending research $$ on improving minor MPG from the powertrain versus reducing the weight to improve MPG.

Powertrain improvement may cost more than weight reduction at some point. If Toyota can find a cheap and environmentally way to make carbon fiber, it will be great. They don't need to use in all parts of the car either... just flat areas for easy implementation? Just like how high tensile steel are used in 04 Prius.

If the cost to improve 10 city MPG with a higher capacity battery is $2k and implementing carbon fiber 10% of the car achieves the same goal then why not?

[usbseawolf2000]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Oct 26 2007, 12:27 AM) [snapback]530575[/snapback]</div>

My milage goes *up* on the highway vs. city.
[/b]

Your driving habit and roads are more congested even than the new EPA test standard. If you hit a traffic jam on the highway, does your MPG go up or down? For me it depends... under 7mph jam reduces MPG while 20-40 mph jam sky rockets my MPG.

In my city driving (relax and plan ahead), the best I can get is 65 MPG. I can get 75+ MPG on 20-40 mph highway traffic jam. The reason is there are no stop sign nor lights on the highway jam and I am free to plan my space in front of me. I don't leave more than 5 cars length either. It really depends on how you define "City". Highway traffic jam can be considered "City" too because of a lot of acceleration and deceleration.

You can see some of my highway congestion drive:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=56...44508&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=38...59408&hl=en