Lotus Presents Results of their 'Low CO2' Research Collaboration

Lotus Engineering has developed a new system for reducing CO2 emissions, which will give manufactures a practical and affordable option to reduce their emissions. The Low CO2 concept is based on an Opel Astra and is powered by a Lotus designed pressure-charged three-cylinder 1.5L gasoline engine that has been outfitted with a number of Lotus and Continental technologies.

The engine features an integrated exhaust manifold, centrally-mounted injectors, cam profile switching for lift and timing, a high pressure fuel pump, and mild hybrid drive. As a result there is a 15% reduction in C02 emissions compared to a naturally aspirated 1.8L four cylinder Astra. The concept also features an additional 20hp and 48 ft-lbs of torque over the 1.8L Astra.

Lotus CEO, Mike Kimberley, said “…the most important part of this project is that the solution is a combination of technologies that are available and can be implemented in next generation models and with further work beyond the scope of this initial project.” Given the growth of the green movement and the potential of this new set of technologies, expect development to continue.







Press Release

Low CO2 with high performance is affordable and available
240Nm, 160ps and 15% CO2 Reduction


Lotus Engineering, the automotive consultancy division of Lotus, and Continental Division Powertrain have presented the results of their “Low CO2” research collaboration. The Low CO2 vehicle concept is being proposed as a practical option for manufacturers to reduce their fleet average CO2 emissions.


The Low CO2 vehicle concept is demonstrated in an Opel Astra and uses a Lotus Engineering-designed pressure-charged three-cylinder 1.5-litre gasoline engine integrated with a number of Lotus and Continental technologies. It features an innovative integrated exhaust manifold design, centrally-mounted injectors, cam profile switching for lift and timing, a high pressure fuel pump, and a mild hybrid drive. The Low CO2 Astra produces a g/km CO2 reduction of 15% against the naturally aspirated 1.8 litre 4 cylinder engine version of the same vehicle. While forging comparisons to the most frugal B-segment cars, the Low CO2 Astra – on the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) – produces performance figures that are comparable to market leading C-segment cars with larger engines.

The primary objective of the Low CO2 project was to deliver greatly reduced CO2 emissions while maintaining an engaging driving experience from an affordable set of technologies. The solution employs a cleverly integrated set of powertrain systems within a downsized overall package.


The collaboration concluded in early February with the completion of extensive dynamometer and road testing at Continental’s facility in Toulouse, France and Lotus Engineering’s Hethel Headquarters in the UK. The programme was grant-aided through the UK’s Energy Saving Trust’s Low Carbon R&D Programme funded by the UK Government’s Department for Transport.


Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, said: “Through intelligent integration of a range of proven and newly available technologies, we have delivered a car that engages and excites the keen motorist with the superb power and torque figures and crucially has a lower impact on the environment. The most important part of this project is that the solution is a combination of technologies that are available and can be implemented in next generation models and with further work beyond the scope of this initial project, dramatic reductions in CO2 can theoretically be achieved.


He continued: “I am very pleased with what has been achieved in this project. Lotus Engineering is leading the industry across a number of advanced green powertrain technologies, including electric vehicles, hybrids, bio-fuels and developing more efficient gasoline and diesel engines. We believe a crucial factor in the adoption of green cars in the future will be ensuring they remain fun to drive. This Low CO2 collaboration with Continental Division Powertrain proves that objective has been reached.”

Dr. Hans Nuglisch, Senior Manager of this Low CO2 project at Continental Division Powertrain, said: “The cooperation with our partner, Lotus Engineering, has shown once again, that there is still an enormous potential for additional innovation within the internal combustion engine. Obviously electronics and mechatronics are making vehicles more economical without compromising driving fun. Additionally turbo charging combined with direct injection means noticeably better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for the gasoline engine. With our advanced expertise in low CO2 know how, we provide clear benefits for our customers and will further strengthen and improve our role as systems integration experts." Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said, "I am determined that transport should play its part in tackling climate change, so it is essential that our strategy focuses on driving forward new technologies to make engines greener. This engine is one of the more environmentally-friendly petrol engines around, raising the standard for others to meet. I am pleased the Government was able to support this project through the Low Carbon Research and Development programme and look forward to the day when this type of technology becomes commonplace on our roads"


"With over 20% of the UK's total carbon emissions produced by road transport every year, technological advances in this area are vital,” explains Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, which is managing the initiative. “This project is an exciting opportunity for innovative technologies to be developed and showcased."

