Posted on 12/04/2006 6:01:43 AM PST by Red Badger
The UK specialist car maker Trident has launched a sports car powered by a 6.6 litre GM diesel, which it says combines a potential 50 mpg fuel economy with the highest torsional rigidity of any car tested. The Iceni R has a stainless steel chassis and ‘unique’ central spine rollover protection, and is also guaranteed for life against corrosion. At a constant 100km/h the Iceni will return a “Smart car-beating” four litres/100km.
The car’s front-mounted 6.6l engine is sourced from GM. The power supplied is in excess of 375 bhp at 3,100 rpm, whilst its torque in excess of 520lb/ft at 1800 rpm allows a low engine speed (maximum 4,500 revs) enabling the plant to last for up to 250,000 miles.
The car's most significant innovation, says Trident, is the gearbox designed by the car’s chief designer Phil Bevan but built in the U.S., which is located in the rear of the car. It's an 8-speed automatic, controlled by paddle shifts behind the steering wheel. This enables the car to make full use of its torque by keeping the engine operating within its peak performance band. Computer calculations have been made suggesting a top speed of 230 mph, 0-60mph in under 4 seconds and at 56 mph, fuel consumption in excess of 50 mpg (equates to 400 revs per minutes in 8th gear). A fuel capacity of 100 litres gives a range of approximately 1,000 miles.
Further innovations include a fixed seating position with electrically adjustable pedal box and steering column.
While a Ferrari 360 uses about 33 litres/100km during a race, the race-going version of the Iceni R manages on six.
"We can have as much fun as someone with a Porsche GT3 at 18% of the fuel cost, so environmentalists can't complain, especially as there are no carbon emissions," says Mr Bevan.
At £60 000 the asking price for the bespoke car will include traction control, satellite navigation and rear-view cameras. Trident makes its own 20" alloy wheels. All the buyer does is choose the colour and sound system.
A South African motoring website, Motoring, comments, “All Trident has to do is build this Iceni to a consistently high standard, remain financially sound, not grow too fast and it will have to beat off customers with a cattle prod.”
(www.trident-vehicles.co.uk, www.motoring.co.za)
http://www.trident-vehicles.co.uk
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
If you want on or off the DIESEL "KNOCK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......
Them's all some good numbers.
£60,000 is some good numbers, too.........118,588.18 USD
For the history buffs: The Iceni were one of the original tribes of ancient Britain at the time of the Roman invasion.
Why is GM not producing a similar vehicle for the American market?
50 MPG corvette anyone?
A diesel Corvette?.......Elizabeth! Elizabeth!....I commin' to see ya, Honey!........In a Corvette Diesel!...........
That's the only 6.6 liter diesel GM engine I know of, and the peak hp and torque they cite are at 3100 and 1800 rpm...the same as the Duramax.
"... but built in the U.S., which is located in the rear of the car."
Looks like the U.S. takes the back seat again.
Would that be the early 80s 379 GM diesel ? My stepdad had one in a Chevy pickup. It couldn't get out of its own way...
So, If THEY can do this with the DuraMax, why can't GM do this?............
Don't "knock" the Duramax. A pickup truck review a few years ago put the performance of the Duramax close to that of the big 8.1 gas engine. And that was tuned for a truck. I fully expect that changing the injection mapping, adjusting the turbo pressure, and addressing exhaust gas temp concerns with a secondary map in the computer would more than address that. I have seen a Ford Crewcab with a modified Cummins run 11s in the quarter mile, and the Duramax is much more of a performance engine than that lump (if not able to achieve the same absolute torque numbers at the expense of driveability).
Maybe if it was sold as a "Kit Car" like Cobra replicas they cut skirt the assinine emissions regs.
No, that would be the 6.1 or 6.5, which was built by Detroit, and while a total dog, was simple and easy to maintain, and durable too, for what it was.
Cummins in a Ford? I've got an F-250 CC with a 7.3L Powerstroke. I bought a Superchips tuner and man, what a difference! 26 mpg and it will just about smoke the tires from a standing stop.
Two words:
BILL CLINTON
His emissions regs (imposed in 1997 and implemented this year) killed the Diesel passenger car dead.
You can buy the motor in a 3 ton GVW vehicle and pollute the world to your hearts content, but put the same motor in a 3000lb car and you are dooming thousands of children to death from lung ailments.
During the congressional testimony, one "Expert" said 100,000 people die prematurely in the US from "particulates" of the type that come from Diesel exhaust.
Of course that was a made up number, but that didn't stop the EPA from requiring Diesels to emit virtually no particulate (in the non almost existant in 1997 Diesel cars, only, of course).
Either Mr. Bevan is a blithering idiot PR flack or the reporter is totally techno-ignorant and confusing hydrogen with diesel.
to post 16.
..............
Two words:
BILL CLINTON
..............
Bush helped us in this matter, in what way?
Maybe they have a new pollution control technology..........carbon-less internal combustion.........
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