Yesterday marked the beginning of production of the latest generation Vauxhall Astra at the U.K. subsidiary of Opel at GM of Europe’s Ellesmere Port facility – one of Opel-Vauxhall’s largest assembly plants and the only one in Western Europe that will build the Astra.

As a reflection of the new reality in the automotive industry, Ellesmere competed against GM assembly facilities in Trollhätten, Sweden, Antwerp, Belgium and Bochum, Germany back in 2007 in order to secure the rights to produce the new Opel.

2010 Opel/Vauxhall Astra

Making its premiere at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the sixth generation of the Astra is based on General Motors new Delta architecture – the same platform that GM is using for the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze models.

Unlike the previous generation, which languished in Saturn showrooms, the new 2010 Opel Astra features all-new sheet metal featuring sleek curves that replace the rather staid design of the fifth gen model.

To compliment its new alluring style is a broad selection of both gasoline and diesel engines. In addition to the base 1.4-liter naturally aspirated engine and an optional 1.6-liter turbo (from the Opel Insignia), GM has added a new 1.4-liter turbo unit that, according to the General, is expected to deliver fuel economy savings of up to 8% over both older engines.

Diesel offerings include 1.3, 1.7 and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines with an ecoFlex version offering improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions expected sometime next year.

The new Astra will initially be offered in a five-door version, while a three-door GTC coupe and station wagon will come to market late next year and, in early 2011, Opel plans to add a four-door sedan and a cabrio version featuring a retractable hardtop.

If only

In the meantime,  Saturn dealers on this side of the pond can only watch from the sidelines and wonder what could have been.

The view from Auburn Hills

For those of us here at LotPro.com, the auto industry has always been a source of unending entertainment and events this week have certainly not proven us wrong.

Supermini goes large

On Wednesday, Fiat announced that the world’s largest Fiat 500 – five times the its normal size – would be coming to London for an event the company calls “The Big Smile.”

Designed to generate an awareness and interest in the new 500C, the 5:1 model has previously appeared at auto shows, although the latest iteration simulates the “open top” 500C, rather than the sedan through the use of a projection of the sky on the inner lining of the car’s roof.

If you happen to be in London between August 28th and September 2nd, it might be fun to check out the “big” Fiat, along with assorted roaming entertainers, stilt walkers and food stalls on Oxford Street.

Buick’s Saturn Vue/Opel Antara clone gets the axe

In a rapid reversal of events, GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens reported on his “Fast Lane” blog yesterday that the compact Buick CUV that he announced in Traverse City a few weeks ago and that had been described by Stephens, himself, on August 10th as a “beautiful new crossover” that would “debut our new plug-in hybrid technology” and “firmly put Buick, and GM, front and center in the advanced technology game” was history.

According to his blog, the small SUV “received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences (at a future product showcase at the company’s Milford Proving Ground) that it didn’t fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick.”

In the blog, he goes on to state that, “We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism of the compact crossover. And what we decided to do in response is a good example of the essence of the new General Motors… acting quickly, and boldly, and listening to feedback from customers, employees, dealers, media and just about anyone else with an opinion.”

Considering the fact that the erstwhile Pontiac Aztec also received less-than-glowing reviews from its focus groups (and we all know how that project ended), the decision to “86” the Buick was probably a prudent one.

The good news, however, is that the hybrid technology originally intended for the vehicle will be, according to the same blog, “applied to another vehicle, at no delay.”

Images courtesy of Fiat U.K. and General Motors

Newest Buick

Late last week, General Motors offered up a teaser image of a new Buick crossover vehicle that will be introduced as a 2011 model. According to the press release, the as-yet-to-be-named crossover will seat five and will first arrive in 2010 powered by a new family of direct-injected gasoline engines.

One year later, in 2011, a plug-in hybrid version will arrive and it’s expected to be the first commercially available plug-in SUV produced by a major automaker.

“Buick has always been at the forefront of new technology, so it is only fitting that the brand should debut our new plug-in hybrid technology in a beautiful new crossover,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of product development. “This will firmly put Buick, and GM, front and center in the advanced technology game.”

Gasoline version

They new hybrid will be smaller than the current Buick Enclave. According to Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, “Some customers who have been drawn to the Enclave were looking for something a little smaller. We believe this new Buick will excite those customers, and will continue to broaden the appeal of the brand.”

The first engine to appear in the smaller SUV will be GM’s Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine; while an optional 3.0-liter directed-injected V-6 will be available that is expected to deliver 30 plus mpg on the highway.

