Posted on 07/25/2006 5:08:49 PM PDT by getsoutalive
Honda’s new Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport has this week set no fewer than 19 world speed records and achieved 3.07 litres / 100 km (92 mpg) fuel economy to boot. British racing driver Robin Liddell and freelance journalist Iain Robertson were part of the European record-setting team.
Amongst the speed records set, which were all achieved in Production Car Class B (2000 – 2500 cc), were 133.04 mph (1 mile flying start), 84.25 mph (1 mile standing start) and an average speed of 130.38 mph over a 24-hour endurance period. These records were all set at Papenburg high-speed oval test track in north-west Germany on 1 and 2 May, and are all subject to FIA ratification.
Two production cars, randomly selected by FIA officials, were used to undertake the speed records, and apart from the fitting of roll-cages, racing harnesses and radio equipment for track-to-pits communication, no other modifications were made to the cars.
Following the speed record attempts, the same two cars were then driven 419 miles from Papenburg test track to Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt in order to complete the fuel economy run. The route comprised of a mixture of motorway and non-motorway driving, during which one of the Accords achieved a staggering 92 mpg average.
(Excerpt) Read more at carpages.co.uk ...
I recently saw a diesel dragster do sub-7.9 in the 1/4 mile, over 200MPH in the last trap. This was an exhibition vehicle. There was also many, many diesel pickups in the 10 second range. Amazing what a little manifold pressure and Nitrous or propane injection will do for a diesel engine.
I would like to see an oval or road racing series adopt diesel engines and spur some development. Far more promise in turbo charged compression ignition engines than in hybrid engines.
Audi had an impressive diesel entry in 24/hr Le Mans ,,, and there is a very entertaining racing series for diesel tractor trailers in europe ,, the flat 12 powered MB tractors put out 1200hp... I think Peugot will have a diesel entry for LeMans next year.. I like diesel myself but I don't know when we'll see them here ... maybe as the donkey engine in a hybrid??
92MPG Bump
-- to check back later and see if this is really true...
Diesel is our future. For one thing, it isn't as flammable as gasoline, you get far fewer car fires from old diesels compared to old gas guzzlers.
For another thing, you can make diesel fuel from coal (e.g. coal oil). Well, the U.S. has more coal than the planet has oil...
...China has already opened up two coal oil refineries in Asia.
China sees the handwriting on the wall. Diesel is our future.
A TDI will run 84 mph in the 1/4 and could run 84 in the mile with the turbo off (but its only 1.9L so I guess its not in the same class).
The only reason this is a "record" is because they paid the FIA to call it a record.
My '86 Pontiac 2+2 ran 157 in the standing mile.
Should I contact the FIA for my trophy for "Over 8.0L Normally Aspirated Sedans"?
I like the 92 mpg, though. Thank Bill Clinton for us not being able to buy those here.
Emissions is the biggest hurdle. You can get diesels in the some states now, but they are either in a VW Rabbit or a 3/4 ton pile driving pickup.
I would like to be able to get a 1/2 ton pickup with a ~4 liter turbo charged 6 cylinder diesel. Put a variable power unit on the dash. Turn it to ~250HP for cruising up to 400-450HP for performance, all without shutting the engine off or leaving the cab. Of course fuel economy varies just as widely. You just can't do that with a gas engine.
Too bad that the libs decided that this technology wasn't green enough.
Instead, they opted for cars with 1000 pounds of heavy metal batteries that will cause the vehicle to be scrapped in 1/3 the time of a diesel vehicle.
How red's YOUR neck?
Several folks in the general area bought up VW Jettas a bit over a year ago when a VW dealer got several demo cars in. The folks I know are reporting from 42-54mpg. The only problem has been with a few quality control issues with the car itself (not the engine/tranny).
except that 7 US states will not permit TDIs to be sold unless they implement an NOx emissions reduction. and audi for example, won't sell any cars if they can't sell a 50 state car.
exactly right, and sadly - the Bush EPA is doing nothing to help.
They certainly are not. Our new Deere C&F machines are powered with Tier III certified engines, most are HPCR/EUI engines, and some have more advanced features such as electronically controlled variable ratio turbochargers, electronic controlled cooling fans and so forth. It is something to fire up a 50 metric ton excavator and not see even a hint of smoke (and barely hear it running).
I have spoken with some folks in the Power Systems Group and it seems each new application for a particular engine model is a major undertaking, even just doing a repower for an existing application.
Even back in '98-99 some of our dealership's Tier I repower jobs required a factory field engineer to visit the installation and customize the ECU code to provide a proper power curve for the application.
For all Tier II and later engines, each individual engine requires it's own specific controller code. Engines are required to derate if certain conditions are met, and those vary according to their specific task. We need to file government paperwork to modify derate and shutdown parameters on, for instance, emergency generator or floodwater pumping units.
Interesting stuff (at least to me) and sure more complicated than it used to be.
Ha. I just got back into R/C cars cars after a several year hiatus. The new engines sure are powerful for their size. I got a 1/8 scale nitro powered monster truck with a .28 cubic inch engine and it flat out screams. The life expectancy of the engine is measured in gallons of fuel - running hard they'll burn something like 8 gallons before they are worn out (and a new engine costs about the same amount of money as that 8 gallons of fuel). But it sure is a lot of fun.
I used to wrench on a pulling tractor. Stock block, modified crank (longer stroke), shaved pistons, modified fuel pump, one massive blower and water injection. Burned 5 gallons of diesel and about 3 gallons of water every 300 feet. Wasn't exactly an economy ride. We never got it on a dyno. I would guess 750HP.
Better than a Hybrid, with no batteries.
I would like about a 4 liter, 6 cylinder turbo Diesel in a 1/2 ton pickup with a programmable power module (a Bully Dog or the like) on the dash. You can dial in for economy for cruising. I bet you could get 30MPG. Or, you can turn the wick up to embarrass the gassers. Add a little NOS if you really want to motor.
Gale Banks is the go-to hot rod guy for street diesels, BTW.
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