Comments on: Performance and Economy – High Mileage Horsepower http://horsepowersports.com/performance-and-economy-high-mileage-horsepower/ Muscle Cars, Hot Rods and things that go fast Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:23:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Speedzzter http://horsepowersports.com/performance-and-economy-high-mileage-horsepower/comment-page-1/#comment-2034 Speedzzter Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:45:57 +0000 http://horsepowersports.com/performance-and-economy-high-mileage-horsepower/#comment-2034 Weight, complexity, cost and legality will alter the landscape of hot rodding in the future. While a few fabricators may be able to build innovative high-m.p.g. rods, what the OEMs build will dictate the direction that the masses take. If hysterical government regulations kill off RWD, V8s and other traditions of high performance, the palate for aftermarket builders will be severely limited. And look for "Big Brother" to leave fewer loopholes this time around. The legal latitude for experimentation in a street-oriented car will become increasingly limited. And when 400+ volts are routinely coursing through vehicles, we'll probably see regulatory moves to limit the persons who can work on cars to "certified" technicians (similar to how the FAA controls the supply of aviation mechanics) It's starting to look like we're headed back to the low-performance 1970s again. See http://speedzzter.blogspot.com/2007/04/missing-second-supercar-era-its-old.html As to innovations, I suspect we'll see some radical developments, such as twin engines (a small, efficient one for normal duty and a triple-throw-down monster lump for occasions of GO!), more alcohol fuel, more turbo-diesels, more "on-demand" power-adders, and more performance-oriented mild hybrids. Few of these technologies easily adapted by home-builders. And how many clock-punchers could afford a $100,000.00 aluminum and carbon-fiber hybrid Mustang? It's not encouraging. Weight, complexity, cost and legality will alter the landscape of hot rodding in the future.

While a few fabricators may be able to build innovative high-m.p.g. rods, what the OEMs build will dictate the direction that the masses take. If hysterical government regulations kill off RWD, V8s and other traditions of high performance, the palate for aftermarket builders will be severely limited.

And look for “Big Brother” to leave fewer loopholes this time around. The legal latitude for experimentation in a street-oriented car will become increasingly limited.

And when 400+ volts are routinely coursing through vehicles, we’ll probably see regulatory moves to limit the persons who can work on cars to “certified” technicians (similar to how the FAA controls the supply of aviation mechanics)

It’s starting to look like we’re headed back to the low-performance 1970s again. See http://speedzzter.blogspot.com/2007/04/missing-second-supercar-era-its-old.html

As to innovations, I suspect we’ll see some radical developments, such as twin engines (a small, efficient one for normal duty and a triple-throw-down monster lump for occasions of GO!), more alcohol fuel, more turbo-diesels, more “on-demand” power-adders, and more performance-oriented mild hybrids.

Few of these technologies easily adapted by home-builders. And how many clock-punchers could afford a $100,000.00 aluminum and carbon-fiber hybrid Mustang?

It’s not encouraging.

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