Think Racing Cars, Not Hybrids

A renowned racing car designer has said that car manufacturers should be looking at making cars lighter to improve efficiency, rather than adding complex drive trains. In this article on the BBC News website, Professor Gordon Murray explains that a weight saving of 10% in a normal car would make more difference than switching to a hybrid engine and motor combination. Could this be the next nail in the SUV's coffin?

Professor Murray designed some of the most successful Formula One cars ever, including the McLaren F1.

He has left the high-octane world behind and turned his attention to making the car environmentally friendly. He has been working on a design that he claims will shake up the entire industry.The problem, he says, is that while manufacturers are investing billions of dollars in making cars more efficient, the progress they are making is far too slow. The reason is simple: Weight. 'A racing car is ultimately the most efficient vehicle on the planet'.

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