Plug-in version

They hybrid version will be powered by a modified version of the General’s current 2-Mode Hybrid system using advanced lithium-ion battery cells and the charging technology that was developed for the Chevrolet Volt.

The 8 kWh battery – containing half the energy of the Volt’s battery pack – can be fully recharged in four to five hours by connecting the vehicle to a conventional 110V household electrical outlet. If early testing is any indication, the Buick SUV should be capable of electric-only propulsion for more than ten miles at low speeds, while over-the-road the vehicle can use any combination of electric or gasoline engine power.

In addition to the battery pack, the hybrid’s powertrain system also includes two electric motors, an electronic control and battery management system, as well as a 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 flex-fuel engine.

Déjà vu

If this all sounds strangely familiar, it should be remembered that earlier this year, before General Motors had decided to sell off the Saturn division, it was announced that the Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid would also be available in a plug-in version. And while GM is tight-lipped on whether the new Buick is based on the Vue’s underpinnings (which, itself, is based on the German Opel Antara), chances are good that it is.

Images courtesy of General Motors

The General and Segway

GM and Segway may seem like strange bedfellows as partners in a transportation project. But while the huge manufacturer that historically has been tied to “longer, lower, wider” might seem to have little in common with the Bedford, New Hampshire company that espouses personal transportation and energy conservation, the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility project (P.U.M.A.) is not the first collaboration between the two companies.

Back in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, GM unveiled an Opel concept vehicle with an electric drivetrain that eventually made its way to the U.S. in the guise of the Saturn Flexstreme Concept that was shown in Detroit in 2008. It was equipped with a 1.3 liter turbo-diesel engine (used for extended range) and lithium-ion batteries for a 34 mile all-electric range. In addition to the usual concept car goodies, the Flexstreme also came equipped with an underbody storage compartment that was home to two Segway personal transporters.

Project P.U.M.A. a different kind of cat

Unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the result of the two companies’ latest joint venture takes that partnership one step further. The P.U.M.A. is an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that is equipped with only 2 main wheels (there are also 2 sets of smaller outrigger-style wheels in front of and behind the main wheels – possibly for emergency stops and “hole shot” starts). It should also be noted that the project was undertaken prior to GM’s current fiscal woes. Despite that, here is GM’s take on the project:

“Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world’s people live,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning. “Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them. Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks.”

Segway had this to say:

“We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,” said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. “There’s an emotional connection you get when using Segway products. The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others.”

Vehicle Specifications

The current prototype uses a lithium-ion battery with smart energy management, two-wheel balancing and dual electric motors that allow a maximum speed of 35 mph and a range of up to 35 miles between recharges. According to the supplied information, it is also equipped with a “dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity.” Although the vehicle’s “input device” looks very much like a steering wheel, it uses dynamic stabilization and drive-by-wire technology based on user input for maneuvering through city streets. The current configuration appears to allow for only 2 passengers, although GM’s press information alludes to “two or more passengers” (although, from the supplied images, the only possibility for a third occupant at this time would seem to be a Chihuahua).

sketch of possible future exterior evolution

The auto show as an economic forecast

The Detroit Auto Show has always been somewhat of a barometer of the American auto industry and this year was no exception. Most manufacturers eschewed their two-floored displays complete with bars and special customer “lounges” for simpler single-level displays, while a few even cancelled their displays, altogether. If the creative level of the exhibits and consumer participation are indicators of what lie ahead, the coming year will likely be a continuation of the economic storm the entire country experienced last year.

But amid all the doom and gloom that surrounded it, the 2009 Detroit Auto Show produced its share of winners and losers. Here, in our opinion, are six:

Winner – Cadillac Division, General Motors Corporation

If GM manages to survive the economic crisis, one of the brightest diamonds in its corporate tiara will be Cadillac. Following up last year’s Provoq concept with the equally stunning Converj, the division has taken its styling DNA to a whole new level and based it on the General’s current (no pun intended) Voltec extended-range electric technology.

Not content with the Converj unveiling, Cadillac also displayed production-ready versions of the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon and the 2010 SRX. The Sport Wagon, a body style that will probably be just a niche vehicle on this side of the pond, is sure to be a hit in Europe. The SRX, on the other hand, is a sign that Cadillac is moving that model in the right direction at the right time as it swaps the old 7-passenger V-8 optional platform for a 5-passenger configuration featuring an optional turbocharged V-6.

Loser – Saturn Division, General Motors Corporation

While General Motors has decided not to drop the Saturn brand, at least for now, it’s clear that what was once touted as “A different kind of Car Company, A different kind of Car” has been suffering from the inability of anyone at GM to give the division any clear focus. A case in point: due to a lack of demand, the 2009 Astra has been cancelled, giving dealers time to clear the glut of 2008 models from their lots before, theoretically, the 2010 models are introduced.

