turbodiesel

Hyundai has released preview images and details of its i-flow concept, which will bow at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The concept will be powered by Hyundai's first diesel-electric hybrid power train and should slip through the air with a slippery 0.25Cd drag coefficient.

At the heart of the i-flow's power train his Hyundai's new 1.7-liter turbodiesel engine that shares motivational duties with a yet-undisclosed electric motor and a lithium ion-polymer battery pack. Hyundai also makes no mention of what sort of hybrid system the i-flow will use. Judging by the size of the engine … Read more

For the second year in a row, the Green Car of the Year award has been handed to a clean diesel vehicle. This time around, it's the 2010 Audi A3 TDI and its 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo-diesel engine that's beaten its way to the top of a field populated mostly with gas-electric hybrids from Toyota, Mercury, and Honda.

Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, which sponsors the award, cites the A3's EPA-estimated 42 highway mpg, five-seater hatchback functionality, and fun driving experience seasoned with healthy portions of low-end torque as the reasons for … Read more

Volkswagen unveiled one of the few new concepts at the 2009 LA auto show, a tiny hybrid concept called the Up Lite concept (or Up! Lite, if you have a penchant for gratuitous punctuation). This small turbo-diesel hybrid possesses a small physical footprint--being much smaller than the VW Golf--and a super small carbon footprint, reaching an astronomical 70 US mpg fuel economy on the EU testing cycle.

To create the power train for the Up Lite, VW took its 1.6-liter TDI engine, chopped it in half, and slapped an electric engine on the back. Of course, we're sure … Read more

The Frankfurt auto show rapidly approaches, which means that it's time for yet another dull BMW EfficientDynamics concept to mildly pique our interest with...wait, whoa! WHAT IS THAT?

The recently unveiled BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept maintains the hallmarks of what makes a BMW a BMW (the kidney grills, the Hofmeister kink, and hopefully, the high level of performance), but tosses everything else out of the window to create a bizarre amalgamation of M car performance, fuel efficiency, and insectoid aesthetics.

Let's start with the power train.

The Vision concept is powered by a 1.5-liter, turbodiesel three-cylinder mounted amidships and two electric motors--one at each axle. Direct injection and a variable intake geometry turbocharger help the diesel engine to output 163 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of peak torque to the rear wheels through BMW's six-speed DCT transmission.

The rear electric motor outputs a consistent 33 horsepower and is able to reach a peak of up to 51 horsepower. Maximum torque for the rear electric motor is 214 pound-feet. Meanwhile, a second electric motor at the front axle offers continuous output of 80 horsepower and peak torque of 162 pound-feet. An extra 112 horsepower are available for a period of up to 30 seconds, and, for a 10-second "burst" the electric motor is able to develop 139 horsepower.

Overall system output is 356 horsepower, and peak torque is 590 pound-feet during that 30 second burst (for passing maneuvers, etc). Acceleration from 0-to-62 mph is achieved in 4.8 seconds, and top speed is an electronically limited 155 mph.

The system can run under diesel power, electric power, or a combination of the two. The engine configuration affords the Vision all-wheel drive when operating in all-electric mode. The electric engines are powered by a total of 98 lithium polymer cells developing continuous output of 600 amps with a maximum 30-second burst output of 1,200 amps. The batteries are recharged through a combination of diesel generation, regenerative braking, or plug-in charging. As a result, the Vision has two refilling flaps, one for diesel fuel and one for electricity. Average fuel consumption is 62.6 mpg on the EU test cycle.

The BMW Vision concept's ubersleek looks are the result of efficient aerodynamics and lightweight construction.

With the mid-mounted diesel engine, the Vision can have a low nose. Active louvers in front of the radiator close completely when there is little need for cooling, such as when running in all electric mode. The vehicle's low, sleek design results in an overall vehicle drag coefficient of just 0.22. The concept rolls on oddly huge (21 inch), low-rolling resistance tires. The big wheel and 195 millimeter profile supposedly provides a big enough contact patch to keep the Vision agile, as well as efficient, while wheel covers reduce turbulence caused by the spinning wheels.

Most of the body is made of transparent composites (which darken when exposed to UV light) and the chassis and suspension are made completely of aluminum, resulting in a curb weight of 3,076 pounds.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept will be unveiled, along with the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and BMW ActiveHybrid 7 production models, at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show, so stay tuned for more coverage. In the meantime, make the jump to see the BMW Vision concept in motion.… Read more

We just saw the unveiling of the new for 2010 Mazda Mazda3 sedan at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, but curiously, the 5-door hatchback was missing in action...until now.

Mazda has released details and photos of the all-new Mazda3 5-door hatchback, which it plans to showcase at the Bologna Motor Show on December 3, 2008.

Bologna being a European show, Mazda has shared details about the newly-developed 2.2-liter turbodiesel, which we won't be getting in the States (for now). The 2.2-liter oil burner will be offered in two tunes, a high-power 182 horsepower version and … Read more