Lotus brought to the project its world-class powertrain design, development, testing and validation capabilities, with specific expertise in engine downsizing and systems integration. Continental Division Powertrain supplied its extensive experience in powertrain management and control systems, especially in the areas of direct fuel injection systems, hybrid drives, energy management, emission after-treatment and a number of new technologies.

Technical details
Technical specification of the Low CO2 engine when installed in Opel Astra:
Cylinders: 3
Displacement: 1.5 litres
Bore: 88mm
Stroke: 82mm
Compression ratio: 10.2:1

Fuel pump pressure: 200bar
Emissions (NEDC): 149 g/km CO2 meeting Euro 5 Emission standards
Max power: 160ps @ 5000rpm
Max torque: 240Nm @ 2500rpm - 4000rpm
Mild hybrid motor output: 12kW
Mild hybrid energy storage system: 60v supercapacitors


Key features of the Low CO2 engine in detail:
CPS switching tappets:
Lotus Engineering’s Cam Profile Switching system incorporates lobed tappets that vary valve lift and timing. The system is produced under licence by INA and features in Porsche products in its ‘VarioCam Plus’ system.
High pressure fuel pump:
Continental Division Powertrain’s single cylinder fuel pump driven directly from the tri lobe cam on the exhaust camshaft.
Fuel injectors:
Affordable, 200bar, solenoid, DI centrally mounted injectors by Continental Division Powertrain.
Smart Coolant Pump and Demand Regulated Intank Fuel Pump:
Continental Division Powertrain's electric water and fuel pumps could save up to 2% of fuel.
Mild Hybrid Drive:
The Continental Division Powertrain system features unique water cooled motor housing to match transmission to engine block.
Integrated Exhaust Manifold:
Lotus Engineering designed and developed a new advanced cylinder head design featuring an integrated exhaust manifold. The production-ready technology can significantly reduce manufacturing costs, emissions and weight on most gasoline-engined passenger vehicles. An integrated exhaust manifold has potential to:
o Reduced parts count: 35% fewer components resulting in lower inventory, production, logistics and aftermarket costs
o Weight reduction: total system mass reduction of 20% resulting from elimination of separate exhaust manifold
o Improved engine durability


HOTFIRE
The Low CO2 project exploits the findings of the HOTFIRE project, a previous research programme led by Lotus Engineering and also including Siemens VDO, Loughborough University and University College London. HOTFIRE, which started in October 2004, was based at Loughborough University to explore a permanent homogeneous charge direct injection strategy through the use of centrally-mounted injectors.

Source: Lotus

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BMW X5 Twin Turbo Hybrid Concept

BMW are pulling out all the stops to beat Ken Livingston’s increase in the London Congestion charge. Porsche are heading to the courts while BMW are spending money on innovation.

To be revealed at the Geneva show, BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is jam packed with innovative new state-of-the-art technology aimed at reducing emissions and improving efficiency। Based on the bulky X5, the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is one of the first Diesel Hybrid applications in a passenger car. Only a few other manufacturers like Mercedes, PSA and Ford have shown Diesel Hybrid systems in the past. The vehicle employs a highly developed 2.0L turbo diesel four cylinder engine that uses variable twin turbo system and 3rd generation common rail technology to produce an impressive 204hp and 400Nm of torque. This powerplant is assisted by a mild Hybrid concept that uses a compact generator to provide up to 20hp more power and a whopping 210Nm of torque. All the torque is fed through a new 8 speed automatic transmission developed in conjunction with ZF. The greater spread of gear ratios should allow the engine to run at its more optimal speed/load point for a given road speed. BMW quote 43.5mpg or 172g/km CO2 of on the combined cycle, which is hugely impressive for a vehicle the size of the X5. The car is also equipped with BMW’s regenerative braking system and photovoltaic solar panels mounted to the roof.

