Hybridpothetical

[flappist]

In 2012 after a new battery was fitted to the Mayan Calendar and it started again Ford released a new Hybrid Falcon.

This new Falcon is electric plus a small turbocharged 3 cylinder engine and will retail in the appropriate models at the same price as the T6. e.g. The G6E hybrid costs the same as a G6ET.

Performance is quite spectacular. 0-100km/h in under 5 seconds making it the quickest Falcon ever made and it costs half as much in fuel than any LPG technology available.

It is, however, speed limited to 120km/h and has a sealed management system that detects any mods whatsoever and disables the vehicle.

So is effect it is a RWD full size car that uses bugger all fuel and while it is hopeless over the quarter mile will wipe the floor with any other Falcon up to the speed limit in all states. (NT is a territory :P)

Would you buy one?

[FTE217]

As long as they bring out a "Dick Smith Limited Edition HO" s h i t yer where can I put a deposit down ?!

[snappy]

I dont like the fact it cant be modified and is speed limited to 120ks .
Allthough would probly buy one as commercial vechicle if ute was available it would help me make more money .
But that all it would be a souless workhack i doubt it would be a car i feel passionate about.

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by snappy

I dont like the fact it cant be modified and is speed limited to 120ks .

The two things I don't like about it.

On the speeding - no I don't regularly want to do over 120km/h but on the highway I don't want to get caught trying to overtake a truck and getting stuck by a limiter at that speed. Yes I know its illegal to speed when overtaking, but I'm sure I'm not the only party thinking this way...I'm just being game enough to say it. I'm off to get my flame suit now just in case.

[jpd80]

I have an alternative,
- I-4 Ecoboost Falcon Hybrid
- 240 hp plus an extra 90 hp from the electric motor.
- Combined Fuel consumption is 6.5 litres/100 klm,
- 0 to 100 kph in 5 seconds
- Top speed of 220 kph.
- base G series price is $48,000, GE is $52,000

The future is closer than you think.....

[snappy]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I have an alternative,
- I-4 Ecoboost Falcon Hybrid
- 240 hp plus an extra 90 hp from the electric motor.
- Combined Fuel consumption is 6.5 litres/100 klm,
- 0 to 100 kph in 5 seconds
- Top speed of 220 kph.
- base G series price is $48,000, GE is $52,000

The future is closer than you think.....

To bad the price isn't

[vztrt]

Almost there, limited to 150 and I would be happy with one.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by snappy

To bad the price isn't

The price is reasonable given the technology going into it
the fuel consumption and V8 like performance.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Riksta

The two things I don't like about it.

On the speeding - no I don't regularly want to do over 120km/h but on the highway I don't want to get caught trying to overtake a truck and getting stuck by a limiter at that speed. Yes I know its illegal to speed when overtaking, but I'm sure I'm not the only party thinking this way...I'm just being game enough to say it. I'm off to get my flame suit now just in case.

yeah even if you don`t go over the limit it`s nice to know you can wind it up if you need too, and for some car ownership/driving is not all always about being cheap to run, also does anyone know if hyrids turn out to be cheaper in the long run or less headches?, i`d have conventional at this stage.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by jpd80

The price is reasonable given the technology going into it
the fuel consumption and V8 like performance.

Fuel consumption matters , but unless you have money to burn why would to pay and extra 10k for somthing that will save you $20 a week .
The may find 1000 people a year willing to part the money for the hybrid badge so they can show it off . An act like they just saved the planet .

But the truth is technology means nothing . Concorde was a tech masterpiece look where that ended up not financially viable . Forget the fact it sent the future of passenger jets back 40 years by scrapping it . Its all about the money . Show me the money that all thats matters . For the businesses and the consumer we are all guilty here.
Its bound to be a failure i have no doubt in my mind. Because the people that care about the planet that much dont drive cars at all . An to the people the that by a hybrid to save money will buy the 12k less camry .

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by snappy

Fuel consumption matters , but unless you have money to burn why would to pay and extra 10k for somthing that will save you $20 a week .
The may find 1000 people a year willing to part the money for the hybrid badge so they can show it off . An act like they just saved the planet .

But the truth is technology means nothing . Concorde was a tech masterpiece look where that ended up not financially viable . Forget the fact it sent the future of passenger jets back 40 years by scrapping it . Its all about the money . Show me the money that all thats matters . For the businesses and the consumer we are all guilty here.
Its bound to be a failure i have no doubt in my mind. Because the people that care about the planet that much dont drive cars at all . An to the people the that by a hybrid to save money will buy the 12k less camry .

My Ecoboost G Series Hybrid at $48,000 is only about $6,000 dearer than a Regular G6's
retail price or about a V8 option away. It will also kick the Camry Hybrid's anemic butt.

Don't think Ford isn't looking at this type of proposal, full sized sedan, good
fuel consumption, excellent performance. That ticks a lot of boxes for people.

