Design your Ultimate Hatchback!

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  mikelg2 Member Posts: 7

  June 2007

  1. 1960s Mini Cooper Body.
  2. 15" wheels.
  3. 4 Seater. Elevated center column for structural rigidity, the driveshaft, and other linkage (similar to the Rx8)
  4. RWD, Limited Slip Differential.
  5. 105hp 1.5L Yaris motor.
  6. 6 speed manual; 6th gear deep overdrive e.g. 80mph at 2200rpm.
  
  So that makes it fun to drive, very economical, practical, quick, and attractive.

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  forbesj Member Posts: 22

  June 2007

  Base the platform loosely on the European Focus, but for RWD. Make it a bit longer, and use that for rear seat legroom. 4 door only.
  
  For engine options, go for a 2.0/2.2 (2.0 in Mazda3 would be an example), 2.4/2.5 (Altima 4cyl - something with a bit of grunt), and stick a small (works at low RPMs) turbo in the big engine for the performance model, for ~220-230bhp). A diesel option would be nice, too.
  
  15-16" wheels on the base engine, 16" or 17" on the middle model, and 17-18" on the sporty model.
  
  5 speed manual or auto on "normal" versions, 6 speed manual on performance model.
  
  RWD, LSD on performance version.
  
  Usual range of accessories. A/C, power stuff standard, but not much else.
  
  Styling like a Lancer or Mazda3 would be fine. Nice, non-tacky interior would be nice. A speedo that was useful for normal road travelling speeds would be nice, too.
  
  Price would start probably around $16k or so, and go up to $25-28k fully loaded, and they'd be very different cars.
  
  Nominally, it'd likely fall into the compact class, or maybe edge in to the bottom of the midsize class.
  
  Oh well, the Mazda3 comes close enough

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  conall Member Posts: 91

  June 2007

  >>Oh well, the Mazda3 comes close enough.<<
  
  I think you and I both would have prefered an
  AWD MazdaSpeed 3 to the current FWD one. :shades:

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