BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept 0.22Cd

[cfg83]

lunarhighway -

Well there you go. Cool. I had seen demos, but I didn't know the active grill blocks were in production.

CarloSW2

[Old Mechanic]

At a steady 40 MPH my 02 Insight CVT (first gen) gets 80 MPG. The 01 Echo manual would be 30MPH on the same amount of fuel, .5 GPH.

That's the same amount of fuel a 305 cubic inch V8 uses just idling. Small engines are more efficient ( in noirmal use) because they use less energy to keep their own parts moving, the Echo is .19 GPH at idle, the Insight is probably less than .15 GPH idling. Its not that small engines necessarily have better BSFC zones, its because they will always be closer to best BSFC in normal operations.

A hypermiled manual Insight would do 50 MPH (or better), on the same amount of fuel.

I love what the manufacturers are doing in Europe, and the US should have done the same a long time ago.

The Insight sat on the dealers lot for 16 months because no one would pay 20 grand for a car with such limited utility in 2002, when gas was relatively cheap.

regards
Mech

[lunarhighway]

That's the same amount of fuel a 305 cubic inch V8 uses just idling

wich is exacly why start-stop technology is so valid...there's no reason why the engine should keep running when the car isn't moving i've been turning my engin on and off with the key at stoplights and it doesn't delay me at all... it's just the interface for this process that isn't convenient.

[Old Mechanic]

It's estimated that 13% of the fuel consumed nationwide is lost idling. Start stop should be required by law.

I think the technology is there with a toothed belt and a strong enough alternator-starter component. Maybe a larger battery for extended stops in traffic jams. You could also eliminate all the other belt driven accessories for more efficiency gains.

It could even be configured to provide a small amount of electric boost to the engine on acceleration.

regards
Mech

[tjts1]

You swear that thing spent 5 minutes in a wind tunnel. Its a concept car AKA vaporware.