It makes perfect sense to couple a hybrid system to a diesel engine। Diesel engines are significantly more efficient than a gasoline engines but generally cost substantially more as a unit. This is a result of their complex fuel injection systems and the obligatory turbocharger, in this case two. Modern diesels emit fewer CO2 emissions too as a result of using less fuel. The cost of the diesel engine has to be added to the hybrid generator and the batteries and all of a sudden you are looking at a very expensive vehicle. Nevertheless, directionally it is a great step forward and perhaps those central London dwellers can still have their SUV fix after all. Read on for more details.




Press Release

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Revealed

Offering an insight into the future of BMW’s innovative EfficientDynamics technologies

The Geneva Motor Show (4 – 16 March) will mark the world premiere of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, a concept car designed to showcase the future direction of BMW’s performance enhancing and emissions lowering innovations. Mild ActiveHybrid technology is combined with a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, a new eight-speed automatic gearbox and even roof-mounted solar panels, and all shrouded in a BMW X5 body.

All of these technologies combine to deliver the best fuel economy and lowest emissions of any large 4x4 currently on sale. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics delivers 43.5mpg on the combined cycle and just 172g/km of CO2 emissions. However, these frugal figures do not translate into low performance figures. With its twin-turbocharged two-litre diesel engine delivering more than 100hp per litre, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept completes the sprint from zero to 62mph in just 8.9 seconds, a time faster than most current production competitors.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses BMW’s Variable Twin Turbo concept, third-generation common-rail injection and an all aluminium crankcase to deliver 204hp and 400Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,250rpm. The engine is supplemented by a mild hybrid concept that delivers a further 20hp and 210Nm of torque under acceleration. As a consequence, even though the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics features a relatively small capacity engine, it delivers nearly the same levels of horsepower as the conventional X5, but offers improvements in its already class-leading consumption and emissions figures.
The mild hybrid solution in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses a compact generator that, for the first time, is flange mounted directly onto the gearbox. This motor produces up to 20hp of on-demand power. In addition, BMW’s now familiar Brake Energy Regeneration is used to efficiently capture energy that would previously have been lost when the engine is on overrun. Innovatively, the alternator is also integrated into the crankcase rather than conventionally driven from the front of the engine.

BMW’s concept uses highly efficient lithium-ion batteries in the boot area to store the power generated. These high-storage-capacity batteries enable optimum use of Brake Energy Regeneration. In addition, they create possibilities to power the air conditioning, electric coolant pump and the electric power steering system. For these functions, a 120 volt vehicle power system was designed and runs in parallel with the conventional 12 volt system.

The power harnessed by the batteries is also supplemented by roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels, measuring 1.0 metre square. The energy generated can either be used immediately or stored for later use. Importantly, the power created in this zero- CO2 way can be used to pre-heat the diesel fuel. The less efficient warm-up phase is thus shortened considerably.

This innovative and technologically advanced engine is directly mated to a new eight- speed automatic transmission. Developed jointly between BMW and ZF, the new gearbox delivers fast and efficient gear changes. With such a spread of gears, the car will always be in exactly the right ratio for the prevailing driving conditions. It also improves fuel consumption and minimises emissions.

The chassis and ride-height of the X5 have been adapted for the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics. This includes aerodynamically-efficient 19-inch light alloy wheels with reduced ventilation. The design of the spokes reduces wind resistance to the extent that, at 100mph, the car has to produce one horsepower less than a conventionally-wheeled car. This benefit has not been included in the fuel consumption calculations but, on the road, the impact is noticeable.

