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Despite rising fuel prices and much of world opinion
demanding cleaner air, big is still best for many
Americans. LIZ
TURNER reports from Detroit's own annual showcase…
POWER was the major theme of the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, but not just the
brute power of the new Challenger and Camaro concepts.
Many other vehicles at the show investigated alternative
power for the future, for example, hydrogen and fuel
cells, ethanol, clean diesel and the US buzz-word:
hybrid.
Fuel prices are rising steadily in America, and diesel
is not currently an option. For a start, it's more
expensive than petrol, and tough emissions regulations
also keep diesel cars out of five states. So VW is the
only manufacturer to offer a diesel range, while
Mercedes and Jeep offer one diesel model each in the
other 45 states.
Another option to save fuel and cash would be to
downsize, but Americans are showing as much enthusiasm
for that as they are for eating fewer burgers to combat
their rising obesity problem.
The hybrid appears to be the magical answer. Its
attraction is that - while you can still buy an SUV and
don't have to change your driving habits - you use less
gas. Perfect!
Unfortunately, however, many owners have been
disappointed by their hybrids' fuel economy because -
while the hybrid system makes a car more economical in
town, it does nothing more on the freeway than add
weight. And most people do a lot of freeway driving.
General Motors boasted at the show that it had solved
this problem and, despite being a late-comer to the
party, it had now produced a two-stage hybrid system
that leap-frogged past the competition. GM is working
with BMW and Chrysler to further develop the technique.
The company chose to demonstrate the system in the huge,
capable Chevrolet Tahoe, a favourite with horse owners
and others who need to tow sizeable trailers.
hybrids
Its patented hybrid technology has two modes optimised
for city and highway driving. The second mode is used
primarily at highway speeds and provides full engine
power when conditions demand, for example when
overtaking, towing or climbing a steep hill.
This mode integrates GM's Active Fuel Management, cam
phasing and late-intake valve closure in the petrol
engine as well as providing power from the electric
motor.
GM also launched an affordable hybrid system in its
budget-brand Saturn. The Vue Green Line SUV will start
at less than $23,000 and will deliver 8.7 litres/100
km/27mpg (US) in the city, and 7.4 litres/100 km/32mpg
(US) on the highway.
Ford was showing off the power of its mighty 354
kW/475bhp 5.4-litre V8 Shelby GT500 in coupé and
convertible form, and it also revealed a sexy little
coupé, claimed to be a diesel hybrid. In fact the engine
was a mock-up, and the concept was entirely electric.
The third power source was solar panelling on the
sloping roof, gathering sunlight to energise some
electrical functions. It seems the designers just liked
the idea of having three power sources to go with the
car's three seats, though happily they went for four
wheels.
A more interesting power trilogy came with the gigantic
Robocop-visored F250 Super Chief Concept. Its huge V10
Tri-Flex engine can be fuelled by petrol, hydrogen or
E85 ethanol. Vast swathes of corn-fields in the Mid-West
mean ethanol could be an advantageous fuel for the USA,
reducing its dependence on foreign oil, as well as
producing less CO2.
Ford has already built more than 1.6 million flex-fuel
vehicles that are happy to burn any mix of E85 and
gasoline, sloshing around in a single fuel tank. In the
Super Chief concept, the driver would be able to switch
from E85 and gasoline to hydrogen at the touch of a
dash-mounted switch.
However, the engine would have to be idling at
switch-over to allow for proper engagement of the
supercharger which only operates when the vehicle is
fuelled by hydrogen. In hydrogen mode, the vehicle would
generate 99 per cent less CO2 than when burning
gasoline.
From a European perspective, it's amusing that Ford
should choose a vehicle the size of a bungalow to
demonstrate its environmental-friendliness.
Ford's stablemate, Mazda was also showing off a hydrogen
duel-fuel car, naturally referred to as a hybrid in the
US. The Mazda5 REHybrid concept car, powered by a
RENESIS hydrogen fuel rotary engine, can run on petrol
or hydrogen, and promises the usual 'Zoom-Zoom' driving
entertainment with reduced emissions.
Launching its dramatic and sporty-looking FCX Concept
saloon vehicle, Honda took a further step towards
hydrogen fuel cells. Its high-efficiency compact V Flow
fuel cell system facilitates the lowest-floor platform
ever for an FCV. Oxygen and hydrogen flow from the top
to the bottom of the stack - vertical gas flow - and the
fuel cells are arranged vertically in the centre tunnel,
an arrangement Honda calls vertebral layout.
