By Nina Russin
BMW Clean Diesel
BMW is bringing a fleet of clean diesel cars to the states that can pass emissions in all fifty states. Diesel versions of current models will see a twenty-five percent boost in fuel economy. Unlike hybrids, the improvement for diesel applies to highway as well as city driving.
BMW also unveiled a new generation of M3s, including a sedan, coupe and convertible. The BMW 1 Series tii concept car is a tribute to the 2002, BMW's legendary two-door compact first introduced in 1968. Power comes from a 300 horsepower twin turbo engine. The body is made primarily of carbon fiber reinforced plastic to save weight. Alcantara upholstery keeps the driver positioned in the seat during aggressive turns. Fins on the hood that optimize air flow are a tribute to the 3.0 CSL: the BMW that won the twelve hours at Sebring race in 1975.
Hyundai Fuel Cells
Hyundai is initiating fleet programs to test fuel cell versions of the mid-sized Santa Fe and compact Tucson sport-utility vehicles. At the same time, the Korean automaker is testing third-generation fuel cell technology in a vehicle called the iBlue.
The fuel stack is under the car's floor, to maximize interior space and maintain a fifty/fifty front-to-rear weight distribution. Hyundai hopes to have production fuel cell cars on the road within ten years.
New production cars include a refreshed Sonata that goes on sale later this month, and the Elantra Touring: a five-door crossover vehicle that competes against the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber and Mazda3. The Elantra Touring goes into production later this year.
Dodge SRT Challenger
The 2009 Dodge SRT Challenger, a tribute to the classic muscle car with a modern twist, appeals to drivers who would rather save time than fuel. The Challenger has a top speed of 170 miles-per-hour, and it gets there in a hurry, thanks to the most powerful naturally aspirated hemi engine Chrysler has ever made. The Challenger accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 4.9 seconds.
A 425-horsepower engine produces 420 foot-pounds of torque, making the SRT Challenger an even faster ride than the original. Of course, it's also a little more expensive: $37,995 as opposed to $3000 for the 1970 model.
SRT stands for “Street and Racing Technology: the division produces high-performance versions of Dodge and Chrysler production cars. Brian Nielander who oversaw design calls the SRT Challenger “the holy grail version of the car.”
Jim Press, Vice President and Chairman of Chrysler commented: “Goosebumps, right?...When you get inside, it makes you richer and younger than you really are.”
The 1970 Challenger was known for its exceptional straight-line performance, but like most muscle cars, it had marginal brakes and didn't corner well. Not true for the 2009 model. High performance Brembo brakes stop the car as quickly as it accelerates: it can go from sixty to a dead stop in 110 feet: zero to a hundred and back to zero in 16-1/2 seconds. The Challenger rides on 20 inch wheels with Z-rated tires.
A five-link independent rear suspension gives the Challenger a more compliant ride than competitive models with solid rear axles. Engineers lowered the Challenger's ride height and gave it a specially tuned electronic stability program to enhance cornering. On the skid pad, it pulls .9 Gs.
The instrument panel includes “performance page:” on-board telemetry that allows the driver to record and store performance data at the track.
The model comes with a monster sound system as well: thirteen speakers and 552 watts, plus Sirius satellite radio, MyGig programmable hard drive, available navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.
Standard safety features include antilock brakes, electronic stability program, traction control, side and side curtain airbags and high intensity discharge headlamps. The SRT Challenger rolls into dealerships this spring, but don't be surprised if Dodge's hot new muscle car is hard to find: the manufacturer had 4300 pre-orders the first day after plans for production were announced.
