I’m not just talking about pickup trucks that have gotten huge, but rather cars in general. Take a look at the 5th generation Honda Civic hatchback and compare it to the newest Honda Civic Hatchback model. Not only did the car gain approximately 1,000lbs/453Kg, but its length, height, and space drastically changed. Sure it’s a 30 year difference but even other car models from the early 2010s compared to their same models today are way bigger and heavier in just under a decade Why is this?
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Crash standards- Interior volume had to grow, especially around the head area. Small cars had to get big inside. But we need cheap and expensive cars so to respond, big cars had to get even bigger inside. And since we don’t drive a Tardis, the outside got bigger too.
Money- here’s a dirty secret. It cost about the same to make a little vehicle and a big vehicle. Scrap steel is cheap. Maybe you have 2 more cylinders on the big vehicle but it’s still round about the same number of parts and the same amount of labour to assemble it. The parts are just a bit bigger.
So the auto makers lobbied the EPA to calculate mileage based on the square footage of the wheelbase. *poof* All of a sudden, a 4 door long box pickup truck gets better mileage pet square foot than a mid sized van. Because it has a big empty box out back. It’s really that fucked up. And this is why rugged compact ‘work horse’ regular cab trucks and vans like the astro van died.
Looking at a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with tears in my eyes asking why they ruined such beauty.
Crash standards- Interior volume had to grow, especially around the head area. Small cars had to get big inside. But we need cheap and expensive cars so to respond, big cars had to get even bigger inside. And since we don’t drive a Tardis, the outside got bigger too.
Money- here’s a dirty secret. It cost about the same to make a little vehicle and a big vehicle. Scrap steel is cheap. Maybe you have 2 more cylinders on the big vehicle but it’s still round about the same number of parts and the same amount of labour to assemble it. The parts are just a bit bigger.
So the auto makers lobbied the EPA to calculate mileage based on the square footage of the wheelbase. *poof* All of a sudden, a 4 door long box pickup truck gets better mileage pet square foot than a mid sized van. Because it has a big empty box out back. It’s really that fucked up. And this is why rugged compact ‘work horse’ regular cab trucks and vans like the astro van died.
Each new version of a car will have many upgrades including interior space to tempt buyers.
As each model gets larger, the brand will have a new entry level smaller car enter the market below it.
Look at the VW Golf from a Mk1 to 8.
Now with other VW’s filling the size space Mk1
This read on trucks and changing truck culture is great: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dangerous-rise-of-the-supersized-pickup-truck
Basically American arrogance is the answer lol
Each new version of a car will have many upgrades including interior space to tempt buyers.
As each model gets larger, the brand will have a new entry level smaller car enter the market below it.
Look at the VW Golf from a Mk1 to 8.
Now with other VW’s filling the size space Mk1
Each new version of a car will have many upgrades including interior space to tempt buyers.
As each model gets larger, the brand will have a new entry level smaller car enter the market below it.
Look at the VW Golf from a Mk1 to 8.
Now with other VW’s filling the size space Mk1
This read on trucks and changing truck culture is great: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dangerous-rise-of-the-supersized-pickup-truck
Basically American arrogance is the answer lol
This read on trucks and changing truck culture is great: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dangerous-rise-of-the-supersized-pickup-truck
Basically American arrogance is the answer lol
You have to remember, cars got smaller because the market demanded it. Cars started getting smaller during the oil crises of the 1970s. Smaller cars, burned less gas, and gas was expensive, so of course people wanted smaller cars … and manufacturers went and did what the people wanted.
I guess all you can say is that today, demand seems to be for larger cars. Why keep making smaller cars when it’s clear people are interested in buying larger ones?
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