Motor Authority - blog Tag: Diesels

Frankfurt's auto show shaping up as its greenest, most wired ever--and BMW's new concept coupe is leading the charge.

MotorAuthority has reported for weeks on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept in the works for the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. Rumors placed the car as a coupe, then a four-door, then a little unbelievably as a three-cylinder hybrid.

Almost all of the leaked details have turned out to be true, as BMW confirms the details of the new concept set for a world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.

At its core, the Vision EfficientDynamics concept is a sportscar in the BMW vein, with promised M-car performance levels. It's the...

Frankfurt's auto show shaping up as its greenest, most wired ever--and BMW's new concept coupe is leading the charge. MotorAuthority has reported for weeks on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept in the works for the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. Rumors placed the car as a coupe, then a four-door, then a little unbelievably as a three-cylinder hybrid. Almost all of the leaked details have turned out to be true, as BMW confirms the details of the new concept set for a world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. At its core, the Vision EfficientDynamics concept is a sportscar in the BMW vein, with promised M-car performance levels. It's the drivetrains that are the shockers: this particular vision sees a future BMW sportscar sporting a three-cylinder diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's a tour de force--at least in concept, since no automaker has yet produced a diesel hybrid, or a mass-market plug-in hybrid, not to mention a combination of the two. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics: Greener Than Thou With the new Vision concept, BMW isn't simply keeping pace with the Chevy Volts, Prius plug-ins and Peugeot diesel hybrid concepts floated by those automakers. It's a trump card that marries all those technologies into a single halo car that could lead the way to lighter, more efficient, more dramatically styled BMW coupes of the future. It could also be the engineering equivalent of conjecture. There's so much going on beneath its body, it's difficult to imagine all the green-car technologies knitted together in harmony. It's hard to write them in a single sentence without running on, even. There's a direct-injection, 1.5-liter, 163-hp, three-cylinder turbodiesel, two electric motors (one per axle), a set of lithium-ion batteries, and a software controller that modulates and marries both powertrains to a combined total of 356 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The EfficientDynamics concept uses all three in tandem or selectively. Using only the diesel engine's power, a six-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The hybrid powertrain is actually two distinct applications, a "conventional" hybrid system applied to the rear wheels and a hybrid motor hooked to the front wheels. The rear-wheel hybrid system operates in tandem with the diesel engine, while the front system operates on battery power alone. As such, BMW says the Vision EfficientDynamics could provide all-wheel drive in electric-only mode, with battery power twisting its front and rear axles simultaneously. The EfficientDynamics concept's performance is geared to convince Bimmerphiles that green and clean doesn't mean thin power and willowy handling. BMW claims a 155-mph top speed and a 0-60 mph time of less than 4.8 seconds, while providing fuel economy of almost 63 mpg, and for European enthusiasts, CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometer. Because it's also a plug-in hybrid, those controversial CO2 emissions could be halved to 50 grams per kilometer, if the Vision EfficientDynamics were juiced up with electricity and driven on battery power alone. The plug-in technology used means the concept car would use a standard 220-volt household outlet to recharge its batteries. A 2.5-hour recharge time is predicted, though on a 380-volt line, BMW says a 44-minute full recharge is possible. Driving range could pass 400 miles with fuel or 31 miles on electricity alone, BMW also adds. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics: dial M for model Is this the future look of BMW? BMW only says the grand tourer body uses aerodynamics extensively as functional design elements. A low front end and active louvers cool the drivetrain when needed, and close to improve airflow when unnecessary. The racing-inspired details continue with well-managed airflow--so tightly tuned, the EfficientDynamics concept generates a coefficient of drag of 0.22, while today's best production cars sit at 0.24 (pointedly, that car is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.) By BMW's measure, the EfficientDynamics concept sits in the midst of BMW's high-performance coupe range. It measures 181.1 inches long, 74.8 inches wide, and 48.8 inches tall, and weighs 3076 pounds. The concept has 5.3 cubic feet of luggage space, enough for two golf bags. The body of the EfficientDynamics concept is lightweight in design and execution. The suspension and shell are aluminum, the roof and door skins autochromic polycarbonate glass. Inside, it's more of the same: Kevlar frames the seats, and connects them to the center console, but elsewhere, sustainability is penned into the colors and materials chosen. LED lighting inside has ambient hues, while the headlights and taillights are linked to the ambient lighting to shift its color and intensity, depending on exterior conditions. A head-up display and night vision are configured into the gauges and driver displays. Sophisticated software underpins virtually every system of the EfficientDynamics concept. That software takes constant readings from the car's systems and interprets the data to enable more efficient operation. An example: the navigation system's traffic data can cue the drivetrain to shut down the concept's cooling fans to prepare it for more efficient highway operation. Even the air conditioning and electric power-steering sensitivity are constantly tweaked in this way for optimum performance. MotorAuthority is headed to Germany in a few weeks to bring you more on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, live from Frankfurt. And, in tandem with the EfficientDynamics concept, we'll bring you the latest on the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid and BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid, too. For all of High Gear Media's live coverage of the show and these new hybrids, follow the links below--or write your own preview of the show, the cars and the concepts by signing up to become a High Gear Media contributor. MORE: TheCarConnection: 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show MotorAuthority Covers the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show GreenCarReports: 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show Green Cars -------------------------------- Write your own car blog at High Gear Media! Sign up to write and tell car enthusiasts and shoppers what you think about your vehicle or today's car news and get published to High Gear Media sites like AllSmallCars, LexusReports, FamilyCarGuide and more! Read More

Audi says a revamped version of its big Q7 SUV will offer new LED lighting and a new version of MMI.

