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The crazy thing is there's nothing stopping manufacturers from making electric muscle cars. Instead, we get boring aerodynamic cloned appliances sold as "SUVs".

The crazy thing is there's nothing stopping manufacturers from making electric muscle cars. Instead, we get boring aerodynamic cloned appliances sold as "SUVs". As I've grown older though, I noticed that the less I need to drive, the happier I am. So I don't really need more than an appliance, I suppose.

rexer 1y ago
What would an EV muscle car look like? Tesla Model 3 seems to check a lot of boxes. Definitely not noise or muscle car power delivery, but those seems like unrealistic goals for an EV
- ProfessorLayton 1y ago
  IMO what made American muscle cars special was their combination of power + unique styling + price. Yeah they were noisy (Which some really liked) and sometimes impractical, but that was okay because of they weren't trying to be everything to everyone. A Model 3 might check a lot of boxes, but its styling is definitely not unique, and the rest of car itself is tying to appeal to as many as possible.
  - burnt-resistor 1y ago
    Insecure dudes seem to derive insouciant-to-proud self-satisfaction from inflicting noise, visual, and actual pollution on the rest of us which partially explains coal rollers and gaudy, loud motorcycles.
    - defrost 1y ago
      FWiW there's not a lot of insecurity in the B&S boys that hit the Ute Musters for the circle work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtFYUOvYs8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtFYUOvYs8 A couple of thousand acres, big sheds, a couple of silos, a few trucks and combine harvesters and a go hard or go home frequently sideways attitude 'll do that, it seems.
      - burnt-resistor 1y ago
        To each, their own, I guess. Yeah, I get needing 4WD for snow and mountains and reasonable capabilities suitable for farm and work, but excess is excess. I also don't understand why people put up with highway princess trucks that cost $60k+. My dad's shop '78 Chevy C-10 Scottsdale lacked headrests, cupholders, and a radio only the latter of which was added. You used to be able able to buy cheap-ish fleet trims of trucks if you didn't want a bunch of plastic and extra nonsense, I don't know if that's still the case; I wonder if Toyota makes fleet versions of Tundras (made near where I live) or Tacomas (if they're not discontinuing tacos) given it doesn't sell Hi-Lux here.
        defrost 1y ago
        It's not for me but I'm adjacent to rural and mining industries and understand the joy of making an OTT desktop computing rig or near industrial home-lab. In a similar manner a mechanic that works on aircraft engines for crop dusters capable of short take off and landing with heavy loads and drafting over fields with low clearance can also enjoy tuning the heck out of a V-8 and taking it to the limit. It's not insecurity driving that behavior, it's confidence veering into over confidence. You can see that same let's have a go and push it mentality in building MudCrab underwater EV cars https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-30/nt-world-record-darwin-underwater-drive/102665924 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-30/nt-world-record-darwi... and MudSkipper not boat not aircraft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ILbQHnHPnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ILbQHnHPnY
- cherrycherry98 1y ago
  See the 2024+ Dodge Charger Daytona.
- burnt-resistor 1y ago
  The vaporware Telser Roadster 2.0 with CATs. I don't think it will ever be released at this point. https://techstory.in/teslas-roadster-2-0-still-coming-still-hyped-still-missing/ https://techstory.in/teslas-roadster-2-0-still-coming-still-...
rconti 1y ago
Arguably they're ALL muscle cars, at least in the US. Nobody's making small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs.
- sokoloff 1y ago
  I’ve been driving a Nissan LEAF for the last decade. It’s exactly what you describe (and has been great as a city car for a two-car, two-driver household).
- os2warpman 1y ago
  Nissan, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Hyundai/Kia all make small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs. With a 0-60 of 9 seconds, the Fiat 500e may be too low power. A 1993 Honda Civic is quicker than that and if you optioned a Civic coupe up to what comes standard (AC, power doors and windows, cruise) on the 500e, it was $14,700 in 1993[1], which is ~$32k today, which almost the same exact price of a 500e. And you even get more than one airbag now! [1]https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-civic-2/ https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-civic-2/
  - rconti 1y ago
    I honestly thought both the Leaf and 500e were no longer on sale in the US, since I don't see new ones in the Bay Area, and they used to be everywhere. That's my bad. The Bolt is also a great example, although it's pretty quick. In fact, a quick chatgpt search says both the Bolt and Leaf SV are over 200hp, so not a lot less than my 258hp Model 3 that's undoubtedly heavier. The Kona EV completely slipped my mind; my sister has the hybrid version though. Although, the EV is a >$30k crossover but they _do_ sell a 138hp version so it's hardly a muscle car. There are no small cheap Hyundai EVs in the US. Something like the Honda E is something I'd love to see in the US, although it's definitely a premium-priced product for a small car.
- Aurornis 1y ago
  > Nobody's making small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs. Small low power EVs are everywhere. Unless you’re setting the bar so low that you expect a tiny 50-100 mile range car. That’s not going to happen because everyone would pass right over it and get an affordable EV with multiple times the range for only marginally more cost.
tim333 1y ago
Same here. Although I own a nice car I much prefer my ebike which is not affected by London's 1000+ fine issuing cameras, 20 mph limits, jams, congestion charges, ULEZ charges, parking fees, road closed signs, construction works etc. There's a similar issue to muscle cars in that although in theory my thing can do 155 mph down some autobahn, in practice it's way slower than the 15 mph ebike in town.

