Avion 100+ MPG Diesel Car

By Ben Coxworth

20:29 September 15, 2010

The fuel economy record-setting Avion automobile

Image Gallery (10 images)

Back in 1984, Craig Henderson and Bill Green built a one-of-a-kind super fuel-efficient car called the Avion. In 1986,

it set the Guinness world record for fuel economy by averaging 103.7USmpg (2.27L/100km) while driving from the

Mexican to Canadian borders. Unlike most autos from that era, the Avion is still on the road... and breaking its own

records. In October 2008, Henderson and Green achieved 113.1mpg (2.08 L/100km) on a 263-mile (423 km) trip in

the US Pacific Northwest. Then, this August 29th, they departed from Blaine, Washington (adjacent to the Canadian

border) and drove 1,478 miles (2,379 km) to the Mexican border. They used just 12.4 US gallons (46.94 L) of diesel

and set a new record of 119.1mpg (1.97L/100km).

View all•

In highway tests prior to this latest cross-America trip, the current incarnation of the Avion has managed a reported

80mpg at 70mph (2.94 L/100km at 112.65km/h), and 114mpg at 55mph (2.06 L/100km at 88.51km/h). On this trip,

said Henderson, they averaged 55mph. They did stop to rest at night, but never refueled – on reaching Mexico,

there was still approximately 6.1 gallons (23.09 L) of fuel in the car’s 18.5-gallon (70.03 L) tank.

Avion 100+ MPG Diesel CarWednesday, September 15, 20103:52 PM

Unfiled Notes Page 1

http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/

http://www.gizmag.com/avion-sets-fuel-economy-record/16381/picture/120709/


The Avion is powered by an 800cc, 67hp diesel engine. That engine is transversely-mounted behind the two seats,

in a monocoque 6061 aluminum chassis. The outstanding fuel economy is due to an aerodynamic lightweight

design, low rolling-resistance tires, and a body made from lightweight composites including carbon fiber, Kevlar and

"S"-Glass. Only three to six horsepower is required to maintain highway speed, which gives the car a top speed of

over 100mph (160.93km/h).

If you’re thinking that you would like an Avion of your own... it’s in the works. Given that the car will reportedly be

hand built in a limited run, however, it probably won’t come cheap.

Pasted from <http://www.gizmag.com/avion-sets-fuel-economy-record/16381/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6394c82d06-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email>

Pasted from <http://www.gizmag.com/avion-sets-fuel-economy-record/16381/picture/120709/>


http://www.100mpgplus.com/index.html

http://www.gizmag.com/avion-sets-fuel-economy-record/16381/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6394c82d06-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

http://www.gizmag.com/avion-sets-fuel-economy-record/16381/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6394c82d06-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email





















Article SummaryBack in 1984, Craig Henderson and Bill Green built a one-of-a-kind super fuel-efficient car called the Avion. In 1986, it set the Guinness world record for fuel economy by averaging 103.7USmpg (2.27L/100km) while driving from the Mexican to Canadian borders. Unlike most autos from that era, the Avion is still on the road... and breaking its own records. In October 2008, Henderson and Green achieved 113.1mpg (2.08 L/100km) on a 263-mile (423 km) trip in the US Pacific Northwest. Then, this August 29th, they departed from Blaine, Washington (adjacent to the Canadian border) and drove 1,478 miles (2,379 km) to the Mexican border. They used just 12.4 US gallons (46.94 L) of diesel and set a new record of 119.1mpg (1.97L/100km).





Avion Technology

The car has been designed to be manufactured in small volume using recycled components from the

automobile recycling yards. Utilizing standard engines and drive trains installed in the Avion's light weight

and aerodynamic body we can achieve significant improvements in fuel efficacy and performance making

the Avion both fun to drive and while getting great mileage. In our testing the car we were able to achieve

80 mpg At 70 mph and an astonishing 114 mpg at 55 mph driving from Eugene OR. To Portland OR.

The chassis is a monocoque 6061 aluminum with steel space frame on either end. The engine is

transversely mounted behind the passengers making the car a transverse mid engine configuration. A

lightweight composite body is attached and riveted and bonded making a very stiff and lightweight structure. The cars are hand built and more labor intensive than high volume production. Extensive use of

composites, Aluminum and lightweight design are used through out the car to achieve our target weight.

