Toyota's 2-liter per 100 km fuel consumption car developed in 2001
In 2001, Toyota showcased a "super low fuel consumption" car at the Tokyo Motor Show, which was extremely rare even by modern standards. The model was named "ES3".
This is a four-seat compact car developed with the theme of "a new way of traveling full of dreams", aiming to achieve extreme environmental protection, and was exhibited at the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001.
The biggest impact of this ES3 was that it exceeded the fuel efficiency of the first-generation Prius, achieving an amazing efficiency of 47 kilometers per liter (internal test).
What is more surprising is that this ultra-low fuel consumption was not achieved through a hybrid system with engine assistance, but rather by combining a "1.4-liter direct-injection diesel turbocharged engine" and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The biggest factor that made such an amazing fuel efficiency possible was the pursuit of "lightweight" and "aerodynamic performance" of the vehicle.
The body dimensions are 3520 mm long × 1630 mm wide × 1460 mm high, smaller than the current "Yaris" by one size. A large amount of aluminum and resin materials were used, and the vehicle weight was only "700 kilograms".
Additionally, due to the flat roof line, the drag coefficient (Cd value) is 0.23, lower than that of sports cars.
Environmental considerations were not limited to fuel efficiency. In addition to using a new catalytic system "DPNR" to clean diesel exhaust emissions, some parts of the body also use a unique resin material (TSOP), which has excellent recyclability and plant-based biodegradable plastic. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of the car throughout its entire life cycle from manufacturing to disposal.
In terms of design, a rational and futuristic space was proposed, such as the dashboard with exposed aluminum reinforcement parts and a transparent central instrument panel.
Although ES3 was not commercialized, even now, 25 years later, there are still many surprises and praises.
Although ES3 was not mass-produced, the engineering knowledge accumulated during the development process of "pursuing extreme efficiency" was inherited in the development of Toyota's hybrid vehicles.
ES3 demonstrated "extreme fuel efficiency," and it can be said to be a great achievement in the history of automobiles, which would still be praised even in today's electrified era.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857708607014921/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.