Archive for the ‘Diesel Racing’ Category
Posted by Cetane_100 on
May 10, 2009
Over the last two decades, Audi has been particularly active in motorsports, first in rallying- where its Quattro all wheel drive was spawned – and later on race tracks – where it debuted gasoline direct injection on the R8. Most recently, the R10 and the R15 have taken diesel technology to new heights with three consecutive wins at Le Mans.
Audi’s now using that racing success to boost its first U.S. clean diesel vehicle, the Q7 TDI, which is finally going on sale about now. Last fall, in the cross country Mileage Marathon, the 50-state legal Q7s averaged about 29 mpg, far more than any of the big hybrid SUVs can manage. Yes, diesel contains more carbon than gasoline but the 30 percent improvement in efficiency far outweighs the extra carbon content and still yields about a 25 percent cut in CO2 emissions. While even clean diesels also produce more NOx than current gasoline engines, they are a huge improvement over they were and the particulate filters like those used on the race cars eliminate the soot.
Posted by Cetane_100 on
March 3, 2009
Peugeot intends to race a diesel hybrid version of its 908 prototype at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jean-Philippe Collin, the French automaker’s new CEO, revealed the plans in an interview with L-Equipe, revealing that the vehicle could see competition as early as November 2008 at the ACO 1,000km challenge in Shanghai. We predict success for the first diesel electric hybrid racecar, it’ll be able to combine the excellent fuel economy and torque characteristics of both diesels and hybrids and would be positioned to take advantage of any future rule changes that benefit hybrid technology. F1, for example, is actively working to bring power added by regenerative braking to the sport.
Posted by Cetane_100 on
March 2, 2009
Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT) USA, the maker of the world’s only motorcycle purpose built diesel motorcycle engine, is entering the 2009 SCORE International Baja 250 which will be run in San Felipe, Mexico on March 14th. The world renowned off-road race will serve as a proving ground for the well tested and well prepared composite race team made up of members from HDT USA and Team SRD. The newly formed team will combine their successes from the diesel motorcycle land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and their class 22 podium producing finish in the 2008 SCORE Baja 500.
In the early ’70s HDT raced and sold Pentons (early KTMs) and produced high-performance suspension and engine parts for motocrossers. In 2000 they sent the Marines their first diesel prototype motorcycle (based on the Kawasaki KLR650) for testing; the production model was delivered by HDT in September of 2006. Current owner of HDT Fred Hayes and associate Bryon Schmidt—both veterans—enjoy using racing to develop diesel record-breaking motorcycles at Bonneville. HDT USA is honored to serve the men and women of our Armed Forces by providing the best equipment possible. HDT USA is proud to provide the best in diesel motorcycle technology to both our government and civilian customers.
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