Construction is more closely related to small airplane construction than steel stamped automobiles. We

utilize all available technology in construction as laser CNC, vacuumed bagged cored composite

construction and the latest in composite materials like carbon fiber, Kevlar and "S"-Glass.

The car is standard with four-wheel disks, independent suspension, and rack and pinion steering systems.

The body was designed to reduce drag and wind tunnel derived and tested. It requires only 3 to 6

horsepower to maintain highway speed and this gives the car a top speed over 100 mph.Semi gull wing doors provide access to a very low car (43" tall 63" wide and 174" long).

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/technology/index.html>

Original Avion Specifications - 1986

Avion: Mid-Engine, 2 Passenger, High-Tech Sports Car.

Brakes:

Type: Girling/Neal balance beam

Front/Rear: Disk

Chassis/Body:

Type: Aircraft alloy aluminum monocoque center section, Tubular steel front and rear spaceframe.

Body material: Carbonfiber/S-glass hybrid.

Dimensions and Capacities:

Wheelbase: 92.95”

Track F/R: 62/62

Length: 63.5”

Height: 43”



http://www.100mpgplus.com/technology/index.html

Height: 43”

Ground Clearance: 5.5”

Curb Weight: 1550 lbs

Fuel Capacity: 11.0 gal

Drag Coefficient: Cd=.27

Drive Train:

Transmission: Close ratio 5 speed

Final drive ratio: 3.56:1

Engine*: Chrysler/Shelby Turbo

Type: 4-cylinder OHC, electronic fuel injection.

Bore/Stroke: 3.44"/3.62"

Displacement: 2.2 liter

Compression Ration: 8.1:1

Fuel System: Bosch electronic fuel injection

Turbocharger: Garret air research T3

Waste Gate: Integral

Maximum Boost Pressure: 9.0 psi

Valve Gear: Belt-driven single overhead cam

Power (SAE net): 146 bhp @ 5200 rpm

Torque (SAE net): 168-lbs-ft @ 3600 rpm

Redline: 6000 rpm

Interior:

Seats: Leather adjustable

Dash: Oiled Rose Wood

Trunk Volume: 14 ft. cu.

Mileage:

City: 28 mpg **

Highway: 40 mpg **

Performance:

Top Speed: 157 mph ***

Acceleration: 0-60: 5.3 sec

Sound System:


Sound System:

6-way speaker system

AM/FM stereo with power amp

Standard Features:

Sun Roof

Semi Gullwing Doors

Light Weight Polycarbonate Tilt Steering Wheel

Concealed Halogen Headlights

Steering:

Type: Rack-and-Pinion

Turns Lock-to-Lock: 3.3

Suspension:

Front: Independent, Long & Short Arm, Coil Springs, Anti-Sway Bar

Rear: Independent, Chapman Struts, Coil Springs, Anti-Sway Bar

* 225 bhp 16 valve Available

** Highway mileage on actual cross country run

*** Projected Figures From Vehicle Research Institute

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/technology/specifications.html>

Space Age car lacks nothing but some well-heeled buyers

BELLINGHAM It's red, and sleek as a rocket. It draws stares the way Mount Rainier draws climbers. It's

called the Avion, and it's a handmade sports car that a Bellingham man wants to put into production at

$30,000 a copy.At this point Craig Henderson is an automaker with no backing and no customers. But now that he is

completing work on the Avion prototype, he hopes to change that.The 27-year-old Tacoma native describes his mid-engine creation as a "high-tech sports car - a

lightweight, aerodynamic sports car."It stands only 47 inches off the ground, weighs 1,400 pounds, and is powered by a four cylinder, fuel-

injected Audi engine. What makes people stare, however, is its exterior.The design is uncluttered and very clean. Almost nothing protrudes to break the lines or offer wind

resistance. A flat hood panel drops open to reveal the headlights. Even the undercarriage is flat and

clean, enclosed by a sheet of aluminum.

Entering the Avion after raising the front hinged, wing like doors takes a special technique. Sit on the

raised and padded side panel, swing your feet in and drop down onto the seat.One of the car's nice surprises is a trunk that is much larger than those of other small cars, which often

offer little more than a rear mounted glove compartment.Henderson pilots the car down a wide Bellingham street in a demonstration of its head-snapping

acceleration, even with an engine only half as powerful as the Chrysler Shelby 2.2-liter turbo he would

like to try in a later version.

