Bosch 1 Cylinder Diesel for Nano?

[rfernatt]

World's Cheapest Car May Get Diesel Boost From Bosch

The engine size would be in the same ballpark as the gas engine -- 550-650 cc displacement. Horsepower would drop to about 25-30 hp, versus 35 hp in the current nano. However, the already impressive fuel economy would likely get a nice boost.

The new diesel will likely be the world's smallest automotive diesel engine -- smaller even than the 800 cc three cylinder in the Smart Fortwo CDi.

[Old smart]

Diesels don't have to be big - when I was a kid I had a British "Frog" variable-compression, two-stroke, model airplane diesel with a displacement of about a thimble. It started on raw ether, thence to model airplane fuel once running and hot. The RPM was varied by way of a second "piston" under the cylinder in the head - an external adjustment screw on the top of head pushed the second "piston" down reducing the swept volume of the cylinder and raising the CR. Had some power. One needed to keep ones knuckles away from the large prop that it could swing at some jeezly-high RPM when adjusting the compression screw!

[Flogler]

Volkswagon just came out with a 1 cylinder 285mpg 1 seater diesel for china. It went on the market this month. The cost:600.00 american and it is made of carbon fiber. Google 285mpg and see what you get.

[Neonspinnazz]

Apparently China and India don't have to worry about accelerating in any reasonable time...

I believe that 25 seconds is the max 0-60 over here, otherwise a distracted soccermom is going to driver her Honda Odyssey up your exhaust pipe.

Too bad us Americans seem to have a need for speed....yet we won't build an autobahn...

[heraldhamster]

Originally Posted by Neonspinnazz

...Too bad us Americans seem to have a need for speed....yet we won't build an autobahn...

or, at the least, an extra lane in the median on every single interstate as an "express" that only has exit availability every 5 to 10 miles.
but a majority of us as "people" en masse in the U.S. don't seem plan ahead very well...

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by heraldhamster

or, at the least, an extra lane in the median on every single interstate as an "express" that only has exit availability every 5 to 10 miles. ...

Personally, if interstate medians were to be used I'd rather see 21st Century high-speed rail.

[Neonspinnazz]

Originally Posted by heraldhamster

or, at the least, an extra lane in the median on every single interstate as an "express" that only has exit availability every 5 to 10 miles.
but a majority of us as "people" en masse in the U.S. don't seem plan ahead very well...

Originally Posted by Old smart

Personally, if interstate medians were to be used I'd rather see 21st Century high-speed rail.

If we were rather smart with spending our cash...Instead of widening highways (all over Illinois ) just improve on what you have...

Add a high speed rail (no, not the Acela, think faster)...

Or maybe an express lane in the median with no speed limit rather than just the same speed limit as the normal highway...

Why do they call it an express lane anyway if the speed limit is exactly the same and no matter what you're not avoiding a traffic jam?

Slower traffic (or the light hearted) can stay in the normal traffic pattern while the people trying to get somewhere fast or have the need for speed take to the concrete barriered express speed lane!