Funny thing is that if you put a modern engine into some of those '80's cars they'd perform better and get near 40mpg. But the thing is they added airbags, side impact braces, stiffened frames, sound insulation, active suspension, etc. over the years. Thus modern cars have gained a bit over 500lbs in comparison to their '80s counterparts, and therefore no apparent gains in performance or economy despite improved engines with bigger HP numbers.

Of course some automaker could get smart about composites, and use a robotic lamination system with vacuum press heated molding for mass production. It'd be expensive for starters, since consistency would be tricky. (Probably learn a bit from aviation manufacturers there.) But once they get that part down, you'd probably see around 1000lb weight loss - and cars would perform better and more efficiently. For the meantime, composite structures remain hand-made and in the realm of exotics & racing cars.

Right now it seems that the money is going into hybrid tech, and they can demand a premium for it. But the extra cost charged for that powertrain platform offsets gas savings for at least 5 years.

The fastest way to get good fuel economy cars in the states would be allowing a microcar class with relaxed NHTSA standards in some areas (safety standards keep most microcars out of the US market), but with a 50mpg minimum highway rating to qualify. Dunno if anyone would go for that though. (Currently the closest thing is to have 3-wheelers which are considered as motorcycles, but the paperwork hurdles to get licenced for a "motorcycle" that doesn't drive like one and possibly get exemptions to qualify or whatever make them less attractive.)

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Barbequed Pixels?

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