The Avion traces its brief history back to the department of technology at Western Washington

University, where Henderson went to school from 1975 to 1980. A group of students in the department

came up with a modification of the Viking experimental cars that had been built at the department. Their


http://www.100mpgplus.com/technology/specifications.html

came up with a modification of the Viking experimental cars that had been built at the department. Their

idea was to build and market the new model.

About the time he graduated in 1980, Henderson signed on with the group to build the prototype body

using S-class fiberglass. Then he built the aluminum chassis.By the time the body and chassis were put together about a year and a half ago, Henderson had become

the sole entrepreneur still dedicated to the idea of building the car for sale. His Henderson Motor Co. is

now ready to accept its first order for an Avion, priced at $30,000.

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/newspaper/article_0004.html>

Rocket on wheelsExperimental car set world record for fuel

By Paul Dunwiddie Journal-American Business Editor

In last month's Unocal 76 Three Flags Econorallye a 1,700 mile run from Canada down to the Mexican

border Western Washington's Viking A experimental car set a world record for transcontinental fuel

economy: 88.2 mpg.Craig Henderson's entry wasn't much of a challenge at 40 mpg, but then his bright-red Avion is more

than an economy car. It's a rocket on wheels. The Avion accelerates faster than a new Corvette, grips

curves as tightly as a Lotus and has a top speed in excess of 135 mph.

If that's not enough, Henderson will drop in a 200horsepower Datsun V-6 turbo, and you can see America

at 180 mph. "It can be slightly awesome," he says. Henderson bills the Avion as the "world's first commercial high-performance, fuel efficient sports car,"

and he hopes to make a lot of them from the Henderson Motor Co. headquarters in Bellingham.SO FAR, the 28-year-old engineer has built just one, the prototype. But he has orders for two more, and

the Unocal rally was the car's introduction to the world.For $30,000 and an eight-month wait (each car is hand-built), the customer gets a light and exceptionally

aerodynamic sportscar with a grin factor that could steal attention from a four-alarm fire.The Avion's slinky body is eye-catching, but purely functional. No chrome. No fins. No unnecessary lines.


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/newspaper/article_0004.html

The Avion's slinky body is eye-catching, but purely functional. No chrome. No fins. No unnecessary lines.

In the wind, it's as slippery as fresh fish.Dr. Michael Seal director of Western Washington's Vehicle Research Institute, which developed the Viking

4 says the Avion has a "lower aerodynamic drag than any production car, in the world."The drag coefficient, which is how these things are measured, is .27. By comparison, Henderson says the

ratio on the sleek new Corvette is closer to .4. Seal says it may be five years before any production car

can match the aerodynamics of the Avion.

The other major contributing factor to its performance is weight or lack of it. The Avion weighs about

1,500 pounds, half that of a Corvette.Henderson's prototype is powered by a four cylinder, fuel-injected Audi. The running gear is also stock

Audi or Volkswagen, although customers can order various configurations of stock running gear and high-

performance engines.

With smaller engines, Henderson figures the Avion will get 50 mpg in day-to-day use. It could get 75

mpg with a diesel engine, but Henderson refuses to put a diesel in a sports car. It just wouldn't be right,

he says.The rest of the car is custom: leather adjustable seats, oiled rosewood dash, sunroof, six-way speaker

system with AM/FM stereo and power amp, semi-gullwing doors, plastic windows and concealed halogen

high-beam headlights.

The Avion is a little over 14 feet long and 3.6 feet tall. It has just.5.5 inches of ground clearance.

Henderson has spent five years developing the car, and he figures he has some $100,000 invested in it, if

you count his time.The inspiration for the Avion came from Seal's program at Western Washington University, where

Henderson studied to become an industrial-technology engineer. He still makes his living as a consulting

engineer, but he is looking for $500,000 in venture capital to build five Avions and generate enough

interest to start building 200 cars a month.

At next year's Unocal rally, Henderson hopes to generate more publicity by getting the Avion's fuel

economy up to 90 mpg using narrow tires and a taller gear box.Seal says 100 mpg is probably as much as any street-legal, reasonably performing two-seat automobile

can be expected to get using today's technology.The world record for fuel economy is 4,000 mpg, set by Ford of England. But that "car" weighed just 40

pounds and was designed for one, 65-pound driver. It operated at speeds around 15 mph.Interestingly, that super fuel-efficient engine operated at only 12 percent to 20 percent efficiency.

Internal combustion engines can reach 50 percent efficiency at full power. Large ship engines can

approach that figure, and some automobiles can hit 40 percent efficiency under full power.


