Do you guys think, in general, mid to expensive sports cars are too much of a niche market to adopt technology like cylinder deactivation, and ECU limiting things like subaru's "Intelligent" option on some of their models? Reading this car and driver article, I noticed how much of the technology like direct injection and VVT are already a part of almost all modern sports cars; but are we getting to another fuel crises in which sports cars will be crippled? Or is it such a niche market that we will only see technology that backs performance, and it won't matter.

 

As long as these fuel saving technologies don't impact performance when the car is pushed, I'm all for it. Everybody likes to save gas when they are doddling along in traffic.

 

Personally, I'd *love* to see the emphasis for "sports cars" turned back to small size, minimalism and LIGHT WEIGHT as opposed to the trend toward ever-more-ridiculously-powerful super-ultra-mega-ubercars. That would create more real-world FUN cars that also get much better mpg.

 

Agreed.

Fuel saving in the sense of making vehicles more efficient like direct injection and such is basically trickle down engineering from performance applications. But things like cylinder deactivation I doubt will be done nor will owners paying 100K+ on their cars care. Still, create it and there'll be a market.

 

SUVs will die out before sports cars will. Driven reasonably, most sports cars aren't that bad in fuel economy. The s2000 has similar EPA than a V6 Accord

 

My wish from Honda:

OSM styling queues on S2000 proportioned body
IMA KERS combined with 9000rpm iVTEC engine - 290 combined hp
Lightweight construction to offset KERS weight, 2950 lbs max
Coupe construction for rigidity
Low drag aero, slight downforce
CR level suspension tuning
30 city / 32 hwy EPA
$50k or so
As fun as the S2000, but even more so

 

1998 NSX
2900 lbs
290hp
30mpg highway
50k

 

minus 400lb's and perhaps 40 to even 70hp with half the price tag and I'd be happy as a pig in shit.

 

I thought they were closer to 3100 lbs? Anyway, an NSX is honestly in the long-range plans, but would prefer an '02 for the updated styling - it's just rather pricey for such an old car, you know? That much money for a NEW car is a different proposition.

 

Hmm, the lightest Fit's curb weight is 2432 lbs, and that's with a 105hp, 1.5 liter SOHC engine. I dunno if you could drop in a 240 hp engine and slap on fat tires capable of 1.0+ g's and maintain structural integrity, you know? The Elise gets away with it because its spectacularly tiny - and entirely aluminum (and hence costs, what, $55k+?) (Did you know the engine lid of the Elise is recyclable? Seriously, there's a little recycle symbol on the bottom of the plastic lid. )

Hmm, '08 Miata is 2498 lbs for as little as $21k, I think? But only 166 hp.

I dunno, weight is a tricky thing in my mind. I agree, a 2400 lbs, 240hp S2000 would be awesome - but I don't know if it'd necesarily be any cheaper than the current S...