Source: BMW

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GM Offers LA Drivers E85 Ethanol for 85 Cents a Gallon

General Motors has been one of America’s strongest supporters of E85 in the past few years, and to help promote the expansion of ethanol production the company is launching a new promotion. Los Angeles drivers who own E85 compatible vehicles will be able get the fuel for only 85 cents a gallon.

GM currently has more than 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road in the United States, and that number is expected to double by 2010. The company believes that biofuel has the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels and help reduce tailpipe carbon gas emissions in the United States.

The promotion is only valid at one location, Conserv Fuel at 11699 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood on February 26th from noon to 2:00 pm.

Press Release

GM Offers LA Drivers E85 Ethanol for 85 Cents a Gallon

FlexFuel Vehicle Promotion Targets Ethanol Infrastructure Growth

BRENTWOOD, Calif. – The rising price of gasoline is hard to avoid in Los Angeles, but owners of the more than 46,000 FlexFuel vehicles capable of running on E85 ethanol are about to get a break this Tuesday – paying only 85.9 cents a gallon for the cleaner, alternative fuel.

On February 26th from noon to 2:00 p.m., Conserv Fuel at 11699 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood will offer E85 ethanol for 85 cents a gallon.

And General Motors is paying the bill.

GM is sponsoring the promotion to help raise awareness about the first station in Los Angeles to offer E85 ethanol, and to encourage drivers of FlexFuel vehicles to use this cleaner, renewable fuel instead of gasoline.

“At GM, we believe the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels and help reduce tailpipe carbon gas emissions in the United States is ethanol, and so we have made a major commitment to vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol,” said Susan Docherty, general manager of GM’s 16-state Western Region, which includes California.

With more than 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road today, GM is the automotive industry leader in producing vehicles that run on E85 ethanol. That number is expected to double by 2010, with annual production of E85-capable vehicles reaching 400,000. For the 2008 model year, GM offers 11 FlexFuel models, identifiable by FlexFuel exterior badging and yellow gasoline caps.

Source: GM

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Fioravanti Celebrates its 20th Anniversary With the Hidra

Last year, Fioravanti has presented the Thalia Concept at last year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show। It was basically a five-door coupe that aimed to propose a new way to store alternative sources of energy. For 2008, the year in which Fioravanti completes 20 years of activities, Geneva will witness the appearance of the Hidra Concept, basically a five-door coupe that aims to propose a new way to store alternative sources of energy. We know that “déjà vu” is a French expression, but it will suit the Italian design studio just fine. Apart from the different tops, Thalia and Hidra look exactly the same. Maybe this is because the official press release is not in Fioravanti’s site so far (anyone willing to get more information could solve the problem with Thalia’ pictures and information).

Since we have mentioned info (technical specs, engines etc.), we are sorry to say there is none besides what VirtualCar.it and cars-space have brought us: the car will present revolutionary solutions for glass surfaces and will be an MPC (Multi Purpose Coupe)। More information on the vehicle will only be released at the Geneva Motor Show.

Great Race 2008 Prepares Its Engines to Start

The event that has inspired the movie “The Great Race” and Hanna-Barbera’s “Wacky Races” cartoon series has completed 100 years. The “Greatest Auto Race”, the first car competition around the world, started in February 12, 1908 in New York and ended July 30, 1908 in Paris, with the victory of a 1907 Thomas Flyer driven by George Schuster. The event was crucial in establishing cars as a reliable means of transportation in times when “motor cars” and women were considered to be the most fragile and capricious things on Earth. Now that automobiles are part of the modern life, the competition will have two different challenges in its second edition: test classic cars in a world-wide competition and show how modern cars can evolve into clean vehicles.

The Great Race 2008 New York to Paris will begin May 30, 2008, departing exactly from the same place the original competition took off from: Times Square, in New York. The arrival spot will also be the same one where Schuster has been declared the winner: the Eiffel Tower.

