According to Shell, the concept vehicle, scheduled to be unveiled later this year, is intended to be a simple, practical global city car drawing together the most innovative aspects of lightweight engineering, streamlining, and driveline efficiency.
The collaboration - dubbed Project M - brings together Shell’s Lubricant’s Technology Team, The Gordon Murray Design Group and engine specialist Geo Technology.
Shell’s main focus will be on developing fluids for the car, and demonstrating the efficiency gains that can be made when oils, lubricants and fuels are considered at the beginning of the design process.
The project follows on from the work Shell carried out on Gordon Murray Design’s T25 city car which was unveiled in 2010. This earlier project incorporated specially formulated, low viscosity engine oil, which helped the vehicle achieve a fuel consumption of 97mpg.
‘We believe this Shell car will demonstrate how efficient a car can be when Shell works in harmony with vehicle and engine makers during design and build, supplying fuels and lubricants technical expertise’ commented Selda Gunsel, Shell’s vice President of Lubricants Technology.
Project M is being launched at the Americas round of Shell Eco-marathon, a global series that challenges student teams to design, build and test ultra-energy-efficient vehicles. Shell Eco-marathon America is in Detroit on 9-12 April 2015.
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