Silent electric vehicles to cause new problems for NVH engineers?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily
A researcher at Renault said customers surveyed last year about what they want in an electric car responded, “silence, peace of mind and comfortable riding, a windy sound quality, a fluid driving experience like a skipper enjoying a sailboat.” That sounds dreamy, until you realize how loud a car really is underneath all of the regular car noises we’ve come to expect from an ICE-powered ride. For instance, when we drove the Phantom Coupe two years ago we heard nothing – and that’s absolutely nothing – of the world outside, but that meant we could hear the windshield wiper motors mounted on the bulkhead.
Electric cars are going to bring many more and much greater challenges than that, and engineers are beginning to discuss how to overcome them. The noise, vibration and harshness culprits in an electric vehicle are battery cooling systems, HVAC fans and ducts, coils for the power electronics, and switching on a range-extending engine. These are the kinds of noises covered up easily by engine and other low-frequency noises, but in an electric car they make one feel strapped into a contraption.
There is also the question of what to do for others who depend on the sounds of cars, such as the blind and cyclists, topics we’ve covered before. Sound engineering is the most talked-about approach right now, but no one knows what shape it will take. Lotus Engineering created a Safe & Sound system that used a waterproof speaker to emit an make engine noise – but wasn’t part of the promise of electric cars meant to be quieter cities? It’s all still in play when it comes to the future of NVH, but please please, no ringtones…
[Source: Ward's Auto]
Silent electric vehicles to cause new problems for NVH engineers? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
McLaren MP4-12C GTR rendered again, this time in Longtail form
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance
McLaren MP4-12C GTR Longtail – Click above for high-res image gallery
Earlier this month we showed you the wishful renderings of a GTR variant of the McLaren MP4-12C. The car doesn’t exist and no plans have been announced for a motorsports program, but just seeing the car in McLaren racing livery made us hope that the car does end up on the track. Now the same artist, Jon Sibal, has come up with some additional renderings of the car in longtail form.
For those of you not familiar with the term “longtail,” it refers to the second-generation of McLaren F1 GTR race cars that competed in in the 1997 FIA GT championship. The extended bodywork at the front and rear was meant to improve aerodynamics and help the F1 compete with the likes of the Porsche GT1, Nissan R390 GT1 and the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Like the F1 GTR, the MP4-12C Longtail isn’t as pretty as its shorter brother, but it’s impressive nonetheless. You can check them all out in the high-res gallery below.
Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C GTR Longtail
Video: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid takes to the track
Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Porsche, Racing
Porsche GT3 R Hybrid on-track – Click above to watch video
Turns out that pics of the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid among all those snowbanks aren’t completely make-believe. The dual-powered racer takes its next turn in a promo video racing among those snow-powdered kerbs and a little CGI, but there’s no denying it’s a pretty mover. Follow the jump for the vid, and stay tuned for more comprehensive views of it from the Geneva Motor Show.
[Source: Porsche]
Continue reading Video: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid takes to the track
Video: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid takes to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Hot Wheels sponsors Danica, has her design a car
Filed under: Motorsports, Toys/Games, Celebrities
Danica Patrick at the unveiling of the Hot Wheels “Danicar” design – Click above for high-res image gallery
Hot Wheels has jumped on board the Danica Patrick NASCAR sponsor train. What does it all mean? Well, other than an TV camera-height embroidered logo on her Nomex suit, it means that Danica’s getting a Hot Wheels car of her own. The “Danicar” is apparently Hot Wheels’ first celeb-designed car (she’s credited as a co-designer along with the HW design team in El Segundo, a group of people who may well have the greatest jobs ever.) It’s one of those pie-in-the-sky Hot Wheels originals, featuring an Indy-style nose section and cockpit that leads to a big rear-mounted engine and quad, jumbo-sized drive wheels in back.
We figured it might be a positioned as a more collectible or special-edition car (the kinds that usually retail in the $2 to $3 range), but a Hot Wheels spokesperson set us straight: When it eventually ships, the Danicar will be part of the basic 1:64-scale assortment that tempts you from the toy aisle pegs at around 99 cents a pop. It won’t be limited in quantity for collectability’s sake, so anyone who wants it should be able to snag one. PR from Mattel (featuring an absolutely cringe-inducing Danica sponsor-speak quote) is pasted after the jump.
A ripe time to sell full-sized hybrid trucks?
Smartest hybrid on paper?
For decades full-sized trucks have dominated US auto sales. Since the fuel economy of these beasts is so horrific, creating hybrid versions of these trucks seems quite logical.
Fortunately, GM undertook such a task several years years ago with the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado hybrids. Unfortunately, however, the added hybrid costs of these trucks has scared most pickup truck buyers away.
Recently, I’ve noticed a significant uptick in GM’s hybrid truck commercials. Perhaps it’s just a manly time of the year thanks to the Super Bowl? Or, maybe GM is taking a serious stab at trying to make a name for itself in the ‘green’ truck space? Then again, maybe its just good marketing and has nothing to do with hybrid sales.
Anyway, I’m going to be very interested in GM’s February sales. On paper, GM’s full-sized hybrid trucks make a ton of sense, at least a half ton, but can they make sale’s sense? Read more…
2010 SpeedART PS9-650 Porsche Panamera Turbo
When Porsche engineers and designers were brainstorming prior to the creation of another Porsche car, the initial concept was to create something that is unique and one that will be on top with regards to performance. The rationale was to produce a masterpiece that will not only manifest the future but one that will also [...]
Via Supercars – Sweet & cool car site for super fast sport car
