So anyone with better info on this, jump right in, please, be my guest!
The Atkinson(link) cycle engine Toyota is developing for their Aygo car, is claiming it will get 78mpg.
As only a 1 liter engine, this is similar to the Elio engine class. I haven't got solid conclusions on the US vs the euro mpg, but (loosely speaking) it appears that the current US Aygo is in the 50's(mpg) and the euro is up as high as 68mpg. Although this euro-metric may be a miss-quote for the measurement scale used. Like maybe k/gal?
So given the suppositions above, the new engine maybe as high as a 15% improvement(?is that right?) over the comparable current Aygo engine. Assuming the current Aygo engine tech is equal to the Elio tech, an Elio type autocycle design using the Atkinson technology could get (84 x 1.15) = 96.6mpg.
It's doubtful Toyota would enter into the Elio class market, at the Elio pricing, until real-world marketing performance data is collected. But if it did, and kept to the tight Elio pricing structure, it could definitely give Elio a run for it's money. So that is only a possibility after the first Elio Year 3's hit the showrooms.
On the other hand, if the Atkinson engine costs substantially more to produce, then they can't keep the vehicle down to an Elio competitive level. That same kind of issue eliminates both hybrid and EV tech as direct competition to the Elio, since that would push those products to a different class of buyer.
I have to add however, if you value the extra MPG at $100 per mpg per $1 in gas pricing, as often I do, then at $3/gal a 97mpg vehicle at $10,700 is a direct equal to a $6800 Elio for my financial decision making. With gas down to $2/gal I calc that out to $9400 as equal competition. Not every person does that kind of calculation, unless the bank drives them to it.. lol
Note: Atkinson theory can be added retroactively to existing engines with between moderate to heavy modifications. This is an option Elio could take in the future, if need be.
The Atkinson(link) cycle engine Toyota is developing for their Aygo car, is claiming it will get 78mpg.
As only a 1 liter engine, this is similar to the Elio engine class. I haven't got solid conclusions on the US vs the euro mpg, but (loosely speaking) it appears that the current US Aygo is in the 50's(mpg) and the euro is up as high as 68mpg. Although this euro-metric may be a miss-quote for the measurement scale used. Like maybe k/gal?
So given the suppositions above, the new engine maybe as high as a 15% improvement(?is that right?) over the comparable current Aygo engine. Assuming the current Aygo engine tech is equal to the Elio tech, an Elio type autocycle design using the Atkinson technology could get (84 x 1.15) = 96.6mpg.
It's doubtful Toyota would enter into the Elio class market, at the Elio pricing, until real-world marketing performance data is collected. But if it did, and kept to the tight Elio pricing structure, it could definitely give Elio a run for it's money. So that is only a possibility after the first Elio Year 3's hit the showrooms.
On the other hand, if the Atkinson engine costs substantially more to produce, then they can't keep the vehicle down to an Elio competitive level. That same kind of issue eliminates both hybrid and EV tech as direct competition to the Elio, since that would push those products to a different class of buyer.
I have to add however, if you value the extra MPG at $100 per mpg per $1 in gas pricing, as often I do, then at $3/gal a 97mpg vehicle at $10,700 is a direct equal to a $6800 Elio for my financial decision making. With gas down to $2/gal I calc that out to $9400 as equal competition. Not every person does that kind of calculation, unless the bank drives them to it.. lol
Note: Atkinson theory can be added retroactively to existing engines with between moderate to heavy modifications. This is an option Elio could take in the future, if need be.
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