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, MPG, Honda, Green Daily, USA

When most people think of a custom Honda Civic, clear lenses on the tail lamps, a lowered suspension and a big ‘ole coffee-can exhaust pipe probably come to mind. When Mike Turner set out to design his own custom Civic, though, the only thing that his vision shared with most others is an esthetically-challenged body kit. In the case of the Aerocivic, the homemade body kit in question extends the nose and tail of the vehicle in an airfoil shape of sorts and adds hinged wheel skirts around the previously exposed tires. As we mentioned the last time we showed you this car, the Aerocivic’s owner claims pretty radical fuel economy figures due to his modifications. The video at this link explains that Turner is able to achieve seventy miles per gallon while cruising at highway speeds and using hypermiling techniques. If Turner’s estimates are accurate, four-hundred dollars, some elbow grease and a few gawkers questioning your sanity are all that stand between you and a super-economical Aero-car of your very own.

[Source: WCNC, h/t to Darin at Metro MPG]

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]

, Saab

Upcoming fuel economy regulations in the U.S. and carbon dioxide emissions limits in Europe appear set to take a bite out of the next generation Saab 9-3. The current 9-3 is derived from GM’s Epsilon platform and the new 9-3 was due to come off the Epsilon II that underpins the new Opel Insignia, but a change may be in the works. GM has reportedly canceled the Epsilon II-based 9-3 in favor of a model built off the Global Compact Car platform that will be the basis of the next Astra/Cobalt and, of course, the Volt. If the new plan, proceeds that would give Saab two cars off the new chassis with the smaller 9-1 being the other. New structural construction technology in the new architecture will apparently help maximize interior space in the smaller car.

[Source: Autocar]

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]saas cars, saab news, saab models[/tags]

, Chevrolet, GM, Tesla Motors

There has long been an interesting paradox in the realm of cars. For some peculiar reason, people who buy really expensive cars are willing to make more compromises to the foibles of the car and cut them more slack. How else to explain grief that owners of Italian exotics withstood for decades in terms of reliability, ergonomics and build quality. Buyers of mainstream cars that often have far fewer problems as a percentage of the number of vehicles built have a fit at every little thing that goes wrong. That same paradox exists today. The Tesla Roadster by virtue of its price and performance falls into entry level of exotic cars. Despite numerous delays in getting the car into production, and obvious compromised in terms of its functionality, most people have been willing to cut the car and the company a lot of slack, myself included. In my case my experience in the auto industry allows me to understand the difficulty of the task Tesla had. I never actually expected them to meet their aggressive timing targets and I’ve written on numerous occasions about the potential problems they might have. Nonetheless most people believed in the company.

General Motors on the other hand faces an entirely different standard with the Volt. In spite having a much more complex vehicle to develop with a much greater level of functionality and a shorter time frame than Tesla, GM seems to be being held to a higher standard than Tesla. At the slightest hint of time slips or cost increases, so many people jump on GM thinking that the car will never happen. Admittedly, we have yet to see a running prototype of the Volt (although they do apparently now exist) but that doesn’t mean the company isn’t fully committed to making the car happen. GM’s task of creating a car that will be an affordable mainstream sedan for four passengers that meets modern standards will strangely mean that customers actually expect it to work all of the time. That’s a situation that the much more expensive Tesla won’t face to nearly the same degree.

[Source: Motor Trend]

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

, Toyota

For the eighth time in the last five years, the powertrain of the Toyota Prius has been recognized by jury of the International Engine of the Year competition as one of the best. This time around Engine Technology International magazine replaced the previous best fuel economy category with Best Green Engine. The change was done to recognize the desired for both reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The Prius engine and hybrid transmission combo achieves tank-to-wheel efficiency of 34 percent compared to 14-15 percent for most internal combustion engines. The Prius has also been rated at 104g/km of CO₂ on the European driving cycle. The 76hp 1.5L four cylinder combines with a 67hp electric motor/generator to achieve these results. The points spread from the 65 member jury of automotive journalists from 32 countries was actually pretty close for the top two spots with the Prius getting a narrow victory over BMW’s single turbo 2.0L diesel with start/stop capability.

[Source: UkipMe.com, via Toyota Open Road]

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Jaguar, Land Rover, UK

As part of the Technology Strategy Board’s (TSB) ongoing efforts of promoting and supporting research into environmentally friendly automotive technology, the group has given funding to Ricardo, Jaguar and Land Rover for quite a few separate projects. Five of the projects are outlined here:

• Ricardo, along with the University of Brighton, DENSO Sales UK Ltd and Jaguar, has received funds to continue work on its innovative 2/4SIGHT engine, which is capable of running on either the 2 stroke cycle or the 4 stroke cycle.
• The Range Extended Electric Vehicle is led by Land Rover. A large SUV chassis will be used with the goal of delivering 120 to 130 g/km CO₂ and a zero emissions range of at least 12 miles.
• A flywheel-based hybrid drive system will be tested, led by Jaguar and including Flybrid Systems, Ford Motor Company, Prodrive, Ricardo UK Ltd, Torotrak plc, and Xtrac Ltd. Formula 1 racing is also testing these flywheel-based hybrid systems.
• The Limo-Green project is the fourth bit of technology and looks to incorporate the aluminum structure of the current Jaguar sedan range along with an electric motor, battery pack and generator.
• Recycled aluminum will be looked at to see if it is feasible to use post-consumer scrap to form the basis of a lightweight, mass-producible vehicle.

