| Author |
Message |
Horsefly (Arlie)
Intermediate Member
Username: Arlie
Post Number: 1144
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 7:30 pm: | |
Hybrid racers with electric motors for initial acceleration and gas engines for long term driving. Electric power can be applied INSTANTLY providing incredibly quick acceleration off the line. At some point, the gas engine provides the continuous running power and the electric motor is driven by the gas engine to operate as a generator providing charging power back to the battery for the next rocket-like take off. Of course there are a few drawbacks. Heavy electric motors and batteries.
OR: Perhaps a gas engine powered charging system to feed DC power to giant capacitor banks which are then dumped INSTANTANEOUSLY into a repulsion coil drive system connected to the wheels. Take off like a rocket with neck snapping performance!
But in reality, the next fad will probably be some geeky virtual reality automotive system a la the Matrix where everybody sits at home like a giant couch-ridden jelly fish. Virtual drag racing down virtual streets with nobody actually going anywhere or doing anything. Sounds like a bummer; sorry I thought of it.
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Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member
Username: Stickanddice
Post Number: 449
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 3:59 pm: | |
Mini cars?
Toyota is investing a lot of money into Scion, BMW has Mini, MB has A Klasse, etc.
Pocket Rockets! Highly customizable from the factory.
I hope not, but...
Cheers |
Erik (Teenferrarifan)
Junior Member
Username: Teenferrarifan
Post Number: 102
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 3:56 pm: | |
I think that we will start to see even more high Horsepower luxury cars. I am talking about M5, AMG's, and even a corvette powered cadillac CTS. Horsepower is coming back and serious power at that. Suburu is making a wrx sti 300hp from a 4liter. Over the next few years these numbers will grow even higher as they are able to make more powerful, reliable? engines. Did you see the specs on the new MB v-12 engine 500hp and almost 600lbs torque.
Erik |
Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member
Username: Ronsupercar
Post Number: 811
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 1:10 pm: | |
Probally taking a vintage muscle car and slapping on 22' - 24' rims and high output stereo and f*kd up colors.. |
Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Member
Username: Jordan747_400
Post Number: 999
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 10:07 am: | |
I agree with Gabe. However, I think trends also come and go with different populations and age groups. Not many adults drive rice rods...thats more of a teenager thing. I predict the new fad for teenagers will be lowrider pickup trucks. You can already see a bunch in then (they look so rediculous) and its becomming more and more popular in my area especially. Lowriders, with chrome rims and more special exhausts.
I think the current fad with the older generations are fancy sedans like BMW and Mercedes (at least in Southern California thats true). Its probably going to stay the same for another decade. Not everybody has the desire to own a sports car no matter how affordable. I also agree though, that high performance SUVs might be on their way up with the new Maserati and Porsches. |
William Huber (Solipsist)
Member
Username: Solipsist
Post Number: 935
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 9:56 am: | |
High performance sporty mini van & SUV. |
Gabe V (Racerxgto)
New member
Username: Racerxgto
Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 12:21 am: | |
The return of the sports car just may make its full circle. With this gaudy rice cars flooding the market, the glitter may die out with its flamboyant style. What may happen is auto makers may make serious cars again for the entry level world class sports car.
Things to come. One of the worst, or best things, depending how you look at it, is when Dodge put its name on the Viper. Soon, everybody and their neighbor will be able to afford V-10 power very shortly. Blue book will see to that. Don't belevive me? Remember what Dodge Stealth Twin Turbos sold for in 1995? $40,000 - 51,000. Where are those prices now? Acura NSX prices are tumbling slowly but surely. You're gonna have a generation of affordable supercars, what better fuel for automakers for produce a new line of sports car?
Again, I'm just speculating, the signs are a bit to early to tell, but if you take the peices, you can see a pattern starting to form. |
PeterS (Peters)
Member
Username: Peters
Post Number: 477
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 11:41 pm: | |
In the fifties we had true, American Hot Rods, the sixties brought big cars, the seventies introduced smaller-sportier cars and van conversions, the eighties were dull and the ninties brought the 'ricer mobiles' and SUV's...What will the next car fad be? |