Click above to request a complimentary copy of the Challenge Bibendum book Clean Cars Now!

KAZ is an eight-wheeled, eight-passenger electric concept vehicle from the Japan Science and Technology Corp. and professor Hiroshi Shimizu of Japan's Keio University (with design and engineering help from Italy's I.D.E.A. Institute as well as several other suppliers).

Early in 2001, the Keio University Advanced Zero-Emission Vehicle established EV speed records including a top speed of 311 k/hr (more than 192 mph). Now the JSTC and Prof. Shimizu plan to offer up to 200 production versions, priced at $400,000 (U.S.), with delivery of the first vehicles by 2006.

[For additional information, see the www.kaz-style.com website]

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Toyota Unveils Sleek Fuel Cell Concept and New Hybrid System

Toyota, which already has delivered a pair of fuel-cell vehicles in California, used the North American International Auto Show at Detroit to unveil its newest fuel cell concept, the Fine-S.

While many fuel cell vehicles look more like minivans or sport utility vehicles, the Fine-S has the lines and proportions of a classic sports car. Toyota says its newest concept shows that its hybrid technology can fit into a variety of vehicle types, shapes and sizes.

Fine-S is a low-slung, four-seater that Toyota says uses its low center of gravity and individual wheel torque control technology to provide the sort of handling auto enthusiasts expect from their cars.

Toyota also said at Detroit that it has developed an innovative electric-gas hybrid system called Hybrid Synergy Drive that it will offer in the Lexus RX 330 around 2005. Toyota says its new system combines a V6 engine with front and rear electric motors that operate at nearly double the voltage of the motor currently used in its Prius hybrid. The new system is modular and flexible, so different size motors and engines can be combined to emphasize fuel economy or power.

For additional information, contact: Nancy Hubble of Lexus at  1-310-468-3282 or John Hanson of Toyota at 1-310-468-4718.  

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Challenge Bibendum V
Sonoma and San Francisco, California, USA
Sept. 23-25, 2003 

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Media Inquiries:
Lynn Mann: 1-864-458-4698
lynn.mann@us.michelin.com

 

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Participant And
Sponsorship Inquiries:
John Love: 1-313-449-0106
john@emcpr.com 

GM announced at the Detroit show that it would offer three hybrid systems in a range of 12 vehicles with a potential for 1 million units a year by 2007.

GM said it will focus on the type of vehicles Americans prefer to drive, which means larger and more powerful vehicles designed for the open road.

GM's program launches in 2003 with a hybrid version of its Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra full-size trucks, first for commercial buyers, then in 2004 for retail customers. The hybrid system for the trucks combines the company's 5.7-liter V8 engine with an electric motor to produce an estimated 10-12 percent improvement in fuel economy while also providing a portable source of electric power for construction or camping equipment, or for household use in the case of an emergency, such as a power failure. The system will be combined with GM's Displacement on Demand technology in 2007 to produce as much as a 20 percent fuel economy improvement that will be applied not only to pickup trucks but also to GM's full-size sport utility vehicles.

In 2005, GM will introduce a Saturn VUE (compact SUV) with a hybrid system that links a four-cylinder engine to twin electric motors to provide between 15 and 50 percent improvement in fuel economy. Other models also are in line for the system that is capable of propelling a vehicle with just the power of its electric engines.

Then, in 2006, GM will introduce its new belt alternator starter (BAS) system as a hybrid option for the Chevrolet Equinox (compact SUV). GM expects a 12-15 percent fuel economy improvement from a system that will be offered in 2007 on the Chevrolet Malibu sedan.

For additional information, contact Mary Woodbeck of GM Advanced Technology Communications at 1-586-947-3253.
 

Bloomberg News service reports that California has amended its "zero-emission" vehicle mandate, delaying its start until 2005 and easing some of its requirements in hopes that automakers who have sued to block the program will drop their opposition. A federal injunction won last year by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and the U.S. Justice Department temporarily blocked enforcement of a program that would require that 10 percent of automobiles sold in California by the six largest automakers emit virtually no tailpipe pollution or from gasoline evaporation.

Among the new amendments, California would delay the program's start cut in half the required number of pollution-free autos, such as electric-battery or fuel cell vehicles, and would make it easier for companies to comply by offering hybrid vehicles.
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Ford Unveils Model U Hybrid Concept

Ford, which puts a hybrid version of its Escape compact SUV on sale later this year, says the Model U concept car it presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the next step in hybrid technology.

Model U is powered by an extremely clean-burning, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine linked to an electric motor through what Ford calls its Modular Hybrid Transmission System. Ford says its MHTS eliminates the torque converter from a conventional automatic transmission, replacing it with a high-voltage electric motor and two hydraulic clutch packs that allow the motor to operate independently of, or in concert with, the engine and transmission. The electric motor thus serves as flywheel, starter, alternator and hybrid traction motor.

Model U takes its environmental friendliness a step further by using soy-, sunflower- and corn-based materials in such components as tire fillers, engine oil, seat foam and tailgate resin. The vehicle's folding fabric roof also is made from a corn-based material.

For additional information, contact Sara Tatchio of Ford at 1-313-322-7998 or Said Deep of Ford at 1-313-594-0942.
 

Challenge Bibendum Entrant Receives Automotive News Awards

A Challenge Bibendum participant, the Bertone SKF Novanta, received a pair of second-place awards from Automotive News, in the Interior and Environmental categories at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Environmental winner was the General Motors Hy-wire concept that uses the by-wire technology developed by SKF and Bertone for the Novanta and their 2002 concept, the FILO, which made its North American debut at the 2001 Challenge Bibendum.

The Automotive News concept car of the year awards were open to dream machines introduced in 2002 at the Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Geneva or Paris shows.
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Automakers Seek Global Rules on Environment and Safety

According to the Japan Auto Trends newsletter, leaders from 13 automakers based in Japan, Europe and the United States will work together in 2003 to encourage governments around the world to adopt common standards for environmental and safety technologies.

"One of the biggest challenges for the motor vehicle industry today is the global harmonization of technical regulations," the newsletter quotes Honda chairman Yoshihide Munekuni, who also serves as chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (www.jama.org).

Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) could make it less expensive for auto and light truck manufacturers to introduce new technologies by reducing the expense of engineering different equipment for different countries.

William Duncan, USA general director for JAMA, says, for example, that "Japanese makers are moving aggressively to introduce hybrid vehicles to the market. The big impetus is rapidly rising environmental consciousness in Japan increasing environmental standards and an overriding commitment on the part of the auto companies to develop 'green' technology to meet the needs of society and the consumer."
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Americans Show Interest in Green Machines

Sales of environmentally friendly vehicles have undergone a 54-fold increase in the last five years in the United States, according to vehicle registration analysis by R.L. Polk & Co.

In 1997, only 650 new electric or gas-electric hybrids were registered, but in the first 10 months of 2002, nearly 35,000 were purchased, with hybrids accounting for nearly 83 percent of that total.

Nearly a third of all such vehicles were purchased in California, where gasoline costs run an average of 20 cents per gallon higher than the national average and where strict regulations also have sparked growth in vehicles that burn less fuel. Polk said the top markets for so-called green machines are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Sacramento and New York City.

For additional information, contact Todd Krieger of John Bailey & Associates at
1-248-362-4200.