by Gabrielle DeSantis

Some people dream of putting together their own kit car, and others just like to tinker. But Jack McCornack of Kinetic Vehicles is a different breed of auto enthusiast. He aimed to build a lightweight, low cost hypermiler that got 100mpg. A lofty ambition, but he got it done. Starting as a budget kit car, he swapped the engine and streamlined the body to create Mother’s Automotive eXperiment (or MAX for short). And with enough automotive know how, you can put one together yourself.

The Evolution of the Kinetic MAX

The idea was first drawn up in 2008, starting life as a Locost Seven. No, that’s not a spelling error, it’s the budget version of the famous Lotus Seven sports car. With Britain’s junkyards littered with Ford Cortinas, Locost found a way to turn them into a cheap sports car. And by using the book Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250, you could build a Locost too (provided you can find a donor Cortina).

But Jack’s Locost went a bit off-book. The main areas of change from the original instruction guide were the engine, and the donor car itself. Jack picked up a Corolla wagon from the 80s and used the chassis, transmission, and suspension. From there, he put a 35 horsepower Kubota D-1105T turbo-diesel engine in it. But the low power would be balanced out by the car’s lightweight body.

What you could call the “first generation” MAX entered into the Escape From Berkeley non-petroleum car challenge. An 800 mile race to Vegas held in mid 2008, MAX was converted to run not just on diesel and biodiesel, but vegetable oil as well. And the odd little Locost ended up winning, earning Kinetic major press and high praise.

But the Kinetic story isn’t all cheery. In 2008, before the Escape From Berkeley race, the original demo car was totalled. In 2009, Jack and the Kinetic team were robbed of all documents and logs for their projects. But they didn’t hit the brakes yet, trudging on with all new design plans for 2010.

The Kinetic MAX hypermiler’s final performance figures

The vital organs of MAX never really changed. It’s still the same (albeit modified) diesel engine and the same Corolla wagon chassis. The shell certainly did, which is what pushed it over the edge performance wise.

Fitted with the front end of a Lola Mk1 (an ultra streamlined race car from the 50s), MAX got an all new look. And after fabricating the back from scratch, MAX’s streamline look was solidified, and finally hit the performance figures they’d hoped for.

While the first generation. Locost bodied MAX could do 70mpg or 70mph (not both), the streamlined Lola body got 100mpg while cruising at 55mph. And from day one, Jack’s goal wanted to build a road-capable hypermiler, not something out of science fiction. Getting up to highway speeds, being able to seat two and carry some stuff, being cheap, and being fun were all goals laid out from the very beginning.

How to build your own at home

Let’s make one thing clear: MAX isn’t simple to build. That is, unless you have a thorough understanding of machining the parts, fabricating the body, and welding it all together. But it is possible, and it is affordable. Every step is laid out across the Kinetic website, including prices and techniques used. And while the site hasn’t been updated in almost 10 years, the resources and things you need to buy are all listed there.

In other words, this is an open source project. A time consuming and technically advanced project, but it’s available to anyone willing to give it a try. You may not know everything about building a car, but maybe you know how to strip a car. And maybe you have a friend who knows how to weld. It’s an excellent community test, one that could test the bond of your friendship. Consider it a loose recreation of the Top Gear segment where the trio built their own kit car.

Consider if you have the time, know-how, and resources to build your own hypermiler. It’d be a long and grueling job, but the results would be a car that sips less gas than a hybrid. It’ll spark infinite amounts of conversation and excitement, even at only 35 horsepower. And of all the project cars to tinker with, one that only costs $10k wouldn’t totally break the bank.

RELATED: Do ‘Clean’ Electric Vehicles Have Dirty Secrets?

The post The Kinetic MAX Is a $10,000 Hypermiler You Can Build appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Shopping for a cheap new car might sound like a drag. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are plenty of affordable new cars on the market today that are worth your attention. From the 2021 Toyota Corolla to the 2022 Chevy Spark, let’s talk about the cheapest new cars you’ll actually want to buy.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla is a fuel-efficient cheap new car 

The 2021 Toyota Corolla has a lot going for it, especially if you’re in the market for a cheap new car. This year’s model starts at $20,025 and, at its most expensive, will only have you spending $28,310. Between its cheapest and most expensive trim levels are several other affordable trim levels, making the new Toyota Corolla the perfect pick for new car shoppers on a tight budget.

This year’s new Toyota Corolla has much more to offer than an affordable price tag too. In fact, this year’s model comes stock full of standard features, including a seven-inch touchscreen display featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa. The Corolla also comes standard with several driver-assist safety features. 

And if that’s not enough to convince you that this cheap new car has a lot going for it? The 2022 Toyota Corolla is a fuel-efficient new car too. In fact, the EPA reports that when equipped with a 1.8-liter engine, this year’s Corolla delivers an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. 

The 2021 Kia Soul is a cheap new car with a manual transmission

Say the 2021 Toyota Corolla isn’t quite your style. Perhaps it’s a cheap new SUV that you’re after instead. Or, maybe you’re in the market for a new car with a manual transmission. If that’s the case, you may want to take a look at the 2021 Kia Soul. This year’s model starts at $17,590 and is among the most affordable new cars under $20,000 on the market today.

Much like the Toyota Corolla, affordability isn’t all that this cheap new SUV has going for it. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, the 2021 Kia Soul is a cheap new car that also offers plenty of space. This year’s model offers seating for up to five people. U.S. News added, “The seats are both roomy and comfortable, and four adults should have no qualms sitting in this Kia for a long time.”

And when it comes to cargo space? The 2021 Kia Soul offers up plenty of it. As a matter of fact, this year’s model boasts a whopping 24.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. Fold down the rear seats and that number swells to a full 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2021 Nissan Versa is a cheap new car under $20,000

There’s no beating around the bush here. The 2021 Nissan Versa isn’t the fastest new car out there. It’s not the most comfortable new car either. It is, however, a cheap new car under $20,000. In fact, opt for a 2021 Nissan Versa with a manual transmission and this cheap new car costs only $14,980. Upgrade to the Versa’s available continuously variable transmission and this affordable new car still costs just $16,650.

For such a cheap new car, the 2021 Nissan Versa has plenty to offer too. Whether you opt for the base Versa S to the range-topping SR, all Versa model comes standard with confidence-inspiring safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and even rear automatic braking. With such standard safety features to its name, it’s no wonder the NHTSA gave this year’s Versa a five-star overall safety rating.

“Just a few years ago, features like these were hard to find on luxury cars and they’re now standard fare on the most-affordable Nissan in America.”

CNET

Which cheap new car is the right pick for your budget?

There are plenty of cheap new cars out there. In fact, these are just a few. When it comes to choosing the right cheap car for your budget, we recommend starting with these options and taking them out for a test drive. And if none of them is a great fit for you? Consider checking out other cheap new cars like the Chevy Spark, the Kia Rio, and even the Hyundai Venue.

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The post The Cheapest New Cars You’ll Actually Want to Buy appeared first on MotorBiscuit.