WOULDYOUBELIEVE88.2 MPG?Author Art Bentley, no relation to the prestigious car company, works in Unocal's Corporate

Communications Department as a public relations supervisor.

Residents of the West Coast were offered what may have been a brief glimpse into the future

recently. What they saw were strange cars built by engineers who had pulled out practically all

the stops. The fuel stops, that is. The cars were competing in the Unocal76 Three Flags

Econorally, a demanding 1,570-mile test of fuel economy through city and country from

Vancouver, B.C., to the Mexican border.

Don't look for these cars on a dealer's lot for about a decade at the earliest, though. Whether

they ever make an appearance may depend on the American driver's ego: can it be gratified



they ever make an appearance may depend on the American driver's ego: can it be gratified

more by a small fuel bill than by a big fuel guzzler?

Historically, the ego has tended to defy reason in such matters. But it's getting harder to argue

with a mode of transportation that can take you from Canada to Mexico for about $20.By any standard, the fuel consumption of the winning car in the Unocal Econorally was less

than small. It was miniscule. Built and driven by students at Western Washington University,

the car, known as Viking IV, set a world record for fuel economy of 88.2 miles per gallon,

beating its previous record of 87. 3 miles per gallon set in 1980. At that rate, it cost only $20

or so to keep Viking IV in enough 76 Diesel fuel to win.

Mileage of the other three cars that finished the course ranged from 40 to 57.6 miles per

gallon. Mechanical problems forced out three contenders. All but Viking IV burned (not much)

76 Unleaded gasoline.

The young designers of these sophisticated machines are optimists. They believe their vehicles

are harbingers, not freaks. To support that conviction, they cite the first econorally, a

transcontinental event in 1975.The winner then averaged 51 miles per gallon.

"That really proved you could get 51 miles per gallon," said Bill McRae, director of the Fuel

Efficient Vehicle Association and a graduate of Western Washington University. "Now, you and I

can go out and buy a car that gets 51 miles per gallon. I think what we're seeing in the Three

Flags Econorally is what's down the road in this country in the next eight to 10 years."

These young designers are also in the vanguard of the push for fuel economy. Their work, and

the quiet influence they've exerted, make a persuasive argument that the road to fuel economy

in the U.S. begins not in Detroit but in Bellingham, Washington, home of Western Washington

University. The school has been a leading exponent of fuel efficient automobiles for more than

a decade. At its Vehicle Research Institute, directed by Dr. Mike Seal, students learn to make

cars the old-fashioned way. They build them, rather than turn the assignment over to a battery

of computers, as they contend Detroit does.

"We're trying to advance automotive engineering in our own small way," Seal said. The prime

result of Western's focus is its Viking series of prototypes. Four competed in the Unocal

Econorally, two finishing and two failing to. Collectively, they offer numerous examples of

things students and faculty say the U.S. auto industry won't do.


things students and faculty say the U.S. auto industry won't do.

A case in point is Viking IV, built in 1978. With its unstressed aluminum body and aluminum

monocoque chassis, it weighs a scant 1,250 pounds. Viking IV is powered by a turbocharged

1,500-cubic-centimeter Volkswagen diesel engine. Like the other Vikings, it carries two

passengers. Western Washington students like to joke that its capacity is half a passenger

more than the average occupancy of a car in Bellingham.

The Unocal 76 Three Flags Econorally began at the Expo '86 site in Vancouver, British Columbia (above) on August 10. Eleven days later, seven cars-including the chase car-crossed the finish line. One contender was stymied by gearbox problems in San Francisco.

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/article_unocal.html>


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/article_unocal.html

So fuelishTurning our backs on a dream car that works

By Erik Lacitis Times staff columnist

It didn't seem such an outlandish dream. After all it had already put them into the Guinness Book Of

World RecordsSomebody out there would listen to them. Americans had already gone through one gasoline crisis in the

1970s, and now an Iraqi dictator is pushing us into another one. We couldn't be that. addicted to gas

guzzlers. Some investor would see the opportunity in a car like the Avion.The Avion is a dream car that worked. This isn't some fantasy. You can see the real thing for yourself.

It is built out of readily available parts. The Avian is a sleek-looking sports car with plenty of leg room

and trunk space, getting its name from the distinctive: way its door opens like gull wings.It can reach speeds of 110 miles an hour. It has an acceleration of 0 to 60 in six seconds. It can meet

government emission and crash-test requirements. Its inventors believe it could sell in the $15,000

range, if manufactured in volume, or $30,000 if built individually by hand.

