Kia Ray 77mpg-200mpg?
 

https://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/autos_co...0jeqCDijx6hOWY

If built, Kia says the Ray?s drivetrain could consist of a 153-bhp 1.4-liter Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) 4-cylinder, a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a 78-kW electric motor fed by lithium-ion polymer batteries. Power can be sent to the front wheels via the electric motor, the gasoline engine, or both. Kia claims the Ray concept can drive 50 miles on pure electric power. As a plug-in HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), the Ray, according to Kia, delivers 202 mpg; as a pure HEV, it returns 77.6 mpg. Total range is 746 miles. Top speed is 109 mph.

https://autos.yahoo.com/auto-shows/au...ia-Ray-Concept

Hah! We posted it at almost exactly the same time.

As I said in my thread on it, I do not want Steer-By-Wire, so the car is immediately a no-go for me.

looks weird but does look like a ray...

im with holy cow on this one... steer, brake, accelerate by wire can go screw itself...

lawl i wanna know what happens when a mouse starts chewin wires :D

the human race would have gotten no where without taking risks

I can't believe its actually a nice looking car, and since its a Kia, it might be affordable.

I suppose you might have to worry about that when the car is 20-30 years old...also corrosion on connectors, etc.

Face it...electrical and electronic skill sets are going to be as necessary dealing with cars of the future as mechanical skills. Us shade-tree mechanic types are just going to have to learn more stuff. I knew there was a reason I learned a lot of electronics when I was a kid...at least I haven't felt uncomfortable with the computers in cars...

No Prii are 20-30 years old but their DBW brakes may already be failing unexpectedly at rates higher than normal brakes.

For me, electronic systems are an advantage. I am a computer guy. It's easier for me to troubleshoot when I can get error codes. When I can't, it's because the electronic system failed; I'm pretty good at knowing what's going on with that, too.

However, gratuitous replacement of known good systems with electronic systems that bring little or nothing to the table is too much.

DBW throttle:
- Advantages: Better traction and stability control systems, torque management for overpowered cars that can break components in 1st gear, reduced pumping losses in cars that are tuned to open the throttle more and use a higher gear.
- Disadvantages: Slow/unpredictable throttle response and the far worse rev hang make manual transmission driving a chore; you can't feel what the cruise control is doing; malfunctions cause out-of-control acceleration (a la Toyota).

DBW brakes:
- Advantages: The only advantage I can think of is on hybrids and electric cars, where it would allow the computer to select whether it will regen brake or friction brake.
- Disadvantages: I'm guessing there's no force feedback so you can't feel what's going on so troubleshooting braking would be much more complicated; lack of feel also makes driving less interactive and you have to listen for ABS to know if you're on unexpectedly slippery surface; malfunctions cause inability to brake (a la Toyota).

DBW steering:
- Advantages: I can't imagine a single one.
- Disadvantages: It must have a force feedback system or it would be impossible to drive so the whole thing has got to be heavy and wasteful of energy; I can't imagine how awful it would be if it has lag; if it malfunctions a la Toyota then you can't even fight it the way you can fight Toyota's malfunctioning electric power assist (which reportedly doesn't help much).

DBW gear selection (vs. a linkage that controls PRNDL):
- Advantages: ???
- Disadvantages: When you want to shift the transmission to neutral because your accelerator is stuck and your brakes aren't working, you may not be able to because the computer overrides your selection or is already malfunctioning and can't obey.

DBW ignition switch (vs. a plain old key switch):
- Advantages: Slight convenience advantage for drivers. Easier for drunks to operate (wait, that's not an advantage).
- Disadvantages: When you want to shut the car off because your accelerator is stuck, your brakes aren't working, and your DBW gear selection won't go to neutral, the "Start" button doesn't behave the same way as it does when you're stopped, so you press it repeatedly but the damn thing won't shut off. If you happen to know that you're supposed to hold it for a long time (a very long time at 100mph), you have to hope that it's not malfunctioning too.

Sure, they're not going to all malfunction at once unless the computer fails (which, let's face it, does happen)...but shouldn't those safety-vital systems have real manual overrides, as demonstrated in recent news? On a daily driving basis shouldn't drivers get to feel throttle, brakes, and steering?

I guess nobody here flies in commercial aircraft then... Its all fly by wire.

Commercial aircraft have:
- Multiple independent redundant backup systems for each system.
- Highly trained operators who are thoroughly drilled in what to do in an emergency.
- Highly trained people thoroughly checking and maintaining them daily.
- A bigger budget for testing and designing those systems.

Commercial aircraft don't have:
- A spotty history like DBW cars have.

true but id be damned if i still couldn't steer and stop the car.. they could chew any wires they wanted (hell chew all of em) and i could still steer and stop if it goes out while driving:p

and yes comparing a $million+ airplane that has incredibly strict service intervals and maintenance checks to a ohh $25-30K prius that has NO manditory checks and are mass produced.... wellllllll