Autoblog

Audi plotting a 235-mpg, "affordable" four-seat city car

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Audi

Volkswagen has its XL1, the aero coupe that promises 235 miles per gallon through the use of a two-cylinder TDI diesel, an electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack, and a seven-speed DCT. Rumored to hit showrooms next year, it will be sold in limited markets and in limited numbers. Over the corporate fence, Autocar reports that Audi is also working on a 1.0-liter car, but theirs looks to have a very different brief.

The report says that it's known as the "1.0-liter car" internally, but it won't use the same engine as Volkswagen's entry and the displacement codename might or might not describe the car's actual engine size. There will definitely be an electric component involved, however. The tiny bit that is known comes courtesy of Wolfgang Durheimer, Audi's technology chief, who says the car will utilize a version of the steel platform the A1 is based on. He tells Autocar that it will "be an 'affordable' full four-seater" and it will provide "all the creature comforts of a normal car, including climate control."

Instead of an Audi version of the XL1, this sounds like Ingolstadt's take on the BMW i3, but with better mileage. The Autocar piece says it's at least three years away from showrooms, but the Audi future product plan changes so frequently, so the timeline is hardly set in stone. The concepts, if and when they do arrive, should be very interesting, at least.

Audi plotting a 235-mpg, "affordable" four-seat city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #309 LIVE!

Dan Roth — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Government/Legal, Audi, Ford, GM, Electric, Diesel

We record Autoblog Podcast #308 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #309 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost to net 177 hp?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, UK

Ford will begin rolling out its 1.0-liter, three-cylinder Ecoboost engine this year in overseas models like the UK-spec Ford Focus and C-Max. Replacing the naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the little Ecoboost lump translates its minimal displacement into versions with 99 horses and 118 horses, and up to 125 pound-feet of torque. A report in Autocar suggests Ford can do even better, speculating that The Blue Oval is currently testing a unit outputting 177 hp.

The supplemental power would come from another turbocharger in a production guise, but for testing purposes comes from a supercharger feeding a turbo taken from Ford's 1.6-liter, four-cylinder Ecoboost. A hi-po option would be slated some kind of "performance version of the Focus positioned some distance below the forthcoming 247bhp Focus ST."

Or, if Ford could really get that output to work for production the engine could be an option for the Fiesta ST. Shown off last year, the hotted-up Fiesta was paired with a 180-hp, 177-lb-ft version of the 1.6-liter Ecoboost. Granted, this is all hypothetical, but even with the loss of a noticeable chunk of torque the idea might have its merits.

Ford's tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost to net 177 hp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President of Global Product Development, has confirmed that the Dearborn automaker will offer turbocharged EcoBoost powertrains in 90 percent of its vehicles here in the United States by 2013. This journey for (nearly) full-line forced-induction started with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 found in the Taurus, Flex and F-150, as well as the Lincoln MKS and MKT. Next, we'll be seeing a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four under the hood of the Edge and Explorer, and now, Ford has confirmed development of a 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine.

This 1.0-liter, inline-three will be the smallest engine in Ford's portfolio, and it will find its way under the hood of vehicles across the globe. No specific output or fuel economy numbers have been divulged just yet, but Joe Bakaj, Ford's Vice President of Global Powertrain Engineering, says that the 1.0-liter triple will provide similar power to the automaker's 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four, while improving fuel economy. When asked, Bakaj tells us that the fuel economy improvements will be similar in percentage to those with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 compared to a naturally aspirated V8.

Ford says it plans to announce more information about the 1.0-liter engine at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, including exactly what vehicles will be powered by this mill. Since Ford is benchmarking its 1.6-liter engine here - the powerplant used in the Fiesta - we'd expect that this EcoBoost three almost certainly slot into Ford's smallest offering here in the States.

The Blue Oval has also confirmed that it is working on an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, which is being designed, engineered and built by Ford in-house. Bakaj states that the eight-speed automatic will offer "best-in-class" shift smoothness and responsiveness.

Follow the jump for Ford's official press release.

Continue reading Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission

Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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