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I have heard a number of ideas to improve either the Insight's fuel economy, performance, or both. I doubt most of them would improve the Insight. I will add a dubious suggestion of my own.
Install an airfoil over the passenger compartment of the Insight so the rear would be partially airborne at highway speeds. This would not be an ordinary airfoil. A brilliant engineer would need to interface this mini-wing to a computer. At under 30 mph, it would be resting on the roof. If the driver is on the freeway, he activates the airfoil. The computer calculates the proper angle of attack. The front wheels shoulder nearly all the weight at cruising speed. It would be as if the Insight weighed just a few hundred pounds. If a sudden stop is made, the airfoil becomes an airbrake.
I doubt the Department of Transportation would allow this, but think of the possibilities on open highways. No, I don't think this would be suitable in urban traffic.
If this ever happened, tailfins would make a comeback.
Install an airfoil over the passenger compartment of the Insight so the rear would be partially airborne at highway speeds. This would not be an ordinary airfoil. A brilliant engineer would need to interface this mini-wing to a computer. At under 30 mph, it would be resting on the roof. If the driver is on the freeway, he activates the airfoil. The computer calculates the proper angle of attack. The front wheels shoulder nearly all the weight at cruising speed. It would be as if the Insight weighed just a few hundred pounds. If a sudden stop is made, the airfoil becomes an airbrake.
I doubt the Department of Transportation would allow this, but think of the possibilities on open highways. No, I don't think this would be suitable in urban traffic.
If this ever happened, tailfins would make a comeback.