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Cars of the future: They're going to be tiny and weird

CNN Money -- Several automakers are moving toward small, shared electric cars that will radically change the way people drive in big cities.

Driving in the city is a mess. Especially if that city happens to be somewhere in densely populated Asia or if one of the of the huge Western mega-cities like London, New York or Los Angeles.

Many, but but not all, big cities are already served by mass transit systems but even the best transit systems lack the inherent flexibility of cars. Unfortunately, that flexibility comes at a high cost, both to the car owner and to the environment.

The plans laid out by various automakers aim to reduce vehicle emissions and to do away with the need for urban dwellers to even own the car they drive. And as technology improves, city slickers may not even need to drive

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Submitted Feb 09, 2012 By: johntxx

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KDMWI Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,227 Points:226,895 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 11:51:43 PM Ignore KDMWI Report Abuse Yeah the smaller our cars get the more we'll pay at the pump. Gotta keep those profits up you know.
Moumoom Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:192 Points:192,435 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:20:19 PM Ignore Moumoom Report Abuse Interesting to hear from futurists.
RitaVespa Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,681 Points:451,585 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 6:33:43 PM Ignore RitaVespa Report Abuse Cool
BobBG Veteran Author Albany Posts:447 Points:581,400 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 6:09:54 PM Ignore BobBG Report Abuse Might as well ride a Segway.
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,712 Points:1,472,740 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 5:21:09 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Shoe boxes with wheel.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,052 Points:774,075 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 3:35:57 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse the gremlin & pacer will be back.
NOTSOGRN Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,514 Points:1,183,275 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 1:39:27 PM Ignore NOTSOGRN Report Abuse . . We will have to all go on a diet to fit in to these tiny rickshaws... [Edited by: NOTSOGRN at 2/9/2012 1:47:22 PM EST]
pickfordite All-Star Author Michigan Posts:736 Points:94,020 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 1:14:22 PM Ignore pickfordite Report Abuse Don't hold your breath waiting for the transition. More than 35 years ago we were being told the same thing: the future was small cars and eventually electric. [Edited by: pickfordite at 2/9/2012 1:18:16 PM EST]
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,247 Points:680,065 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 1:08:02 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Bring them on!
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,646 Points:645,895 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 12:25:00 PM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse really
BigTruc Veteran Author Memphis Posts:479 Points:569,030 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 11:40:11 AM Ignore BigTruc Report Abuse I won't buy them. I'd rather walk.
gasrat6083 Champion Author Long Island Posts:1,693 Points:838,960 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:51:41 AM Ignore gasrat6083 Report Abuse I hope not.
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:2,261 Points:509,430 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:28:32 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse Then I think the used car market will be booming.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:1,698 Points:420,115 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:17:11 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse it is one possibility, but it will not work for all.
LEGION57 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,487 Points:248,500 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:04:48 AM Ignore LEGION57 Report Abuse Weird now.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:12,902 Points:2,279,875 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:54:09 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse Small is the easiest way to improve MPG and might make sense as a commuter car in crowded cities but it will be a hard sell for much of the general population.
kx250 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,421 Points:770,950 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:49:51 AM Ignore kx250 Report Abuse tiny and wierd? Only if the enviro-whackos get their way, Detroit is still building what people want, for the most part.
mossimo36 All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:644 Points:135,775 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:44:48 AM Ignore mossimo36 Report Abuse Might as well say we'll be driving scooters like they do in Vietnam.
Goatroper Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,184 Points:1,012,475 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:42:08 AM Ignore Goatroper Report Abuse Oh yes, we'll be seeing the solar powered moving sidewalks. Or maybe you will, I doubt I will live that long.
firemunkee Veteran Author Maryland Posts:408 Points:55,225 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:36:51 AM Ignore firemunkee Report Abuse You would think by now, with all the technology we have, we'd be able to make an efficient full size vehicle. My old co-worker told me that back in the day (60s, 70s, 80s? I forget) he said they used to make and advertise cars that were 40mpg. What happened?
peakkeller All-Star Author Colorado Springs Posts:958 Points:528,610 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:36:02 AM Ignore peakkeller Report Abuse Metro cars only - that's logical.
SachiCat Rookie Author Tacoma Posts:64 Points:430,730 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:35:53 AM Ignore SachiCat Report Abuse Those small vehicles are practical for cities in Europe & some parts of Asia where the roads are narrow. Sort of like protected scooters which are everywhere there. Seen a family of 4 ride a scooter in Hong Kong!
lcleveland Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,460 Points:333,900 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:32:11 AM Ignore lcleveland Report Abuse how are you getting a family of 4 into a small compact green car????????
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:5,471 Points:1,051,515 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 9:25:02 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse Weird isn't weird once it becomes common.