LX-Prize: 80 MPG '87 Mustang with 400 HP
by Alex Nunez on Jul 2nd 2008 at 10:01AM 
Doug Pelmar's 1987 Ford Mustang LX Coupe might have just become our favorite X-Prize competitor. How come? Well, first off, LX Coupes are awesome to begin with, but Mr. Pelmar's is even more special. Rather than neuter his 'Stang in the name of high efficiency, he's gone and created something that should contend in the X-Prize's "Mainstream" category, but would also be right at home on the pages of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. The car's engine runs on E85 for emissions purposes and has several modifications that Mr. Pelmar designed (mostly electronics, it seems) allowing it to run much more efficiently -- to the tune of a claimed 80 miles per gallon -- while producing 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. He admits that he could squeeze more MPGs out if he dialed back the power some, but where's the fun in that? 80 MPG and 400 horses in a Fox body seems like a completely reasonable compromise to us. Oh, and MM&FF? You need to call this guy.
[Source: Mustang Evolution]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
BigMcLargeHuge 10:08AM (7/02/2008)
Dude, if this guy is for real, somebody give him that $300 million McCain was talking about and to hell with the batteries!
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Marty 10:23AM (7/02/2008)
I have a very hard time believing this.
Goat Law 10:39AM (7/02/2008)
My bullsh*t meter is reading 'one load at a time please.'
BigMcLargeHuge 10:47AM (7/02/2008)
The only part I have a hard time with is the:
"Mr. Pelmar designed (mostly electronics, it seems) allowing it to run much more efficiently -- to the tune of 80 miles per gallon -- while producing 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque."
I don't see how both could be achieved simultaneously, but if he's running ultra-lean whilst not under load...
Wasn't this among the lighter year-model mustangs?
What's stopping it from getting 80mpg while hypermilling on a straight, flat road? (other than being shaped like a box). Did they specify this was average mpg?
pe_tor 10:09AM (7/02/2008)
Perhaps he means 80 miles per gallon of gas, since it takes 6.67 gallons of E85 to have one gallon of gas? Either that or he's running way too lean for emissions/engine health...
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BigMcLargeHuge 10:23AM (7/02/2008)
Actually ethanol is only 34% less efficient than gasoline. Not 667% less efficient.
And 'too lean for engine health and emissions' is only along conventional lines, which this guy is obviously not following. Its not a new idea, but if he can make it viable the theory has been brought up before.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_burn
XJ 10:28AM (7/02/2008)
Well, in the article he states that he could get even better mileage if it ran on just gas, so I don't think he meant a gallon of gas that's produced from 6 gallons of E85. Even so, it's hard to believe car manufacturers wouldn't have thought about tinkering with the electronics before to achieve 80mpg...unless there's some serious drawbacks such as running way too lean like you mentioned.
pe_tor 10:32AM (7/02/2008)
In regards to the E85 thing, I was saying he was counting gallons of Gas and ignoring all the Alcohol and calling that miles per gallon perhaps (which would be a rather silly way of cheating the ratings).
And yes, there is lots of potential in lean burn, and it is possible he's discovered something extrodinary, but most advances require, new, fancy, heat resistant materials and cooling methods and such to be viable applications.
I do hope to see HCCI turbocharged gas engines that can run significantly leaner than today's engines (though they'll need a nitrogen control strategy like new diesels if they push them very far) within the next, maybe, 4 years? It is a field with a good bit of research being done at the automakers from what I've read in Automotive Engineering Monthly.
71cuda 10:33AM (7/02/2008)
BMLH,
He's not talking about efficiency. He's talking about the 15% of a gallon of E85 that is actually gasoline. X 6.67 = 1 gallon of gas plus 5.67 gallons of ethanol.
BigMcLargeHuge 10:44AM (7/02/2008)
"Mr. Pelmear said that traditional gas engines operate “at a very low efficiency, like 8 to 10 percent, and our engine is like at 38 percent efficiency.”
He said he could greatly increase even that number if his car used traditional gasoline instead of a mix of gas and 85 percent ethanol, which burns hotter but releases fewer hydrocarbons into the atmosphere."
While still vague, I don't think what he is saying coincides with what you are saying, 'Cuda.
mistermino 2:45PM (7/02/2008)
With your comment about HCCI, Ricardo Wavebuild has been able to do HCCI engine design work using it's software for some time now. I completely agree with your comment that this type of engine has lots of potential. the Audi/VW group have been developing these engines for some time now and hopefully they'll release them soon.
cowboy bob 10:10AM (7/02/2008)
Yea.... I have a motor that runs on it's own exaust fumes. The more you run it, the more fumes it makes, and the farther you can go. I plan to circumnavigate the world with it as soon as I can make the car watertight and get a captains cap with those really pretty gold braids on it.
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Injected 10:14AM (7/02/2008)
That sounds like Direct Exhaust Injection (DEI).
Mobius_1 10:11AM (7/02/2008)
Wow, that is stunning. Has he received huge job offers from the BMW yet since they seem to be struggling with CAFE? (and for that matter, any other big car maker)
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Mobius_1 10:15AM (7/02/2008)
OMG My first comment isn't showing... I'll try again
That is damn amazing, I wonder if BMW (which is "struggling" with CAFE) is gonna give him a job offer soon, or for that matter, other car makers
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G-Meister 10:24AM (7/02/2008)
Patience, grasshopper, they show up eventually
MajorGeek 10:15AM (7/02/2008)
Awesome, however remember it is Ethanol, which basically everyone agrees is not going to work. Of course we could mow down all these housing developments and cities and put the corn and farmers back in there. Still Mustang is awesome!
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pmiddle5 11:32PM (7/02/2008)
No. Everyone does not say ethanol will not work. Simply that CORN ethanol is no bueno
Andrew Vitale 10:17AM (7/02/2008)
If this is for real it needs to be on the market NOW!
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epilonious 10:17AM (7/02/2008)
Wow, could either article be any more vague, please?
I feel that the phrase "mostly electronics" is leaving out some important things like retooling the for a 40:1 compression ratio (really the only way to increase efficiency in a "rod and piston" engine) and Direct Injection of the E85/gasoline (really the only way to have ridiculously high compression ratios without pre-ignition).
The electronics are just there to get all the timing right because I'm guessing they turned the old LX motor into a gasohol burning diesel.
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