初めから36.4km/リットルありき

English translation: 36.4 km/L was presupposed

16:31 Aug 13, 2013
Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Automotive / Cars & Trucks
Japanese term or phrase: 初めから36.4km/リットルありき
This is in an article about a new Honda fit hybrid prototype (http://response.jp/article/2013/07/19/202490.html).

The wider context is:

「初めから36.4kmありきだが、燃費だけの車ではないというのが絶対条件」
and it appears again as
「初めから36.4km/リットルありき。でも室内空間や荷室をいじったり、空力により過ぎないとか、車高を下げたりとか、そういうことはしないで、車として一回完成させた上で、ライバルに絶対に勝つことを目標に掲げていた」

It seems to be saying that the main focus of the car is the fuel economy, but they didn't let that take away from the other features, but I don't know how to phrase it properly. I really appreciate your help.
Shannon Spears
United States
Local time: 12:48
English translation:36.4 km/L was presupposed
Explanation:
Fuel economy of 36.4 km/L was presupposed.

I believe this means that they were aiming to achieve this result from the development stage.
Selected response from:

Takafumi Miyauchi
Taiwan
Local time: 01:48
Grading comment
First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)



Summary of answers provided
4 +336.4 km/L was presupposed
Takafumi Miyauchi
4 +1Starting from 36.4km/L
Daniel Penso


  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
36.4 km/L was presupposed


Explanation:
Fuel economy of 36.4 km/L was presupposed.

I believe this means that they were aiming to achieve this result from the development stage.

Takafumi Miyauchi
Taiwan
Local time: 01:48
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cinefil: 燃費36.4km/lの実現が最低条件設定だったということでしょう。
9 hrs
  -> ありがとうございます。

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
2 days 9 hrs
  -> ありがとうございます。

agree  Chrisso (X)
5 days
  -> Thank you!
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Starting from 36.4km/L


Explanation:
I think that you can treat から~ありき as a set. "Originates", "based on", "starts from" are a few ways this is translated. The き here is a past tense particle reflecting on the item, in this case reflecting on the robust fuel-economy of the Honda fit hybrid prototype.

http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/ありき
http://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/qa/2757054.html

Daniel Penso
United States
Local time: 10:48
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your help! I ended up going with "We developed it with the goal of achieving 36.4km/L."


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Patrick
3 hrs
  -> Thank you!

neutral  cinefil: http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa3885664.html
9 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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