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GM, Jay Leno build turbine-powered EcoJet Concept

10/31/2006, 9:20 AM

By admin

General Motors today introduced a new concept vehicle called the EcoJet — a turbine-powered supercar that runs on bio-diesel and puts out 650 horsepower. “EcoJet’s esthetics were driven by aeronautical and jet-age influences,” said Welburn. “It’s a purpose-driven design that conveys power, capability and even danger, with a hint of Cadillac’s sophisticated design vocabulary.”

EcoJet’s genesis goes back to a discussion between “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, an avid car enthusiast and collector, and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno’s collection. Leno then turned to Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, for design direction.

The car — on display at SEMA this week — is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle’s shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.

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10/31, 10:00 AM

posted by:

Nikivee

Awesome! GM is the ****.

10/31, 10:07 AM

posted by:

DialM4Speed

Yeah looks nice but you’ll never be able to buy one so the point was?

10/31, 10:15 AM

posted by:

Hyperion

… to built it. That was the point. To built it and have people see it and hear about the engine that powers it.

10/31, 10:23 AM

posted by:

6ix

The point is to generate continued interest in the brand. That’s all concept cars are made for. As you can clearly see, it’s just a clay model (opague windows.)

Whatever the case, it’s interesting and is a good design study. Pay particular attention to some of the small design details in the surfacing. Guarantee you’ll see those in Caddy’s over the next 4-6 years.

10/31, 10:36 AM

posted by:

British_Rover

I don’t think it is clay. They said it was riding on a modified C6 chassis. Also clay models are normaly on a stand to help them be moved and this is sitting directly on the ground.

10/31, 10:46 AM

posted by:

wetstuff

It like PINK. It’s old news… Chrysler did a turbine a long time ago…it’s just that over half the buyers who are ‘impressionable’ at the moment never saw, or know about it … Pink clothes get these same newbies dancing too…
.
I think the Tomahawk MC was an innovation; this isn’t much of one. Besides, it’s got an ugly snout.

Ji m

10/31, 11:04 AM

posted by:

MyGodBeatsYourGod

Dear Jay Leno,

The folks on this board have a lot of great ideas for Cadillac. Could you please use your connections to pass them along?

For instance:
Drop the Blingy Huge SUVs and Avalanche knock-offs.
Shoot for being a decade ahead with a handful of V-12 powered luxury/sport sedans and run them on bio-diesel, hydrogen, or Bush’s favourite, switchgrass.

The ONLY thing to learn from the past was how Cadillac was always a generation or two ahead of the rest of the industry. Where is Cadillac now? Fighting old ghosts and selling too many ‘boats’….

Thanks,
A LLN Gearhead

.

10/31, 11:14 AM

posted by:

Phileas Fogg

I like the sound of the engine but looks like a Caddy version of the Koenigsegg. That’s to be expected though seeing as how GM can’t come up with their own body design to save their asses.

10/31, 11:39 AM

posted by:

ironpony42

Love the wheels, love the engine concept, ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. I too hate the nose, and the whole thing just doesn’t do it for me. Too much Caddy “EVOK”

10/31, 11:47 AM

posted by:

Z06ified

I don’t care about the styling. It’s the powertrain that interests me. I think a small turbine in a hybrid configuration (turbine generating electricity which powers electric drive motors), makes a lot of sense. Turbines are light, powerful, compact, fuel efficient, durable, low maintenance, and can run on many different fuels. They make perfect engines for running electrical generators that don’t require lots of RPM changes. The only downsides to them are the cost and the exhaust heat, both of which can be managed with improving technology. I look forward to driving a turbine powered car like this in the future getting the fuel efficiency of today’s Prius with 650hp on tap, with a nice pleasant jet whirring sound.

10/31, 12:01 PM

posted by:

doublearon21

They have technology to hold the heat, inconnel, an extremely expensive metal that is used for internal parts on jet engines, and inconnel exhaust would help to lower exhaust heat, but it comes with a premium. To give you an idea of how much this stuff costs, Dixis makes a inconnel catback for the M3, and it cost $25,000. At that cost the car would more that likely cost well into the 100k range. But then again its Jay Leno, and he does whatever he wants with car and no budget to take into consideration. I believe his other jet powered vehicle is a Y2K bike, which costs somewhere around 500k.

10/31, 12:49 PM

posted by:

GL1

Sorry, but getting kinda off the subject a bit “I liked Johnny Carson” not him…

10/31, 1:01 PM

posted by:

ironpony42

Yeah, Jay is fun to listen to when he talks cars. However I watch Letterman on TV in the evenings. I can’t wait till Jay retires from the tonight show, and Conan takes over. Then Jay will appear much more in the automotive world, which I will enjoy. I like his BigDog Garage website… Some fun clips of his toys. I love his Turbine Motorcycle.

But this car is still ugly.

10/31, 1:13 PM

posted by:

bepsf

That Leno is crazy – more power to him….

10/31, 1:16 PM

posted by:

ironpony42

Ever seen his SHOgun? That thing is hilarious. 1988 Ford Festiva with a rear mounted Yamaha Taurus SHO motor. Spooky fast, and 1 of 9 made.

10/31, 1:55 PM

posted by:

GL1

Oh I NEVER said he wasn’t a serious gear head and car nut.. He REALLY knows and loves his cars and he’s got a **** load of them too… I was just saying compared to Johnny Carson he ISN’T FUNNY or entertaining AT ALL….

10/31, 1:56 PM

posted by:

Andre Neves

Dunno why, but this car reminds me alot of the MB CLK GTR racecar they used to use.

http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/cars/images/mercedes/clk_6.jpg

10/31, 2:39 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

This would’ve been more fitting with Saab, IMO. :-|

10/31, 5:00 PM

posted by:

moogleii

Reminds me more of the Caddy Cien than the clk gtr.

10/31, 5:52 PM

posted by:

Gogogodzilla

I note that GM didn’t bother to release the fuel economy numbers.

Since this engine runs on bio-diesel (hence a ‘green’ vehicle), you’d think that GM would then address the other aspect of the ‘Green’ holy grail — a.k.a. the fuel economy numbers.

Otherwise, this looks like another GM shell game.

10/31, 6:32 PM

posted by:

ironpony42

It is a green vehicle – it burns bio-diesel – AND LOTS OF IT. It I’m sure gets about 2 gallons per mile. But EPA numbers arn’t what it’s about. Its more about showing that something other than pistons is an option. Scale this technology down, and make it fit into an econo-hatchback, setup for economy, and I’m sure a baby Turbine/electric hybrid would return impressive economy, performance, and be green. This excersize is in excess, as it should be, but watch this technology develop.

10/31, 8:01 PM

posted by:

anonymous

ugly but this engine is the ****

10/31, 9:29 PM

posted by:

chevy490

i love gm i love u!!!!!!!!1

04/06, 6:45 PM

posted by:

blackc1

I saw this car on the back lot of Universal movie studios in Hollywood and it was definitley not made of clay. however it was not on a Zo6 chasis, It was a one off tube frame with nothing in the enterior except the engine seats and pedals. looked bad ass to me.

 
 
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