Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics General Stuff GM and Segway create new vehicle

---And for the stupidest of reasons.
It wouldn't take much to slap an airbag and antilock brakes on them. And while they're at it they could even fit it with a two cylinder diesel and an electric powertrain and take the US by storm, all for less than 13 thousand dollars by my estimate.

These are internal combustion vehicles.
I think the Kei would be an ideal platform for a diesel-electric hybrid.

Actually what you're looking at is the KIT that converts them to tracked. It only takes about twenty minutes to remove those units and slap the wheels back on.

I am a huge fan of Kei and HiJet.

I'm with you Checkers. I can't believe GM could be so dense as to think there is a viable market for such a vehicle. It's almost as if they are trying to come up with something that will fail. And fail it will. By 2012, sensible car manufacturers will be doing exactly as you suggest - making diesel electric hybrids.

I'm pretty obviously a fan of the Kei trucks, I know that's a kit Checkers, there's all sorts of way to customize these things, I've read that they already come in full electric and hybrid models but personally since I want one for rural use the 660cc gas model is what I want. It's 12 miles into town for me on quiet 2 lane roads, 3 miles are unpaved. I just think it totally sucks that I can't be driving one of these. I also think it's totally foolish that American Carmakers haven't gotten a clue and marketed these things.

The PUMA sounds and looks like another bad idea from GM. You can go out and buy 2 50cc scooters for less than $4000 total, get maybe 70 mpg with speeds of at something just shy of 40 mph. You can travel all day as long as you can get to a gas station. The PUMA is thus impractical.

I'm with Checkers. GM should be looking at affordable and reliable electric or hybrid cars and forget the PUMA.

Ill see you your £4,795 2 seat scooter and raise you the cheapest car in the world.

Dirt cheap Tatas! Indian automaker to market $2,000 car

I wonder if the track kit would fit on the Princess Kitty?

That would be just perfect for my wife!

Yup, the Tata Nano.
If it ever does come to America, the price will most likely
almost double, making it STILL the cheapest car available, and Americans will snap em up like they did VW Bugs, which WERE deathtraps.

And GM and the other US carmakers will again be making excuses.
Too big to fail my rosy red ass.
Too stupid to live more like it.

One more thing...
If GM wants to know what the smart thing to do is:

WHEELMOTORS (also known as HUB MOTORS)

Slap a two cylinder diesel in a Chevy Aveo and couple it to a
50kw generator that connects to two wheelmotors on the rear wheels of the Aveo.

RESULT: 135 mph - 0-60 in four seconds.
And about 80 miles per gallon.

And they could even try using those A123 battery packs if they want to call it a hybrid. Even better fuel mileage.