People that buy Hybrids usually take the high moral ground and have a
guiltless trip thinking they are saving the planet, why not cash in on that...

G series + I-4 Ecoboost + Hybrid = a winner for Ford Australia especially with $2.00 or $3.00/litre petrol

[sgt_doofey]

Nope. 120km/h just isn't fast enough for overtaking on the highway. Especially B-Doubles.

[Burnout]

These hybred vehicles aren't worth a a zac, especially the inflated zac of today.
Their carbon foot print is huge, bigger than a herd of 5000 head of cattle, to feel honestly smug and arrogant about owning one you would have to keep it on the road for about 40 years to pay back the carbon costs of production and operation.

The running costs saved from your pocket each week are about $10.

Hybreds are a complete con.

[aquahead2001]

After driving a Diesel Ranger for the past 2 years, I'd prefer to have a TDCI Engine in the Falcon than a Hybrid Drivetrain.

I just love the torque available out of the new generation of diesels, it's just like a V8. The new diesels that are coming out in cars at the moment are just incredable, BMW, Audi, and even Jaguar have diesels that push out phenominal Torque (400 to 550nm) and impressive power from as little as a 2.0L engine, and of course the fuel economy is close to hybrid levels too.

It's old technology but probably will outlast the battery packs in any hybrids, so you can guess wheer my vote went.

[merlin]

Depends what the engine sounds like?

[Raptor]

A higher limited top speed (for overtaking) or even unrestricted for very short bursts of say 5 secs and I'd definitely look into buying one. So is this full time electric with the small petrol engine as the range extender (like the GM Volt).

[RedHotGT]

I prefer my beer full strength, and my falcon's V8 and drinking petrol...

Call me old fashioned...

[uranium_death]

Firstly, great concept Flappist. Provoked some thought.

I would not buy one. Hybrids do not interest me at this point. I enjoy the crude workings of a petrol engine and I intend to for a while yet.

[trippytaka]

I would if I could afford one as a daily for the commute to work.

But a plug in EV, filled on green energy through better place is a much better idea.

Weekends I'd have V8 powered toys...

[redman]

The 120kph limit could be deadly. I am sure we have all been "hung out to dry" by some clot accellerating while being overtaken.

Would it be possible to use JPD80's spec EcoBoost I-4 on factory LPG?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by redman

The 120kph limit could be deadly. I am sure we have all been "hung out to dry" by some clot accellerating while being overtaken.

Would it be possible to use JPD80's spec EcoBoost I-4 on factory LPG?

Turbo LILPG I-4?
Some different hardware and electronics different to Ecoboost, I think it would be even better....
Let's get the Geelong Engineers onto it...

[Boosh Brus]

I would buy one. The 120kph speed limit is fine. I have driven cars that struggle to reach that speed and haven't died yet. Just need to adjust your driving habits.

If this car was actually released you could almost guarantee that in a week someone would work out how to hack it to remove the speed limiter.

They tried locking the Playstation, iPhone, DVD movies, Windows, OSX etc

[flappist]

Just to clarify. This car is supposed to be the politically correct ecomentalist's wet dream.

The speed limiter is because under no circumstances is it safe to exceed a number on a sign.
The modification restriction is because only hoons mod cars and when they do it instantly turns them into big metal killing macines.
The use of a Falcon body is to preclude the complaint that hybrids are all bubble cars made of anodised paper mache.
The woohoo performance is to preclude the "It does not go well enough" complaints.
The cost is to preclude the "too expensive" complaint.

I was going to add a similarly configured Territory and ute but removed them as I suspected it would muddy the poll.

And yes I believe the 120km/h limit is too low for many reasons including safety but the ecomentalists do not hence why it is there.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

I would buy one. The 120kph speed limit is fine. I have driven cars that struggle to reach that speed and haven't died yet. Just need to adjust your driving habits.

If this car was actually released you could almost guarantee that in a week someone would work out how to hack it to remove the speed limiter.

They tried locking the Playstation, iPhone, DVD movies, Windows, OSX etc

Yes but there is no legislation stating that anyone who unlocks them will have the item confiscated and crushed as well as they lose their game playing/dvd watching capability for 2 years either........

[Airmon]

Well, a Large RWD car that cant get over 120? normally you'd have to get a commodore.

[JamesR]

i like my falcon just as it is.
i can overtake cars, tow anything i need to, and is quite economical on gas.

[388cube_edxr8]

Such a car would not be worthy of the Falcon name.

[mrbaxr6t]

hybrids are a false economy they do not save the environment at all it takes an immense amount of energy to make the batteries and they have a life of ten years and aren't recyclable (info based on prius) also when you plug them in for a recharge the power charging the car most probably comes from a dirty carbon emitting coal fired power station - hybrids are a load of it.... sorry I stick with turbocharged petrol.

[mrghia]

they sould get the diesel into production. Apparently its ment to be fairly quick and really good on fuel

[Geez Louise]

You should do a Hypotical on 2030...car like the Jetsons...Now THAT I would buy