Winner – Audi AG

The company that has usurped Mercedes-Benz crown as the standard bearer of German engineering and styling came to Detroit with the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, a V-10 version that produces 518 horsepower and a top speed of 195 mph.

Sitting next to the R8 was the stunning Sportback Concept which sources at Audi say could be the precursor to a new A7 coupe. Meanwhile, Audi confirmed that it will offer a 2-liter diesel engine in its A3 model later this year that should top 40 mpg.

Loser – Nissan North America

Nissan, to use racing parlance, was a DNS at this year’s event. The GT-R, the new 370Z and the Cube were missed by show goers. The rest of the line, including the new strippo Versa, not so much…

Winner – Ford Motor Company

Ford has wrestled styling victory from the jaws of defeat with the surprising new 2010 Taurus. What was once a slab-sided caricature of the Ford 500 styling concept is now a winner in its own right. The company also unveiled the mildly restyled 2010 Mustang that should give its long-lived ponycar a new lease on life.

Loser – Chrysler LLC

The 200C EV Concept was the one bright spot in an otherwise lackluster showing from the Auburn Hills-based manufacturer. Gone from the display were the waterfalls and mountains of yore. The Ram and Challenger were big news last year and a series of electric vehicles (one based on the European Lotus Europa S) only reminds us of the extremely abbreviated production run of Chrysler’s last two hybrid vehicles.

2009 Ford Flex

What is IIHS?

Originally founded in 1959 by a group of insurers to support academic organizations working in the field of highway safety, the initial directive of this non-profit organization was changed in late 1968 when the Institute decided to “start at once to collect auto accident repair cost data prospectively.”

Beginning with the tenure of president William Haddon Jr., M.D. in 1969, the institute turned away from the traditional efforts of preventing crashes by changing driver behavior to developing a systematic approach to the reduction of vehicle occupant injuries, deaths and vehicle property damage.

The Institute’s current research covers three areas:

•    Human factors that include teenage drivers, alcohol-related driving impairment, truck driver fatigue and safety belt use.

•    Vehicle factors that focus on crash avoidance and crashworthiness research

•    Research of the physical environment that includes roadway design assessment to prevent such things as run-off-the-road crashes and the elimination of roadside hazards.

Crash Testing

Unlike the Federal government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the IIHS does not use a full-frontal impact test, but rather a 40% offset frontal test. This exposes 40% of the front of a vehicle to an impact with a deformable barrier at approximately 40 miles per hour. The logic, according to the IIHS, is that while a full-frontal test certainly would yield results that would demonstrate the effectiveness of in-car safety systems, the offset test results better demonstrate the structural integrity of a vehicle and a vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants.

In addition to the frontal offset test, the IIHS has also begun side impact tests using a barrier that is more elevated than in the NCAP test, to better simulate an impact with an SUV. Vehicle bumpers are also evaluated in a series of 5 mph tests, while seat and head restraint designs are tested and rated using a test sled.

Ratings and Top Safety Pick Awards

Based on test results, the IIHS rates a vehicle’s crash performance as good, acceptable, marginal, or poor. While requirements for a Top Pick have changed throughout the years, current vehicles must first earn a good rating in all three categories (front, side and seat/head evaluations for injuries that could be sustained in a rear impact). An additional requirement is that winning vehicles must offer Electronic Stability Control, as the Institute’s research indicates ESC “significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.”

2009 Honda Fit Sport

Top Safety Picks 2009

For 2009, the big winners were Ford Motor Company and Honda Motors. For its part, Ford had the greatest number of vehicles – 16 different models (two, the Fusion and Milan, have ESC as an option) – that were rated as Top Picks, representing 44% of current Ford vehicles tested by IIHS.

Honda, on the other hand, had 13 vehicles that were rated as Top Picks that represented 100% of Honda’s current lineup that has been tested by the Institute.

