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To: libstripper

“Unfortunately, this goal is presently only achievable by reducing vehicle weight “

That is simply not true. Most if not all are mileage increases are coming from better engineering of the transmissions and things like shutting off cylinders when they are not needed.

Not to say we cannot reduce the weight and enhance performance. Think fighter planes....


4 posted on 12/21/2007 5:43:37 AM PST by Adder (hialb)
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To: Adder
Not to say we cannot reduce the weight and enhance performance. Think fighter planes....

Exactly, think fighter planes at millions of dollars a copy. That should give you a feel for what new cars are going to cost to comply with this crap. But don't confuse fighter planes with the performance you can expect.

9 posted on 12/21/2007 5:50:14 AM PST by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: Adder
Not to say we cannot reduce the weight and enhance performance. Think fighter planes...

Are you saying that cars are going to cost millions and millions and millions...?

12 posted on 12/21/2007 5:54:31 AM PST by fewz (Money/power/not patriotism motivates the political class.)
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To: Adder
That is simply not true. Most if not all are mileage increases are coming from better engineering of the transmissions and things like shutting off cylinders when they are not needed.

And most of those engineering efforts have been done already. When it comes down to it, you simply need to burn X amount of fuel to move Y amount of mass; so the most direct way to reduce X is to reduce Y. And yes, it can be done, as it is done in fighter planes... but fighter planes, strong as they are for moving through the air, are remarkably fragile when they encounter solid objects.

16 posted on 12/21/2007 5:59:31 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Adder

What happens when two fighter planes hit?


19 posted on 12/21/2007 6:02:41 AM PST by live+let_live
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To: Adder

It is mostly true. During the energy crunch of the ‘70’s they reduced the size of brake rotors on most full size cars and trucks from 10-11” down to 8-9” to cut weight. They then rid themselves of the higher impact metal bumpers with a coil mount system that usually could withstand a bump of 15 mph (try that with any of todays cars, you’re looking at a $2500 price tag). I could go on about it if you need more.


42 posted on 12/21/2007 7:04:20 AM PST by repubpub
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To: Adder
"Think fighter planes...."
Fighter Planes are flimsy, that is why they have ejector seats so they pilot is not in one when they crash, otherwise the pilot dies. Cargo planes on the other hand usually do not have ejector seats because a lot of crashes are survivable if the pilot stays on board. because they are big ad slow and have a lot of metal around the crew. Bad analogy.


45 posted on 12/21/2007 7:25:46 AM PST by McCloud-Strife (Dump John McCain first, the rest of the "gang of 14" next)
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To: Adder

They want to reduce weight so it will make cars smaller, which will rid us of the evil SUV


51 posted on 12/21/2007 7:49:02 AM PST by Rick.Donaldson (http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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To: Adder

Not to say we cannot reduce the weight and enhance performance. Think fighter planes....

If this continues, a car will cost about the same as a fighter plane.


62 posted on 12/21/2007 9:49:01 AM PST by READINABLUESTATE ("life is dangerous")
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