Avion (car): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Prototype sports car}} |
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{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company |
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| name = Avion |
| name = Avion |
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| logo = <!--none at the moment--> |
| logo = <!--none at the moment--> |
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| type = |
| type = |
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| foundation = 1986 |
| foundation = 1986 |
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| founder = Craig Henderson<br />Bill Green |
| founder = Craig Henderson<br />Bill Green |
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| location = [[Bellingham, Washington]], |
| location = [[Bellingham, Washington]], United States |
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| locations = <!-- None at the moment --> |
| locations = <!-- None at the moment --> |
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| industry = [[Automotive industry|Automotive]] |
| industry = [[Automotive industry|Automotive]] |
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| Line 11: | Line 12: | ||
| services = <!-- vehicle servicing, eventually --> |
| services = <!-- vehicle servicing, eventually --> |
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| num_employees = |
| num_employees = |
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| homepage = |
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| homepage = [https://timesoffuture.com/technology-in-car-games/ technology in car games] |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
The '''Avion''' is a prototype [[sports car]] that achieves over {{convert|119|mpgUS|L/100km}} driving on interstate highways in real world conditions. |
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The Avion is based on the concept that fuel economy is largely determined by minimizing drag, rolling resistance and weight and matching gear ratio to the required horsepower. The Avion uses existing automotive components, an existing high-efficiency automotive diesel engine and marries them to a lightweight aluminum frame and highly [[automotive aerodynamics|aerodynamic]] composite body. |
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The Avion was an official contender in the [[Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize]].{{cn|date=September 2024}} |
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== History == |
== History == |
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[[File:Avion (concept car, 1984).png|thumb|alt=The Avion car on display in 2022|The Avion |
[[File:Avion (concept car, 1984).png|thumb|alt=The Avion car on display in 2022|The Avion on display in 2022]] |
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The Avion was |
The Avion was built by Craig Henderson and Bill Green after they graduated from [[Western Washington University]] in Bellingham, Washington, where they had studied at the [[Vehicle Research Institute]]. The prototype was completed in 1984, and entered the Three Flags Econo Rally driving from the Mexican border to the Canadian border and was displayed in the [[Expo 86]]. During the 1986 contest the Avion set a [[Guinness World Record]] for at 103.7 mpg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.futurecars.com/blog/general-car-blogs/x-prize-profile-avion-car-company |title=Automotive X-Prize Profile: Avion Car Company |publisher=Futurecars.com |date= |accessdate=2009-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217202359/http://www.futurecars.com/blog/general-car-blogs/x-prize-profile-avion-car-company |archive-date=2009-02-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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In 2010, Henderson drove the Avion from The Canada border to the Mexico Border averaging 119.1 real world miles per gallon of diesel and without refueling, resetting his record from 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Don |title=Homegrown: The homebuilt 1980s hot rod with 119 mpg |url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/homegrown-the-homebuilt-1980s-hot-rod-with-119-mpg/ |website=Hagerty.com |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Return Of The Avion Car |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/09/15/autos-prius-volt-technology-avion.html |website=Forces.com |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> |
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Henderson later drove the Avion from [[Bellingham, Washington]] to [[Portland, Oregon]], achieving 113.1 mpg.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gagné |first1=Luc |title=Avion sets new mileage record at 119.1 mpg... or 1.975 L/100 km! |url=https://www.auto123.com/en/news/avion-sets-new-mileage-record-at-1191-mpg-or-1975-l100-km/41235/ |website=auto123.com |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> |
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The plan when the car was designed was to manufacture the Avion in limited quantities and sell into the car enthusiast market. But the real price of gasoline fell steadily from 1979 through the 1980s <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/fsheets/real_prices.html |title=EIA - Short-Term Energy Outlook - Real Petroleum Prices |publisher=Eia.doe.gov |accessdate=2009-10-19| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091022005409/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/fsheets/real_prices.html| archivedate= 22 October 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and interest in highly fuel-efficient cars disappeared along with the interest of potential investors. |