2009 Winners:

Large cars

Acura RL
Audi A6
Cadillac CTS
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Mercury Sable
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80

Midsize cars

Acura TL
Acura TSX
Audi A3
Audi A4
BMW 3 series – 4-door models
Ford Fusion – with optional electronic stability control
Honda Accord – 4-door models
Mercedes C Class
Mercury Milan – with optional electronic stability control
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat

Midsize convertibles

Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Eos
Volvo C70

Small cars

Honda Civic – 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Mitsubishi Lancer – with optional electronic stability control
Scion xB
Subaru Impreza – with optional electronic stability control
Toyota Corolla – with optional electronic stability control
Volkswagen Rabbit – 4-door models

Minicar

Honda Fit – with optional electronic stability control

Minivans

Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Large SUVs

Audi Q7
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Saturn Outlook

Midsize SUVs

Acura MDX
Acura RDX
BMW X3
BMW X5
Ford Edge
Ford Flex
Ford Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz
Infiniti EX35
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M Class
Nissan Murano
Saturn VUE
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs

Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Mazda Tribute
Mercury Mariner
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan

Large pickups

Ford F-150
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra

Small pickup

Toyota Tacoma

Green Car of the Year

In the world of automotive awards, GCOTY is a fairly new one. Established just three years ago, the first one was awarded to the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. A year later, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid was the recipient, while last year, the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid received the award that was presented, for the first time, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

In order to qualify for a nomination, a vehicle must, according to Green Car Journal, “exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year.” In addition, each nominee is driven by Green Car Journal so that its driving characteristics can be observed first-hand. Nominee vehicles must also be in production to make sure they are actually available in the market during their award year.

The winner is selected by an 11 member panel that is comprised of both automotive as well as environmental experts. Past jurors have included such luminaries as Jean-Michael Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society and TV personality and major car aficionado Jay Leno.

2009 Nominees

In alphabetical order, here are the 2009 nominees:

2009 BMW 335d

The 335d is BMW’s first U.S. diesel sedan in almost 20 years. Equipped with a 3.0 liter turbocharged direct injection diesel, this 3-series Bimmer produces 265 horsepower and a stump-pulling 425 lb.-ft. of torque.

Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six diesel
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/LEV
Horsepower: 265
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 23/33 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $44,725

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Just introduced at the L.A. Show, the hybrid Fusion receives the same makeover as the rest of the lineup for 2010. Under the hood, the hybrid benefits from the same new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing as the Escape/Mariner hybrids, the green-friendly models produce 155 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque.

Engine: 2.5-liter inline-four, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 155
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 38/35 (est.)
Base MSRP: $27,000-$30,000 (est.)

2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

The second generation Saturn Vue was introduced at last years Los Angeles Auto Show and, like its smaller brother the Astra, it’s a re-badged Opel, although in Europe it is known as the Antara. The Vue benefits from the first application of the General’s two-mode hybrid technology in a V-6 front-driver.

Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 255
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 28/31 (est.)
Base MSRP: Under $33,000

Smart Fortwo

The Fortwo is certainly the latest way for environmental fashionistas to wear their colors. Ideal for urban prowling, the fortwo, with its short wheelbase and lack of storage space, is less suited for spirited driving or family vacations. EPA numbers of 33 city/41 highway are impressive, but 0-60 times are best measured with an hourglass.

Engine: 1.0-liter inline three
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2 Bin 5/ULEV
Horsepower: 70
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 33/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $11,990

2009 VW Jetta TDI

Here’s where the fun starts. The VW, it must be noted, is the antithesis of the Fortwo. It has terrific handling, plenty of space and a clean diesel engine that meets emissions certification in all 50 states. To top it all off, fuel economy is 30 city/41 highway, with many drivers claiming close to 50 mpg.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four, diesel
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/SULEV
Horsepower: 140
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 30/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $21,990

And the winner is…

As it announced this afternoon, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI becomes the first-ever clean diesel to win Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year honor. From all of us here at LotPro.com, a tip of the hat to Volkswagen!

Teenage Lust

Okay, I’ll admit it: growing up in what was to become metro Detroit (Rochester was still a small town back then), I lusted after GM cars – any GM car, for that matter.

Back then, your dad was either a Ford guy, a GM guy or a Chrysler guy – and my dad was, for better or for worse, a Ford guy, and for me, it was definitely for worse. That’s because in the 50’s and the 60’s, GM was at its zenith in terms of automotive design. Everyone else – the Fords and the Chryslers – were the forgotten stepchildren, hoping to gather up the crumbs after GM left the table.

1966 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon

While many of our friends and neighbors worked for GM and drove a new car almost every year (Pontiac Bonnevilles, Chevy Impalas, Buick Centuries and Electras and Oldsmobile Starfires!), we drove Ford station wagons because my dad used it in our hardware business. It was beyond bad.

And then something miraculous happened. The year I turned 16, our family (my dad, my mom, my younger brother and I) went down to the Detroit Auto Show. After spending most of the day looking at all the shiny new models, we got back into our beige (there is no color worse than beige) 1963 Fairlane Ranch Wagon and proceeded to head back home via Woodward Avenue. Less than a mile up Woodward, the Fairlane simply stopped running. No amount of coaxing could get it started. It took my aunt almost 2 hours to get down to Detroit through a snow storm to pick us up. The fact that we had to walk by a burlesque house to dine at the Golden Café – a restaurant located down Woodward from where our car had been towed – only made matters worse. Upon our return home, my father swore he’d never buy another Ford.

