Chevrolet Cruze Eco sets 64.42 average MPG record

According to the news release by General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), the 9,552 mile trip was sponsored by Shell Oil whereby John and Helen Taylor drove the Chevrolet Cruze Eco to the remarkable average of 64.42 miles per gallon.

That is 50 percent better than the EPA estimate of 42 miles per gallon highway for a Cruze Eco manual, already the most fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered car in the United States, excluding hybrids and diesels.

To achieve its segment-leading fuel economy, Cruze engineers focused on aerodynamic performance, mass optimization and powertrain enhancements. For example, the Chevrolet Cruze Eco was the first in the compact-car segment to offer an active air shutter that closes at higher speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow.

Weight was another major factor as engineers made more than 42 changes to reduce weight on the Chevrolet Cruze Eco, such as light-weight 17-inch wheels and tires save 21.2 pounds (9.6 kg) per vehicle.

For the record, the Chevrolet Cruze Eco features a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine that delivers the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine, as well as the power of a larger engine when needed. Specifically, the Ecotec 1.4L turbo delivers 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance.

With the standard six-speed manual, the Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city, and 42 mpg highway. With the available six-speed automatic, the 2012 Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, and 39 mpg highway.

The Shell Oil and Engine Technology Connection

Now you may be wondering where Shell Oil comes in all of this. Fact is, it was part of Shell’s tips for improving fuel economy which are available at the Shell Smarter Driving website.

According to the Shell website, the Taylors are so passionate about fuel economy that they have two companies, Fuelacademy and Eco2driving, whereby they run global education programs, teaching drivers how to reduce their fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions, save money, drive smarter and safer. Between them, Helen and John hold 88 world records of which 42 are for fuel economy.

This test along with others by Helen and John literally proves the capability of the internal combustion engine (ICE) to achieve greater efficiency. Now imagine the next phase of technological evolution whereby automotive engines run like diesels except on gasoline. Further consider the next engine design which splits the 4-cycle phase in half, literally creating a hot and cold side to maximize thermal efficiency, then adding an air-hybrid feature to store energy for improved city driving.

Perhaps that 55 Average MPG proposal by the President is not so unfounded after all. Fact is, General Motors already has HCCI technology in its labs, whereby the engine runs like a diesel except with gasoline.

Furthermore, the auto industry has a number of alternate engine designs available for consideration under a license agreement. One of them is the Scuderi split-cycle engine; the other is the Tour Engine, an opposed pistion split cycle, not to mention an external combustion engine of Cyclone Power.

With 2016 government mandates around the corner, the industry just may be prepping the public to accept these new engine techologies as they are more cost effective from a manufacturing standpoint, and do not add as much to the purchase price of the vehicle like electrification.

[Chevrolet Cruze Eco courtesy of media.gm.com]

Full Disclosure: At time of publication, Sherosky, creator of the auto sector charts for TN, is neither long or short with the mentioned stocks or futures, though positions can change at any time. None of the information in this article constitutes a recommendation, but an assessment or opinion.

-----------------------
About the Reporter: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks, futures and writes articles, books and ebooks like, "Perfecting Corporate Character," "Awaken Your Speculator Mind", and "Millennial World Order" via authorfrank.com. He may be contacted here by email: [email protected] or onTwitter @Authorfranks

________________________________________________
Additional Reading:
Auto industry compromise with expensive EVs fails the masses
Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine technology setting up to challenge electric hybrids
Stop-start technology to advance more micro hybrids by 2016
Four alternate engine technologies for 2011 and beyondGM Performance Division highlights Chevy engines at 2011 Woodward Dream Cruise
Toyota stock needs the 2012 Camry to be a hit
Michele Bachmann fails to deliver how she would achieve 2 dollar gasoline
Dow Jones US Autos and Parts plunges lower with general market
CAR MBS 2011 reveals auto industry still uncertain on next IC Engine choices