In this edition, there will be two competitive classes: Innovation and Schuster. The first one aims to showcase the reliability of new technologies, such as biofuels, fuel cells or any other the competitors choose to put to the test. Production or preproduction prototypes are allowed to participate and one of the most interesting will surely be a 2007 Ford Prototype of the Brazilian team Kyr Augusto Araujo/Alberto Fadigatti, but there will also be a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage able to run on multiple fuels, driven by the USA team J. Price/R. McKone.

The second, named after the winner of the first race, will allow classic vehicles (at least 25 years old) to face the 30,149 km challenge. They will surely find better conditions this time (since there were hardly any roads back in 1908), but all care is necessary to avoid the same fate half of the first competitors had. Of the 6 teams that entered the Greatest Race in 1908, only 3 managed to finish it.

The route for the Great Race 2008 has been recently defined. The racers will cross 13 countries (United States, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and France, in this order) and stop in more than 50 cities.

Press Release

2008 NEW YORK TO PARIS ‘GREAT RACE’ ROUTE IS SET

NEW YORK – The worldwide route for the 2008 Great Race from New York to Paris has been officially set, according to Bill Ewing, chief executive for Great Race Sports, the event organizers.

“It’s been fun putting the pieces together to make The Great Race both historical and relevant,” said Ewing. “A special thanks must go to our partners, government officials and especially our staff who worked tirelessly and traveled innumerable miles to create a route that I am sure will make for a great event this summer.”

The 2008 route is a daunting automotive challenge, though certainly not as fearful as that planned a century earlier for the original Great Race. This time, it has not been suggested that the cars should be driven across the frozen Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia, as the 1908 organizers originally planned.

The Great Race 2008 will begin in New York City and circumnavigate the globe, passing through 13 countries before arriving in Paris 65 days later – 104 less than the winner needed in 1908. The total distance is 18,738 miles (30,149 km), including 13,106 miles (21,087 km) on land and about 5,632 miles (9,062 km) in a flight from Vancouver to Shanghai. The race consists of four stages, each of which is an individual event that teams can also enter: Great Race North America, Great Race China, Central Asia / Eastern Europe and Great Race Europe.

“I am very proud what our team did in putting together this route, which represents a diverse set of challenges and opportunities.” said Ewing. “From the historically significant route through upper New York State to a route across Canada that is both challenging and scenic, our teams fly half way around the world to a whole new set of experiences. We have spent a great deal of time organizing the final three legs from Shanghai to Paris, creating a route that combines an adventure, similar to what the teams experienced in 1908 with the amenities and accommodations commensurate with a first class operation. I am sure it will be the ultimate adventure.”

After leaving New York City, the teams will turn northward and travel a route somewhat similar to the one in 1908, stopping first at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s historic home at Hyde Park for lunch, then overnight in Albany, the State Capital. Day two includes a stop in Syracuse and then Buffalo, home to the winning driver in 1908, George Schuster and the E.R. Thomas Motor Company, manufacturer of the winning car.

From Buffalo, Great Race North America, the first stage of the New York to Paris Great Race, will deviate from the 1908 route and follow a scenic, yet demanding course through southern Canada, stopping first in Toronto and then Ottawa, the nation’s capital. After an overnight stay in Ottawa, the race will travel along Lake Superior, then through the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Great Race will cross the Canadian Rockies near Banff, driving past Lake Louis and Glacier National Park. The finish is in the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia – last stop before China.

“A Canadian route creates a more international event and provides a new driving adventure for our participants,” said Ewing. “For 25 years, the Great Race has traveled throughout the United States and has stopped at more than 900 North American communities. Canada provides new ground and an adventure more in the spirit of 1908.”

In Vancouver, the cars traveling around the world will then be loaded on a pair of jets for the flight to Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, to begin the longest and most challenging portion of the trip from Shanghai to Paris – a total distance of 8,716 miles (12,874 km).

Great Race Sports is working with two companies with extensive experience in travel through Asia and Europe to coordinate this part of the race. Além International and the MIR Corporation will play an important role in managing the route, security, hotels and travel for the next 43 days.