The changes are minor for one of the most lauded of the big sport-utes, which competes against the likes of the Benz M-Class and BMW X5. The new LED lighting is applied on all Q7 taillamps; Audi will also fit the Q7 with optional LED turn signals and daytime running lights. In addition, the Q7 wears new wheels and new lower body paint for the 2010 model year.

Inside, the 2010 Q7 adopts the latest version of Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI), with a three-dimensional navigation map, Sirius traffic data and joystick control. Voice controls...

Audi says a revamped version of its big Q7 SUV will offer new LED lighting and a new version of MMI. The changes are minor for one of the most lauded of the big sport-utes, which competes against the likes of the Benz M-Class and BMW X5. The new LED lighting is applied on all Q7 taillamps; Audi will also fit the Q7 with optional LED turn signals and daytime running lights. In addition, the Q7 wears new wheels and new lower body paint for the 2010 model year. Inside, the 2010 Q7 adopts the latest version of Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI), with a three-dimensional navigation map, Sirius traffic data and joystick control. Voice controls with better spoken-word skills are part of the upgrade: Audi says you can say, "I'm hungry," and the car will point to nearby restaurants.The Q7 is one of Audi's best-rated vehicles for safety, with five-star crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2010 Audi Q7 arrives in dealers in September sporting some mild work to its cabin and front end, and a price tag starting at $47,725. The turbodiesel starts at $51,725, but Audi notes that it is eligible for a $1,150 federal tax credit for new green vehicles. Point your browser to Motor Authority's full vehicle page for more 2010 Audi Q7 photos, specifications, and pricing. Read More

More than a year ago, Volkswagen announced it was working on a project to bring its 1-Liter concept from 2002 to production reality. The three-wheeled low-slung extremely aerodynamic design still seems a bit unrealistic, but now VW is thought to be building a slightly larger, more functional city car that's shooting for the 2L/100km (117.6mpg) fuel efficiency mark.

The new '2-Liter' car is expected to be based on a shorter version of the up! (concept pictured) that will be going into production next year, reports Auto Motor & Sport. Targeting competition like the Smart ForTwo and Toyota's new iQ minicar, the 2-Liter will be a more realistic... More than a year ago, Volkswagen announced it was working on a project to bring its 1-Liter concept from 2002 to production reality. The three-wheeled low-slung extremely aerodynamic design still seems a bit unrealistic, but now VW is thought to be building a slightly larger, more functional city car that's shooting for the 2L/100km (117.6mpg) fuel efficiency mark. The new '2-Liter' car is expected to be based on a shorter version of the up! (concept pictured) that will be going into production next year, reports Auto Motor & Sport. Targeting competition like the Smart ForTwo and Toyota's new iQ minicar, the 2-Liter will be a more realistic goal for production, and should come sooner than the 1-Liter, though that tandem-seated hyper-efficient vehicle could enter production as early as 2010. VW has already hinted that a more utilitarian fuel-focused vehicle might hit the streets in the interim, though at the time in 2007, Volkswagen’s Chairman Ferdinand Piëch framed it as a 3L/100km (78.4mpg) car based around the Lupo. Like the 1-Liter, the 2-Liter is expected to use diesel as its fuel since it's the most energy-dense of the readily available fuels in use today. A small displacement three-cylinder car, around 1L in size, will likely get the nod. Two-cylinders are in development but unlikely for use due to their high-revving nature in a vehicular application - the rougher, noisier operation doesn't result in any improvements in fuel economy. Though it's still too early for firm numbers, power output is expected to lie in the 50hp (44kW) range, putting it squarely in the fight with its minicar companions.2007 Volkswagen up! conceptVolkswagen 'two-liter' preview Read More

Diesel-loving fans of mid-range Japanese luxury sedans are mourning today, because the latest reports are indicating the long-awaited 2009 Acura TSX fitted with a 44mpg diesel engine will be delayed for an unknown period of time.

It doesn't appear that the engine itself has been killed, rather, just the application in a North American Acura TSX - though no other U.S. cars are tipped to get the car yet. The Honda Pilot or Odyssey would both be logical choices, as would the Accord, but none seem like the appropriate vehicle for launch of such an engine, despite earlier reports that the Odyssey would be the first with the new diesel.