And there Is this final statistic: When using a diesel engine, the Avion can get 100 miles to the gallon

(With a gas engine, mileage is 40 to 50 gallons).Try to imagine how far you could drive on a tankful with that kind of diesel-fuel savings. From Seattle to

Los Angeles, from Miami to Pittsburgh, from Washington, D.C., to Minneapolis.Bill Green and Craig Henderson thought that surely someone would pay attention.

Here was a car that in 1986 managed to use only $15 of fuel on a trip from Mexico to Canada. That's

103.7 miles to the gallon, which is why the Avion is in the Guinness record book.Yes, surely investors would pay attention.

But they didn't, perhaps because the investors understood the American car-buying public better than

Green or Henderson. Why bother with the Avion when what people want are high-powered vans?So the dream car returned to the city where it was built. It is now partly dismantled, stored in a garage in

Bellingham.Green and Henderson met in Bellingham in the 1970s, when they were students at Western Washington

University. They had both been drawn to one of the college's most famous facilities, the Vehicle,

Research Institute. It regularly makes the news with prize-winning experimental car engines and, most

recently, with its Viking XX solar-powered car.

That is where they learned about designing lightweight car bodies that were so streamlined they seemed

to fly through wind-tunnel experiments.They built the Chassis of the Avion out of aluminum, and the body out of the same carbon fiber used to

make airplane parts. Most of the other car parts were bought from existing manufacturers. The engine,

for example, was from a VW Rabbit.

With the Guinness record, they made it to the network news and the newspapers. Green and Henderson

decided to go for it."Our flagship product, the Avion, rivals the Porsche 911 and the Lotus in performance and exotic

appearance…,” they wrote in a prospectus. "We intend to initiate discussions with established automobile

companies to explore a corporate partnership…"

By its nature, a prospectus has to be optimistic. Still, the two men weren't quite prepared for the

underwhelming response."Basically, they told us, 'Thanks, but no thanks,’” Green said.

Michael Seal, director of the Vehicle Research Institute, would say about his former students' dream car:

"The plain fact is that Americans always have liked big engines and powerful cars, when they can afford

to buy them."Craig Henderson now works as a designer for an exercise equipment manufacturer in Bothell. Green

lectures on architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. Both men still hope someone will invest

in their dream car.

At what point would you start 'considering a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon? When gas costs $2.50

a gallon? $3.50? $4.50? $10? With such fuel efficiency, the savings would be in the billions of gallons of

gasoline. Then no Iraqi dictator could succeed in economic blackmail.

But next time you're pumping gas, take a look around. I drive a 1982 Oldsmobile that gets maybe 20

miles to the gallon. That brand-new four-wheeler might get 30 mpg.Even Bill Green acknowledged a little secret.

"I hate to tell you what kind of car I drive" said Green. "It's a 1962 Chrysler that weighs 4,700 pounds. It

has a real 1950s attitude about it. It gets 9 miles to the gallon."We do love our cars, and, so far, we are willing to pay the price.


We do love our cars, and, so far, we are willing to pay the price.


World carmakers converging on Kingdome

Bellingham roadster to debut at showFrom Seattle Times November 2, 1985

Craig Henderson's sleek car may be the most aerodynamic auto in the world. And at 1,500 pounds, it's

also one of the lightest.Though Bellingham isn't Detroit, it is the 'home of one of America's newest automobiles, the Avion, a

$30,000 sports car which will be on display at the Seattle International Auto Show starting Wednesday at

the Kingdome.

The show will be the first public display of the Avion prototype, a long, lean, low two-seater with modified

gull-wing doors. It stands only 43 inches high, but it's 14 feet long, has a carbon-fiber and fiber-glass

body and ample trunk space. The chassis is aircraft-alloy aluminum.

Henderson says the car will do 130 miles per hour with the Chrysler 2.2 Shelby turbocharged engine that

will be installed in production models. The prototype is powered by an Audi motor.Henderson Motor Co. is housed in the basement of a Bellingham building, where the carmaker has

tooled up to turn out the handcrafted vehicle. He makes the body and chassis, and fits the interior to

customer specifications. Leather seats and a rosewood dash are standard equipment. Henderson

estimates that delivery time will be eight months from the time a car is ordered.

