[IgorPartola]

Heh. I mean an engine rebuild at 80k seems kind of crazy. I am both continually amazed at the ICE and at the same time can't wait for it to die out. It's such an archaic technology. Hell, a turbine engine would be so much more fun to have in a car!

[ynniv]

... as long as it isn't directly connected to the wheels? The rotational inertia would make for a very uncomfortable drive.

[linksnapzz]

Chrysler made several generations of turbine cars in the '60s.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/turbine.html

It was not, in the end, a production car, but there was a lot of data gathered as to performance and reliability in real-world settings.

Not too long ago, Jaguar had a concept CX-75, which was a hybrid mid-engined supercar where the piston engine was replaced with two Bladon Jets micro gas turbines. After 2008, they didn't want to commit to an expensive limited production vehicle, too bad.

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/issues/18-october-2010/jet-pow...

[kalleboo]

If anyone wants to see a turbine car in action, Jay Leno owns one and has a YouTube video on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2A5ijU3Ivs

[IgorPartola]

Damn. That sounds like they almost made it work. I wonder how those cars would have done with corn ethanol. Electric boost for initial acceleration and better heat exchangers would have probably completely eliminated the remaining problems with them. Thanks for the link!

[linksnapzz]

Dunno about corn ethanol, but agave worked: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a33239/that-time-the...

[quake]

Turbos are definitely taking hold in the American auto industry as well, with stuff like the Chevy Sonic and Fiesta/Focus really making good use of them with tiny engines. The 2015 Focus had an option for a 1L, 3 cylinder engine with a turbo for commuters. Great stuff.