At the rate we're placing greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere- these seamingly rare weather anomalies are going to be more and more prevelant until we curb our fossil fuel burning. Floods, fires, tornadoes and freak snowstorms (like in the Middle East) are quickly becoming the norm- rather than the exception. Likewise, automobile designs must now be able to handle a variety of conditions well. In my mind, this points towards making (part-time/for at least emergency use) 4wd a standard feature. A low center of gravity with an aerodynamic (not a tall SUV) design would likewise cut down on wind shear -and- if the vehicle could float for short (emergency only) periods of time, so much the better. Of course my solar electric coupe is designed to do all of these things well for the current price of mid- sized gasoline powered sedans.