Mitsubishi to Supply 700cc Engine for DaimlerChrysler's smart car 17 October 2005 http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/10/mitsubishi_to_s.html
Mitsubishi Motors will begin supplying fuel-efficient 700cc gasoline engines to DaimlerChrysler AG for use in the smart car starting as early as 2006, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. The engine is a slightly enlarged version of the 660cc MIVEC engine Mitsubishi will use in its i minicar. (Earlier post.) Mitsubishi Motors is expected to supply an annual 80,000 to 100,000 engines to DaimlerChrysler. In addition using an aluminum block and resin components to reduce weight, the engine uses variable valve timing and 4-valve direct-drive valvetrain to deliver more power and better fuel economy. The new 3-cylinder, 660cc turbocharged engine delivers 47kW (63 hp) of power and is expected to improve fuel economy by 15% over the current mini-car units. No word yet on the specifications of the 700cc version. DaimlerChrysler reportedly plans to use the engines for its next-generation Smart Fortwo vehicles. Automakers are scrambling to roll out fuel-efficient compact cars for the European market in preparation for stricter carbon dioxide emissions regulations taking effect there in 2008. To address this, DaimlerChrysler is working on developing a new model at low cost that meets these standards. Mitsubishi Motors will begin producing the engine at its Mizushima facility at the end of this year. The Japanese automaker plans to increase output capacity at the plant to address the increase in engine production, and expects to reduce per-unit costs as a result of economies of scale. --- Smart fortwo crash-test results by Jim Kerr September 8, 2004 http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm --- DaimlerChrysler smart (smart K) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaimlerChrysler_smart --- 2006 smart crosstown Concept October 11, 2005 by Justin Couture / American Auto Press http://carreviewsonline.auto123.com/en/info/prototype/view.spy?artid=50459&make=smart Inspired by the Jeep Wrangler or Mini Moke? In the days leading up to the IAA, the air in Frankfurt (and the automotive community) was electric, as usual. It was crunch time for manufacturers, as they were on a mad race to put the finishing touches on secretive vehicles that were to be released at the very last second. One such vehicle that typifies short-lead development is smarts crosstown (lower case intentional), a new concept car that takes urban automotive fashion trends down to a diminutive level for a totally unique kind of inner-city transportation. Life for this particular concept started out in a creative workshop where smarts designers were asked to conceptualize what the successor of the firms original fortwo city car might look like. Working up from ideas to blueprints, and then quarter scale clay models before crafting a fully operational example, the crosstown gained many new and unique features. It was decided by officials that smart would use this fortwo experiment as a show car, and work began on the full-size version earlier this year. The crosstown, like most other smarts is a tiny vehicle, working to further the reputation of the company as a leader in micro cars. At 105.5 inches in length, with a 74.8 inch long wheelbase and equal width and height of 62.2 inches, the crosstown is perfect for traffic-logged city centers. By comparison, its only slightly larger than the fortwo, which is 98.4 inches long, with a wheelbase of 71.3 inches, a width of 59.4 inches and a height of 61.0 inches. Miniscule overhangs of 15.7 inches up front and 15.4 inches in back would make the crosstown an easy vehicle to park. After canning the forfour-based formore, it seems likely that smart stylists still had a little bit of SUV-blood left over from the project still pumping through their veins. And while the crosstown has a low ride height and road tires, it embodies the look and feel of the popular and somewhat nostalgic Jeep Wrangler. Or maybe the tiny Mini Moke? From nose to tail the borrowed ideas are countless, like the flat-surfaced hood, round headlamps, retractable windshield and exterior-hinged doors (OK, the Mini Moke didnt have doors but the Jeep does). Theres even a convertible roof, though the crosstowns fabric cloth roof is electrically retractable. But dont let this boxy baby fool you. Unlike the prehistoric Wrangler, the smart is a thoroughly modern and technologically advanced vehicle. As with all other smarts, the crosstown features the very smart Tridion safety cell system which mates a high-tensile steel structure to lightweight polymer panels, resistant to accidents as well as dings and scratches - both commonplace in the city. The result is a small car with the passive safety of a big car, plus the unique opportunity for owners to customizing their vehicles by replacing the polymer panels. And while stylists were requested to visualize what the second-generation fortwo would look like, theres good reason to believe that the next generation fortwo chassis and components are lurking underneath the matte metallic green and titanium finished shell. The rear-engine layout is still kept intact, but increases in all dimensions signal important structural changes made to enhance passive safety as well as the dynamic driving character of the vehicle - a department where the original was lacking. [more, images] smart crosstown Specifications Body Type: 2-door coupe, space frame with polycarbonate panels Layout: rear engine, RWD Engine: 40.2 hp, 73.8 lb-ft, 799 cc, common rail turbodiesel, I-3 Transmission: 6-spd clutchless auto (with manual mode) Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum, ABS and EBD Curb Weight (estimated): 1,609 lbs Seating Capacity: 2 Cargo Volume (estimated trunk): 9.2 cu ft Acceleration (estimated 0 - 60 mph): 19.7 seconds Top Speed (estimated electronically limited): 84 mph Fuel Economy (estimated city/hwy): 72 / 91 mpg Web Site: www.smart.com images http://www.leblogauto.com/images/sma_3.jpg more http://images.google.com/images?q=smart+crosstown _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
