> I never saw one come apart,  but I was of the impression that the 
 > reason they weren't used in cars was because they were a whole lot 
 > more expensive than conventional engines.  Is this not the case?
Roy,
 Turbines are much more expensive than reciprocating engines for several 
reasons. The biggest 2 are the exotic material requirements to withstand the 
high temperatures and the low production rates.
But there's inherent problems with turbines that also make them less than 
practical for automotive use. Low fuel economy and low torque are the big 
problems. The low torque wouldn't be a problem in a hybrid auto, where it's 
driving a generator, but the fuel economy and high cost are still problems.
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