7 replies to this topic

[jpf]

My dad was asking me a while back why car companies couldn't efficiently produce a compact R/R sports car just by sharing an underlying platform with an existing F/F car. At the time I said that it probably wasn't that simple, and the load paths and crumple zones and everything else are too tied to a given orientation to share enough of the engineering or tooling to make it worthwhile.

It's certainly fun to imagine a Corolla or Civic platform turned around and transformed into a zippy R/R car. Maybe moving to a 2-seat layout would free up enough space to resolve any packaging problems caused by bastardizing what would still have to be an F/F focused platform, but the target market won't care too much about losing the last margin of packaging efficiency.

Or maybe the moment is passed, now that the Civic is no longer double wishbones at all four corners.

What do you think, is this as crazy as it first sounded to me, or is there something there? Has anyone tried this approach before?

[rory57]

It's certainly fun to imagine a Corolla or Civic platform turned around and transformed into a zippy R/R

Not quite what you are suggesting but for what it's worth, I have a Toyota MR2 and for me it is the Corolla-ness that lets it down: foot controls, throttle response, gearchange, "ambience" all feel Corolla-like. Not right for a relatively single-minded sports car at all.
If it was more rear engined than mid engined (as it would be if based on a Corolla platform) it might be more fun but less able. I imagine it would be cheaper to make, there are a lot of bolt on brackets and struts to bridge the hole in the bodyshell where the engine/gearbox goes.

[Greg Locock]

You could always do this

[gruntguru]

Makes just as much sense.

BTW is that 4WS or 2+2WS?

[Tony Matthews]

So that's what they get up to in Holland, down on the farm! Not a tulip in sight...

[275 GTB-4]

You could always do this

or this!

[Tony Matthews]

That was disappointing - it didn't go bang!

[MatsNorway]

Crumple sones surely is easier if there is no engine in the way? mor space for profiles and such. Or even if its just mounted in longitudal position.