1966 Buick Skylark Hardtop Coupe

He kept his word. Less than 5 months later, and just in time for my driver’s license, he came home with a brand new car. Not a station wagon, mind you, but an actual car. And not just any car, but a light metallic blue 1966 Buick Skylark hardtop coupe with a white vinyl top and a cloth interior (station wagons were always vinyl). It was cool. Besides the look, I was most impressed by the “Body by Fisher” insignia on the brushed metal door sills. I’d always wanted a car with that logo. It was as if our family had finally arrived.

The Future

That, in a nutshell, is what General Motors meant to me while I was growing up. Their cars represented style, quality and prestige. And just like every other kid that grew up in their heyday, GM’s fall from the pinnacle was painful for me to watch.

Fortunately, there are signs that there may be more than a few rounds left in the fight. The product guys, it seems, have taken control back from the bean counters. Cadillac is once again at the top of its game. The new Chevy Malibu is, once again, a solid contender in its segment while the Aveo and the new Traverse are both great vehicles. The Pontiac Solstice, G8 and Vibe are all solid contenders. Buick and GMC are both doing well with their CUV’s, while Saturn is finding new life (after plastic) with GM’s European-based vehicles.

So here’s to you, GM. I, for one, am hoping for another 100 years.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Natural Resources Canada today announced the 17 teams selected to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a collegiate vehicle engineering competition set to begin in the Fall of 2008. EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a Saturn VUE to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced green house gas emissions, while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal.

Students will design and build advanced propulsion solutions that are based on the vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations. They will be encouraged to explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions, including full-function electric, range-extended electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies. In addition, they will incorporate lightweight materials into the vehicles, improve aerodynamics and utilize alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.

The following teams have been selected to compete in the EcoCAR competition:

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, FL)
• Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
• Howard University (Washington, D.C.)
• Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI)
• Mississippi State University (Starkville, MS)
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, MO)
• North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC)
• Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
• Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA)
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, IN)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada)
• University of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
• University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
• University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
• Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
• West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV)

During the three-year program, General Motors will provide production vehicles, vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support. The U.S. Department of Energy and its research and development facility, Argonne National Laboratory, will provide competition management, team evaluation and technical and logistical support. Through sponsoring such advanced vehicle engineering competitions, GM and the U.S. Department of Energy are developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“We’re excited to see what these student engineers will develop over the next three years,” said Beth Lowery, General Motors Vice President, Environment, Energy, and Safety Policy. “The objectives of EcoCAR are right in line with GM’s strategy.”

“EcoCAR is the latest in a series of Department-sponsored student competitions that will foster the training of the next generation of engineers who will develop the clean vehicle technology solutions to enhance our energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ed Wall, DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program Manager. “It will be exciting to watch as the students work over the next three years to design, build, test and showcase their vehicles.”

Vehicle Development

In the first year, teams will develop their vehicle designs through the use of GM’s Global Vehicle Development Process – the modeling and simulation process currently used to develop all of GM’s vehicles. Sophisticated hardware in the loop (HIL) and software in the loop (SIL) systems will be utilized, and teams will be challenged to model and simulate the integration of their subsystems into the overall vehicle design. The emphasis is on optimizing a practical, realizable solution that will meet the goals of the competition.

During the second and third years of the competition, students will build the vehicle and continue to refine, test, and improve vehicle operation. At the end of Years Two and Three, the re-engineered student vehicle prototypes will compete in a week-long competition of engineering tests. These tests will be similar to the tests GM conducts to determine a prototype’s readiness for production. The Greenhouse gas, Regulated Emissions, and Energy in Transportation (GREET) model, developed at Argonne National Laboratory, will be used to assess a well-to-wheel analysis of the greenhouse gas impacts of each technology approach the teams select.

Sponsor Support

In addition to sponsorship from GM and DOE, Platinum sponsor Government of Canada is providing extensive operational support. The other Platinum sponsors, dSPACE, National Instruments, The MathWorks and Freescale Semiconductor are providing critical software and hardware components.

Gold sponsors are The National Science Foundation and MotoTron Corporation. Silver sponsors are: SnapOn Tools and Renewable Fuels Association. Bronze sponsors are: Delphi Corporation, EcoMotors, CarSim and Bosch.

Additional information about EcoCAR is available on the Web at www.ecoCARchallenge.org.