Fuel efficiency a novel ‘concept’ in automobile design

If necessity is the mother of invention, what role does cheapness play?  

Sound trite?  It’s really just basic economics.  Spurred by customers seeking relief from rising gas prices, automakers are using a combination of new and old concepts to improve fuel efficiency.  

Certainly, some new and intriguing innovations are on the horizon. Take France’s MCE-5 Development, which is working on building gasoline engines to work more like diesel engines, combining the best of both worlds: gas’ relative cleanliness with the efficiency of diesel.  

Mazda’s new Kiyora goes another direction: up. Well, not really, but reflects Mazda’s “gram strategy” of fuel efficiency via weight loss.  The combination of a new platform, small 1.3-liter engine and greatly reduced mass will produce a mere 90g/km of carbon dioxide.  

Several manufacturers are working towards removing fossil fuels altogether, planning to produce fully electric cars for market by 2010.  Electric cars has been the holy grail of auto technology for decades, but the obstacle remains: the lithium for batteries ain’t cheap.  

The one overarching trend in fuel economy isn’t a new concept at all, but a welcome reversal of an unhealthy trend: cars are finally getting smaller.  All things being equal, small cars are more efficient than your average suburban assault vehicle.  Dramatically so.  

While innovation is never bad, sometimes it’s the oldest, simplest ideas that work best.