Mazda News - Some potential rotary news for you rotorheads

November 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment

Depending on how you choose to measure it, Mazda’s Wankel rotary could be as big as 2.6 liters already, but to most people, the engine has always been 1.3 liters. While the engine has never been known as a fuel-sipper, it has always been known for its excellent power-to-weight ratio. With the last update of the venerable design, Mazda offered up a partial solution to the engine’s past emissions and oil-consumption woes by controlling the oil injection via a computer. We had an RX8 in our family which barely used any oil at all. Being suckers for technology, my family is always ready to try something new, and the power output of the rotary was plenty for our purposes. The rub was always keeping the engine under 4000 rpm or so. You see, there are extra valves which open at preset rpm levels, regardless of how much power the engine really needs to make. So, when kept under the point where the first extra set of valves open up, the engine consumes much less fuel.

Here is an article which claims that the next rotary from Mazda, the Renesis 2, will be enlarge somewhat. This could open up the possibility of extra power for one, but could also allow engineers to allow for better mileage under low-throttle conditions, which would be a big step in the right direction. If any Mazda engineers are reading this, flex-fuel capability would be nice too! We may find out more details at the Tokyo Motor Show in a few months.

[Source: Rotarynews via Autoblog]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Source: www.autobloggreen.com

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

Filed Under: Mazda Cars
Tagged:

Nissan News - Video: In-wheel electric motors on robotic legs

November 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment

, EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily

Want to take the in-wheel electric motor concept cars like iReal or Pivo off roading? NASA is developing ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer) which has in-wheel electric motors as the “foot pads” for mechanical legs. The advantage to this set-up is the small in-wheel electric motors are ideal for transport on flatter surfaces while the robotic legs are better for rougher surfaces. There are several slow, robotic human carriers that exist but what might the future hold for this technology?

Below the fold is a clip from the anime Ghost in the Shell that include Tachikomas, intelligent robots with robot legs that have wheels at the end. At the end of the Nissan press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO says with no more engine blocks, transmissions, mechanical steering gears, etc., sustainable mobility technologies like in-wheel motors represent a radical shift in design. I can’t wait.

[Source: YouTube]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]nissan cars, nissan autos, nissan news, nissan models, nissan[/tags]

Filed Under: Nissan Cars
Tagged:

Suzuki News - Tokyo Preview: Suzuki Crosscage and Biplane concepts

November 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment

, Hydrogen, Suzuki, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show

Suzuki is planning on sending a few concept motorcycles to the Tokyo Motor Show. One of those, the Biplane, has gotten some attention over at Autoblog. We thought that the Crosscage would be better suited to our green-minded readers, as it comes equipped with a fuel cell and lithium ion batteries. No gasoline engine appears to be present. Take a minute and read the press release past the break. Sea bass… uh, I mean Suzuki appears to be using the fuel cell technology from Intelligent Energy, makers of the ENV bike. It looks like the hydrogen may be stored directly in the center of the frame, right where the two intersecting tubes of the frame come together. That would leave plenty of room in the area normally reserved for the gas-tank of a normal motorcycle for the batteries. This is really just conjecture at this point, though, so we’ll have to wait until we hear some English press releases to be sure exactly what is going on inside this cool-looking bike.

Besides the fact that the bike is powered by a fuel cell and batteries, the bike looks pretty sporty. Considering the reputation that Suzuki has earned with their GSXR series of bikes, that should not be a shocker to anybody. What is rather interesting, though, are the suspension systems on the bike. That front fork looks suitably high-tech, being single-sided along with the rear swingarm. We’re not counting on ever seeing this bike in production form, but it’s still an awesome design.

%Gallery-7957%

[Source: Suzuki]

PRESS RELEASE (Translated):
Exhibition summary of 40th Tokyo motor show 2007

Suzuki Crosscage

It is the fuel cell car which can do optimum power control by combining the air cooled fuel cell system and the advanced accumulator of simple small size light weight. Starting which fuel economy efficiency is fast low, the intelligent energy corporation of feature (England) make adopted the thing to fuel cell unit, in addition it was safe in the accumulator and the lithium ion electric battery whose environmental load is low was adopted. Not only not applying load, being simple in terrestrial environment, from the fact that it is small size lightweight, it has contributed to also the actualization of the sporty style which the sea bass seems.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]suzuki news, suzuki models, suzuki cars. suzuki reviews[/tags]

Filed Under: Suzuki Cars
Tagged:

Isuzu News - Isuzu sticks with GM for DuraMax diesel engine joint-venture

November 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment

, GM, Isuzu, Toyota

One of the technical highlights of the last generation GMT-800 full-size trucks from GM was the Duramax turbo-diesel V-8. This strong, efficient, refined engine was miles ahead of the Navistar engine in the Ford trucks and the Cummins engine that Dodge uses. The Duramax diesels are built by a General Motors-Isuzu joint-venture in Ohio called DMAX ltd. However, in the last year and a half, GM has been extricating themselves from most of their Japanese partnerships including Isuzu. Earlier this week, Isuzu announced that they were hooking up with Toyota and would work with Toyota on developing diesel engines for use in Toyota vehicles.

This caused the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun to report that Isuzu was asking GM to sell their stake in the DMAX and another venture in Poland to Toyota. Today, both Isuzu and Toyota denied the report and in fact said that the issue had not even been discussed. The Japanese paper’s report did say that the plant would continue to supply engines to GM after a Toyota deal, which would be critical to GM’s truck programs. GM CEO Rick Wagoner is in Tokyo today so it remains to be seen what will happen.

[Source: Automotive News - subscription required]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Source: www.autobloggreen.com

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

Filed Under: Isuzu Cars
Tagged:

Hyundai News - The Korean Ministry of the Environment orders 3,390 hybrids from Kia and Hyundai

November 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment

, Hyundai, Kia

Quick - what is the cheapest hybrid car on the market in America? Did you say the Saturn Aura hybrid? Well, you’re right. Priced at around $22,000, the Aura is the least expensive hybrid for 2007. As we mentioned earlier, Toyota is making a new discounted version of the Prius which should go for less, though. According to this article, Kia would like to take the banner away from both Saturn and Toyota with their Rio hybrid. We’ve shown you the Rio hybrid before, but price had never been brought up. The 1.4 liter engine combined with the electric motor should give over 40 miles per gallon and reduce emissions by 37%, according to our source article. Performance is leisurely, though. Getting the needle to sixty takes more than 12 seconds after you initially say go. The machine does stop the engine when it’s not required, so that is good. They also have reduced the weight by 23% by using aluminum where possible and replacing the hydraulic power steering with an electric unit. The Korean Ministry of the Environment has ordered 3,390 hybrids from Kia and Hyundai, so hopefully all the bugs will be worked out if and when it comes to America. All steps in the right direction, but the car really should be well below $20,000 to challenge the Aura and Prius in the American market. We’ll see!