The efficient VW L1 Hybrid & the Diesel Blue

The L1 can seat two occupants in tandem. They enter through a side-hinging, electrically operated canopy to maximise the aerodynamic efficiency of the L1 Concept. The result is a remarkable co-efficient of drag figure of just 0.195.
Not only is the body extremely aerodynamic but it's also very light and strong. The safety cell, constructed from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, weighs just 124 kg. At 3,813 mm in length, the L1 Concept is comparable to the Fox yet at just 1,143 mm in height it's as low as a Lamborghini Murcielago. Its width, at just 1,200 mm, is narrower than any conventional car on sale today.

The driving environment shares more in common with an aircraft than a car. The adjustable front seat is thin and constructed from carbon while the rear passenger sits in a fixed seat built into the monocoque. The driver has an excellent view of the road and sits behind an instrument panel set into the body of the car. The rear view mirror is replaced by an organic light-emitting diode display while the main controls for the operation of the vehicle are grouped around the steering wheel.

 

 

Every element of the L1 Concept is intended to maximise efficiency. At its heart is a tiny 800 cc two-cylinder common rail, direct injection TDI engine. In 'ECO' mode the engine develops 27 PS at 4,000 rpm, in 'Sport' mode this rises to 29 PS and 74 lbs ft of torque developed at 1,900 rpm.
The modest kerb weight of the L1 Concept linked to efficient aerodynamics mean that it is capable of accelerating to 62 mph from rest in 14.3 seconds before reaching a top speed of 99 mph. Despite having only a 10-litre fuel tank the L1 Concept's incredible efficiency means that it is capable of travelling 416 miles between stops.
The 800 cc engine is derived from the 1.6-litre TDI engine found in the new Golf BlueMotion, also making its debut at the Frankfurt Show. The two have identical cylinder spacing, bore and stroke as well as exhaust gas recirculation and diesel particulate filters to ensure they meet and exceed the Euro-5 emissions regulations. Under normal conditions the 14 PS electric motor is inactive, only engaging when additional acceleration is required, delivering 40 per cent extra torque. In addition, the electric motor can take over from the engine to power the L1 Concept for short distances.

BAJA 2012

Mahindra & Mahindra BAJA SAE India 2012 won by SRM University

The 5th edition of the Baja SAE India 2012 concluded on 20 feb 2012 at Pithampur, near Indore. The event saw participation from as many as 80 engineering colleges from across the country in the final endurance test. SRM University from Chennai came in first place and PES Modern College of Engineering from Pune secured the first runners-up position while Basaveshwara Engineering College from Bagalkot were the second runners-up.
While congratulating the winners, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive and Farm Equipment sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “I am thrilled to witness the enthusiasm and passion from all the participating teams with every edition of BAJA. Competitions such as BAJA SAEINDIA play an integral role in the persistent quest for better designs, newer technology and more refined products. My heartiest congratulations to all the teams’ for putting in a stellar performance”.
Dr. John C. Wall, Vice President - Chief Technical Officer, Cummins Inc. Said “Cummins is very proud to be a sponsor of the India SAE Mini BAJA. Engineering is all about working in teams to create products that meet the needs of our customers. We believe the Mini BAJA is a terrific training ground for young engineers -- not only does it create a realistic environment for teamwork in product design, the students get to test their products against others in design competition and in the race itself. And they can see and hopefully experience firsthand what happens when a product works very well. At Cummins, we call this "Innovation You Can Depend On."  We look forward to continuing our association with SAE MiniBaja in the future and to seeing these engineering students grow into successful engineering leaders”.
The dignitaries, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Dr. John C. Wall, Vice President - Chief Technical Officer, Cummins Inc, Dr. K. C. Vora, Advisor BAJA SAEINDIA and Dy. Director & Head of ARAI Academy, ARAI, Pune, Mr. Mahendra Kumbhar, Convener of BAJA SAEINDIA and Mr Nirmal Matharu, Vice President Mahindra Two Wheelers, Mahindra & Mahindra  presented numerous other awards to the teams for static events. Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad bagged the Technology Innovation award whereas Institute of Engineering Technology-DAVV, Indore bagged the Go Green Award. The Low Weight Sustainability Award which was newly introduced this year was bagged by IIT Bombay. The other category awards like the Raftaar award were won by Maeer’s Maharashtra Academy of Engineering, Pune and the Maximum Acceleration Award by College of Engineering (COEP), Pune respectively. Jodhpur National University, Jodhpur won the Best Built Quality Award which was also a new entrant in the awards category this year. The Endurance award which assessed vehicles ability to operate at a speed over rough terrain was bagged by AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune.
The students walked away with more than Rs 26 lacs of prize money. The three day event started with basic Static Evaluation round which comprised of Design Evaluation, Cost Evaluation and Marketing Presentation. In the final round, the teams showcased their prototype of a rugged single seat, off-road recreational four-wheel vehicle and were evaluated on various parameters, including engineering design, cost and technology innovation. The objective of the competition was to simulate real world engineering design projects and their related challenges. Each team’s goal was to create a safe, easily transported, easily maintained and fun to drive prototype without any direct involvement from professional fabricators. However, the teams were free to design their own transmissions with the only restriction being the speed limit to 60kmph. The Dynamic Evaluation Round tested the vehicles for acceleration, speed, hill climb and manoeuvrability and the Durability Evaluation Round saw the vehicles undergo endurance tests. The Endurance Event assessed each vehicle’s ability to operate continuously and at a speed over rough terrain containing obstacles in any weather conditions.