Trident Iceni - 70 mpg @ 70 mph and 375 hp

[Arragonis]

Not sure about the looks. It reminds me of a TVR which has been left on a radiator and has melted in the middle.

I wondered how they could get this

at 30mph, Trident's initial tests returned 108mpg

when my 1.9 gets about 60-80. Then I read this

Torque multiplication keeps a car's rev range low. It is this that decreases fuel consumption and reduces emissions. For example, at 70mph, the Iceni is running at 980 rpm whereas the average car runs at between 2500 and 3500 rpm at 70mph. This means a 6.6l V8 can be more economical than a 2.0l. Essentially, a big engine doing no work is more efficient than a smaller engine doing lots of work.

which suggests they are going for the big engine / little car theory.

This is only unique until Audi get that R8 V10 TDi thing going. The last thing I read on it was that they didn't have a gearbox to handle the torque.

[Frank Lee]

Essentially, a big engine doing no work is more efficient than a smaller engine doing lots of work.

A big engine doing no work would be "off".

In a pair of hypothetical vehicles who's only difference is big vs small engine, the "work" requirement to move them down the road would be equal. Well... if we bend that "equal" a bit, the small engined version would have a bit less drivetrain loss due to the relatively smaller components.

[Arragonis]

True, but I meant in relation to the gearing. Mountain of torque + light car means you can have really long gearing. Smaller engine, less torque you have to compromise with shorter gearing.

[Frank Lee]

yup

[darcane]

Looks like this awesome, diesel sports car is coming to America:
This Beautiful Diesel Sportscar Is Coming To America

[gone-ot]

...wonder what its aero Cd number is?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

That's an amazing car, too bad it wouldn't be street-legal neither in Brazil or Uruguay...

[darcane]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

That's an amazing car, too bad it wouldn't be street-legal neither in Brazil or Uruguay...

Not being familiar with your laws... what would disqualify it?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by darcane

Not being familiar with your laws... what would disqualify it?

Since '93, Diesel engines are only allowed in Brazil for vehicles with a payload of at least one metric ton, with the only exemptions granted to vehicles with either hi-lo 4WD or seats for at least 9 passengers (not considering the driver's seat). Actually there was a ban on new light-duty Diesels in Brazil in '76, but aftermarket conversions ((mostly for coupe-utilities and station wagons) were still not so unusual. Uruguay imposed this rule more recently, about 2 or 3 years ago.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Since '93, Diesel engines are only allowed in Brazil for vehicles with a payload of at least one metric ton, with the only exemptions granted to vehicles with either hi-lo 4WD or seats for at least 9 passengers (not considering the driver's seat). Actually there was a ban on new light-duty Diesels in Brazil in '76, but aftermarket conversions ((mostly for coupe-utilities and station wagons) were still not so unusual. Uruguay imposed this rule more recently, about 2 or 3 years ago.

Well, that is an unfortunate law. Is it ostensibly intended to improve emissions?