I am patiently waiting for the fabled German engineers to catch up with
Burt Rutan and build a carbon fibre and aluminum car.

Get rid of the cast iron and steel, streamline the car and every other
component is lightened (wheels, tires, brakes....).  Such a design would
approach modern aircraft's payload-to-vehicle weight ratio and yield
blazing performance too, in terms of terrific acceleration, top speed, hill
climbin, and low fuel consumption.

Has anybody notice gasoline is above $3.00 a gallon in California?  The
days of traditional  car constructions are numbered.  The Big Three will
not agree, but once some Asian upstart lands on the scene with a 2000 pound
four-passenger sedan, they'll run for bankcrupcy court.

Sure, using modern materials and fabrication techniques may cost a little
more, but so what?  What costs more new has greater value when later sold
used.  Its a perfect balance.  And what's more, when something costs a lot
because it contains so much value, the buyer appreciates it a lot more and
it isn't thrown out so soon.  He gets more value out of it because he keeps
it longer.  Its like a fine Leica camera.  Back in '53 it cost $300, a
small fortune.  Many such buyers still own the same camera after all these
years; those who decide to sell can get every nickel back and more.