Prius Race Car? - Yep.

[ncwa]

Originally Posted by Ladogaboy

Yeah, I've heard of it... but I'm a bit biased. That, and, you're right, the EVO should be in the low $40,000s.

HaHa! I just noticed the EVO in your signiture - I am suprised you are getting mid 20's. That is good for that car! Our other car is a WRX - our mpg's are poor I keep thinking about mod'ing it for mgp's and my other half keeps pushing for the track mod's. Maybe there is a way to do both....

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by ncwa

Our other car is a WRX - our mpg's are poor I keep thinking about mod'ing it for mgp's and my other half keeps pushing for the track mod's. Maybe there is a way to do both....

Yep, suspension and brakes is what you need most on the track. Swaybars, inverted struts, ss brakelines, etc. Then get your 3" downpipe (or entire exhaust) to free up the turbo and keep the heat down. At least that's what I did with my turbo Sube. I track down and pass many expensive "track" cars on roadcourses. Because just like with fuel economy... the biggest adjustment is to the nut behind the wheel!

The suspension helps with maintaining speed through corners, less braking = better gas mileage. But good gas mileage takes an incredible amount of self-control with a turbo. Just a slight hill and the stupid engine starts boosting and you are putting 100 horse to the wheels, just maintaining your speed. So, I normally don't bother.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally Posted by ncwa

HaHa! I just noticed the EVO in your signiture - I am suprised you are getting mid 20's. That is good for that car! Our other car is a WRX - our mpg's are poor I keep thinking about mod'ing it for mgp's and my other half keeps pushing for the track mod's. Maybe there is a way to do both....

Heh, I used to have a WRX. They were fun little cars... I probably should have kept it. I'm actually surprised at how efficient the EVO can be given all of the factors working against it. I'm still tweaking, but we'll see. I definitely have my eye on the EVO XI, though... 2014 I think.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by pete c

My point is that if the yardstick used is performance/mileage, the TDI will win against a gasser hybrid. Probably goes for a diesel hybrid as well since racing is about weight and i don't see a hybrid sytem having enough of a performance/efficiency gain to make much sense in a race environment.

So IMO in a racing environment, a hybrid actually makes the most sense because you are braking so much. A hybrid system has a power to weight advantage if done correctly. In racing the typical power to weight ratio of the energy storage and drive system is probably around the same as the engine itself.

Audi has some very good diesels, but diesels suffer more at high rpm than gasoline engines, and the thermal efficiency of racing engines is quite high. Turbocompounded F1 machines I believe can be 40% efficient. It's not safe at all to assume a diesel has an automatic, significant advantage due to typically higher efficiency, especially in racing where lugging that extra engine weight around hurts a lot.

[botsapper]

^^^ We'll see if diesel-hybrids have any disadvantages compared to gas-hybrids in competition. Biggest endurance competition.
Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program

[eco_generator]

Wow, that's great news. Competing systems will develop the technology much faster.