MH wrote: >The Lupo caught my attention.
I wish it'd catch everybody's: "A standard production-model German Volkswagen Lupo 3L TDi diesel achieved an average of 118 mpg on a recent round-the-world trip. The Lupo also broke the round-Britain economy record, previously held by a standard Daihatsu Charade diesel at 103 mpg. Volkswagen engineers are working on a super-economical motor that could go 300 miles on only one gallon of fuel." And no multi-billion-dollar PNGV handouts either. Japan isn't far behind, also no handouts. And the Big 3 in the US? Can't even make it to 30mpg: From GRIST: Disagreeing with American automakers, Japanese manufacturer Honda told the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee yesterday that raising fuel-efficiency standards for SUVs and other light trucks would not pose a safety threat. The split in the auto industry came to light as the committee discussed whether increasing the standards would make vehicles unsafe by causing automakers to build lighter trucks. Also at the hearing, a representative for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (which doesn't include Honda) raised the ire of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) by saying he couldn't assess whether automakers could raise the fuel efficiency of vehicles by even a single mile per gallon over 10 years. Kerry's response: "Don't you think that renders you sort of silly?" -- Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Ball, 25 Jan 2002 (not free): http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB1011914427358886640.htm http://detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0201/19/autos-394725.htm Light truck fuel economy standards will stay the same for 2004 - 01/19/02: "... On Friday, NHTSA proposed a standard of 20.7 mpg, the same level that has been in effect since 1996." Would "pathetic" be the right word? Or maybe it just doesn't matter anymore? "Meanwhile the potential benefits for the US are huge: growing military hegemony in one of the few parts of the world not already under Washington's sway, expanded strategic influence at Russia and China's expense, and - grail of holy grails - access to the fabulous, non-Opec oil and gas wealth of Central Asia. If the Afghans behave they may even get to run the pipeline." - From "US offers security in return for Central Asia's oil - Expansion of the empire", by Simon Tisdall, The Guardian Weekly, 24-1-2002 So the world's major energy junkies keep right on getting their daily fix, and never mind the cost. :-( Regards Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Osaka, Japan http://journeytoforever.org/ > "The Lupo 3L, 3-cylinder TDI uses a Turbo Direct Injection diesel >engine of 1.2 liters displacement, which >produces 61 horsepower and 103.25 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm. The >Lupo 3L TDI was introduced last year in >Europe, becoming the first production car being able to travel 100 >kilometers (62 miles) on just 3 liters >(0.79 gallons) of fuel. > The engine also uses a turbocharger with variable blade geometry, >a charge-air intercooler and various >friction-reducing designs that have increased the efficiency of this >engine to more than 40%, a record value >for a passenger car." > Excerpts from; > "VW Lupo TDI driving for a record in fuel efficiency" - July 8, 2000 > http://www.dieselnet.com/news/0007vw.html > >"Volkswagen Lupo: A Thrifty Spin in a 99 (110 in Canada) M.P.G. Car" >By PHIL PATTON > In Italian, lupo means wolf . . . > http://www.baileycar.com/diesel-Lupo_html.html > >As well as a quote from; >"Hypercar Chronology - Elements of Hypercar Vehicles are Emerging" >dating from 12/91-9/01 > http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid414.php >"12/00: Volkswagen plans to create a prototype of a diesel-powered, >two-seat car that garners > 282.5 miles per gallon before the end of 2002. The new offering >would use only one liter of > diesel fuel for every 100 kilometers (62 miles) traveled, and a >single-cylinder, > 1.0-liter diesel engine would power the vehicle. To comply with >strict European safety regulations, > it would be built with protective crash structures but would only >weigh 1,000 pounds. Volkswagen > did not indicate exactly when the car will appear or whether it >will be offered to the public." >÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get your FREE credit report with a FREE CreditCheck Monitoring Service trial http://us.click.yahoo.com/ACHqaB/bQ8CAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
