At 06:24 PM 11/4/06 -0700, Milton wrote:
>Yes! It is extremely possible, if there was a will to do it.
Ahh . . and that is what I wanted to know.
>Always remember, cutting weight equals higher speeds or quicker acceleration
>or improved fuel economy or all 3 at the same time.
Or as I read recently in an editorial blurb in a magazine (Hot Rod or Car
Craft, I can't remmeber), which admonished Detroit with regard to their new
retro-ponycars "Remember, light makes might".
Unfortunately, the new Mustang's a bit of a porker, and it looks like the
Challenger will be worse. Not sure about the Camaro . . .
But all this got me to thinking . . I know the whole "lighter but larger"
cars being safer turned the conventional assumptions on their head.
However, in a somewhat different line of thinking, how does lightening the
car affect traction?
Assuming no changes to the tires, does making a car lighter improve overall
traction and handling, or worsen it? I was thinking that being lighter
might make traction worse simply because there's less downward force on the
tires.
But on the other hand . . a heavier car has more inertia. Wouldn't that
adversely affect handling?
How does real-world physics work in this regard?
Thanks....
- Joe Vahabzadeh
