Ford Escape
Ford Australia will launch the new Escape during the first quarter of 2001 with a 3.0 litre Duratec V6 engine and automatic transmission as standard. The small all-terrain wagon will be offered in two model ranges, with the base model XLS offering all the usual passenger car creature comforts and the XLT providing an even sportier execution and level of comfort. Based on an all-new platform, the Escape will offer superior performance, unique "fun-tough" styling, and new levels of comfort and convenience for those looking for a complete lifestyle vehicle.
"V6 Escape will meet the needs of the growing customer market who are looking for a vehicle not just to take them to work and back during the week and but also to provide them with enough fun and agility for their weekend activities," said Ford Australia President, Geoff Polites. "Escape is a fun leisure vehicle that offers a real alternative to a small car - versatile enough for the most active of lifestyles and still easily manoeuvrable in city traffic."
The compact all-terrain wagon segment of the market in which Escape will compete continues to grow each year - from 3.9% of the total market in 1998, to 4.7% in 1999, and 5.1% to date in 2000. The new Ford Escape will be on display at the Sydney Motorshow in November and on sale from mid-March, 2001.
Chrysler Charger for Sydney Show
Chrysler Jeep Australia will revive an Australian icon when it shows the Charger R/T Concept Car at the Sydney International Motor Show in November. The Charger was an enormous hit for Chrysler during the 1970s muscle-car era, and with the "Hey Charger" advertising campaign created an enduring message for the nation. A powerful and striking coupe, the Charger was an instant success selling across many demographic groups.
The latest Charger R/T concept car retains many of the visual cues of the original Charger. It is bold and striking with a distinct on-road presence. It is powered by a 245kW supercharged 4.7 litre overhead-cam engine driving the rear wheels. Fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG), the Charger would meet the most stringent emission laws.
Joe Dehner, responsible for the exterior design of the Charger R/T, believes this new concept car has just the right mean streak to complement its performance features and V8 power. "It has muscular lines that are more exaggerated because of the package with big offset shoulders over the rear wheels," Dehner said. "This Charger has a menacing look to the front end, low and wide, and a powerful-looking rear end. Some aspects remind me of the Viper." It has functional side scoops, as does the Viper, and the chrome plated, central mounted exhaust is reminiscent of the Viper. It even has functional air exhausters sculpted into its rear fascia. "If you look at the vehicle from the side you can still see character lines that remind you of that 1960s Coke bottle look, but this car has full forms. The muscle cars were pretty flat and wide in the front," Dehner added.
New for Old
No.45 in a series of 52 interesting facts about Ford Australia to celebrate its 75th Anniversary Year
Back in 1937 Ford Australia introduced a unique solution for V8 owners who needed to recondition the engine in their car or truck. For the first time in Australia, a motorist could buy a 'changeover' engine, thereby saving many days without his car. The normal procedure was for the dealer to remove the engine and recondition it on his premises. Ford set up a complete reconditioning plant, so all the dealer had to do was order a reconditioned engine, get the customer to bring in his car and then swap engines - often on the same day. Today we take this system for granted but, in 1937, it was a marvellous innovation.
GM Exploring 42-Volt Electrical Systems
The growing power demands of vehicles for "green" features like electric power steering and customer convenience features like electrically-heated windscreens are quickly eating up the energy budget provided by a traditional 12-volt battery and generator. For vehicles to continue to improve to meet growing customer needs, electrical power must be increased. As it is, wires and semiconductor switches get unmanageably big. It takes a higher voltage to get them back down in size.
The industry standard being pursued is 42 volts. In the US, that number was selected by an industry-wide research consortium led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In Europe, Forum Bordnetz chose the same voltage. It's not as odd as it may at first seem: 42 volts is three times the voltage of the system now in use, which operates at 14 volts when the vehicle is running. (The 12-volt battery becomes a 36-volt battery).
However, converting to 42 volts is much easier said than done, according to Dennis Wiese, GM program executive for 42-volt architecture. "To change voltages, everything from a vehicle's lighting to charging systems will have to be redesigned," Wiese said. "Wiring, connectors and relays all need to change, and you'll also need a new 36-volt battery for energy storage. Even service stations and dealerships will need new equipment."
Lydia Sobo, the GM advanced purchasing engineer working on the program, said the whole point of GM's program on 42-volt architecture is to find out the best way to do all this. "Part of the GM program's mission is to identify suppliers who are working on 42 volts and begin working with them," she said. The key question on everyone's mind is: will vehicles be completely converted to 42 volts in one step, or will they go through a transition period where they have both 42 and 14 volts?
GM's EV1 was the first recent vehicle to use components in the 42-volt range, and the knowledge gained will be used on the GM 42-volt program. Wiese thinks the first 42-volt systems on conventional vehicles will appear within the next couple of years, but on a car or truck that has both 42 and 14 volts. That means two batteries and more weight and expense. "Dual voltage systems are inevitable, because suppliers are not ready with all the 42 volt components," he said.
To meet future fuel-efficiency demands, many vehicle engines would shut down instead of idling at traffic stops. A logical way to do this is with a 42-volt flywheel-alternator-starter that replaces traditional starters, belt-driven generators and flywheels. A single device mounted on the end of the engine's crankshaft works as a starter motor by spinning the crank at starting. A flywheel-alternator-starter is much quicker to reach ignition than current starters, and will enable the stop-and-start engine. The same device serves as a generator, charging the battery both directly from the engine, and during braking, allowing recovery of energy ordinarily dissipated in the brakes. This even reduces brake wear.
A 42-volt vehicle would also have lighter and smaller wiring because amperage decreases when voltage increases, according to Michael Matouka, a GM staff development engineer and member of the GM 42-volt program team. He is also GM's representative to the MIT 42-Volt Consortium. Also, switching semiconductors are expected to cost less as the amperage decreases, enabling more electronic controls and customer-desired features. However, many loads such as incandescent lights and computer circuits must stay at lower voltages, requiring changes in their power supplies, Matouka said.
There are many challenges with a higher voltage system, Matouka added. For one, the electrical relays throughout the vehicle's wiring either have to be redesigned or replaced with semiconductors. When a relay opens and closes at 14 volts, there's a slight arc. But at 42 volts, that arc becomes much more pronounced, and could pit the contacts and cause premature wear on the device. Arcing is also a concern when making or breaking connections such as during fuse or battery replacement. Another concern is jump starting 42-volt cars and trucks from those with 14 volts, and vice-versa.
GM is building test cars and trucks with 42-volt components, Wiese said. He added, however, that a lot of modelling and testing will be done on computer simulations to save time and expense.
"42-volt architecture is an industry opportunity, not just GM's," said Wiese. "We look forward to working with our industry colleagues to develop that opportunity. Of course, once 42 volts is out there, GM wants to be the first to take advantage of it."
Quickies
- Performance industry legend Mick Webb has opened the doors to a new facility in Ringwood, in Melbourne. It is called Mick Webb's SVO Motorsport. The new 6000 square metre performance shop is at Unit 3, 44 Charter Street, Ringwood. svomotorsport@bigpond.com
- The new Le Mans Adelaide computer screen calendar for October can be found at: http://www.lemansadelaide.com.au/images/octleman.jpg ... only 3 months to go.
- Mark King has wrapped up the 2000 Century Batteries Australian GT Production Car Championship after surviving a dramatic final round at Sandown International Raceway, Melbourne. With his only potential challenger deciding not to compete, King had a virtually clear run to the title in his Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo V, but was forced to retire from the first of two races when a collision with another competitor punctured a tyre. He finished sixth in race two after starting 38th.
