Do you agree with Tim Allen?

[Ferrer]

Original Mini: 3050/1400/1350mm, 2050mm WB

Toyota iQ: 2985/1680/1500mm, 2000mm WB. And conforming with all sorts of different regulations.

I'd say that as far as space efficiency is concerned, the iQ is quite remarkable.

[CapnBoost]

I think the only interesting things are happening at the radical ends of the spectrum. The hypercars and the ittybittycity cars & hybrids. Just about everything in the middle is boring.

I'm enthusiastic about the ponycar (and potentially import) wars. We'll see if anything good comes out of that.

[TheScrutineer]

50 years from now, what overweight overpriced monstrocities will be considered normal? Would make even the new Mini seem epic.

Im dreading the day!

But im dreaming of the day of the Tata Nano GTi!

[IBrake4Rainbows]

50 years from now personal transportation will, while still having the aspect of seperation, be of a very different form to whats currently on offer.

[clutch-monkey]

we'd better have personal jetpacks to make up for it

[Ferrer]

50 years from now personal transportation will, while still having the aspect of seperation, be of a very different form to whats currently on offer.

Cars, or vehicles, may be powered by all sorts of different fuels and means of propulsion, but we won't renounce to the personal freedom the car gives. In that aspect I think it may be different but it will still be the same.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Thus why I used Personal transportation - I agree it's too good a liberty to cede.

but It might not be in the form you expect.

[Ferrer]

It may not be a car, it may not have wheels, or whatever developments await us, but as you say the personal transportation won't be erased from the equation. I will still be a machine we will drive to places. In that sense then, it'll still be an automobile.

[TheScrutineer]

Some sort of electronically controlled automobile with no driver inputs or speed limiter.

[Ferrer]

I doubt that'll ever happen.

[TheScrutineer]

The FIA already want speed limiters in Europe. Max Mosley used to go on about them, Im not sure what direction Jean Todt will take.

FIA European Bureau . Speed limiters: reasoned opinions sent to two EU Countries

[Ferrer]

Well the speed limiters may happen, but I doubt we'll ever accept vehicles that work without driver input.

[Kitdy]

Well the speed limiters may happen, but I doubt we'll ever accept vehicles that work without driver input.

In 100 years? 200? 500? 1000? Why not?

[Matra et Alpine]

oh gawd, not anther "we dont make classics anymore" argument

MOST of the cars designed and produced an ANY era are not classics.
This idot harkens back to a handful of car designs at a time when there were thousands of different cars and variants.

So now he looks at todays hundreds of different cars and variants and expects to see lots of classics ? idiot. Should stick to comedy ... actually stick to "tool man" the only thing I found him funny in.

Typical application of hindsight in one case and complete LACK of intelligence in the other

[Ferrer]

In 100 years? 200? 500? 1000? Why not?

Because we humans like to be in control, we like to decide our destiny and manage our freedom as much as possible. And vehicles without driver inputs are the exact opposite of that.