Outside of a secret X-plane base in the desert, there is no personal transport technology more sophisticated than the diesel-electric/hybrid vehicles. This high-techiness makes them marvelously fuel efficient and low emitting. But these minor marvels have a major flaw: Their powertrains cost too much.
Fortunately, cost is exactly the hurdle Chrysler Corporation hopes to hop with its new hybrid, the Dodge ESX2, which debuted in the flesh at the Detroit Motor Show. Essentially, Chrysler expects to compensate for its more complicated powertrain by using a less costly body structure and suspension.
According to company engineers, the 2250-pound, plastic-bodied, aluminum-framed ESX2 should get close to 70 mpg. It does this by pairing a trick 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine with the batteries and power electronics from an electric vehicle. Chrysler feels that fitting the car with a cheaper, unpainted thermoplastic body bonded directly to a simple aluminum frame may be the answer for price-point shoppers. Tooling is less expensive and the plastic body panels eliminate the need for a $350 million paint shop by arriving at the assembly plant already color impregnated.
According to Chrysler engineering types, the company's last effort to create a more conventional hybrid-last year's ESX concept-would have cost customers close to $80,000 a copy even in high-volume production. Price estimates for the five-passenger ESX2 at 100,000-unit volumes is $30,000. While good, it's still high considering that a nicely equipped gasoline-engine midsize sedan without the gee-whiz hardware costs about $21,000.
Peter Rosenfeld, Chrysler's director of advanced technology planning, describes the ESX2 as "pulling the future-technology pieces together into one vehicle as a sort of status report." We'd call it a rolling window into a great looking and more environmentally friendly future and look forward to a full report, including a test drive, soon.
GMC To Play Its A.C.E. In '99Thinly disguised under trick paint, foglamps, and sporty body cladding, the '99 GMC Sierra was presented at the North American International Automobile Show in Detroit as the A.C.E. Beneath this concept truck's gussied-up sheetmetal was the production vehicle's stronger all-new frame; shorter-stopping, longer-life four-wheel disc brakes; reengineered suspension system with quieter axles; and the largest of three all-new V-8 engine choices-displacing 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 liters. (The current base 4.3-liter V-6 and optional 6.5-liter V-8 turbodiesel will still be available.)
Inside, the truck is roomier with significantly more comfortable seating and an entirely new instrument panel and gauge cluster. Greatly improving comfort are new seatbelts mounted directly to the front seats. Electronic goodies include a key-fob-activated vehicle locator, a PassLock ignition key theft-prevention system, and battery run-down protection. Careful ergonomic tweaks allow the new, bigger cab to comfortably accommodate 98 percent of the driving population.
Another key improvement found in the A.C.E. is a multiplex wiring harness that reduces that critical component's weight and the number of sensors and trouble-prone connections while ensuring that diagnosis and repair will be easier and quicker if a problem does arise.
With all of these production-ready design and engineering changes found in this precursor, GMC is looking to enhance the Sierra's profile and status in the full-size pickup market.