Bionic Breakthrough? DCX says its 70 mpg, diesel-powered car could meet U.

[billbuckhead]

Bionic Breakthrough? DCX says its 70 mpg, diesel-powered car could meet U.S. emissions
HARRY STOFFER | Automotive News
Posted Date: 6/8/05
WASHINGTON -- DaimlerChrysler AG executives on Tuesday unveiled a four-passenger, diesel-powered concept car that they say would earn a fuel economy rating of 70 mpg and would meet tough new U.S. tailpipe emission standards.

The inspiration for its design is an odd undersea creature called the boxfish, which engineers and designers found has some of nature's best streamlining and a structure that is lightweight but strong.

During development, the project was codenamed Boxfish.

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<http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102542>


Won't see GM building anything like this.

[melnjones]

1. Very cool...

but what an ugly car! Oh well, I still want one.

[ewagner]

2. I want one too

Wonder if it can run on biodiesel? If it could, then it's practical.....

[oneold1-4u]

6. Model a or t ford

Wasn't a thing of beauty, but sure wish I had one today!

[MuseRider]

3. It even looks like

a boxfish.

[ohio_liberal]

4. Nifty

I like the look.

[leveymg]

5. For every one of these, DamnedChrysler builds 10,000 Hemis.

And then loads V-8s into huge, boxy, bulky, heavy commuter trucks and sedans by the millions. The company has gone far out of its way to perpetuate an appetite for fuel-guzzling monsters.

DamnedChrysler: A Real Retro Corporate Dinosaur

[billbuckhead]

8. Did you that Hemis turn into 4cylinders at cruising speed? Saves 20%

Did you know that a Hemi Chrysler 300 get the same a gas mileage as a Toyota built Lexus fullsize V8 but runs on regular gas as opposed to the Lexus running on premium?

<http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/chrysler-to-be-first-to-market-with-cylinder-deactivation-technology-in-cars/369/>

[leveymg]

11. Cadillac 4.1 liter V8 did same thing in 1980s. Not a great success.

Not that I think much of GM's fine line of oversized, gas guzzling cars and trucks either. You seem to miss my point.

[billbuckhead]

12. Mercedes ain't Cadillac The Hemi works very well

Actually GM makes a lot of fuel efficient cars that don't sell well. For instance the Chevy Malibu/Pontiac G6 cars get as good or better gas mileage than comparable Japanese cars. The Chevy Colorado compact truck gets better gas mileage than a Toyota Tacoma and they can't give them away. Gas mileage is a small part of GM's problems today. Now in the future, that's a different story that has yet to be written.
<http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm>

[Protagoras]

7. And you know they could have made this car

10 years ago.

But better than never is late.

Hey GM LOOK OVER HERE!

I'll be looking to buy one (or something similar) as soon as they hit the market...if it isn't down to 35mpg by the time they're done monkeying with it.

[patcox2]

9. I have a diesel car capable of 70 MPG right now, a Jetta.

Yup. This doesn't need any new technological breakthroughs. In normal, everyday driving, I average 50 to 53 MPG. I laugh at hybrids. The mileage varies with speed, if you drive the Jetta at 50MPH on the highway, it can get highway mileage of 60 or so. If you put narrower tires on it, it gets better.

Diesel Jetta owners tweak the cars and engage in contests to see who can get into the "700 club," those who get 700 miles out of an 11 gallon tank of gas. I regularly get close to 600.

Its also fast, not like the old Rabbit diesels, they were 40 horsepower, this is 110. Tons of torque.

It is amazing to me that american automakers are ignoring the advances made in diesel engine technology in recent years.

[ohio_liberal]

16. I've been looking pretty hard at the diesel Jetta

Just about talked my mother into one too, and she's driving a Blazer right now. The Jetta is sweet, no doubt about it.

[Ernesto]

10. Since my 3/4 ton Ford diesel pick up can get 20mpg .....

it seems obvious to me that a small diesel powered car should make great mileage numbers.

[wallwriter]

13. Why not get some real stylists involved?

It's as if they are determined to make good fuel mileage look bad. Why not do a lightweight sports roadster based on a lightened and shortened Crossfire Chassis? 70 mpg is not that hard to achieve. Honda did it with the Insight, and that has gas power and no turbo. Electric flywheel, engine cutoff, low resistance tires, good aerodynamics. The technology is all there.

Why don't these chuckle heads just make a good looking car? That is half of what keeps people away...

[hatrack]

14. Whoops - it's a "concept car"

Whoop-dee-fucking-doo.

Put one in the showroom and I'll put down my knitting. :eyes:

[LSK]

15. why do they have to make these cars so ugly? nt