DaimlerChrysler Showcases 70 MPG Bionic Diesel Concept
DaimlerChrysler has unveiled a new “bionic” concept car that achieves outstanding results for fuel consumption and emissions with a combination of diesel engine technology, innovative emission control methods and aerodynamic design inspired by a natural example.Ok, first, 70 mpg totally rocks, right on DaimlerChrysler engineers.
The Mercedes-Benz bionic car seats four, delivers better than 70 mpg in the US test cycle and exceeds Euro 4 emissions standards. It is premiering at the DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium in Washington.
The model they chose was the boxfish. Despite its boxy, cube-shaped body, this tropical fish is in fact outstandingly streamlined. With an accurately constructed model of the boxfish, the engineers in Stuttgart were able to achieve a wind drag coefficient of just 0.06 in the wind tunnel.
Second, that car looks horrible. Maybe it grows on you in time but I don't like it at all.
Third, I like this whole bionics things. Why reinvent the wheel if nature has already done it for you?
Forth, who would have ever thunk that the boxfish was aerodynamic? I have seen those guys swim underwater (and they swim very slowly) and thought man that shape doesn't look very efficient at all. I really thought they were the Hummers of fish, and now it turns out they are even more Prius than a Prius. Now a tuna, that looks like an aerodynamic fish to me. But a boxfish? Since when is anything with the word box in it aerodynamic? I mean, take a look at this image (and while you are there check out the kick ass Nudibranchs photography). Aerodynamic? Are you kidding me? But I guess that is why they pay the big bucks to the marine biologists and bionic engineers to figure this stuff out.
via Green Car Congress
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