Friday, January 12, 2007

Chevrolet Volt concept


General Motors was the first manufacturer to offer its EV1 electric vehicle for lease in the United States back in 1996. Poor range, costly battery packs and limited passenger space ultimately caused the vehicle to find a place in the automotive graveyard, but GM has continued to showcase concepts built around alternative propulsion systems.

The Volt concept is Chevrolet’s most recent take on the next generation of alternative-fuelled vehicles. It employs a system called “E-flex” which uses petrol, ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen to produce electricity. Under the sweeping four-door concept’s skin lies either a lithium-ion battery — with auxiliary petrol-powered 1-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine — or a hydrogen-powered fuel cell with storage tanks at the rear.

With the electrical hardware the Volt achieves 160hp and 236lb-ft of torque and is able to travel on electricity alone for up to 40 miles, completely negating the use of fuel. Recharging of the battery is accomplished either by the engine spinning at constant speed or by plugging the car into a 110-volt outlet for 6 hours. When running on E85, the Volt concept’s 150mpg fuel economy translates into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon.

GM’s new propulsion architecture allowed greater flexibility for the interior design team from England. Four individual bucket seats and a clean minimalist dashboard combine with a transparent upper roof section to provide an airy, spacious cabin with ample natural light, enhanced by thin pillars. Current or near-term technologies and materials join extensive use of indirect LED ambient lighting around the roof periphery and highlight the storage areas. The roof, side glass and beltline are constructed of a transparent, glazed polycarbonate material that delivers the scratch resistance and gloss surface appearance of glass, combined with the formability of a plastic composite and decreased weight.

The Chevrolet Volt is certainly a glimpse into the future and GM expects upcoming concepts to incorporate diesel generators, bio-diesel and pure ethanol (E-100) as it strives to create alternatives to conventionally-fuelled vehicles.

posted by Eric @ 2:48 PM 0 comments

Friday, January 05, 2007

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car

The world’s second largest carmaker is poised to show the FT-HS hybrid sports concept at the 2007 NAIAS, pairing a potent hybrid powertrain with essential sports car fundamentals.

Toyota’s expansive lineup has had a void in the sport car segment since the departure of the Supra, a car that was placed on a much-deserved pedestal by auto enthusiasts the world over. Speculation by automotive hacks is that the Toyota FT-HS concept may be the replacement.

The FT-HS is a front-engine, rear-drive sports car with a projected 0-62mph acceleration in the four-second range. A 3.5-liter V6 engine is coupled to Toyota’s parallel hybrid system (the same system used in the Prius and Lexus RX400h) to generate a claimed power output of approximately 400bhp. The system allows the FT-HS to boost performance while retaining green credentials sought by today’s buying public.

The two-plus-two layout of the show car employs an exposed cross-car architecture made from high-tech materials like carbon-fibre and titanium to keep weight down. The roof is made from carbon fibre Kevlar and features a distinctive scooped-out section, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and provide head room above the driver and passenger. The roof also retracts to transform the FT-HS into a targa, but doing so forgoes use of the rear seats.

Toyota hopes this ‘21st century’ sports car’s eco-friendly benefits will appeal to an emerging buyer who grew up eco-conscious and sees technology as a necessity rather than a luxury.

posted by Eric @ 2:30 PM 0 comments