Ask HN: Why don't companies make light weight performance cars anymore?

3 points by throwaway_dcnt 5 years ago | 4 comments

Hello HN,

I love small, light weight cars and I know I am not alone in this. What surprises me is the trend in the industry towards making heavier and larger cars with too much technology. Even porsche 911 gt3, the pinnacle of my ideal car (sub 3000 lbs, 400-500 hp, stick shift, mid or rear engine) is getting beefier and beefier.

Is there any hope that one of the existing manufacturers would make a carbon monocque (tub), carbon wheels, carbon brakes, naturally aspirated engine with 500hp, no tech car with a stick shift and rear-wheel power delivery? <- run on sentence :) But I am so surprised that nobody is tapping this market, it is an easy 100-300k sale depending on materials, design and performance.

What gives?

twobitshifter 5 years ago |

A naturally aspirated light weight 500hp engine? I think you’re looking at about a 4.5L minimum engine to get that output, which will not be light.

I think the closest to what you’re looking for might be the lotus emira, but that will have a supercharger. https://www.caranddriver.com/lotus/Mira

zackbloom 5 years ago |

People increasingly value technology and safety. The market for simple cars is relatively small, and is partially satisfied by the red-hot vintage car market. Car design and manufacture has also become so expensive that it isn't productive to make a car which isn't going to be mass-market.

ErikVandeWater 5 years ago |

What your describing sounds like a car with low maintenance costs. That means the dealer and the manufacturer make less money.

Aeronwen 5 years ago |

Because you're only willing to pay $300k and not 10 times that for a GMA T.50.