Chrysler has a plastic molded car with a body made out of 2 pieces of plastic. Saw it on some show. Intended for poor areas in Africa. We may need it here soon in the US. Probably won't meet safety standards. Looked like a plastic golf cart.
I am patiently waiting for the fabled German engineers to catch up with
> Burt Rutan and build a carbon fibre and aluminum car.
>
> Get rid of the cast iron and steel, streamline the car and every other
> component is lightened (wheels, tires, brakes....). Such a design would
> approach modern aircraft's payload-to-vehicle weight ratio and yield
> blazing performance too, in terms of terrific acceleration, top speed, > hill
> climbin, and low fuel consumption.
>
> Has anybody notice gasoline is above $3.00 a gallon in California? The
> days of traditional car constructions are numbered. The Big Three will
> not agree, but once some Asian upstart lands on the scene with a 2000 > pound
> four-passenger sedan, they'll run for bankcrupcy court.
>
> Sure, using modern materials and fabrication techniques may cost a little
> more, but so what? What costs more new has greater value when later sold
> used. Its a perfect balance. And what's more, when something costs a lot
> because it contains so much value, the buyer appreciates it a lot more and
> it isn't thrown out so soon. He gets more value out of it because he > keeps
> it longer. Its like a fine Leica camera. Back in '53 it cost $300, a
> small fortune. Many such buyers still own the same camera after all these
> years; those who decide to sell can get every nickel back and more. >