The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

Oh, I see that the X Prize has a four-seat category and a two-seat category.
And 5 cubic feet of cargo space is mentioned.

But really the four-seat category would be most significant because we don't
want high MPG associated only with small cars...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have four
wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared to other
entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype would
cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it with
a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission. (I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it turns
out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the motorcycle
engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car engine and
transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about $75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too heavy
for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender skirts..
Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost about
$30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and
re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super 7..
The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the street
with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle fenders on the
front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no doors but a step-in
style. The car is often built with kits and almost any choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes 105
horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The car
costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle as
this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum or
steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have four
wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared to other
entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype would
cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it with
a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission. (I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it turns
out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the motorcycle
engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car engine and
transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about $75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too heavy
for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender skirts..
Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost about
$30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and
re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super 7..
The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the street
with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle fenders on the
front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no doors but a step-in
style. The car is often built with kits and almost any choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes 105
horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The car
costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle as
this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum or
steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

First off, I think the Elise is a very poor start.

Race cars have body shapes that are specifically designed for down
force, which is required at high speeds. If you check the coefficient
of drag, you will find that they are almost like a flying brick.

To attain 100 mpg, it must look much more like an airplane.

The most aerodynamic automotive shape produced was the GM EV1 at .197

Cd for a Learjet 24 = .022

Cd for a Formula 1 = .7 to 1.1
Hummer H2 = .57
Prius (2004) = .26

Total drag is Cd x frontal area.

On Mar 21, 12:56 am, "PolicySpy" <PInt...@notmail.com> wrote:
The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

Oh, I see that the X Prize has a four-seat category and a two-seat category.
And 5 cubic feet of cargo space is mentioned.

But really the four-seat category would be most significant because we don't
want high MPG associated only with small cars...

If you want to do it to actually build something, that has any real
meaning, you'd want something that has performance, passenger space,
and cargo space similar to a Toyota Camry. Bonus points if you can
achieve that with a mini van.

My thoughts turn immediately to the Ford Festiva: 1.4 fuel injected
engine, four seats, bags of cargo room through the back gate, and as
sold, 43 mpg on a steel unit body. They went with a 100 kmile drive
train warranty. My wife's lasted a quarter million miles.
Did I say 43 mpg in standard trim?
Glass doors, lid and body panels, and you're up to 60 mpg no sweat,
I'd say....

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have four
wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared to other
entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype would
cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it with
a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission. (I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it turns
out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the motorcycle
engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car engine and
transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about $75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too heavy
for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender skirts..
Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost about
$30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and
re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super 7..
The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the street
with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle fenders on the
front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no doors but a step-in
style. The car is often built with kits and almost any choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes 105
horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The car
costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle as
this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum or
steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have four
wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared to other
entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype would
cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it with
a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission. (I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it turns
out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the motorcycle
engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car engine and
transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about $75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too heavy
for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender skirts..
Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost about
$30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and
re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super 7..
The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the street
with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle fenders on the
front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no doors but a step-in
style. The car is often built with kits and almost any choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes 105
horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The car
costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle as
this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum or
steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype
would cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it
with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission.
(I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it
turns out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the
motorcycle engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car
engine and transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about
$75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too
heavy for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also
add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender
skirts. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost
about $30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and
transmission...and re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the
weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super
7. The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the
street with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle
fenders on the front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no
doors but a step-in style. The car is often built with kits and almost any
choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes
105 horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The
car costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear
axle as this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG
result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum
or steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special
fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have four
wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared to other
entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype would
cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it with
a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission. (I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it turns
out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the motorcycle
engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car engine and
transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about $75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too heavy
for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender skirts..
Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost about
$30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and
re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super 7..
The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the street
with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle fenders on the
front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no doors but a step-in
style. The car is often built with kits and almost any choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes 105
horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The car
costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle as
this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum or
steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

I can do this but really I'm too busy at this time...and the prototype
would cost about $250,000 to shop produce.

But how to do it quick and dirty ?

