[jjav]

> What if the cars were made really light?

That is the best answer.

For a little while in the 80s (remnants of the fuel crisis of the 70s) this was the trend. Go light and then efficiency is guaranteed. Combine with a small efficient engine and that's the optimal solution. A CRX HF from 1988 could do 44 MPG, with an engine that compared to current fuel injection technology is very crude and inefficient.

I want to buy a car that is basically this CRX HF but with 25+ years of engine and materials improvements. It could easily be a 1500lb car getting 60MPG.

But, no. Manufacturers (to some extent forced by terrible government rules) have gone heavier and heavier and heavier and heavier. Which is worse in every possible way.

Colin Chapman had it right: simplify, then add lightness.

[sriacha]

And then as cars get heavier and heavier you also have people scared to drive smaller/lighter ones for fear of safety.