A few days ago we reported that Audi would be bringing an electric powered R8 to the Frankfurt Motor Show. However it is our sad news to announce that according to representatives from the German automaker, the speculations have been denied and there will be no battery operated mid engine super car in the Audi booth at Frankfurt in September. This is a little disconcerting, and considering that Audi has already cancelled a TDI V12 version of the R8 due to structural reasons, this is another let down at an attempt to create a high performance environmentally friendly super car. The reluctance to alternative fuel sources is very unlike the company’s “Vorsprung durch Technik,” Advancement through Technology, slogan would suggest.
However the R8 Spyder is still coming, but another disappointment is that the next generation luxury limousine, the Audi A8s unveiling has been delayed until the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. So for now, upstarts like Tesla and Fisker can relax, a major manufacturer is no longer out to build a better green super car.
In the past Ferrari reserved forced induction for the most spectacular of super cars, like the F40 and the vehicle that the Italian automaker used to develop it, the 288 GTO. Just like prancing horse brand is preparing a hybrid 4x4 system, to get the most out of their stable, it now appears that Ferrari is working on a new turbo V8 unit that will boost performance and efficiency.
The future power plant is a "turbocharged internal combustion engine with V arrangement." What is interesting, at least judging by the diagram, it looks like the new boosted V8 has two equally sized turbochargers mounted in the middle of the two banks of cylinders, just like BMW did when they introduced the X6. This layout, although unconventional, makes for a much more compact package, and the shorter runner lengths means even less lag.
This is Ferrari’s first step to produce smaller engines that make the same amount of power as today’s naturally aspirated units. There is no word as to where the Italian sports car maker will mount the new V8 in their vehicle’s chassis, but it should make for an all new super car experience.
You would think that an oil company would be all for gas-guzzlers and oil burners, vehicles that would keep the cash flowing and allow those companies to maximize profits. However there is one member of the crude retailing community that is more focused on getting the most out of every drop, as opposed to selling every last one.
The Hague based operation, Shell Oil, is committed to making the most out of the limited fossil fuel, that is why they have partnered with the Scuderia Ferrari in order to push the boundaries of both performance and efficiency. The pair work together to develop fuels that burn more proficiently on the racetrack and lubricants that allow the rotating parts of the highly sophisticated Formula 1 car to move with less friction and be less of a (parasitic) drag on the machine, allowing it t to be even more fuel efficient.
Shell’s efforts at conservation are not limited to the F1 circuit.
The oil company is also the title sponsor for the Shell Eco-Marathon, a competition whose record holders have achieved the equivalent of over 7800 MPG from their fuel-efficient forward thinking machine. The Shell Eco-Marathon is held in various locations around the globe, and invites students to design, build, and test their unique vehicles, all with the same goal, use the least amount of fuel to travel the farthest distance possible. The student design teams develop vehicles that run on conventional fuels like gasoline, ethanol and diesel, as well as futuristic concepts like solar power, hydrogen and other bio-fuels.
In an attempt to conserve more of the Earth’s natural resources, Volkswagen’s future line-up will include a three-cylinder power plant and an all new hybrid engine. Unfortunately, the planed 55 MPG clean diesel roadster is on hold until the economy picks back up. In an interview with the German magazine, Auto Motor Und Sport, with VW’s head of development, Ulrich Hackenberg had this to say: “The three-cylinder is certainly a great future; we devote ourselves to intensive mechanical, thermodynamic and acoustic development. We will continue the three-cylinder, in any case in the VW Golf to offer."
The hybrid Golf will debut sometime in 2011 and Ulrich thinks that it will be the perfect personal transportation solution for densely populated urban centers, like the growing mega cities found in China and the United States.
If the roadster ever does become a reality, you probably won’t see a Porsche version, but according to Hackenberg, there is a strong possibility that Audi will have a four ringed version as well.
The electric vehicle builder Fisker already has the lithium-ion powered Karma sedan and soon to be Karma Sunset convertible. But for 2010 the Tesla Motors competitor would like to offer something different, a more compact plug-in vehicle.
