Umm...This is not new

[Whelan]

http://autos.yahoo.com/article...s-gasAccording to the article it has a polymer doors. Funny, that doesn't sound new. Why, because my 1992 and 94 Saturns had them losers!I swear people who write these automotive articles have no clue. Saturn came out with the first polyme paneling in 1991 and carries it through today still in the ION and VUE. The only parts that were not polymer were the hood, trunk and roof. So I call BS! I had plastic panels when I was 19!My Favorite Pic:1994 Saturn SL11.9L EFI 100hp (stock)Injen intakeFreedom Design Strut BarSPS 8mm plug wiresNGK V-spark plugsSPS DistributorsKYB GR2 struts15" 2nd gen SL2 aluminum alloys195-60-15 Bridgestone Potenza RE950 tiresClear front and Rear sidemarkersVarad white LED front and rear sidemarkersCustom Strobe setup in high beamsNaxos 9006 low beamsPilot fog lampsCustom Saturn logo on rear quarter windowsBlack Saturn Emblems (from LE models)Mesh grille insertsSony Xplod head unitSony Xplod 10 disc changerCustom red backlit HVAC and gauge clusterblue underdash neons (hidden switch in ashtray)Forged PistonsBored TBMOS Short ShifterArctic Silver painted dash piecesThermal R&D catback exhaustSPS 4-2-1 headerSpeed limiter overrideLots of time, cash and work cause they did not make a whole lot of parts for this car, so a lot was custom done by myself.

[KNINE]

I think the Fiero had them even befor Saturn. But those are American cars, so they don't count.

[JustinVGT]

I agree, nothing new. The car is ugly as well and oh wow you'll save a whopping 20 gallons of gas a year because of the 130 lb weight savings. Doesn't sound that advanced to me. I remember Saturns were plastic, but also don't forget the Camaro and I think the Firebird were as well (at least the last generation were).

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »I think the Fiero had them even befor Saturn. But those are American cars, so they don't count. 1984 was the year of the 1st plastic panel. there wasn't any metal on the Fiero. Mine never rusted out anyway.

[Whelan]

I did totally forget about the Fiero thing, good call

[KNINE]

Maybe Whelan Motor Group can bring the Fiero back as a retro car.

[ColonelPanic]

The idea definitely isn't new... Fiero --> GM Dustbuster vans --> Saturns...However, I doubt those use recycled soda bottles to make the plastic although I could be mistaken. That's what they were talking about in the article.Quote »One of the QarmaQ’s key features is its innovative use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to create a large portion of the vehicle’s skin.130 pounds doesn't sound like much but if something isn't all that heavy to begin with, it makes a big difference. Something like an Excursion wouldn't miss the weight at all, but it would be a significant enough difference to something the size of an Accent/Rio/Aveo/Fit/Yaris/etc or smaller...I like the ideas behind the car, but man that car is pretty fugly! If they made a way toned down version with an extremely fuel efficient diesel, that'd be cool in my book. They've got a production Santa Fe that gets 50 MPG with the diesel for sale in other countries, if they put a diesel in this thing, that would really rock.

[scherry2]

anyone remember the Plymouth Feather Duster?"The Feather Dusters were made in 1976, with an aluminum inner hood, trunk bracing, bumper brackets, and intake manifold; economy carb and distributor calibration; large exhaust system; tall rear axle ratio; and either 3 speed auto or 4 speed overdrive manual trans. Their gas mileage was great for their day, and even for the present, given their size: 24 city, 36 highway. Few modern cars of that size can claim this. With an automatic, gas mileage slipped considerably, to 22 city/31 highway - still comparable to modern cars. Very few were sold, partly because they had to compete with the new Aspen and Volare, which were in the same price class; and because the tall rear axle ratio took a serious hit on performance." copied from http://www.valiant.org/duster.html I remember I worked at a Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge dealership when they came out. they still made them with metal, but it was revolutionary!

[NascarXprt]

big deal the main reason i think is they did that to 1. reduce cost or 2. to help against dents. i real never cared about that stuff anywho.off topic: hey Justin long time no see you've been off the site for a while.

[NaNC3]

I had one of the first "dustbusters", a 1990 Chevy Lumina APV. I don't remember what the polymer was but I think it was something new. An engineer friend speculated that by molding the body panels, the design could have some curves that they could not have made with stamped steel.In the case of this Hyundai concept, maybe it is the first made from recycled PET (soda bottles, I think.)

[TJinPgh]

True, but it's never been used to this extent. Even the "glass" is a polymer instead of real glass.

[TJinPgh]

Incidentally, anybody wanting to get a better look at this car can go here...http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-qarmaq/

[Whelan]

Nice pics, I'll take two please. Meaning the blonde and the burnette, they should go up in the hottie thread lol!

[TJinPgh]

LOL, somehow I figured that's what you meant.Hmmmm, pretty faces, but, kinda hippy for models, aren't they?

[WaveAction]

Thats an ugly car..

[ColonelPanic]

Now that I see more of it, it isn't as horrible. Bits of the interior look like some cheap ride the carnies brought in for the county fair though. Shiny white plastic, bad!I still like the concept of it all.

[NascarXprt]

well i gotta be the weird one in here thats not that bad id "lease" one. and i would deff. take two of the nice "accesories" standing next to it. it kinda looks like one of my lego technic trucks.

[ColonelPanic]

Heh, for all the comments on the ladies... http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Di...world Quote »Hyundai, which is unveiling several new models and a concept car called QarmaQ that uses lightweight plastics, will hire fewer models for the event. Its affiliate Kia will do the same.Hyundai, with Kia, is the world’s sixth-largest car maker.Renault Samsung Motors, starting last year, changed the attire of its models from miniskirts to more modest business suits and gave them handheld computers to help answer questions, a company official said.“When we look at motor shows overseas, the foreign brands did not have models with provocative clothing,” the official said.“It only seems to commercialise women and we want the car to shine, not the women.” They still have some way to go, since, well, people are still drooling over the women.