The new system takes full advantage of gravity to
discharge water formed as part of the generating
process. This improves performance in sub-zero
temperatures and aids cold start-up. A newly-developed
hydrogen storage absorption material in the tank extends
cruising range to 350 miles.
Honda is also looking at innovative ways of delivering
hydrogen to future drivers, and brought along its Home
Energy Station III.
This clever unit could generate hydrogen from the
natural gas pumped in to cook your burgers and chips. In
addition,
it's equipped with fuel cells that generate electricity
for the home, and uses the heat produced during power
generation to produce hot water.
Volkswagen is investigating fuel cells, but believes
that the internal combustion engine has another 25 years
of life in it. VW's research department is therefore
looking at further ways of cleaning it up. In
particular, the firm is keen to meet strict diesel
emissions standards to be introduced in America from
2007.
There has been quite a buzz about Mercedes-Benz's
Bluetech diesel, seen at the show in the Grand Cherokee
and E320, and claimed to be able to comply with these
new regulations.
Bluetech employs a modular set-up comprising an
oxidising catalytic converter, a particulates filter and
NOx reducing systems.
For America it would also include a urea-based
after-treatment system, and DaimlerChrysler must find a
way to convince the EPA that drivers would regularly
refill a canister with its AdBlue liquid to keep
emissions low.
It has been suggested that this would be a standard
service item, and perhaps the car would only allow a
certain number of starts once the canister was empty.
VW is also looking at urea-based after-treatments,
although possibly using pellets rather than a liquid.
VW's director of Research, Matthias Rabe, also suggests
that the car would not strand its occupants, but might
limp along in an emergency mode once the canister was
empty.
However, VW has also been looking at improving
combustion to reduce the creation of pollutants in the
first place. In doing this, it is finding that gasoline
and diesel engines are becoming more alike in their
operation, in particular with the introduction of
sophisticated FSi technology as shown by it brother
Audi's Roadjet Concept.
The current aim is to create a completely homogenized
mix of diesel vapour and air within the cylinder, but
with conventional fuel there isn't enough time for it to
vaporise so completely before ignition.
To solve this problem, the firm has joined forces with
Shell and other companies to produce two synthetic
diesels,
SunFuel made from biomass and SynFuel made from natural
gas. While no concept vehicles were launched to
publicise this work, the VW stand was host to an
excellent interactive display and a timeline describing
the route to hydrogen via these fuels.
Meanwhile, the gasoline V8 still holds America in thrall
with its effortless power and mellow rumble. However,
even Detroit muscle cars are cleaning up their act.
The new Camaro concept has a lightweight, all-aluminium
V8 mated to a six-speed transmission, while the
Challenger's Hemi can shut down up to four of its
cylinders when not required.
For now, we still await the answer to the question: Who
will be first to introduce a hydrogen-fuelled V8?
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Dodge Challenger
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Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid
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Ford F250 Superchief
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Jeep Grand Cherokee- Bluetech
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Ford Shelby Cobra GT500
5.4 V8
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Chevrolet Camarro Concept
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Audi Roadjet concept
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Geely on track for US by 2008
THE smallest and most under-stated - but maybe
the most important - car display at Detroit
featured just one rather dated-looking silver
sedan sitting out in the foyer. This was a 7151
CK made by the Chinese automaker Geely -
pronounced Jee-li.
Remembering their breezy lack of concern when
the first Japanese cars arrived 50 years ago,
the US auto industry and press were eager to
take a look at the first Chinese car to appear
at an American auto show.
Geely is by no means the only Chinese auto maker
with its sights on America. The flamboyant
entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin, who brought
Subaru and Yugo to the States, plans to start
imports of a $19,000 Chery sedan from summer,
2007.
The CK - which will probably acquire a name
before it arrives in the US - is built on a
Korean-designed platform and has a 1.5-litre
four-cylinder engine designed by Toyota. It
doesn't meet US emissions or safety regulations
yet, but Geely Chairman Shufu Li announced at
NAIAS that the company was on track to enter the
US market by 2008.
The sedan will cost around $10,000 and offer
true budget motoring - filling a gap left open
by Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia as they
have improved their quality and moved up-market.
It will be sold by Geely USA of Salt Lake City,
and vice president John L Harmer predicts
first-year sales of 25,000 rising to 100,000
annually within five years. If this seems
incredible, we should remember that, though
Geely was selling fridges and motorbikes until
the 1980s; it now offers a sports car with a
built-in karaoke machine.
Geely Beauty Leopard
Geely BL in red
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