I am an absolute friend of advancing technology, but that also should include saving weight in my eyes.
True, but I guess this is where, at present at least, the cost to benefit factor makes it less liekly to happen. But we may see a turn soon, it may have even started to level off already. We'll have to see.
However, from what I've driven in my life (which is not very much in terms of sporty equipment, but a bunch of very different cars), I think that weight should be high up the in the to-do list when making a sporty car.
Yes and no, yes for an out and out sports car and not a Grand Tourer. But on a regular car with sports car intentions, like an M3, I don't think weight should be a make or break factor, as long as it's within the ball park for cars in it's class. getting the rest of the car right will compensate for that.
In terms of agility and liveliness, I must say one of the best cars I drove was a 60 hp Ford Ka. We have the most powerful engines, the cleverest suspensions and electronics and the grippiest tires today. But that still doesn't make a car feel alive when it weighs over 1.7 tons. And Audi has the way to do it, as demonstated with the surprisingly light new TT.
Ah, but you see, you drove a Ford Ka, a car well praised for it's handling and the big smiles it can put on your face. How many small and light cars are there out there that feel crap to drive in comparison. A lot. It's more to do with responsiveness and feedback imo, yes weight can and does play a part. But imo people make more of a deal over it these days than it's worth. Unless it's a a car attempting to be a true sportscars then I still have no problem with cars weighing as much as they do these days.
I think that weight is something they're just starting to work on, which means that we've pretty much reached the peak now (or so I hope). I think we have the technology to make a car lighter than its predecessor, they just need to start using and advertising it.
I tihnk we've had the technology to at least keep the weights similar, but I think the cost benefit is lacking somewhat. Increased safety features do have a big hand in the matter of weight though. Electronics are also largly to blame, be it devices to make the car easier/ faster to drive, or comforts. I tihnk we will see lighter materials and such employed soon though. I don't think we'll ever see the day when a 3 series of tomorrow is as big as a Rolls Royce Phantom of today, so I do think that weight will level off and maybe decrease at some point.
Just imagine what kind of bang you get out of that? A lighter car (probably with even more power), means quicker acceleration, shorter stopping distances, better cornering and improved fuel economy.
True, I'm certainly not against lighter cars, just in case you were wondering, I'm just not against cars being as heavy as they generally are today. I don't see weight as being as big a handicap as people often make it out to be with current technology in use. But I wouldn't mind cars getting lighter thats for sure.
