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Global Viewpoints
Turin Motor Show highlights
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The Alfa Romeo 147.
The Alfa Romeo Sportwagon.
The Ford StreetKa concept.
The Hyundai Elantra.
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Alfa Romeo 147 and Sportwagon
Alfa Romeo has a busy program of new model introductions; the latest is the 147, unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. A compact hatchback with a length of 4.17 m (13.7 ft) and the sort of distinctive styling that is the company's hallmark, the 147 takes some of its styling cues from the successful 156 sedan and the new Sportwagon. The V-shaped hood and front apron echo the styling of the Alfa 6C 2500 Villa d'Este of 1949.
Engine options include three twin-spark 16-valve units: a 77-kW (105-hp) 1.6 L; a 88-kW (120-hp) 1.6 L; and a 110-kW (150-hp) 2.0 L. The most powerful engine will be available with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a Selespeed with sequential change. Alfa will also offer an 81-kW (110-hp) 1.9-L direct-injection turbodiesel with a variable-geometry turbocharger turbine. The floorpan of the 147 is based on the 156's. Its suspension includes double wishbones at the front and MacPherson struts at the rear. The car will be available in both 3-door and 5-door forms.
Alfa Romeo is increasingly focusing on this type of car, which incorporates elements of station wagon, hatchback, and coupe configurations. Its new Sportwagon development of the 156 has very distinctive styling and a good Cd of 0.30. Alfa decided to give the car added distinction from the 156 sedan by redesigning the body aft of the B-pillar, with different doors that integrate well with the sloping roofline. Alfa says structural rigidity is little different from that of the sedan and quotes 960 kNom/rad (708,000 lboft/rad), with flexural rigidity of 6500 Nom/mm (122,000 lboft/in). The length of the Sportwagon is 4.43 m (14.5 ft). There are five engine options, including a 2.5-L V6 gasoline and a five-cylinder 2.4-L direct-injection turbodiesel. An option is a Boge-Nicomat self-leveling hydropneumatic rear suspension system. The vehicle has six airbags including two window bags.
A StreetKa named by Ford
Ford presented its StreetKa concept at the Turin Motor Show. A two-seat roadster, it is based on the Ka hatchback and has a fully concealed canvas roof. Ford has given it a wider stance than the regular version of the Spanish-built Ka. The concept is the work of Ghia and extrapolates the "New Edge" design that Ford introduced in 1996. The StreetKa has different headlamps and fenders than the standard Ka. The interior includes two racing-style bucket seats. The instrument panel uses translucent plastics with anodized aluminum accents and features adjustable gauges, giving the driver the flexibility to switch from information on conventional or racing-type vehicle parameters. These comprise an analog speedometer and radio/CD controls, which can be rotated to reveal a chronograph lap timer and rev counter.
Ford is also developing an electric version of the Ka hatchback powered by second-generation "soft" lithium-ion, water-cooled batteries. Ford claims to be the first manufacturer to produce an electric vehicle using such a system for propulsion. Called the e-Ka and developed by Ford's Aachen Research Center in Germany, it is said to have a 150-km (95-mi) range. Compared to the standard Ka, the e-Ka has been lightened by 45 kg (100 lb). The mass of the battery pack is 280 kg (616 lb)-said to be some 70% lighter than an equivalent pack using conventional lead/acid technology. The e-Ka can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 12.7 s, with a 130 km/h (82 mph) top speed. Zero to full charge time is 6 h. Its battery pack comprises 180 cells divided into three separate "troughs," one in the engine compartment, with one behind, and another ahead of, the rear axle. Weight saving was achieved by the use of aluminum and aluminum composites. A composite material called Hylite, which comprises two aluminum sheets sandwiching a layer of thermoplastic (polypropylene), is used for the roof, with weight saving of 5.5 kg (12.1 lb), and the hood, saving 5.3 kg (11.7 lb).
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai chose Turin for the debut of its Elantra sedan. Described as "new from the wheels upward," it includes a five-door version. The car is longer, wider, and taller than the Lantra, which it replaces. Its 1.6- and 2.0-L gasoline engines are developments of the Lantra's units. There is also a new 2.0-L diesel. Aerodynamics are better than the Lantra's, with a Cd of 0.33. Hyundai spent four years developing the car.
Stuart Birch
AEI September 2000
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