Jay Leno, besides being a show business celebrity, is widely known for some incredible machines in his "Big Dog Garage." He has high performance cars and motorcycles, beautiful vintage machinery and the financial resources to build or restore most anything that strikes his fancy. His celebrity status can hold the attention of many who might otherwise ignore alternatives and when he builds a biodiesel supercar, people notice.
Whatever your own reason for being interested in biodiesel as an alternative fuel, you will never convince a very large number of drivers to use it by demanding they sacrifice, cut back and do with less.
Whatever your own reason for being interested in biodiesel as an alternative fuel, you will never convince a very large number of drivers to use it by demanding they sacrifice, cut back and do with less. If you try, you're just ignoring human nature. But, show someone a positive alternative, something that gets their interest and makes them smile and they'll want to know more.
Jay's newest car, the EcoJet, is a 650 horsepower turbine supercar that runs on biodiesel. It may not warm the hearts of the committed "conserve and do with less" crowd but for everyone else, it's an eye catcher and thought provoker. Alternative fuel advocates could learn a lot by following his lead and focus their attention on building exciting alternatives to the vehicles we use every day. (Earthrace is another good example of an attention grabber) Once you get someone smiling, he'll listen to what you have to say, scold and preach and he'll turn you off in seconds. This car makes me smile, a lot. I like it.
General Motors press release follows:
Turbine-Powered EcoJet Concept Began With Meeting, Sketches On A Napkin
LAS VEGAS - What would keep a group of automotive designers up all night? "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, for starters, but not by his monologue or parade of Hollywood guests. This time it's because the late-night talk show host invited the General Motors Advanced Design Studio to help design a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar called EcoJet. Leno and Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, introduced the car today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.
EcoJet's genesis goes back to a discussion between Leno, an avid car enthusiast and collector, and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno's collection. Leno then turned to Welburn for design direction.
"A couple of paper napkins later, Ed had begun to capture the essence of the car," said Leno. "I've admired the work of GM's Design Studio in North Hollywood, Calif., and asked Ed if the studio's director, Frank Saucedo, and his guys could continue the design study,"
Welburn agreed, and a two-week sketching frenzy commenced as GM's designers began working after-hours with Leno's team on the project.
"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."
Borrowing design cues from jet aircraft and Formula One racecars, the supercar began to take shape under the watchful eyes of Leno and Welburn. A concurrent engineering program defined the vehicle's proportions and mechanics.
Leno relied on Juchli and the entire Big Dog team at his garage to turn the EcoJet vision into a reality.
"We thought we pushed the creative envelope with the '66 twin turbo Toronado project with GM, but this turbine-powered monster is a whole new level of complexity," said Juchli, who constructed the car at Leno's facility.
The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original 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.
EcoJet project partners
* GM Advanced Design Studio, North Hollywood, Calif. - conceptual and build design, engineering, digital design and fabrication support
* Alcoa - chassis and wheel engineering
* Metalcrafters - body engineering and construction
* Honeywell - engine supplier
* Intermountain Turbine - engine builders
* Dana - chassis supplier
* BASF - paint and finishing supplies
* GE Plastics - Lexan windows
* Viper Technologies - wheel construction
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world's leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
ECOJET SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle description:
mid-engine, turbine-powered, two-seat supercar
Wheelbase (in / mm):
110 / 2795
Engine:
Honeywell LT-101
Horsepower @ % turbine speed):
650 @ 70
Torque (lb-ft @ % turbine speed):
400 @ 70
Fuel type:
bio-diesel
Wheels:
20 x 10-in front
22 x 12-in rear
Tires:
255/35R20 front
305/30R22 rear
Track (in / mm):
66.9 / 1698 front
66.6 / 1692 rear
Overall length (in / mm):
184 / 4674
Overall width ( in / mm):
79.4 / 2024
Overall height (in / mm):
46.5 / 1180