The... Diesel-loving fans of mid-range Japanese luxury sedans are mourning today, because the latest reports are indicating the long-awaited 2009 Acura TSX fitted with a 44mpg diesel engine will be delayed for an unknown period of time. It doesn't appear that the engine itself has been killed, rather, just the application in a North American Acura TSX - though no other U.S. cars are tipped to get the car yet. The Honda Pilot or Odyssey would both be logical choices, as would the Accord, but none seem like the appropriate vehicle for launch of such an engine, despite earlier reports that the Odyssey would be the first with the new diesel. The reasoning behind the report, according to NextAutos is the i-DTEC engine's failure to pass emissions testing that would allow the car to be 50-state legal. As with any such expensive technology, being able to sell in all 50 states is key to success, especially since the states with the harshest emissions laws are typically also the largest target markets - i.e. California and much of the northeast U.S. In place of the torquey and inherently driveable i-DTEC engine, Acura is reportedly speeding up work for a V6 TSX, but it won't likely be able to deliver the combination of fun and efficiency a typical diesel turns out.2009 Acura TSX Read More

The Paris Motor Show is rife with Peugeot concept cars today, and nearly all of them feature the new HYmotion4 all-wheel-drive hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain. Designed for both performance and efficiency, the HYmotion4 system delivers on both accounts - on paper at least.

Rated at 68mpg and generating 200hp in its application in the Prologue family sedan, for example, the HYmotion4 system combines the torque and efficiency of diesel with the clean-running and efficient electric system for lower speed city driving. The AWD system is a unique one, and its configuration manages to eliminate the primary drawback: weight.

By putting the ... The Paris Motor Show is rife with Peugeot concept cars today, and nearly all of them feature the new HYmotion4 all-wheel-drive hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain. Designed for both performance and efficiency, the HYmotion4 system delivers on both accounts - on paper at least. Rated at 68mpg and generating 200hp in its application in the Prologue family sedan, for example, the HYmotion4 system combines the torque and efficiency of diesel with the clean-running and efficient electric system for lower speed city driving. The AWD system is a unique one, and its configuration manages to eliminate the primary drawback: weight. By putting the diesel drivetrain up front, where it can drive the front wheels, and the electric motor at the rear, where it drives the rear wheels, Peugeot has eliminated the need for heavy and bulky transfer cases, driveshafts and differentials. Eliminating so much weight and material from the driveline itself also improves efficiency by reducing parasitic losses. At the center of the HYmotion4 system ies a 2.0L HDi diesel engine with FAP particulate filter, a start-stop system and a six-speed automatic gearbox. Combined with the rear-mounted electric motor and a battery pack that's capable of regenerating energy under braking, the HYmotion4 system presents a fully parallel hybrid design to maximize traction, performance and efficiency.Peugeot HYmotion4 Diesel-electric AWD hybrid system Read More

The Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption has been claimed by hypermiling power couple John and Helen Taylor at the wheel of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Burning diesel across the lower 48 United States, the pair averaged 58.82mpg (3.99L/100km) over 20 days.

Previously the record for lowest fuel consumption on a transnational trip had been set at 51.58mpg (4.56L/100km), making the new record an improvement of 14%. The total trip distance was far from direct, totaling 9,419mi (15,070km) with an average fuel cost of 6.9 cents per mi, for a total of $653. Guinness World Records has yet to officially certify the record, but it is... The Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption has been claimed by hypermiling power couple John and Helen Taylor at the wheel of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Burning diesel across the lower 48 United States, the pair averaged 58.82mpg (3.99L/100km) over 20 days. Previously the record for lowest fuel consumption on a transnational trip had been set at 51.58mpg (4.56L/100km), making the new record an improvement of 14%. The total trip distance was far from direct, totaling 9,419mi (15,070km) with an average fuel cost of 6.9 cents per mi, for a total of $653. Guinness World Records has yet to officially certify the record, but it is expected to enter the books without issue. "The terrain was very diverse, the weather less than ideal, and the traffic heavy at rush hour and the VW Jetta TDI handled it all beautifully, showing its fuel efficiency and its fun-to-drive dynamic capability, just two of this vehicle's many attributes," said John Taylor. Fuel efficiency was tracked and measured over 12 official check-in points across the country as the Taylors progressed through their record-setting drive. The all-new 2009 Jetta TDI features a 50-state emissions-legal clean diesel engine. Rated by the EPA at 29mpg (8.11L/100km) city and 40mpg (5.88L/100km)highway, the car has been proven to be capable of significantly better economy in the right hands. Even under the guidance of more typical drivers, however, VW estimates the real-world performance of the car to be nearer to 38mpg (6.18L/100km) in the city and 44mpg (5.34L/100km) on the highway. The new Jetta starts at $21,990 for the sedan and $23,950 for the SportWagen, though both models are eligible for a $1,300 tax credit from the IRS due to their efficiency.2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Read More