rexer 1y ago

What would an EV muscle car look like? Tesla Model 3 seems to check a lot of boxes. Definitely not noise or muscle car power delivery, but those seems like unrealistic goals for an EV

ProfessorLayton 1y ago
IMO what made American muscle cars special was their combination of power + unique styling + price. Yeah they were noisy (Which some really liked) and sometimes impractical, but that was okay because of they weren't trying to be everything to everyone. A Model 3 might check a lot of boxes, but its styling is definitely not unique, and the rest of car itself is tying to appeal to as many as possible.
- burnt-resistor 1y ago
  Insecure dudes seem to derive insouciant-to-proud self-satisfaction from inflicting noise, visual, and actual pollution on the rest of us which partially explains coal rollers and gaudy, loud motorcycles.
  - defrost 1y ago
    FWiW there's not a lot of insecurity in the B&S boys that hit the Ute Musters for the circle work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtFYUOvYs8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtFYUOvYs8 A couple of thousand acres, big sheds, a couple of silos, a few trucks and combine harvesters and a go hard or go home frequently sideways attitude 'll do that, it seems.
    - burnt-resistor 1y ago
      To each, their own, I guess. Yeah, I get needing 4WD for snow and mountains and reasonable capabilities suitable for farm and work, but excess is excess. I also don't understand why people put up with highway princess trucks that cost $60k+. My dad's shop '78 Chevy C-10 Scottsdale lacked headrests, cupholders, and a radio only the latter of which was added. You used to be able able to buy cheap-ish fleet trims of trucks if you didn't want a bunch of plastic and extra nonsense, I don't know if that's still the case; I wonder if Toyota makes fleet versions of Tundras (made near where I live) or Tacomas (if they're not discontinuing tacos) given it doesn't sell Hi-Lux here.
      - defrost 1y ago
        It's not for me but I'm adjacent to rural and mining industries and understand the joy of making an OTT desktop computing rig or near industrial home-lab. In a similar manner a mechanic that works on aircraft engines for crop dusters capable of short take off and landing with heavy loads and drafting over fields with low clearance can also enjoy tuning the heck out of a V-8 and taking it to the limit. It's not insecurity driving that behavior, it's confidence veering into over confidence. You can see that same let's have a go and push it mentality in building MudCrab underwater EV cars https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-30/nt-world-record-darwin-underwater-drive/102665924 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-30/nt-world-record-darwi... and MudSkipper not boat not aircraft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ILbQHnHPnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ILbQHnHPnY
cherrycherry98 1y ago
See the 2024+ Dodge Charger Daytona.
burnt-resistor 1y ago
The vaporware Telser Roadster 2.0 with CATs. I don't think it will ever be released at this point. https://techstory.in/teslas-roadster-2-0-still-coming-still-hyped-still-missing/ https://techstory.in/teslas-roadster-2-0-still-coming-still-...

rconti 1y ago

Arguably they're ALL muscle cars, at least in the US. Nobody's making small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs.

sokoloff 1y ago
I’ve been driving a Nissan LEAF for the last decade. It’s exactly what you describe (and has been great as a city car for a two-car, two-driver household).
os2warpman 1y ago
Nissan, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Hyundai/Kia all make small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs. With a 0-60 of 9 seconds, the Fiat 500e may be too low power. A 1993 Honda Civic is quicker than that and if you optioned a Civic coupe up to what comes standard (AC, power doors and windows, cruise) on the 500e, it was $14,700 in 1993[1], which is ~$32k today, which almost the same exact price of a 500e. And you even get more than one airbag now! [1]https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-civic-2/ https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-civic-2/
- rconti 1y ago
  I honestly thought both the Leaf and 500e were no longer on sale in the US, since I don't see new ones in the Bay Area, and they used to be everywhere. That's my bad. The Bolt is also a great example, although it's pretty quick. In fact, a quick chatgpt search says both the Bolt and Leaf SV are over 200hp, so not a lot less than my 258hp Model 3 that's undoubtedly heavier. The Kona EV completely slipped my mind; my sister has the hybrid version though. Although, the EV is a >$30k crossover but they _do_ sell a 138hp version so it's hardly a muscle car. There are no small cheap Hyundai EVs in the US. Something like the Honda E is something I'd love to see in the US, although it's definitely a premium-priced product for a small car.
Aurornis 1y ago
> Nobody's making small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs. Small low power EVs are everywhere. Unless you’re setting the bar so low that you expect a tiny 50-100 mile range car. That’s not going to happen because everyone would pass right over it and get an affordable EV with multiple times the range for only marginally more cost.

tim333 1y ago

Same here. Although I own a nice car I much prefer my ebike which is not affected by London's 1000+ fine issuing cameras, 20 mph limits, jams, congestion charges, ULEZ charges, parking fees, road closed signs, construction works etc. There's a similar issue to muscle cars in that although in theory my thing can do 155 mph down some autobahn, in practice it's way slower than the 15 mph ebike in town.