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As of October 2023, the car is on display at the [[San Diego Air & Space Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Exhibit Spotlight: The Avion Car |url=https://sandiegoairandspace.org/newsletters/article/artifact-spotlight-the-avion-car#:~:text=The%20Avion%20Car%20holds%20a,gallons%2C%20averaging%20119.1%20per%20gallon |website=San Diago Air & Space Museum |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> |
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The dramatic increase in real fuel prices from 2000 to 2008 has renewed interest in automobile fuel economy. The original Avion was taken out of storage and an updated version was entered in the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition. Recent testing, using the original body and replacing the original [[Volkswagen Golf|Volkswagen Rabbit]] diesel engine with the [[Smart Car|Smart Car ForTwo]] diesel show 80 mpg at {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and a remarkable 114 mpg at {{convert|55|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. |
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== Vehicle == |
== Vehicle == |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[ |
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Fi<ref>{{cite web |title=From Washington to Mexico on 12.4 Gallons Of Diesel |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/09/avion-canada-to-mexico/ |website=Wired.com |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref>le:Avion Typ-1 Wallpaper.jpg|thumb]] --> |
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The car was designed to be manufactured in small volume using existing automotive components |
The car was designed to be manufactured in small volume using existing automotive components as a kit car. It features a lightweight composite body of highly aerodynamic design with [[butterfly doors]] attached to an aluminum frame. The Avion can run on regular diesel or biodiesel.<ref>{{cite web |title=From Washington to Mexico on 12.4 Gallons Of Diesel |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/09/avion-canada-to-mexico/ |website=Wired |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [https://archive.today/20141113020720/http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/600216.html ''Bellingham Herald'' article] |
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* [http://www.100mpgplus.com/ The official Avion site] |
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* [ |
* [http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/concept-car/ ''New York Times'' blog article] |
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* [http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/concept-car/ New York Times blog article] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Avion (Car)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avion (Car)}} |
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Latest revision as of 20:40, 23 October 2024
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Craig Henderson Bill Green |
| Headquarters | Bellingham, Washington, United States |
| Products | Avion |
The Avion is a prototype sports car that achieves over 119 miles per US gallon (1.98 L/100 km) driving on interstate highways in real world conditions.
The Avion is based on the concept that fuel economy is largely determined by minimizing drag, rolling resistance and weight and matching gear ratio to the required horsepower. The Avion uses existing automotive components, an existing high-efficiency automotive diesel engine and marries them to a lightweight aluminum frame and highly aerodynamic composite body.
The Avion was an official contender in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize.[citation needed]
History
[edit].png)
The Avion was built by Craig Henderson and Bill Green after they graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, where they had studied at the Vehicle Research Institute. The prototype was completed in 1984, and entered the Three Flags Econo Rally driving from the Mexican border to the Canadian border and was displayed in the Expo 86. During the 1986 contest the Avion set a Guinness World Record for at 103.7 mpg.[1]
In 2010, Henderson drove the Avion from The Canada border to the Mexico Border averaging 119.1 real world miles per gallon of diesel and without refueling, resetting his record from 1986.[2][3]
Henderson later drove the Avion from Bellingham, Washington to Portland, Oregon, achieving 113.1 mpg.[4]
As of October 2023, the car is on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[5]
Vehicle
[edit]The car was designed to be manufactured in small volume using existing automotive components as a kit car. It features a lightweight composite body of highly aerodynamic design with butterfly doors attached to an aluminum frame. The Avion can run on regular diesel or biodiesel.[6]
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Automotive X-Prize Profile: Avion Car Company". Futurecars.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ^ Sherman, Don. "Homegrown: The homebuilt 1980s hot rod with 119 mpg". Hagerty.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Return Of The Avion Car". Forces.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Gagné, Luc. "Avion sets new mileage record at 119.1 mpg... or 1.975 L/100 km!". auto123.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Special Exhibit Spotlight: The Avion Car". San Diago Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "From Washington to Mexico on 12.4 Gallons Of Diesel". Wired. Retrieved 2 September 2024.