“This is in the ‘sweet spot’ for our partners and will help make the Great Race a fun, safe and memorable experience,” said Ewing. “Além International has managed the Olympic Torch Run for many years and will manage our logistics and security for the entire route, and will coordinate travel through Europe. The MIR Corporation has organized tours through China, Kazakhstan and Russia for more than 2 decades and will help us there. Plus, we have been on the ground twice, seeing the roads, hotels and writing a unique and challenging course. Everyone involved has the skills necessary to bring this all together.”

From Shanghai, the teams will head south and then west through some of the oldest and most fascinating cities in the world. The roads have been carefully selected and offer a wide variety of driving experiences, from brand new superhighways to picturesque country roads through parts of China rarely scene by westerners. Teams will travel within sight of the Great Wall and follow the Great Silk Road past some of the oldest and most fascinating cities in the world.

“I was most impressed by the roads in China,” said Wayne Stanfield, chief of operations for Great Race Sports, Inc, who has traveled the route in anticipation of the race. “The Expressways are world-class, and even the smallest side roads provide spectacular driving. Plus the warmth and friendliness of the Chinese people will leave an indelible memory on all of the participants.”

Great Race China finishes in Urumqi in Western China. Next is the longest and most challenging part of the trip, a 4,800-mile journey across central Asia from Urumqi to Berlin, Germany. The Great Race will spend seven days in Kazakhstan including a day off in Almaty, the largest city in Central Asia’s richest country. Stops in Kazakhstan also include Balkhash, Karaghanda, Astana, and Petropavlovsk before entering Russia.

Participants will then travel through Russia for eleven days on a route that will initially take them across the steps of lowland Russia and then over the Ural Mountains to Ekaterinburg, Russia’s fifth largest city and one of its most historic. Stops in Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod precede the drive into Moscow and Red Square. From there, the route features a scenic twoday drive through Eastern Europe, stopping in Daugavpils, Latvia, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Warsaw, Poland before entering Berlin.

The final stage is Great Race Europe, a 1057-mile push through five countries, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and France. The Great Race will finish in Paris, France on Aug. 2, 2008, at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Some of the roads between Berlin and Paris – notably those around Prague and St. Anton, a lunch stop – are considered among the most scenic in the world.

“We are lucky to have the centennial as an excuse to make this run,” said Ewing. “But you shouldn’t need one. It’s such an exciting challenge – and after all, how many people get the opportunity to drive all the way around the world? That itself is reason enough.”

Source: Great Race

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Geneva preview: PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG

Considering that the number of natural gas powered vehicles in Switzerland more than doubled last year, PGO determined that the Geneva Auto Show would be an excellent location to debut their newest offering.

Looking vaguely like an early Porsche cabriolet, the PGO Cévennes Turbo-CNG is equipped with a 1.6L turbo engine that is good for 150hp. Only emitting 118 grams of CO2 per kilometer, the car can travel up to 450km on a single tank and get from 0 to 100km in 6.5 seconds. A joint effort between PGO Automobiles of France and BRA GmbH in Germany, the car will go into production soon and cost an equivalent of 44,000 euros.

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Chevrolet HHR E85 Runs Ethanol

General Motors has significantly increased its brownie points as far as environmental lobbyists are concerned, by announcing a Chevrolet HHR SUV that runs on E85 FlexFuel too.

GM’s strategy on FlexFuel models has been to run a combination of 15 percent petrol/ gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. This marriage of fuels results in a saving of up to 23 percent in CO2 emissions as far as HHR is concerned. A number of countries, including Brasil, are already heavy on the use of ethanol as an alternative for gasoline/ petrol. SUVs have been the hardest hit in the battle against harmful gasses, so the HHR will be welcome.

