My Other Rotary Nomination

[Nexcis]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Prius2004.JPG

No seriouslly, it's a rotary!!! I wasn't sure where to post this (section) so I figured this is as good as any... not to mention funny. (Mods feel free to move.)

But seriously, did you guys know that the Toyota Prius is a rotary car?
No, well read on!




Rotary Atkinson-cycle engine

http://a1.img.labs.powerset.com/assets/orig/original/WikiDartEngine.gif (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Image:WikiDartEngine.gif) Rotary Atkinson-cycle engine


The Atkinson cycle can be used in a rotary engine. In this configuration an increase in both power and efficiency can be achieved when compared to the Otto cycle. This type of engine retains the one power phase per revolution, together with the different compression and expansion volumes of the original Atkinson cycle. Exhaust gases are expelled from the engine by compressed-air scavenging. This modification of the Atkinson cycle allows for the use of alternative fuels like Diesel and hydrogen. See External Links for more information
Vehicles using Atkinson-cycle engines

While a modified four-stroke engine using the Atkinson cycle provides good fuel economy, it is at the expense of a lower power-per-displacement than a traditional four-stroke. If the engine is only run at high powers intermittently, then the power of the engine can be supplemented by an electric motor (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Electric_motor) during times when high power is needed. This forms the basis of an Atkinson-cycle-based hybrid electric (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Hybrid_electric) drivetrain. These electric motors can be used independently of, or in combination with, the Atkinson-cycle engine, to provide the most efficient means of producing the desired power.
Multiple production vehicles use Atkinson-cycle engines:

Toyota Prius (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Toyota_Prius) hybrid electric (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Hybrid_electric) (front-wheel drive) with a (purely geometric) compression ratio of 13.0:1
Ford Escape (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Ford_Escape_Hybrid)/Mercury Mariner (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Mercury_Mariner)/Mazda Tribute (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Mazda_Tribute) hybrid electric (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Hybrid_electric) (front- and four-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 12.4:1
Toyota Camry Hybrid (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Toyota_Camry_Hybrid) hybrid electric (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Hybrid_electric) (front-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 12.5:1
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Chevrolet_Tahoe_Hybrid) hybrid electric (http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Hybrid_electric) (four-wheel drive) with a compression ratio of 10.8:1Note that any compression ratio shown above only reflects the physical compression ratio, which provides the ratio of the combustion chamber volumes when the piston is at "bottom dead center" versus "top dead center". The effective compression ratio of the air-fuel mixture in an Atkinson-cycle engine, with respect to atmospheric pressure, is lower due to the aforementioned delay in closing the intake valve.


Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_cycle

[My5ABaby]

Damn hippies and their good gas mileage. We don't take kindly to your kind around here... :squint:

[Phoenix7]

wow, I didn't know that. Weird design.

[Nexcis]

LOL, For the record before I start getting the rep as a hippy (not that there's anything wrong with you hippies out there)... this is NOT my car. :D

[jonbro6956]

The Prius does not have a rotary engine in it. It does use the Atkinson cycle as opposed to the Otto cycle though, but still a piston engine. It is a 1.5L DOHC 16 valve VVT-i engine.

[My5ABaby]

0rpm it has like 250+ ft/lb's of torque available. My 7 has like... 12 ft/lb's....

[djjjr42]

LOL, For the record before I start getting the rep as a hippy (not that there's anything wrong with you hippies out there)... this is NOT my car. :D
If gas gets to $4 it might be!:auto:

[Phoenix7]

meh, don't complain. There are plenty of europeans with 7's getting raped by gas prices but they still rock the 7 on the weekends. Pay to play.

[Nexcis]

If gas gets to $4 it might be!:auto:
Not while the Zeta continues to get 27mpg; she'll become my daily at that point. :driving:

[DRTHVDR]

Still...the "PIUS" is still too much of a dick-bag car to be voted for ANYTHING other than one of the worst cars EVER to drive. Welcome to a generation of people who enjoy being dis-connected from their automobiles. That's the complete opposite theme from the spirit that created the RX-7. This car is the nemesis the the Mazda RX-7.

[djjjr42]

Not while the Zeta continues to get 27mpg; she'll become my daily at that point. :driving:
Holy crap, 27 is pretty good, and very surprising. If I got that on my FB I'd be tickled pink. You must not be getting into it much, like I would be. :)
What do you get on the Jeep?

[Nexcis]

On the Jeep I get 17mpg. :(

So... What have we gotten out of this thread? That the Toyota "Pius" is the nemesis to the RX-7! :)

[WE3RX7]

Apparently there are lots of Jeep owners around here :)

I get 16MPG w/ my '05 and 6spd trans commuting, but the highways usually show about 19-20mpg..

Its sad that the best MPG vehicle I own is my '04 RX8. Rocked out 24.6MPG coming home from DGRR.

[BLK FC3S]

You guys say the "pius" is the nemesis to the RX7 but I commute 100 miles a day to get to and from work. I am not caring what my car "feels" like at 5am driving to work. But I would care that I am saving $50 a week in gas (24mpg vs 60mpg).
The RX7 is for weekends though when I actually ENJOY driving and with the money I save throughout the week, I can afford the $4.20/gal for 93 octane for the 7. I would never get rid of an rx7 because of gas prices, just drive it less.

[djmtsu]

The wifey gets about 16mpg in the 99 Grand Cherokee. I get about 35mpg in the Mazda3, but I can get close to 30mpg in the 7 as well. If premium was not so expensive I would daily it again and let the wife drive the 3.

Oh well.

