Jalopnik: Congress

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Six Speed Caught On Cobo Roof

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Amusing, it's taken a little over two years but the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 has gone from a concept revealed on the show floor of the 2006 Detroit Auto Show to parking on the roof of Cobo during the 2008 SAE World Congress. This shiny red one was parked staring straight at the GM RenCen buildings almost like some bruiser looking for a fight with a Camaro. This one even has a little battle scar on the front passenger side fender to prove it can hang with the tough kids.

Tracked Robot Chases Man, Aggressive Sentience Imminent

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:20:00 EDT

We keep telling you the robot wars are going to happen any day now, and you just don't listen. While this is more like some version of a robot dog nipping at your heels, we still don't know what the mechanical marvel is going to do with that ball when he catches his prey. Okay, we kid, we're pretty sure this is another one of those TARDEC toys (where do they get those marvelous gadgets?) paid for with your tax dollars, but it looks like it could throw down if properly equipped for robot war.

Students Show Off SAE Collegiate Design Series Racers

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:20:00 EDT

Back in the way off yonder, at least two of us on the Jalopnik staff spent time turning wrenches on an SAE car during college. These cars are nice reminder that the best engineers are the ones who wake up at one in the afternoon and still smell like Jager bombs. The SAE Collegiate Design Series is an effort to put classroom learning into practice by providing engineering competitions for students to work on. There are a range automotive groups to choose from including the Formula SAE, BAJA Challenge, and the now defunct Formula Lighting Series. Here at the 2008 SAE World Congress, the colleges are showing off their wares and proving that the heart of racing is still alive and well.

Raytheon HY-DRA Shows Off In-Wheel E-Motors

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

All the big names in defense are here today hawking their wares and Raytheon has an off road badass-mobile that practically begs to be flogged mightily. The Hybrid-Defense Recon Assault (HY-DRA) shows off some pretty neat tech (which actually is sort of the military version of the Chevy Volt). The HY-DRA is an EV with in-wheel motors, an on-board range extender, a sweet McLaren F1-style three seat layout, and a monster .50 caliber up top. Funny thing about that .50 cal, before they decided to go with the in-wheel motor design, they had inboard mounted motors and half shafts running out to the wheels. When fired perpendicular to the line of travel, the recoil from the gun would actually knock the HY-DRA on its side. Yeah, this is one instance where unpsrung weight and low center of gravity go well together.

On the hardware side, the HY-DRA operates on a A123 supplied Li-Ion battery pack good for 180 kW. The four motors deliver a peak output of 61 HP and a shocking 811 lb.ft. of torque. That kind of deity-like power will run this sucker up to 60 MPH in a short 6 seconds and go for a range of 25 clicks in all-electric, silent recon mode. This is only a demo vehicle and unfortunately no production is planned at this point, but this certainly opens up another option for the traveler on tomorrow's zombie infested highways.

FEV Shows Off Mahindra Scorpio Diesel Electric Hybrid Battery Pack, Talks Appalachian

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Well, there you have it folks, batteries in the boot, basically all the proof you get this is a hybrid SUV because everything else hybridy is in the transmission. We also gathered the Scorpio diesel hybrid is intended for production, but dates and the possibility of US import were left up to the Mahindra folks. Aside from that bit of boring, we talked to the FEV folks a bit and got some information in conflict with our earlier reporting. We were wandering around Cobo at the 2008 SAE World Congress and trying to figure out where the heck the Mahindra Appalachian sporting a diesel electric hybrid powertrain was.

There isn't even a regular old Appalachian out here. Turns out, somewhere in the reporting of the hybrid diesel powertrain and the import of the Appalachian, the two were put together in an internet version of the phone game. From what FEV tells us, there were actually no plans for that variant of the truck and it will not be at SAE. The regular diesel truck is still intended for US import, but if you're a curry-flavored diesel electric truck lover, there is no joy in Detroit for you today.

