????現在福特（Ford）推出的全新中級車Fusion重量為3,427磅，在城區道路上每加侖燃油可行駛22英里，高速公路上為34英里。而豐田（Toyota）的雅力士（Yaris）車重還不到2,300磅，城區道路上每加侖燃油可行駛30英里，高速公路上為37英里。

????換言之，為車減重1,000磅左右意味著每年燃油消耗可減少90加侖。由電池驅動的更小更輕的車輛將可以行駛更長的里程。可以預計，未來的中級車將不再需要現在所用的大量加強鋼材，而正是這些鋼材才能讓車輛通過聯邦政府的碰撞測試。輕量化的材料將取代鋼材。汽車甚至不再需要用安全氣囊或大量安全配置來保護乘客和司機遭遇事故時的安全。

????不過，汽車企業首先必須證明，自動和半自動駕駛系統——有時候也叫“輔助駕駛系統”——確實能顯著降低事故率和傷亡率。目前，美國每年發生約35,000起各類事故。因此，只有“超級巡航”這類系統變得更普及時，才有可能達到這個效果。

????譯者：清遠

????Today's Ford (F) Fusion midsize sedan, which weighs 3,427 pounds, achieves fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon in the city, 34 miles per gallon on the highway. A Toyota (TM) Yaris, at just under 2,300 pounds, gets fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon in the city, 37 miles per gallon on the highway.

????In other words, reducing a car's weight by 1,000 pounds or so translates into almost 90 gallons less fuel burned annually. Smaller, lighter vehicles powered by batteries would feature longer range than today. Presumably, future midsize sedans wouldn't need much of the reinforcing steel that today helps a car pass federal crash tests. Lighter materials might replace steel. The vehicle wouldn't need airbags or much of the safety paraphernalia that keeps passengers and driver safe in the event of a collision.

????First, however, automakers must prove that autonomous and semi-autonomous systems -- sometimes called "assisted driving" -- can reduce drastically the number of accidents and fatalities, now numbering about 35,000 a year in the U.S. That's only likely to happen as features like Super Cruise become more common.