Automotive X-Prize: "The Very Light Car" (also very aero) with conventional engine

[bhtooefr]

The other thing is, most chassis designs out there are optimized for the suspension loads to go into different areas than the Edison2 suspension, with no structure whatsoever for where that needs to go.

Aircooled VWs are probably the best bet, simply due to having structure almost exactly where it needs to be for the Edison2 suspension - you could install a modified front beam design with hard points for the Edison2 suspension.

[freebeard]

Precisely. And Porsche. The VLC suspension takes power through half-shafts to the central cabin, so front and rear.

Thin-wall foam-filled beams with 3-4 mounting tabs.

And a complete drivetrain in the form factor of the transaxle only, like this:

[bhtooefr]

My understanding is that the VLC uses fairly ordinary swingaxles in the rear, so nothing fancy there. Not the dual leading vertical/trailing steering link setup.

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, the rear is trailing arms that are cases around a chain drive, that is driven by a half shaft that is inside the tube beam. The tube pivots in two large bearings, and the spring shock is attached to the tube.

I thought I might have a picture, but I can't find it: Progressive Automotive X-Prize Knockout Round Photos by NeilBlanchard | Photobucket

[freebeard]

So, no foam in the rear tube then. Do you recall how long the swing arms are? They can't fit inside the wheel rim, can they?

[NeilBlanchard]

They are about 12-14" long center-to-center? They are not inside the rear rims.

[freebeard]

So all the patented 'special sauce' is in the front?

The VW Type I, II, & III would just need the steering sorted; the Superbeetle and Porsche 356 & 911 might need some engineering.

[some_other_dave]

The 356 suspension is, as far as I know, pretty much identical to the Type I stuff. Different in detail, but the same layout.

The 911, on the other hand, uses a very different front suspension indeed. And the rear trailing arms have been changed into semi-trailing arms.

-soD

[freebeard]

The moving parts are pretty much the same, but instead of a de-mountable beam assembly, the torsion bars are carried in the monocoque itself.


But maybe a single vertical A-frame (not A-arm) would do the trick.

I think the 911 has the torsion bars running fore-and-aft.

[sheepdog 44]

A pretty good article that gives some new images (If any one can pull them and post them here please?). Including the frontal area of the xprize car, and what they're working on now.

Very Light Cars: Driving the future : CompositesWorld


Similar image, but slightly different angle.