"The drive train and suspension components are mostly standard," he explained, adding that he obtains

the parts he doesn't manufacture from a variety of sources." "I put it all together to make it run," he

said. The co-designer of the Avion is a fellow Western Washington University graduate, Bill Green. Green

is studying architecture in California.

Henderson, 28, caught the car-manufacturing bug by being around WWU's Vehicle Research Institute. He

has financed the prototype production and the tooling for regular production from his own earnings as a

consulting engineer in production, environmental, mechanical and waste-products areas. Now he's

looking for venture capital.

Also on display at the auto show will be other special models such as the Rolls-Royce's $110,000 Silver

Spirit four-door sedan and the Lotus $50,000 Esprit Turbo. Mercedes-Benz will be participating for the

first time.

But most of the models will be current ones from the other United States and overseas carmaker's, most

of them with lower price tags, says Jim Hammond, show director for the sponsoring Puget Sound

Automobile Dealers Association.The show is one of the five largest in the country. The number of manufacturers "is the largest number

the show has ever had," he says. Some manufacturers are putting in displays costing upwards of

$200,000, not counting the cars.

The auto show is a good place to get a good deal on a car because competitors are working right next to

each other, Hammond said. As in previous years, some manufacturers will offer special prices. In the

past, some have cut as much as $1,000 off the base price.

The show will also include 180 booths, most of which will be selling or displaying auto accessories,



The show will also include 180 booths, most of which will be selling or displaying auto accessories,

financial services, finishes and additives, and other goods."This is not a dealers' show," Hammond points out, "but an industry show." And it's not just a Seattle

show. It will draw attendance from throughout the Northwest and Alaska.

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/newspaper/times_110285.html>

AVIONA NORTHWEST WONDER

Students at Western Washington University have developed some experimental vehicles that not only

look exciting but also provide possible answers to our energy crunch. "They are lightweight, have excellent streamlining, and have highly efficient engines," says Bill Green,

engineering technician of the university's Vehicle Research Institute. Such basic characteristics are hardly

secrets for gaining efficiency. But the results of three working projects, all called Viking cars, are

startling.

Last summer Viking IV averaged 87.5 mpg on a cross-country rally from Bellingham, Wash., to

Washington, D.C. The all-aluminum monocoque two-seater weighs 1,300 lbs. and is powered by a 1,500-

cc VW Rabbit diesel that is turbocharged. Tests at the GM proving grounds and at the Transportation Research Center of Ohio showed 90.4 mpg at 40 mph, 103 mpg at 35 mph, and 73 mpg at 70 mph-all

while meeting 1980 California emission standards.

The project, directed by Prof. Michael R. Seal, head of the research institute, has only two full-time

technicians and has involved about 35 students since the first experimental vehicles were tested in 1969.

Until this year Detroit showed little interest, but there were lots of contacts from Japanese companies and

engineers, particularly Subaru, Mazda, Honda, and Datsun, who have donated parts, engines, and know-

how. While the designs are intriguing, they are not entirely original. The unusual double-top cockpit

shape, which cuts frontal area and improves streamlining, originated in the Abarth Fiat coupes of some

years ago. The idea, however, is to improve on previous designs. "When designing a suspension upright

for a Viking car, for example," says Professor Seal, "we looked at Lotus, Honda, Renault, and Subaru

parts. The Lotus part, made from cast aluminum, weighed less than half. We decided to make our upright


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/newspaper/times_110285.html

parts. The Lotus part, made from cast aluminum, weighed less than half. We decided to make our upright

from cast aluminum, cut down the dimensions, and change the design to suit our suspension geometry.

"The new parts are fitted and tested by driving at high speeds over rough roads and by sliding the car

sideways and hitting curbs. When a new upright breaks, the part is analyzed and the patterns modified to

provide more metal in the vulnerable area."

For safety, the chassis structure is designed for crash-situation loading rather than merely for normal

driving requirements. The calculated crash forces are such that the occupants could survive a 50-mph

frontal crash. "Dummies have already survived sled tests at 41 mph," Seal reports.

Streamlining has also taken interesting directions. At 50 mph, about half the total road load is due to

aerodynamic drag. Since this drag is directly proportional to frontal area, the Viking is low and narrow.

