future cars

[Colonel Sanders]

For anyone who doesn't have their homepage set to msn.com or who simply missed the article:

http://autos.msn.com/advice/standardart.aspx?contentid=4021814&src=msn

Apparently GM plans to release a hydrogen fuel-cell powered car by the end of the decade.

This could be a good thing, however there are some things they speak of I don't want to see implemented.

1) They can limit the speed. True, speeding is a bad thing, however I have noticed that there are advantages to driving as little as 5mph over the speed limit. I have to drive long distances, and small speed increases can cut as much as 30min off a usual 70mile trip I make.

2) The controls are "by-wire". The transmission is automatic. IMOHO I don't want a computer(not a PC that I can program) to control my car.

3) They say you change the body and have a pick-up, or a sports car, or a sedan. No offense, but there is a huge differene in the chassis of a full-ton diesel pick-up vs. a honda accord. You simply cant change the body of say a honda accord and say you have a good pick-up.

4) I love the good old ICB engine. I like being able to hear, see, and feel a high-preformance car running. True they pollute and pollution is something we need to lower, but I still love the old ICB engines.

Logan

[HAL9000]

Well, there is no way that 5Mph more for a 70 mile drive is gonna cut your time by 30 minutes, do the math.

Electric cars can be powerful too, provided that you have the energy without a couple thousand pounds of batteries. Unlike an internal combustion engine, electric motors create their maximum horsepower across the entire RPM range. There is a guy here with a GM EV1 and that thing will lay rubber thru the intersection and beat most cars thru it too.

I think it's like anything else, it has to mature.

[lil Jimmie]

I read all about it in AC Delco's Intune mag that came out last month.

[Colonel Sanders]

Originally posted by HAL9000
Well, there is no way that 5Mph more for a 70 mile drive is gonna cut your time by 30 minutes, do the math.

HAL, it seems odd however I have noticed a difference in my time on the said 70mile dirve(which now that I think about it, is probbably more than 70miles) and when I average 70MPH I can make the journey in 1hour, however most of the time due to traffic I end up driveing at best 65MPH and the trip takes 1.5 hours.

Logan

[Tuf]

Only the time you travel at increased rate of seven or eight percent will impact your travel time. So the maximum decrease of time would be seven or eight percent or less.

[Eric H.]

well, i'm glad to see cars powered by other means that gasoline are being devoloped, considering the 50 years of oil left on the planet, and the venezuela/iraq situations.

[Colonel Sanders]

True, it will be nice to see cars powered by a different fuel source, but does it have to be so soon?

The last thing I want is all the fly-by-wire :mad: . If I owned such a vehicle, I might be able to get used to the new technology but I will always remember the good old days of large gasoline motors and as close to manual controls as you can get. :cool:

Logan

[Force Flow]

I remember seeing a prototype a few years ago in a science magazene. It looked very promising. Now...it looks even better. ;)

These cars will be great on saving money. Imagine not having to buy gas anymore... :D

[sam21]

I don't like this idea,I my self is a auto fanatic(import only),and I do not see driving in four wheels driven by a chip fun...

Imports do not really consume thta much gas OR pollution anyways,I hope Japanese vehicles will still be gas combusted:D