Are Citroen about to reveal a DS4 Racing Hybrid?
Citroen have been issuing little teases on Facebook and Twitter about a new 256bhp car they plan to reveal tomorrow (24th February 2012) at 9am. But what could it be?
It seems likely that Citroen’s new concept – which looks to be heading to Geneva – will be the DS4 take on the Citroen DS4 Racing, which will be probably the Citroen DS4 Racing or Citroen DS4 R. But we think there might be a twist to this.
Citroen are claiming their new reveal will boast 256bhp from what we assume is the 1.6 litre MINI/PSA 4-pot. Which is quite a lot to squeeze out of the MINI lump, and a whole 45bhp more than MINI get even out of the MINI JCW.
Best guess is that the Citroen DS4 Racing will actually be a Hybrid, with an electric motor running the back axle and the extra 45bhp coming from the electric motor. That should be enough to Make the Citroen DS4 R as quick as the DS3 Racing, and perhaps even quicker. Which is pretty much – apart from the exact power output – what we reported at the end of 2012.
We’ll find out in the morning.
Citroen DS4 Photo Gallery
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(32 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)
Anonymous says
Battery type hybrids are poor at saving energy; and, advancements in battery technology are most likely terminally limited. Flywheel technology is here now and power-flow is shock free and as smooth as though from an electric motor; see below. Here-to-fore the problem with flywheels has been complex and inefficient power management to and from the flywheel. This patent eliminates the above friction drive CVT with a IVT and completely solves this problem with maximum possible efficiency (85 -95%).
PRESS RELEASE
January 3, 2012
Reference: US Patent 7,931,107 B2
VEHICLE KINETIC ENERGY UTILIZATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. (KERS)
This recent patent enables the reduction of fuel consumption in motor vehicles by the storage of kinetic energy for reuse. This technology incorporates an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) in the form of an eddy current induction device (called a Modulator) coupled to a gear system to conquer the torque flow management problem caused by infinitely varying bi-directional energy flow between a moving vehicle mass and an associated rotating flywheel mass created by the fact that the respective mass velocities move in an inverse acceleration relationship.
To illustrate this phenomenon, observe that as kinetic energy passes from the moving vehicle to, and is captured by, the flywheel it is caused to accelerate, however the vehicle is consequently caused to slow; but to function efficiently, the flywheel requires an ever increasing input-speed factor from a source which is ever slowing. This always changing speed dichotomy can only be effectively managed by an infinitely variable transmission, and, other than that offered by the above patent, none have been successful for the subject purpose.
The technology reflected in this patent involves very few parts, and is therefore economical to manufacture. It is in addition, long lived, requires little maintenance, and is very durable. Importantly, this system is suitable not only for passenger car use, but also for delivery vans, trucks, and buses.
The conservation of kinetic energy through the use of battery energy-storage technology is exceedingly inefficient while such a mechanical approach is well known to be very high in efficiency. As may be realized, existing battery hybrid technology was developed because it was a way around this, now solved, torque-management problem. As these complicated and costly battery-related electric energy arrangements only avoid, and do not solve this problem, the penalty for this has been the great loss of efficiency as compared to a mechanical storage system such as that proposed by the subject patent.
Thank you,
South Essex Engineering
Martin Bedná? says
Here are first leaked photos of this car: http://www.autoforum.cz/predstaveni/citroen-ds4-r-unikly-oficialni-fotky-ostre-ds4/