Even with race-car reclining-seat positions, the lower limit for roof height is about 42 inches. So the

Viking II has a dip in the roof line between two occupants to further reduce frontal area. But most

streamlined bodies provide excessive lift, which reduces stability. The usual method to reduce lift is to fit

an under-bumper air dam that restricts airflow under the body. "We think a better solution is arrived at if the underside of the car is placed about seven inches from the

road between the front wheels," says Seal. "The smooth underpan slopes upward toward the rear bumper

so that the whole body shape is somewhat like a wing flying at a negative angle of attack. If the airflow

can be persuaded to split at the windshield center line-and the air passes along either side of the cab

instead of over the top, lift will be reduced."

The Vikings' remarkable performance has been achieved with virtually standard power plants. These

include a Subaru 1,600-cc engine, a 1,300-cc Mazda rotary engine, a 1,500cc VW turbo diesel, and an

1,100-cc Isuzu two-cycle diesel. In the future the Viking V will be fitted with a 1980 Subaru 1,600-cc

engine and five-speed transmission; the Viking VI will get a 1981 Subaru 1,200-cc engine and transaxle.

Also in the future, Detroit may be involved: Ford has offered a new Escort engine for Viking VII.

This latest project will use compressed natural gas. "We believe this fuel will see increasing use in motor

vehicles in the next decade," says Bill Green. "We plan to use a high-technology carbon-fIber-wound

aluminum gas tank feeding the modified Ford Escort engine, and anticipate better than average

performance and, 72cent-per-mile economy."

Viking IV and V cost about $28,000 each including labor of the two technicians but not that of the 35

students. Two Viking crash cars cost about $50,000 each, Green estimates. All of this is remarkably little

compared with what major auto companies spend for such projects. The payoff, so far, has also been

remarkable.

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/avion_nww.html>

Guinness World Record - Longest Fuel Range


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/avion_nww.html

Using #2 diesel oil as fuel, a stock Volkswagen transmission and an aluminum chassis weighing 1,550 lb,

Craig Henderson and Bill Green, automotive engineers, in Sept 1986, piloted their sleek prototype 1,759

mi, an average 103.7 mpg on a trip from Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles to the Mexican border at Tijuana

and up through California, Oregon and Washington to Vancouver, Canada. They set their idling jet jet

way down and, through capable driving 95 mph or more, they managed to economize and use less than

$15 of fuel. Avion, as they call their gull-wing-doored-car, had no special equipment although the air-

conditioner was removed and small tires used. The Car is 13 ft long, 63 in wide, 43 in tall and can

accommodate two people with 15 cu ft of luggage space. The two engineers plan to go into production of

the vehicle as a special performance car.

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/guinness_world_record.html>

Low-drag cars get 100+ mpg

Conventional engines power the sleek Vikings

By BEN KOCIVARDRAWING BY RUSSELL VON SAUERSFrom Popular Science Magazine January 1982


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/guinness_world_record.html

Students at Western Washington University have developed some experimental vehicles that not

only look exciting but also provide possible answers to our energy crunch."They are lightweight, have excellent streamlining, and have highly efficient engines," says Bill

Green, engineering technician of the university's Vehicle Research Institute. Such basic

characteristics are hardly secrets for gaining efficiency. But the results of three working projects,

all called Viking cars, are startling.

Last summer Viking IV averaged 87.5 mpg on a cross-country rally from Bellingham, Wash., to

Washington, D.C. The all-aluminum monocoque two-seater weighs 1,300 lbs. and is powered by a

1,500-cc VW Rabbit diesel that is turbocharged. Tests at the GM proving grounds and at the

Transportation Research Center of Ohio showed 90.4 mpg at 40 mph, 103 mpg at 35 mph, and 73

mpg at 70 mph-all while meeting 1980 California emission standards.

The project, directed by Prof. Michael R. Seal, head of the research institute, has only two full-time

technicians and has involved about 35 students since the first experimental vehicles were tested in

1969. Until this year Detroit showed little interest, but there were lots of contacts from Japanese

companies and engineers, particularly Subaru, Mazda, Honda, and Datsun, who have donated

parts, engines, and know-how.

While the designs are intriguing, they are not entirely original. The unusual double-top cockpit

shape, which cuts frontal area and improves streamlining, originated in the Abarth Fiat coupes of

some years ago. The idea, however, is to improve on previous designs.

"When designing a suspension upright for a Viking car, for example," says Professor Seal, "we

looked at Lotus, Honda, Renault, and Subaru parts. The Lotus part, made from cast aluminum,

weighed less than half. We decided to make our upright from cast aluminum, cut down the

dimensions, and change the design to suit our suspension geometry.

