Unless the political landscape changes, corporate average fuel economy is going to get extrememly ridiculous in about a decade or so, and I'm beginning to think the sports car is doomed.
I'm also beginning to make some of my non-famously (in)accurate predictions.
I predict that more and more car enthusiasts will begin to lead double lives as motorcycle enthusiasts: a fast bike costs less than some compact cars, is incredibly fun (from what I've heard), and is faster than a bad check. And the gas mileage is good enough to satisfy any treehugger.
I predict that propane cars (which were tried by Ford in the 1980s and sold well with government fleets - but almost no one else) will be making a comeback. Here in Alaska, at least, many gas stations have propane tanks, and I suspect the same is true elsewhere due to the unending popularity of backyard cooking.
Gas-electric hybrids will probably hang on for a while. Of all the "politically correct" solutions, this one holds the most promise. Cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, Jaguar C-X16, and Honda CR-Z are proving that the exhaust can still be loud and the revs can still rise and fall even when there's an electric motor helping you along, and while I may not like them, they're certainly better than PHEVs and full electrics.
Speaking of such, I still maintain they're a horrible solution. One forward speed, zero exhaust noise, and... not much range. Oh, and just try to make one work outside a major metropolitan area. Especially here. Considering that a cold snap reduced the range of Consumer Reports' Nissan Leaf to 66 miles, the temperatures we've been getting here would make 50 miles an incredible stroke of luck. And considering that the nearest major population center (Anchorage) is 60 miles from where I'm sitting now and has no chargers, that's totally not gonna fly. And speaking of recharging...
PHEVs solve the range and recharge-time issues, but with the gas engine acting as naught but a generator, they become even more gutless and sound like the Attack of the Killer Vuvuzelas when the battery runs out. NOPE.AVI!
Hydrogen fuel cells do similar, but without the power drop - because there's no batteries to run out. A (non-annoying) exhaust note is still sorely lacking, however.
I believe there is still life left in the standalone internal combustion engine, however. Smokey Yunick's adiabatic engine design circa 1985 A.D. could wring better fuel economy - and power - from the humble carburetor than all the trickery, electronics, and computer controls in the world can get from fuel injection even today. And with today's metallurgy and materials being far above that of the 1980s, the idea seems to be even more relevant now than it was then.
Plus, if someone thought hard enough about it, the design could probably be made to work with, and possibly benefit from, fuel injection and computers.
Opposed-piston ideas also seem to show promise.
Of course, as with propane above, our current internal combustion engines could be made to run on just about any combustible liquid. Hydrogen is one example but not the only one. This could save on redevelopment costs, and many of the fuels that could be used are already in use for other things.
And, of course, diesels. I don't see too many problems with them that aren't solvable, they get great mileage, and the extra torque means they can use taller, wider gear ratios while still maintaining performance, further boosting mileage. It also means you don't have to shift them as much.
So, maybe sports cars - and cheap fun - aren't doomed after all. Everyone seems to be sold lock, stock, and barrell on those abominable electric cars, but there are better options everywhere.
Speaking of which, oil is a fossil fuel, which means it was created by the decay of organic matter...
So wouldn't it be possible to make oil in a laboratory without any drilling at all, by somehow accelerating the decay process of dead plants & animals?
In any case, if I were to buy a new reasonably-priced car, it would be a Mazda3, a Suzuki Kizashi, or a Honda Fit. Affordable doesn't have to mean boring... until Congress inevitably makes it so.