[Nexcis]

You guys say the "pius" is the nemesis to the RX7 but I commute 100 miles a day to get to and from work. I am not caring what my car "feels" like at 5am driving to work. But I would care that I am saving $50 a week in gas (24mpg vs 60mpg).
The RX7 is for weekends though when I actually ENJOY driving and with the money I save throughout the week, I can afford the $4.20/gal for 93 octane for the 7. I would never get rid of an rx7 because of gas prices, just drive it less.
You make very good point. It is getting to the point where something needs to be done. Right now I'm making the equivalent amount of money as I did 3 years ago if you take into consideration the inflation due to the price increase of crude oil... I may find myself driving something I swore I would never drive… :o

The wifey gets about 16mpg in the 99 Grand Cherokee. I get about 35mpg in the Mazda3, but I can get close to 30mpg in the 7 as well. If premium was not so expensive I would daily it again and let the wife drive the 3.

Oh well.16mpg is a little worst then what I'm getting in my 99 Wrangler. I'm debating the idea of a V8 Swap to increase my mpg. How is she getting 16? the GC should be getting better then my Wrangler.

[djmtsu]

16mpg is a little worst then what I'm getting in my 99 Wrangler. I'm debating the idea of a V8 Swap to increase my mpg. How is she getting 16? the GC should be getting better then my Wrangler.

I have no idea. It is a 4.0L, has about 130K on it, is 4wd and has the 3.73 gears. I guess it just isn't as efficient as it used to be. Also it weighs ALOT.

[Nexcis]

Hmm, my wrangler is also 4x4 with a 3.07:1 axle ratio. It also has a 4.0L with little over 99k; . I did jack it up, 4' Liftkit, and 2' body spacer with 31' tires. Needless to say that I'm driving a very wind resistant box on wheels.

When's the last time that beast had a tune up?

[DRTHVDR]

I agree that fuel prices are at a disgusting price and that I MIGHT be purchasing a mpg car just as a commuter. BUT (this is a huge but) don't kid yourself that the price of fuel will eventually lower in price. It can only go up. That means that it is an economic constant that we all have to deal with. Nexcis, you are SO correct in using the price of gasoline in equating how much money you make. It's not going away. It effects everyone....thus my point: You can't change the price of fuel so does that mean all the current gas guzzlers will go into storage or are no longer used? Nope, we just have to drive them at the increase price per mile.
Sidenote: anyone want to sell me a 1977 VW Rabbit Diesel 1.5L? :cool:

The original purpose of this thread was to vote on a car of the month and in this case validate the "PIUS" as a worthy contender.
I feel voting this car in is akin to trying to include Oprah in a "Hot Woman Contest" that Halle Berry is currently the champion of. You might think she should be considered because she's a woman (well, the jury is still out on this fact) or maybe even because she has some African heritage in her genes. I am willing to bet ALL of you reading this agree that those two should NEVER be compared less we insult the beauty of Halle Berry. It would be insulting to an RX-7 to even be mentioned in the same sentence as a Toyota Prius. Which is what I just did! :90:

[djmtsu]

When's the last time that beast had a tune up?

Its been a while. It is time for an oil change, so I think I will throw in some new plugs and air filter. That is all you can tune up on this thing. Which I love.

It has been a great SUV. Too bad in a few months it will be relegated to sitting in the driveway with occasional duty of hauling the boat.

[Nexcis]

I agree that fuel prices are at a disgusting price and that I MIGHT be purchasing a mpg car just as a commuter. BUT (this is a huge but) don't kid yourself that the price of fuel will eventually lower in price. It can only go up. That means that it is an economic constant that we all have to deal with. Nexcis, you are SO correct in using the price of gasoline in equating how much money you make. It's not going away. It effects everyone....thus my point: You can't change the price of fuel so does that mean all the current gas guzzlers will go into storage or are no longer used? Nope, we just have to drive them at the increase price per mile.
Sidenote: anyone want to sell me a 1977 VW Rabbit Diesel 1.5L? :cool:

The original purpose of this thread was to vote on a car of the month and in this case validate the "PIUS" as a worthy contender.
I feel voting this car in is akin to trying to include Oprah in a "Hot Woman Contest" that Halle Berry is currently the champion of. You might think she should be considered because she's a woman (well, the jury is still out on this fact) or maybe even because she has some African heritage in her genes. I am willing to bet ALL of you reading this agree that those two should NEVER be compared less we insult the beauty of Halle Berry. It would be insulting to an RX-7 to even be mentioned in the same sentence as a Toyota Prius. Which is what I just did! :90:
^LOL

Its been a while. It is time for an oil change, so I think I will throw in some new plugs and air filter. That is all you can tune up on this thing. Which I love.

It has been a great SUV. Too bad in a few months it will be relegated to sitting in the driveway with occasional duty of hauling the boat.
Yea, that's what I forsee for my wrangler; hauling the jetski. :\

[DRTHVDR]

Funny....I have a Wrangler Sport for a DD also.
RX-7 is the toy car....do we see a pattern?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/saron119/04TJF.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/saron119/RX-7/IMG_0413.jpg

[djmtsu]

Sweet, just like me, all my cars match in color.

I don't have a Wrangler, but its all in the family!

[DRTHVDR]

PS The wheels in the picture are for sale. ;)

[jonbro6956]

I too have a Jeep :driving:
On another note, has anyone else noticed that the Prius is not a rotary powered car? Just curious.

[WE3RX7]

^ Nice TJ.

Jeeps and sevens go together like waffles and pork chops! What's the connection? Dunno, but it sounds good....

[Nexcis]

^ LOL I agree! :lol: