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Engineers Design Safer SUV
vex24 writes "Engineers from the Union of Concerned Scientists have unveiled blueprints for a "safer, more fuel efficient" SUV using "off-the-shelf technology". Looks like good stuff if the big automakers decide to pay attention."
Just making SUV's that weren't jacked way up would help a lot. There's lots of models of SUV's that are really tall but have the same or less ground clearance than a Subaru Outback station wagon--which is nice and low like a normal sedan. A taller SUV or truck is supposed to look intimidating, not add any real function. I am not always able to resist the urge to point and laugh at the grocery store when some slob's trying to load groceries into some huge "little dick compensator" SUV or fullsized Dodge pickup monstrosity. Especially when I'm with my friend in his little Ford Ranger--the bed's nearly a foot lower than theirs and yet the Ranger's probably got them beat for ground clearance. Alas, even work trucks are being hit by the higher/more agressive = more sales BS. Comparing my friend's 1990 Ranger to a 2002, the 2002 is appreciably taller but has a half an inch less ground clearance, and looking at what Ford's done to the F150 for 2004 just makes me want to cringe--they don't even offer it with a V6 anymore.
Of course, ground clearance only matters if you're driving offroad or on really bad roads, not anytown suburbia where 99.9% of all SUV's reside. Even then, my POS Oldsmobile sedan's been fine on most of the logging roads and desert washboards it's seen.