Nothing is more “typical American” than being overweight. Many of us don’t realize that the same holds true for cars. In more civilized countries, seeing Suburbans and Escalades, or even muscle cars, is a rarity.
Ford is changing things up with the recent announcement that they plan to drop 750lbs from each model in their lineup within the next 10 years (Ford is also curbing factory waste at the same time). They plan to take advantage of carbon fiber in this effort to further improve their already-efficient cars.
Ford Motor Company
It’s going to take more than just composite materials to drop 750 pounds from cars like the Mustang, Focus, and Fiesta, but with some intelligent design changes and cutting back on unnecessary features, it’s certainly attainable.
2015 Ford Mustang
Ford Focus RS
Ford Fiesta ST200
What’s your take on excess weight?
Could your drive stand to shed a few pounds?
Man, I could definitely shave off a good 700 lb on my supra. 3800 pounds it’s not the business, especially with an na 7m.
To be overweight is not only typical for Americans 🙂 But the main thing is that Americans love big cars.
Americans DO love big cars, but hopefully Ford’s future offerings of lightweight champions can help convince the American public that they won’t miss the missing pounds. I find it funny the contradiction in that Americans love bigger cars, yet so consistently praise ones that are lighter than the competition. Just look at the basic “pony car” formula. Lightweight + decent engine size = fun economy sports car. Here in California everyone praises Hondas and people speak so highly of the honda vehicles of the 90’s, which were some of the lightest cars for their size and trim ever produced.
Done well a light car needn’t feel “cheap” which is the largest factor in the American appeal. The reason we light “big caddies” is because they feel luxurious and expensive. The reality though is that much of the excess weight is from when we add these luxury features without designing them from the ground up with application and weight in mind. I think Ford might be on to something and has a shot at making an impression.