Reply #4: Posted at Du in Energy Forum - link below

[papau]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=1247

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_and_suvs/page.cfm?pageID=1249

http://www.ucsusa.org/publication.cfm?publicationID=658 http://www.ucsusa.org/publication.cfm?publicationID=659



The UCS off the shelf component design is called the Guardian and for $29,935 for the base model ($735 more expensive than the 2002 Ford Explorer XLT, the model on which the Guardian was based, but getting 27.8 miles per gallon rather than Ford’s 21.2 mph) comes with a unibody steel frame, a stronger, crumple-resistant roof, seat belts that cinch automatically in a rollover, lower bumpers to protect other drivers in a crash, and a seat-belt reminder that emits a noise until all passengers are belted. It also has a six-cylinder, fuel-efficient engine. The more expensive model, the Guardian XSE (cost nearly $3,000 more than the Explorer, but getting 36.3 miles per gallon compared to the Explorer’s rated 21.2 miles per gallon), has electronic stability control to reduce the threat of rollovers and side curtain air bags for all passengers. A six-speed automatic transmission helps the engine run more efficiently.

NET –NET:
A major improvement in safety, and a major decrease in gas usage that recovers the extra cost many times over..