These five projects are part of a group of sixteen total investments which will receive a total of 90 million in funding from the TSB. We’ve pasted two complete press releases after the break detailing each of the proposed projects that are mentioned above.

Press Releases:

Ricardo consortia win funding for three major low carbon vehicle development programmes

The UK government’s Technology Strategy Board today announced funding of 23 million for 16 innovative low carbon vehicle development projects. Including partner contributions these projects collectively represent a total value of 52 million. As a technology leader in high fuel economy/low carbon vehicle technologies, Ricardo will be an active participant in three of the winning project consortia

Building on the work of the 2/4SIGHT engine concept, the 2/4CAR project aims to deliver a global premium vehicle demonstrating a 25-30 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions with no loss of performance using an innovative, highly-downsized gasoline engine with two-stroke/four-stroke switching technology. Laboratory work has shown that torque output more typical of an engine of twice the capacity is achievable. The engine design incorporates a cycle-switching valvetrain, an advanced boosting and control system, and will demonstrate powertrain integration and driveable control strategies. Ricardo will lead this project which will be carried out by a consortium also including the University of Brighton, DENSO Sales UK Ltd and Jaguar Cars Ltd.

Reflecting the emerging importance of vehicle electrification, Ricardo will also participate in the Range Extended Electric Vehicle project which will be led by Land Rover. This project aims to develop a modular electric & electric/diesel powertrain, suitable for several different vehicle types, which will be tested on a large premium sport utility platform delivering 120 to 130 g/km and zero emissions range of at least 12 miles. The project will also investigate range extension and plug-in charging and installation/ commissioning of local recharging facilities for vehicle trials within the vehicle fleet of E-ON, who along with Ameriac Projects Ltd are also consortium members.

Kinetic energy recovery will be the theme of the Flywheel Hybrid System for Premium Vehicles project. This project will involve the design development of a mechanical hybrid (flywheel and variable drive system) kinetic energy recovery system for use in a premium segment passenger vehicle as an alternative, cost competitive solution to other hybrid systems. The project will demonstrate this within an existing vehicle platform to prove its effectiveness and viability for production and suitability for modular application. Jaguar Cars will lead this project which will be carried out by a consortium also including Flybrid Systems, Ford Motor Company Limited, Prodrive, Ricardo UK Ltd, Torotrak plc, and Xtrac Ltd.

“We welcome the investment decision announced today by the Technology Strategy Board and look forward to participating in three of the major UK low carbon vehicle programmes that have successfully secured funding”, said Neville Jackson, Ricardo technology director. “Improving fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions is a major imperative globally for both the automotive industry and society in general. We are proud that the consortia in which we are participating have secured funding for these three very important projects, which aim to provide some of the crucial enabling technologies for future low carbon road transport applications.”
———————————————————————–

Jaguar Land Rover warmly welcomed the announcement of government funding to help speed up the development of technologies that will significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Department for Transport, through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform, have announced that 16 innovative development projects, worth over 52 million, will receive 23 million government investment through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform.

Jaguar Land Rover is involved in a number of the projects through partnerships with suppliers, government agencies, and universities.

The projects identified today are:

Range Extended Electric Vehicle REHEV

To develop a modular electric and electric/diesel powertrain, suitable for several different vehicle types. This will be tested on a large premium sport utility platform delivering 120 to 130 g/km CO2 and a zero emissions range of at least 12 miles. The project will also investigate range extension and plug-in charging and the installation/ commissioning of local recharging facilities for vehicle trials within the E-ON fleet.

Flywheel Hybrid System for Premium Vehicles

To design and develop a mechanical hybrid (flywheel and variable drive system), kinetic energy recovery system for use in a premium segment passenger vehicle as an alternative, cost competitive solution to other hybrid systems.

Limo-Green

To use Jaguar’s class leading lightweight aluminium body structures as a basis for testing the concept of a large luxury vehicle with an advanced hybrid electric driveline, consisting of an advanced drive motor, small battery pack and a small auxilliary power generator for sustained cruising. The project aim is to demonstrate a vehicle with sub 120g/km CO2 whilst maintaining the premium quality of the vehicle.

Lower Cost, Light Weight Vehicles by Increasing the Use of Aluminium Scrap
To demonstrate, within five years, the feasibility of a mass producible, lightweight car based on a body structure built using sustainable aluminium sheet derived in part from low cost energy efficient recycled, post consumer scrap. This will be a key enabler for the mass production in the UK of low CO2 premium cars.

In addition, Jaguar Land Rover is involved in a project led by Ricardo to deliver a global premium vehicle demonstrating a 25-30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions with no loss of performance using an innovative, highly-downsized petrol engine with two-stroke/four-stroke switching technology.

Commenting on the announcement, Jaguar Land Rover’s acting Chief Executive Officer, David Smith, said, “Our engineers are at the forefront of developing new, sustainable technology and as a business we are investing 700m on projects specifically aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.

“We welcome the announcement today by the Technology Strategy Board of government funding for these important projects and we fully support the additional 70m of government investment in the Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme. This will assist Jaguar Land Rover, other UK vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers to accelerate and widen programmes to achieve even more substantial CO2 improvements for vehicles.”

[Source: Technology Strategy Board]

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[tags]jaguar cars, jaguar news, jaguar models[/tags]