OT: how far we've come?, 35 years of non-progress Options

[lapuwali]

Hybrids are the buzzword now, and people marvel at how the latest Civic hybrid gets 50mpg.

Autoweek had a short article on the early Civics, which got 55mpg with a carb. 1.2L, 50hp, 1500lbs. Sure, they were slow, but they were described as still being fun to drive. The way most people drive modern Civics, I doubt they'd notice if they suddenly only had 50hp.

(yes, I know emissions are much better, it's quieter, it crashes better, yada, yada...)

[Porcharu]

QUOTE (johnmhudson111 @ Mar 7 2006, 10:02 PM)

[/QUOTE] If I remember right the EPA is changing the regulations that concern diesel fuel to match or get closer to the European standard. The heavy truck manufactuers are having a number of issues getting engines to perform using the new standard.

The low sulfur fuel has really lousy "lubricity" and kills the injection system. That is one reason that the new fuels will have 2% or so bio in them - bio has great "lubricity".

Anyone see the new Car and Driver with the Audi R10 article - 650 hp and 800 ft/lb of torque and they claim no smoke and quiet.