Indian Mahindra Scorpio Diesel-Electric Hybrid SUV: First Pictures Of First Indian Hybrid

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:22:54 EDT

We just snapped off a couple of shots of the Mahindra Scorpio, the diesel-electric hybrid SUV we told you would be unveiled here at the 2008 SAE World Congress. Yes, it's before everything has opened to the engineering public. Yes, we may not have been officially allowed out on the floor. Yes, we probably broke a city statute or two in doing it, but no, rumors of any cash exchanging hands in the process are very much untrue. What is true is the hybrid diesel SUV from the sub-continent is the first of its kind for Mahindra and is being displayed in the stand of their development partner FEV.

The diesel-electric is fitted with a parallel hybrid system integrated into the transmission and provides drive power at start, additional power on command, stop/start functionality and regenerative braking capabilities. For the time being, enjoy that sweet teal train-like goodness seemingly following the GM methodology of making sure everyone knows you're driving a hybrid via large stenciled letters on the side. Also, there's a hood scoop. We're not entirely sure why that's important, but yeah, there it is. We'll be getting more details for you when things open up officially. For now, we have to work on outrunning the Detroit police.

Bill Introduced To Protect The Blind From Hybrids

Travis Hudson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Despite how ridiculous it sounds, the above headline is absolutely true. A bill is being introduced in Congress that will establish some kind of safety standards to protect the walking blind from hybrids. Hybrids and other electric cars pose risks to the blind because they are too quiet. The blind listen for cars when crossing the street and having fleets of too quiet hybrids poses a dangerous risk, New York representative Edolphus Towns said. There's research to prove it too!

A study at the University of California at Riverside showed that hybrids operating at slower speeds must be 40 percent closer to be heard by a blind individual. There aren't any standards set in place, but we would love to see a bill requiring hybrid owners to honk when approaching an intersection. We'll be damned, Al Gore. There is a downside to hybrids! [AP] (Image)

Chrysler Chief to Congress: We Are Totally Down With New Regulations

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST

Automakers are lining up behind the new Energy Bill that's working its way through congress. They've seen the writing on the wall and, all things considered, got a fairly good deal considering the prevailing sentiment regarding car emissions and foreign oil. Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli congratulated Congress and pledged that the company would rise to meet the higher CAFE standards. Full statement below:

Statement from Robert Nardelli, Chairman and CEO, Chrysler LLC, Regarding New, Nationwide U.S. Fuel Economy Standards:

"We commend the Congress for passing an energy bill today and we fully support it being signed into law. Chrysler is committed to meeting the fuel economy standards of the bill and doing our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our country's reliance on foreign oil. We continue to devote significant resources to develop quality, fuel efficient products that our customers expect. This year alone, we offer six vehicles that get 28 miles per gallon or better, and more are on the way." [Source: Chrysler]

Fuel-Economy Bills Stuck In Neutral

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST

It seems like the Car Talk brothers don't quite have the political capital they thought they did as it looks like both Senate and House fuel-economy bills aren't gaining that much traction. Automakers clearly oppose just about any regulation, saying it'll make them harder to compete. Even with a Democratic congress there are a lot of challenges to getting either bill to pass.

The Senate plan involved raising CAFE standards to 35 mpg by 2020, Bush supports 34 mpg by 2017 and the Big 3 would much prefer 32-35 mpg by 2022. Current standards are 27.5 mpg for cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks, though fuel economy has actually been falling since 1987. Of course, the Hybrid Escalade will save us all. [Cox via AAS]

Breaking! Mr. Wagoner Goes To Washington

Ray Wert — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:21:32 EDT

Talk about going from one firing squad to the other. The day before GM CEO Rick Wagoner's set to meet with Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn on Kirk Kerkorian's desired topic of "Why Carlos Should Be The New Rick," he's got to make the trek out to Washington DC to testify in front of the Senate's Select Committee on Aging. The topic: Medicaid and how GM's reigning in health care costs for retirees. Well, hell — GM's been operating job banks for so long — maybe they really can teach the feds a thing or two about how to run a welfare state. Oh, and in case anyone is wondering — he won't be meeting with Bush this time either.

Wagoner set to testify in D.C. [Freep]