Gordon Murray T.27
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From: North Yorks
Originally Posted by MarkB' timestamp='1342024042' post='21851302
In my view that's the genius behind the project (though the tricycle seating in a footprint smaller than a Smart is quite clever, though the access means you get wet opening the door in the rain), not the end product.
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Hertford
Originally Posted by Dembo' timestamp='1342023170' post='21851254
I watched this the other night. Lots of interesting F1 history, but it's hard to get excited about his new car. And bending steel tubes doesn't seem all that hi-tech either.
It's not so much the product, but the method of production that Murray is selling - by using steel tubes he instantly removes a lot of the heavy industry from car manufacture and allows smaller plants to be set up at lower cost anywhere there are steel tubing mills handy (ie. lots of developing countries). In my view that's the genius behind the project (though the tricycle seating in a footprint smaller than a Smart is quite clever, though the access means you get wet opening the door in the rain), not the end product.
The car is made largely by the sort of machine your local exhaust pipe fabricator uses. Sort of backwards, to go forwards.
Sort of a cross between a Lloyd Alexander and a Ferrari 308 Resina, if you will.
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From: Stanmore
Originally Posted by MarkB' timestamp='1342024042' post='21851302
[quote name='Dembo' timestamp='1342023170' post='21851254']
I watched this the other night. Lots of interesting F1 history, but it's hard to get excited about his new car. And bending steel tubes doesn't seem all that hi-tech either.
I watched this the other night. Lots of interesting F1 history, but it's hard to get excited about his new car. And bending steel tubes doesn't seem all that hi-tech either.
It's not so much the product, but the method of production that Murray is selling - by using steel tubes he instantly removes a lot of the heavy industry from car manufacture and allows smaller plants to be set up at lower cost anywhere there are steel tubing mills handy (ie. lots of developing countries). In my view that's the genius behind the project (though the tricycle seating in a footprint smaller than a Smart is quite clever, though the access means you get wet opening the door in the rain), not the end product.
The car is made largely by the sort of machine your local exhaust pipe fabricator uses. Sort of backwards, to go forwards.
Sort of a cross between a Lloyd Alexander and a Ferrari 308 Resina, if you will.
[/quote]
Yamaha has bought in to the manufacturing process - here is the concept:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/mo...urray-city-car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
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From: Hertford
Brilliant! Brave if Yamaha goes ahead with it.
Proper suspension in a small car, too.
And proper 1970s stereo knobs, instead of these stupid touch-screens that are this week's must-have.
Nice to see it send those ubiquitous Franco-Prussian Pizza-delivery contraptions back from whence they came.
Proper suspension in a small car, too.
And proper 1970s stereo knobs, instead of these stupid touch-screens that are this week's must-have.
Nice to see it send those ubiquitous Franco-Prussian Pizza-delivery contraptions back from whence they came.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Ulaanbaatar
Hmmm...
Whilst good news that a credible partner has been found for the iStream process, the car specifications are disappointing, particularly that this concept has only two seats and not three that the T car concept has.
The projected price of the Yamaha is way higher than Murray mooted and the 'premium product' label doesn't bode well.
I suspect most rational buyers would choose a Toyota iQ given its considerable price advantage.
From Yamaha's perspective however this is an excellent strategic move; I suspect their days of motorcycle manufacturing are numbered and this would appear to be an easy (and tentative) way to become a manufacturer of four-wheeled vehicles.
Whilst good news that a credible partner has been found for the iStream process, the car specifications are disappointing, particularly that this concept has only two seats and not three that the T car concept has.
The projected price of the Yamaha is way higher than Murray mooted and the 'premium product' label doesn't bode well.
I suspect most rational buyers would choose a Toyota iQ given its considerable price advantage.
From Yamaha's perspective however this is an excellent strategic move; I suspect their days of motorcycle manufacturing are numbered and this would appear to be an easy (and tentative) way to become a manufacturer of four-wheeled vehicles.
Former Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24,771
Likes: 311
From: Stanmore
Hmmm...
Whilst good news that a credible partner has been found for the iStream process, the car specifications are disappointing, particularly that this concept has only two seats and not three that the T car concept has.
The projected price of the Yamaha is way higher than Murray mooted and the 'premium product' label doesn't bode well.
I suspect most rational buyers would choose a Toyota iQ given its considerable price advantage.
From Yamaha's perspective however this is an excellent strategic move; I suspect their days of motorcycle manufacturing are numbered and this would appear to be an easy (and tentative) way to become a manufacturer of four-wheeled vehicles.
Whilst good news that a credible partner has been found for the iStream process, the car specifications are disappointing, particularly that this concept has only two seats and not three that the T car concept has.
The projected price of the Yamaha is way higher than Murray mooted and the 'premium product' label doesn't bode well.
I suspect most rational buyers would choose a Toyota iQ given its considerable price advantage.
From Yamaha's perspective however this is an excellent strategic move; I suspect their days of motorcycle manufacturing are numbered and this would appear to be an easy (and tentative) way to become a manufacturer of four-wheeled vehicles.
It's not a surprise that the 3 seater arrangement hasn't survived - it was too "out there" for most buyers to cope with.
I'm surprised at the motorcycle manufacturing comment, given what Yamaha (presumably) spends on MotoGP, or do you know something I don't?
If someone could use this process to build a sporty car (especially given the apparent low weight) it would certainly be interesting. Honda should be all over this really.
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