The HHR will use two Ecotec engines, a 2.2-litre and a 2.4-litre, both of which can be run on E85. We are probably not at the state where E85 is a high-performance fuel yet, indeed the HHR is not likely to earn any speeding world records, but as the drag society already knows, the capabilities of ethanol as a performance-source cannot be questioned. So the future looks like this: cars that can think like humans, drink like humans (ethanol is pure alcohol) and talk like humans (K.I.T.T.)?






Press Release

The 2009 Chevrolet HHR small SUV will become the first four-cylinder model in General Motors Corp.'s North American lineup that can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol.

GM North America President Troy Clarke unveiled the FlexFuel Chevy HHR today during a speech at the Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast, which opened press days for the Chicago Auto Show.

"We will continue to make more of our lineup FlexFuel-capable because we believe ethanol, and specifically E85, is the best near-term answer to reduce our nation's dependence on oil as energy demand rises here and around the world," Clarke said.

"The focus needs to be on making E85 more available by developing cellulosic ethanol sources and dramatically increasing the number of stations that offer E85," he said.

GM is the auto industry leader in offering FlexFuel models - 11 for 2008 and more than 15 planned for 2009. The HHR, whose January sales of 9,650 were up 73 percent from the same month a year ago, will become the latest Chevrolet FlexFuel model when it goes on sale later this year. Chevrolet has more than 2 million of GM's more than 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road.

An HHR running on E85 - a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline - would emit up to 23 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than if running on gasoline, based on a well-to-wheel analysis by the Argonne National Laboratory.

The HHR will be available with an Ecotec 2.2-liter or Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, both of which will be compatible with E85. For the first time, the Ecotec 2.2L is equipped with variable valve timing (VVT), technology that assures precise opening and closing of the valves and accurate control of combustion gases to improve engine performance and efficiency. The Ecotec 2.4L continues to offer VVT.


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Fisker Karma Revealed in Detroit

Karma: a term describing that of cause and effect. And so it is appropriate that Fisker Automotive's first production car is so named. Dubbed as a vehicle allowing consumers the good practise of automotive karma, this environmentally-friendly plug-in hybrid is a new breed, bringing the extreme comfort and style of the luxury automobile category to an eco-friendlier one.

Cutting-edge technology features at the new Karma's heart. Developed exclusively for Fisker Automotive by Quantum Technologies, Q-DRIVE provides a small petrol engine in turning a generator for power to its lithium-ion battery pack. The technology will be used to power future derivatives under the Fisker brand. Regenerative braking will be employed to regain power otherwise lost from braking, while an optional solar roof will charge the battery and maintain partly self-contained climate control when parked.

Offering emissions-free driving of up to 50 miles per charge, Fisker are keen to point out that with more than 60% of Americans and Europeans driving less than 50 miles on their daily commutes, household fuel dependency could drop with a Karma on the drive. "If this 60% of commuters would drive a plug-in hybrid like the Fisker Karma, we could see the fastest possible reduction both in oil consumption and emissions - all without sacrificing their daily driving habits."

A sleek, elongated design, the result of an all-new chassis built specifically for the development of the new powertrain, places the battery pack in the centre of the vehicle - improving weight distribution and dynamics. Proportional in height to Porsche's 911 and in length to the Mercedes CLS, the Fisker Karma makes extensive use of lightweight aluminium for its body panels and structure, producing impressive performance statistics - sprinting to sixty in just six seconds and continuing 'beyond' 125 mph.

Luxury exudes from the Karma's 'first class' four-seater cabin, with modern sophistication and a spacious luggage capacity the overriding features. The Karma's electronic aides include a Navigation system in the front with DVD player and integrated seat back displays in the rear. Two modes of driving are selectable: "Stealth Mode" and "Sport Mode". The former tweaks the car's setup for quiet economy mode and the latter, a mode to access the full extent of the car's power.

The design is final and will be put to market in the form seen next week at Detroit, with the first 99 examples to be numbered and signed by Henrik Fisker - produced in the colour and trim of the show vehicle. The Fisker Karma will hit Detroit January 14th, with first deliveries starting the last quarter of 2009.