Indeed, Local Motors sees themselves as the closers, they'll finish the car if you start them off right.
The one question is the dicotomy of this search of a lightweight car in this world that's trying to get rid of them. The Tesla Roadster came to and end because Lotus gave up on the lightweight Elise/Exige. In 1975 there were cars 2,000 pounds and less selling in the mainstream. By '79 some of those 4,000 pounds models had lightened considerably to accommodate a V6 instead of a V8 at a disappointing increase in gas mileage. Now they just keep getting heavier.
1975 was an interesting year to compare to. 8 years earlier the Chevy Impala, for example, was one of those big beasts getting maybe 17mpg with a 195 horsepower engine that was smaller (283ci) than those getting the 13mpg at under 150hp as discussed in the video. This major setback was caused by smog regulations, exacerbated by Detroit car makers deciding to punish America for putting them through this. (Something the next generation of of officials didn't deny.) Once the development cycle was back on track we wound up with cars straight from the assembly line housing engines that could run with racing cars of that size in the '60's at much better gas mileage. Where would we be now if there hadn't been two lost decades?
Ah well, the requirement for 'Existing Infrastructure' means it won't be an electric, though it could be a hybrid. What might make an interesting engine?
http://www.grailengine.com/tech.php
