Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
So, they are designing their own engine and they are going to keep this price point?
Okay.....
Because Daimler AG didn't just develop their own 3 cylinder engine. The Smart Fortwo has a Mitsubishi engine. But I'm sure if Daimler didn't want to develop the 3 cylinder in house, money had nothing to do with it
As I stated on a much earlier post IAV is developing the power train.
http://www.iav.com/us/about-iav/clients
Quote:
The company is developing its own engine and drivetrain
with the help of IAV Automotive Engineering, a Detroit area company that also works with other automakers to design and develop drivetrains. The prototype is equipped with a three-cylinder Suzuki engine and transmission.
Kody Klindt, a project development director for IAV, said the new powerplant probably will feature a three-cylinder aluminum block engine. But the engine, which will generate between 60 and 70 horsepower, probably won’t feature the latest fuel management technology to keep down the cost, he said.
Yeah, I'm still not seeing them hit that price point even if Germany's IAV Detroit office has a magic wand.
Not saying that they won't use IAV to make the engine, just that they won't meet the price point for certain if they do.
A Chinese made side by side UTV with less than half the displacement and 1/3rd the cylinder count will cost you more than $6800.00
Remember how the Tata Nano was going to be $2500 in the US, Then $3000, then $4995, last I heard, the price was going to be "under $10,000" and they still haven't brought it to the US. Tata is not a small start up company and they couldn't meet their projected price. I think that they will have to double the $6,800.00 starting price.