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The development of flexible fuel vehicles usually puts exhaust emissions in the critical path as more tests are required to cover different fuel blends. An informal survey showed that most engineers still use standard spreadsheets to analyze emissions data, usually a cumbersome, tedious and unproductive process. This paper describes the specification and development of a dedicated exhaust emissions data analysis tool, designed to improve productivity during the development phase. Through the combination of emissions and vehicle data, the tool automatically generates a set of reports that can be customized according to the best practices of each organization. The data analysis of an exhaust emissions test is performed using traditional methodologies and then compared to the new tool to emphasize the productivity gains.

The pocket rocket definition is a small vehicle with a bigger engine. The result is a vehicle with better acceleration, top speed and speed recovery. This extra performance must be followed by improved lateral and longitudinal grip, faster steering response and also upgraded brakes. Based on a 1.0L popular vehicle, several changes were performed, transforming this family oriented vehicle in an enjoyable small sports car. The engine was changed to a production 1.8L, followed by upgrades in transmission, suspension, wheel & tires, brakes and powertrain integration.

Unfortunately car magazines give too much importance for acceleration times and top speed, but for the customer, speed recovery is the best and most perceived performance metric. Based on production parts, the compression ratio, camshaft and engine inertia were changed aiming the best compromise for acceleration, top speed and speed recovery. The vehicle is a current production 1.0L vehicle, assembled with 1.8L engine, resulting in a sport behavior. The vehicle performance was measured with full package and some combinations, allowing the definition of the best compromise and where the money should be spent.

For the current brazilian market, the available sportive vehicles are mainly a slight modified version from a current model, usually only with appearance items. A good definition for a sportive vehicle should be something between a family vehicle and race car. A race car focus only in performance, obviously without any compromise for passenger comfort and a family vehicle is orientated for passenger comfort and safe behavior, for driver only or full load condition. One thought for a sport vehicle is a powerful engine, which should translate in greater acceleration, top speed and faster speed recovery. Besides the engine, other areas should support the increased torque and horsepower, resulting in improved lateral / longitudinal grip and faster steering response. Based on a production medium hatchback, several systems were improved in order to achieve a new exciting product, aiming a pure sportive behavior.