[randywebb]

Well, he was really giving an analysis of the Buggatti Veyron and comparing it to his McLaren... but I thought many of his comments particularly appropos for our cars.

For example: "Weight saving should be by design and not a post process. Weight is the car designer's biggest enemy. It works against you in every single aspect of vehicle dynamics."

"Achieving a good power-to-weight figure by applying huge horsepower to a heavy car is in no way the same thing as achieving the same ratio with a light car."

"For me, car design _is_ packaging. To create something truly forward-thinking, a designer has to challenge the accepted major component placement in an automobile."
- Gee -- does that sound familiar??

"I have a "real-world" checklist when designing road cars:
1. size or perceived size; is the car intimidating to drive?
2. ergonomics; primary and secondary controls, pedals
3. luggage capacity, cabin storage
4. drivability, slow traffic engine characteristics, overtaking
5. ride and handling
6. ease of parking"

Road & Track, January 2005, p. 65

Murray is now a writer for R&T, BTW. (!) And this was one of the best technical articles they have published in years - no surprise.

The 911 - even today - is superior as a real world road car - not to claim that it could keep up with the Veyron - but it optimizes all the criteria on his checklist.

The article is a devastating critique of the Veyron as a real world car - tho you have to read between the lines a bit. He points out that it is more of a technology showcase for VW Group than a real car.