"The new parts are fitted and tested by driving at high speeds over rough roads and by sliding the

car sideways and hitting curbs. When a new upright breaks, the part is analyzed and the patterns

modified to provide more metal in the vulnerable area."For safety, the chassis structure is designed for crash-situation loading rather than merely for

normal driving requirements. The calculated crash forces are such that the occupants could survive

a 50-mph frontal crash. "Dummies have already survived sled tests at 41 mph," Seal reports.

Streamlining has also taken interesting directions. At 50 mph, about half the total road load is due

to aerodynamic drag. Since this drag is directly proportional to frontal area, the Viking is low and

narrow. Even with race-car reclining-seat positions, the lower limit for roof height is about 42 inches. So the Viking II has a dip in the roofline between two occupants to further reduce frontal

area.

But most streamlined bodies provide excessive lift, which reduces stability. The usual method to

reduce lift is to fit an under-bumper air dam that restricts airflow under the body."We think a better solution is arrived at if the underside of the car is placed about seven inches

from the road between the front wheels," says Seal. "The smooth underpan slopes upward toward

the rear bumper so that the whole body shape is somewhat like a wing flying at a negative angle

of attack. If the airflow can be persuaded to split at the windshield center line-and the air passes

along either side of the cab instead of over the top, Lift will be reduced."

The Vikings' remarkable performance has been achieved with virtually standard power plants.

These include a Subaru 1,600-cc engine, a 1,300-cc Mazda rotary engine, a 1,500cc VW turbo

diesel, and a 1,100-cc Isuzu two-cycle diesel. In the future the Viking V will be fitted with a 1980

Subaru 1,600-cc engine and five-speed transmission; the Viking VI will get a 1981 Subaru 1,200-

cc engine and transaxle. Also in the future, Detroit may be involved: Ford has offered a new Escort

engine for Viking VII.This latest project will use compressed natural gas. "We believe this fuel will see increasing use in

motor vehicles in the next decade," says Bill Green. "We plan to use a high-technology carbon-

fIber-wound aluminum gas tank feeding the modified Ford Escort engine, and anticipate better

than average performance and, 72cent-per-mile economy."

Viking IV and V cost about $28,000 each including labor of the two technicians but not that of the

35 students. Two Viking crash cars cost about $50,000 each, Green estimates. All of this is

remarkably little compared with what major auto companies spend for such projects. The payoff,

so far, has also been remarkable.

© 1982 Popular Science

Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/popular_science.html>


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/popular_science.html

Handout


Pasted from <http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/handout.html>

Car Averages 113.1 MPG In I-5 Trip

Avion Set World Record For MPG, Designers Say

POSTED: 8:47 am PDT October 13, 2008UPDATED: 9:15 am PDT October 13, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tired of high gas prices? Two Northwest car designers have developed a car averaging 113.1 miles per gallon.

Video | Slideshow


http://www.100mpgplus.com/articles/magazine/handout.html

http://www.kptv.com/video/17703117/index.html

Video | Slideshow

Craig Henderson, who lives in Bellingham, Wash., drove his aerodynamic car down Interstate 5 on Saturday, from the Canadian-Washington border to the Washington-Oregon border. Henderson and fellow designer Bill Green said they broke the world record for most miles per gallon. "We drove from border to border across Washington state here today," Green said. "We averaged about 113.1 miles per gallon." The car, dubbed the Avion, originally set the record for most miles per gallon in 1986 when it averaged 103.7 miles per gallon. Green and Henderson said they named their car after the French word for airplane because of the vehicle's unique design. The prototype was completed in 1984, but until recently, Green and Henderson said very few people have paid attention to the fuel-efficient sports car. As gas prices skyrocketed, however, more drivers took notice. Green and Henderson spent months testing the car in wind tunnels so they could perfect each angle. The car's body is designed to reduce drag; it requires only 3 to 6 horsepower to maintain highway speed, giving it a top speed of over 100mph, according to the car's Web site. Henderson said the car has reached 114 mpg at 55 mph while driving on public roads from Eugene to Portland. The designers said they have plans for a limited production, which will soon allow drivers to buy an Avion for themselves.

Pasted from <http://www.kptv.com/automotive/17703152/detail.html>


http://www.kptv.com/video/17703117/index.html

http://www.kptv.com/automotive/17703152/detail.html

Documents

Avion 100+ MPG Diesel Car