back to basics car design

Over the years cars have progressively gotten bigger, heavier, longer and taller. This enlargement is caused by the need to create more interior space, better head room, and better safety features. However the negative side is this affects the fuel economy and the engineers work hard to improve engine performance to overcome the added weight. More weight also affects the car's handling which in turn affects the driving pleasure.
Lotus was the first car company that went back to basics with the Lotus Elise by keeping it simple and light. Using just a small 1.8 litre Rover engine with only 118hp and weighing only 700+kg, the car was very nimble, quick to accelerate and had great handling. this simple back to basics concept gradually caught on with other car manufacturers when nearly everyone of them were making bigger and heavier cars.

Even the highly respected Mazda MX-5 was not spared the enlargement exercise as each new model that was launched was heavier than the previous model. The original Mk 1 Mazda Mx-5 was light, simple and had great handling. The latest model is significantly heavier and despite having a more powerful engine the new model is barely faster than the original. All the new safety features added a lot more weight and dampened the extra performance from the newer and more powerful engine.

BMW's original 3 series in the 1980s were light and nimble compared to the current models which were 400kg heavier. The size also grew by more than 25% compared new model vs the E30 model in the 1980s. With the 3 series growing so much in size from model to model, BMW had to introduce the 1 series to fill the void where the 3 series left off.

Many driving enthusiasts now are looking for more back to basics designed cars that offer direct driver involvement, light weight and mechanical based cars. Too many electronic aids and too much weight have altered the driving experience of the cars. Toyota is one company that took this step and introduced the much awaited GT-86 which promises a pure driving experience with a light 1200kg body and front engine rear drive platform. Toyota previously had the highly sought after AE-86 (which has cult status in Japan because of drifting and Initial D anime) and many enthusiasts were hoping that Toyota would make another car just like that, simple, light weight, good handling and mechanical in nature.
Many journalists who have driven this car has given it the thumbs up as it is a good step in the right direction for enthusiasts.

We hope to see  many more such back to basics cars be introduced in the next few years.