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Originally Posted by Civic Duty
...Minivans are almost as offensive as mainstream SUVs as far as FE goes. A hybrid just might be the ticket.
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I'd give the minivans a little break. A lot of factors contribute to the low FE in SUV's, but a similar-size minivan will be more fuel-efficient because:
- It's lower to the ground thus reducing drag
- It's usually more streamlined anyway
- Minivans are generally two-wheel, not four-wheel drive
- (Not positive on this one) Minivans are probably not geared to carry as heavy a load as an SUV
- (another fuzzy point) the Minivan target market tends to be less agressive in temperment and driving
Keith Bradshier's
The High & Mighty states that the minivan target market then to be more civic and/or church-oriented doing things that help others. He also says a lot (not all) of the SUV buyers are narcassistic, insensitive, an not as inclined to do community service.
While hybridizing a minivan would be a bigger challenge than a Civic, it would have more room for the batteries, and as was pointed out, the pioneer in the minivan market.
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I'm trying to recall is the EPA estimates on the S2000 is 25 or 20mpg.
If it was hybridized, it would obviously be for more performance - more so than the HAH. Trying to remember if Honda was considering an S2000 with conventional rear-wheel drive, but electric front-wheel drive with 400 horsepower. Agreed, hybridizing the S2000 would probably not make it more fuel-efficient.
I have thought a hybrid Mustang would be a slam-dunk that would come at a critical time for Ford....