[Delta Flyer]

This not exactly the subject topic line I wanted to use, but needed to keep this from looking too off-topic.

At lunch, someone was mentioning someone with a go-cart could go 78 mph with a 5.5 horsepower 2-cycle engine. That got me thinking about a couple of things:

- How much horsepower does the Insight need to cruise at 50, 60, 70 mph?

- How much lighter can the Insight be made? I know the Insight2 concept car is about 1500 pounds, 300 less than the Insights on the road.

 

[Delta Flyer]

Thank you for the graphics.

I was thinking: a go-cart probably weighs 200 pounds - an Insight 1800 pounds. Most of 1600 pounds is a shell and protection. If there was only a lightweight method to protect in a collision. Of course a go-cart would be a death trap at highway speeds.

 

[Delta Flyer]

Now I've come up with an onorthodox application of wartime technology.

The US Navy could fit the Trident ballistic missile in their submarines' silos, but it was too blunt. The solution was to put what looked like a telescoping radio antenna on top of the missile to cut the drag.

Peacetime application: have a telescoping bumper on the Insight. The front one would reduce the drag - the rear one would keep tailgaters off.