"Light Sports Automotive"

[catnhatnh]

The general aviation community was facing a dilemma-lack of new pilots and supporters due to ever increasing cost. At the lowest end were ultralights-homebuilt or kit minimalist aircraft which were almost unregulated and above them were the private aircraft (Pipers and Cessnas, etc) which had soared into the 100K-200K range.The ultralights could only fly in relatively clear weather with low winds. The private planes could do much more but were priced out of reach.

What was desperately needed was a mid-range-an aircraft that could do almost everything the GAs could but with a much lower cost. Legislation was passed and the light sports aircraft was born.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-sport_aircraft

The cheapest new cars in America today is over $12K. The cheapest motorcycle is around $3K. And in between is a large gap that deserves to be filled...

Ultralights and motorcycles share the same world-you straps on your helmet and you takes your chances...as do Nissan Versas and Piper Tomahawks-which are legislated and regulated til damn near idiot proof...but somewhere in between we need a vehicle closer to an automobile but without the regulatory weight and overkill.

I would propose a new class of 3 and 4 wheelers designed to be small light-weight and utilitarian. They would give up things like airbags and ABS and rear view cameras. Weight would be restricted as would engine displacement and horsepower. Basic safety would be high with things like disc brakes and full safety harnesses mandated. The goal would be to free designers to innovate an entire line of new low cost vehicles for the coming times when new vehicles and even used vehicles will be cost prohibitive to an evergrowing segment of the population.

I recognize that part of the trade off will be safety but this is a trade off already recognized by the simple existence of the motorcycle-that some people, whether for cost or for other reasons accepts a lower standard of safety in return for their use of the roads.

I'd love to have a discussion of this...

[Fumesucker]

1. A tilting tadpole trike would be my preference

A somewhat larger and heavier powered version of this. Electric would be the way to go for a shortish range low speed commuter vehicle. Fairly lightweight electric systems are just now becoming available with sporting performance in a small vehicle, they will only get better, more torque, less weight, higher efficiency.

You can make a tilting vehicle a lot more narrow than one with similar cornering ability that doesn't tilt. In dense traffic narrow is a huge advantage, ask any European or California motorcycle rider. Also on a tilting vehicle lateral wheel rigidity isn't nearly as important so wheel weight can be kept low.