"We’re first doing the four-door and then we’re doing the convertible and then we’re planning some third derivative off the Karma platform. Then we’re planning a high-volume vehicle for a lower price. We’ve applied for a Department of Energy grant. If that loan comes through, we’ll have this vehicle on the road in 29 months" said Fisker himself.
It is said that 25% of fuel savings depend on the driver’s right foot, but one thing is for certain, when idling at a stop light or sitting in traffic, all cars get zero miles per gallon. That is why the German luxury car builder Mercedes Benz is planning on incorporating the fuel saving start/stop technology in their E200 CGI model by the middle of 2010. The E200 already has an economic four cylinder gas engine, but without wasting gas while standing still, the vehicle’s fuel efficiency is that much greater.
According to Christoph Spengel, head of engine development for Mercedes, the start/stop technology will be standard in every model. In a recent interview with AutoCar Spengel said: "I won’t name a year when we will achieve this goal, but it is a priority for Mercedes. We are pushing hard, and there is the possibility to jump ahead of BMW."
The third generation Toyota Prius is a sleeker and more aggressive machine than its predecessor. The hybrid electric vehicle gets 50 MPG with an affordable price south of around $25K, bringing the fuel-efficient drive train closer to the reach of the masses. The hybrid is packed with futuristic technology like microwave radar transmitters hidden behind the new for 2010 Toyota badges. This forward thinking five seater also won’t make any sacrifices when it comes to creature comforts either.
The vehicle we were introduced to is officially a 2010 Prius prototype, however the vehicle did have a VIN, so maybe after the dealership changes out the wheels for a set of the slick 17’s being offered, this car could see some street action.
Porsche has made no secret about returning to four-cylinder engines, but power-hungry Porsche fans shouldn’t fear. The first four-cylinder cars will likely be first used in the next generation of the Boxster and Cayman. Not only will these 2012 cars be lighter than the current models, but they may also be available with superchargers.
You may be familiar with the musician Sheryl Crow; but did you know that she and a group of other celebrities are doing their part to conserve the Earth’s natural resources and lower their negative impact on the environment? With the help of her Mercedes Benz R320 BlueTEC the singer songwriter believes that “the newest clean diesel vehicles are eco-friendly and deserve as much attention as other gas alternatives like hybrids.”
These next generation diesel vehicles are extremely quiet, unlike the traditional clackers that you can hear from a mile away. These new diesels are cleaner and have an extremely efficient range of over 500 miles from a single fill up. The best part is that they qualify for similar IRS alternative power train tax credits just like their gas electric hybrid cousins.
What is most shocking is that the EPA estimates that the U.S. is capable of conserving 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, if only one third of the light duty automobiles on the road were state of the art clean diesels, utilizing technology like the Mercedes BlueTEC vehicles.
U.S. President Barack Obama wants to make stricter emissions laws and increase overall MPGs for cars in America. He started by giving California and thirteen other states the rights to enact stricter emissions laws. While this may make us breathe a little easier, is this the beginning of the end for the performance car?
Power doesn’t just come from burning gas but the mixture of air and fuel. The more air available in the engine, the greater the possibility of burning more fuel and creating higher performance. This unfortunately does not coincide with green-minded emissions or MPGs.
California is traditionally the hardest state on emissions, which is why most aftermarket products must be California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified to be street legal. If California gets stricter with the laws, there is a good chance that the new regulations could make some old exhaust systems noncompliant, rendering many cars in the costal state illegal.
Tuners may have to find new ways to unleash power in the constant quest for speed. The engineers at Mitsubishi chose to replace the diamond star standard 4G63 with the new 4B11 in their EVO X because they didn’t feel that they could continue tuning the old iron block and be environmentally compliant.
President Obama is taking a major step toward addressing global warming by cleaning up the American transportation fleet. Hopefully the car companies will be able to sneak a few more modified vehicles on U.S. roads before the hammer drops.
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