Avion (car): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
clarification of history and present day display location Tags: references removed Visual edit |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
'''The Avion''' is a prototype [[sports car]] that achieves over 100 [[Fuel economy in automobiles#Units of measure|miles per gallon]] |
'''The Avion''' is a prototype [[sports car]] that achieves over 100 [[Fuel economy in automobiles#Units of measure|miles per gallon]] driving on interstate highways in real world conditions. |
||
The Avion car is based on a simple concept: fuel economy is largely determined by eliminating drag, reducing rolling resistance and matching gear rato to required horsepower to maintain speed. Aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, matching engine horsepower and reduction of vehicle weight all contribute to fuel efficency. 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. |
|||
The Avion was an official contender in the [[Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize]]. After offical approval by the prize officals the Avion documented a drive from the Canadian Border to the southern border of Washington State, north of Portland, Oregon, averaging 113 miles per gallon at average speed of over 60 miles per gallon in over 250 miles. Unfortunately, the contest officals did not reconize the Avion as the first and only car to acheve the prize goals and did not award the prize of $10 Million to the Avion. Since the 2008 contest rules were written for battery cars, the Avion car was withdrawn from the contest. |
|||
In 2010, the Avion car was driven from the Canadian Border to the Mexico border without refuling. This was sponsored by Goodyear Tire Company. The Avion averaged 119.1 miles per gallon using 12.4 gallons of fuel for the entire trip. Thus reseting the 1986 Border to Border fuel economy World Record at 119.1 MPG real world fuel economy. |
|||
== History == |
== History == |
||
[[File:Avion (concept car, 1984).png|thumb|alt=The Avion car on display in 2022|The Avion car on display in 2022]] |
[[File:Avion (concept car, 1984).png|thumb|alt=The Avion car on display in 2022|The Avion car on display in 2022]] |
||
The Avion was |
The Avion was built by Craig Henderson and Bill Green after graduating 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 Mexico border to the Canada border and was displayed in the Canada1986 Expo. During the contest the Avion set a [[Guinness World Records]] for fuel economy in 1986 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> The record is in the 1987 print edition page 292. |
||
When the car was designed the plan was to manufacture the Avion in limited quantities as a kit car and sell into the car enthusiast market. The reality of starting a company with essentially no capital, and limited experience, made the task too difficult to start production. |
|||
The car was used as a primary vehicle for many years, and participated in many parades and was always a big hit. |
|||
The car is now on display at the San Deigo Air and Space Museium as of October of 2023. |
|||
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. |
|||
Although not a comercal sucess, the Avion proves the seemingly impossible is possible with fuel economy well over 100mpg. |
|||
The dramatic increase in real fuel prices from 2000 to 2008 had 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}}. |
|||
== Vehicle == |
== Vehicle == |
||
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Avion Typ-1 Wallpaper.jpg|thumb]] --> |
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Avion Typ-1 Wallpaper.jpg|thumb]] --> |
||
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. |
||
== Notes == |
== Notes == |
||
Revision as of 01:00, 4 May 2024
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Craig Henderson Bill Green |
| Headquarters | Bellingham, Washington, United States |
| Products | Avion |
| Website | technology in car games |
The Avion is a prototype sports car that achieves over 100 miles per gallon driving on interstate highways in real world conditions.
The Avion car is based on a simple concept: fuel economy is largely determined by eliminating drag, reducing rolling resistance and matching gear rato to required horsepower to maintain speed. Aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, matching engine horsepower and reduction of vehicle weight all contribute to fuel efficency. 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. After offical approval by the prize officals the Avion documented a drive from the Canadian Border to the southern border of Washington State, north of Portland, Oregon, averaging 113 miles per gallon at average speed of over 60 miles per gallon in over 250 miles. Unfortunately, the contest officals did not reconize the Avion as the first and only car to acheve the prize goals and did not award the prize of $10 Million to the Avion. Since the 2008 contest rules were written for battery cars, the Avion car was withdrawn from the contest.
In 2010, the Avion car was driven from the Canadian Border to the Mexico border without refuling. This was sponsored by Goodyear Tire Company. The Avion averaged 119.1 miles per gallon using 12.4 gallons of fuel for the entire trip. Thus reseting the 1986 Border to Border fuel economy World Record at 119.1 MPG real world fuel economy.
History
.png)
The Avion was built by Craig Henderson and Bill Green after graduating 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 Mexico border to the Canada border and was displayed in the Canada1986 Expo. During the contest the Avion set a Guinness World Records for fuel economy in 1986 at 103.7 mpg.[1] The record is in the 1987 print edition page 292.
When the car was designed the plan was to manufacture the Avion in limited quantities as a kit car and sell into the car enthusiast market. The reality of starting a company with essentially no capital, and limited experience, made the task too difficult to start production.
The car was used as a primary vehicle for many years, and participated in many parades and was always a big hit.
The car is now on display at the San Deigo Air and Space Museium as of October of 2023.
Although not a comercal sucess, the Avion proves the seemingly impossible is possible with fuel economy well over 100mpg.
Vehicle
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.
Notes
- ^ "Automotive X-Prize Profile: Avion Car Company". Futurecars.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-10-19.