DETROIT — General Motors Corp.'s Precept high-mileage prototype car has achieved fuel economy of nearly 80 miles per gallon of gasoline in tests — meeting a goal set by automakers and the federal government in 1994, a spokesman said Friday.
The Precept is the first vehicle developed under the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles program to hit the goal, Jeff Kuhlman said. The program was aimed at designing a midsize, five-passenger car that gets 80 mpg with no compromises in safety, performance or price.
The news was hailed by President Clinton, who said the advancements in the Precept would lead to less pollution and less dependence on foreign oil.
"Today's announcement is further evidence that the investments in clean energy technologies we have made over the last eight years are paying off," he said in a statement.
The Precept isn't likely to show up on a dealership floor anytime soon. While the mileage goals have been met, a mass-produced Precept would still cost thousands of dollars more than a regular vehicle. And its diesel engine fails to meet new standards for air pollution Clinton unveiled earlier this year.
GM unveiled the diesel-powered Precept in January and said then it would achieve about 90 miles per gallon of diesel fuel, or 80 mpg of gasoline.
GM said Friday that testing similar to what the Environmental Protection Agency uses to measure vehicle fuel economy has proved the Precept would get 90.9 mpg of gas on the highway and 72.2 mpg in the city, for a combined fuel economy of 79.6 mpg.
The Precept breaks with several industry conventions to get to 80 mpg. It's powered by an Isuzu three-cylinder diesel engine tied to two electric motors. One electric motor powers the front wheels, while a "multipurpose unit" built onto the diesel engine acts as another electric motor and a generator, recharging a battery pack.
The motors help the 54-horsepower engine under acceleration and capture energy during braking.
The engine is in the rear of the car to improve air flow around the vehicle, and the Precept's body is the most aerodynamic ever designed for a car. Rearview mirrors are replaced with tiny cameras, and the doors use electric controls instead of handles.
To save weight, aluminum and titanium are used for many parts; the seats are made of mesh, and even the stereo speakers have an advanced weight-saving design. The result is a car the size of a Chevrolet Malibu that weighs about 460 pounds less.