Geeze guys, at least use a good pic of a 300ZX 2+2 (this one is my wife's). Image Unavailable, Please Login
The Previa probably makes the top 10 most reliable vehicles ever made, no servicing needed... and the fact that the engine is underneath the front seats, this actually creates more interior space then other vans of the same length (Ive compared blueprints). Also minivans didnt have an image problem during the American 1970's "van craze" era... new cab-forward designs could greatly change peoples expectations. Lastly with global austerity upon us, vans are the only thing to liberate people from a life of servitude (in paying for shelter) by creating a space to live out of. Maybe this is why they have been psychologically downgraded as tradie cars or for soccer moms. Image Unavailable, Please Login Im more passionate about the whole shape of the car... I see the new Ferrari has the same shape, but I can't find similar shaped cars that are affordable and modern to look the same. Image Unavailable, Please Login Im pursuing a 300ZX kit (koenigsegg copy) in which I dont see a modern, affordable, and proportioned equivalent of... and I dont expect to see one in the far future either. As with reliability, there are many low use Japanese exports available in which parts\engines can be sourced. Nissan ZX wrapped with new 3D design. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kk3qRtTlO4 Image Unavailable, Please Login How are these mid engine Lotus's (albeit very, very light cars) able to be safe enough? Perhaps an add-on brace\structure put in place can protect the legs.
First off, let's agree that anything is possible with enough time, money and resources. The architecture of placing the occupants over or in front of the front axle however doesn't allow enough space from the front end to allow adequate crush space. In a van with the occupant over or in front of the axle, it doesn't have as much space for any impact to absorb a frontal crash. Is this architecture doable? Yes, but at what tradeoffs? I wouldn't want my family members to drive a vehicle with a compromised frontal overhang. The more distance between the occupants and the crash, the better. This also doesn't take into account the noise & vibration with an ICE located underneath the occupants, versus isolating the cabin from the powertrain. In an electric car, this is mitigated, but there is still the physics of less space to absorb a crash. I've watched too many crash tests to see what happens in a violent accident with the front occupants. I want as much space as possible between me & said crash. In a mid-engined car, the occupants are usually far enough rearward to allow enough front end crush. In the Lotus, and other mid engined cars, there looks to be some distance between the occupants and the front end. Forcing the occupants between the wheel arches dictates the legs have to be angled towards the C/L of the car. If you've ever sat in or driven a Mangusta or Pantera, you know the feeling of having your legs angled toward the C/L of the car. Vehicle architectures are a tradeoff/compromise between costs, comfort, safety, manufacturing, etc. There are reasons why vehicle architecture has evolved to where it is today. If customers were demanding an architecture type, the companies would build them. Witness the migration to SUV's/CUV's out of sedans. There are reasons for this. Not just arbitrary decisions made on the part of vehicle architecture teams. At the end of the conversation, there are reasons for vehicle architectures taking on the characteristics they have. These decisions are never taken lightly.
Bodykits on a $3,000 car to impersonate a $300,000 car is a tough sell on this site - most people here frown upon copycat replicas and there is no substitute for the emotion of seeing a genuine exotic. All the best, Andrew.
I had a Vanagon. I would have felt safer in a Previa. I remember when the Previa came out - I got all the car mags back then - and all the clever tech was amazing. Couldn't you check all the fluid levels just by looking at the reservoirs? It's been a long time, but they've still not made a better looking van, IMO.
I see, but I still think the cab-forward van designs are being held back despite ones having engines in the front (although crumple space reduced) like the Toyota Alphard or Hyundai Starex. What I find really special about the Previa is the feel of the driving (mid engine, rwd), the ride height (engine underneath seats), and lastly the maximized interior space (very valuable for RV conversions). Toyota recently showcased the LVC concept... I just feel these are vans that the industry (specially in North America) is holding out on so as to offer something new in the future upscale markets. Hyundai Starex Image Unavailable, Please Login The Toyota LVC concept Image Unavailable, Please Login The Japanese Nissan ZX came out in 1989... the layover photoshop is to demonstrate how after all these years we see that Ferrari is embracing these proportions on their new model... but one cant find any other similar shape spirited cars and for it to be affordable. The Nissan 350z is similar and cheap now, but it lacks in good looks. The Koenigsegg looking redesign that I would like to make is still much different then the original mid engine design. There is an oil reservoir in the front that loads the engine itself if it goes low. Parts are spread out to the front too. I was able to switch-out the throttle body 3-4 times, all the while contained inside the van, in the heart of downtown without anyone noticing.
Heres one next to an Acura Legend sedan... although the coupe version looked best. They dont design them like they used to Image Unavailable, Please Login
I like the Toyota LVC Concept. It looks like the occupant HPoint is far enough rearward that their legs aren’t in front of the front axle. Not much front overhang. Be interested to see what happens to the architecture when it gets ‘productionized’.
Italia Design made the Columbus concept which had the same window treatment. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bring back the Oldsmobile Cutlass Vista Cruiser! Oh wait first they have to bring back Oldsmobile... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The first family car my parents had was a '59 Plymouth wagon. I still remember playing in the back on trips with all my favorite toys. Exactly like this, including the color. Image Unavailable, Please Login We called it, "The Old, Red Bomb." No gangster whitewalls though.
True but since Buick is still around they need to bring back another classic. The Buick Rivera Gran Sport coupe!
Image Unavailable, Please Login Giugiaro at Villa d’Este: http://autodesignmagazine.com/en/2018/05/gfg-sibylla-al-concorso/
