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Above: A drawing by the author, dated December 2, 1977. |
What Would Be Your Ideal Vehicle Design? by
Allan V. Lacki. New
automotive engineering ideas have a tendency to be recycled every twenty or
thirty years until they become practical. Front wheel drive, supercharging,
twin cam engines, aluminum engines, independent suspension systems, and many
other high-tech innovations were all introduced before 1915, reintroduced
periodically, then dropped because their time had not yet come. Because of
advances in materials and manufacturing, all these advances are now in
high-volume production.
Well, it's been more than thirty years since Volkswagen introduced the Type 4 in
1968: the
last volume-production rear-engine passenger sedan to be brought onto the market
anywhere in the world. The time is ripe for a rear-engine come-back….
I would like to have a compact car with plenty of room inside for four people.
It would have the engine mounted in the back for plenty of traction in snow.
The rear-mounted engine would allow the interior to have a flat floor for more
foot room. Because of the car's weight distribution, there would be no need for
power steering or power brakes. With the engine located in the back, noise and
heat and fumes from the power train would be isolated from the driver. The
trunk would be located in the front so that people can load groceries into the
car from the curb.
The structure of the car would be designed to enable a mechanic to pull the
power train straight out the back of the car for ease of service. The interior
would be protected by rigid safety-cage construction. On the other hand, the
trunk and engine compartment would be designed to crush during an accident to
absorb impact. The power train would have a horizontal engine and would be
mounted so that it would slide under the passenger compartment during a serious
collision from the rear. The fuel tank would be equipped with either a safety
bladder or foam cells to prevent rupture.
The engine, transmission, and accessories would be compact so they would not
intrude on passenger room and luggage space. Ideally, the engine would be
air-cooled so that it would not need toxic anti-freeze.
Sliding pillar suspension would be provided for all four wheels to provide a
safe, supple ride without space-wasting wishbones and trailing arms.
Accelerator and transmission controls would be based on drive-by-wire technology
to eliminate mechanical cables and linkages. The heating and air conditioning
systems would have a thermos system that would provide instant-on temperature
control.
If a coupe, the door on the passenger side would be longer than the driver's
door to make it easy for people to get into the back seat. The interior would
have multiple sun visors that would allow the driver and front seat passenger to
block sun glare not only from the windshield, but also the side windows as well,
all at the same time. And speaking of sun visors, someone should figure out how
to block the sun glare that gets in between the visors and the rear-view mirror!
The styling of the car would be low and clean, with large windows providing good
visibility in all directions. Performance should be lively enough to qualify for
time trials and weekend autocross events. Please build this car!
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