K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid - first coined by Kelly Johnson, who was the lead engineer at Lockheed's Skunk Works where he was responsible for the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes.
In the latest issue of EVO magazine, Harry Metcalf [founder of the publication, farmer of 300 acres and owner of several classic and supercars] discusses 'eco' cars and their over-inflated price tags. He argues that the additional technology [hybrid, electric, etc.] and therefore cost, is unnecessary. He goes on to write:
"Take the humble Fiat Panda; there's a car that was built under the KISS principle of engineering from the very start. I've had one at home for the last four years and use it as a general runabout. It costs beans to buy new, sips fuel with the enthusiasm of a dead trout and seems to do just as good as job of transporting people around the place as cars like the Nissan Leaf or BMW Megacity promise to do - yet for a quarter of the initial cost.
It's simple cars like this that enthusiasts like us should embrace, because these fun little eco-boxes will prove a far more palatable solution to green motoring than some of the over-engineered models set to be launched over the next year or so."
But we knew that already, didn't we?
In the latest issue of EVO magazine, Harry Metcalf [founder of the publication, farmer of 300 acres and owner of several classic and supercars] discusses 'eco' cars and their over-inflated price tags. He argues that the additional technology [hybrid, electric, etc.] and therefore cost, is unnecessary. He goes on to write:
"Take the humble Fiat Panda; there's a car that was built under the KISS principle of engineering from the very start. I've had one at home for the last four years and use it as a general runabout. It costs beans to buy new, sips fuel with the enthusiasm of a dead trout and seems to do just as good as job of transporting people around the place as cars like the Nissan Leaf or BMW Megacity promise to do - yet for a quarter of the initial cost.
It's simple cars like this that enthusiasts like us should embrace, because these fun little eco-boxes will prove a far more palatable solution to green motoring than some of the over-engineered models set to be launched over the next year or so."
But we knew that already, didn't we?