I thought about the Lotus Elise at 1984 pounds and 200 horsepower. Well,
swap the race-prepared engine for a stock engine and re-gear the
transmission. The cost would be about $55,000. The result is unknown but
1984 pounds is too heavy for 100 MPG.

Or take the car engine and transmission out of the Elise and replace it
with a motorcycle engine and transmission...and re-gear the transmission.
(I was
hoping for a Goldwing engine with an automatic transmission but as it
turns out the automatic transmission is a show vehicle only.) Now the
motorcycle engine and transmission might save 300 pounds over the car
engine and transmission so that puts the weight at 1684 pounds. Cost about
$75,000
(with custom fabrication) and that result is unknown but it's also too
heavy for 100 MPG...

Next for an entry in the hopeless category I thought of the Mazda MX-5 at
2441 pounds. Then look for fiberglass fenders, hood, and trunk lid. Also
add
the racing front end for lower drag and the racing rear spoiler. And there
might be rocker-panel skirts for the car. Then make your own fender
skirts. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear axle. Cost
about $30,000 and no hope for 100 MPG...

Then I thought about history. The 1967 MG Midget at 1576 pounds. Of course
that car comes with a small engine but not a modern engine. So replace the
car engine and transmission with a motorcycle engine and
transmission...and re-gear the transmission. Hopefully that puts the
weight at about 1276
pounds and that starts to get interesting...if an efficient motorcycle
engine has been found. (Motorcycle engines tend to have a carburetor for
each cyclinder and only be concerned with high performance.) Cost about
$30,000...because of custom fabrication and required parts.

But when all else fails all sports car racers know about the Lotus Super
7. The Super 7 is a 1960's Formula Junior race car that was put on the
street with a wider frame, a higher suspension, and with motorcycle
fenders on the front wheels. The car is a two-seat convertible with no
doors but a step-in style. The car is often built with kits and almost any
choice of engine.
However, the Caterham 7 Classic is all ready to go. It has a 1.4 dual
overhead cam engine with a four valve head and fuel injection that makes
105 horsepower. The car weighs 1155 pounds and that gets interesting. The
car costs $26,000. Oh, don't forget to re-gear the transmission and rear
axle as this is ordinarily a high performance car. Then if the 100 MPG
result is not
reached consider swapping the car engine and transmission for a motorcycle
engine and transmission...

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

But wow look at GM. They built a carbon fiber car with a 1.3 3-cyclinder
two-stroke engine that got 100 MPG. Well in rigorous test cycles that car
was said to get 60 MPG. The catch is that carbon fiber costs about $50 a
pound compared to fiberglass at 50 cents a pound or compared to aluminum
or steel at their prices. Of couse carbon fiber requires a special
fabrication
shop (like where they make spaceships) while any race car shop can make a
car with an aluminum or steel frame...

Well darn maybe I will put together an entry and I'll see you there...

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:50:51 -0700 (PDT), Mike H



mike8675...@gmail.com> wrote:
On Mar 21, 12:56 am, "PolicySpy" <PInt...@notmail.com> wrote:
The new X-Prize is for a car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon and like the
previous X-Prize is for ten million dollars.

Now there are a lot of rules but in general the car must get 100 MPG, it
must reach a performance level (but not high performance), it must have
four wheels, it must be possible to manufacture, and it will be compared
to other entries.

Gosh is two seats only okay with the X-Prize ?

Oh, I see that the X Prize has a four-seat category and a two-seat category.
And 5 cubic feet of cargo space is mentioned.

But really the four-seat category would be most significant because we don't
want high MPG associated only with small cars...

If you want to do it to actually build something, that has any real
meaning, you'd want something that has performance, passenger space,
and cargo space similar to a Toyota Camry. Bonus points if you can
achieve that with a mini van.

My thoughts turn immediately to the Ford Festiva: 1.4 fuel injected
engine, four seats, bags of cargo room through the back gate, and as
sold, 43 mpg on a steel unit body. They went with a 100 kmile drive
train warranty. My wife's lasted a quarter million miles.
Did I say 43 mpg in standard trim?
Glass doors, lid and body panels, and you're up to 60 mpg no sweat,
I'd say....