NEWSBREAKTom Nash

46 July 2004

2004 Formula SAE Competition:25 Years and CountingSpringtime in Detroit means the re-turn of engineering teams represent-ing more than 130 colleges and uni-versities from a dozen countries con-verging on the Pontiac Silverdomeparking lot to compete in the Societyof Automotive Engineers FormulaSAE event.

For 25 years, this annual gatheringof future automotive engineers haschallenged students to design, buildand compete in race cars that are safe,functional and economical. Engineersfrom the world’s largest automotivecompanies serve as officials. Theteams spend a year planning a vehiclethat could be manufactured on a lim-ited basis for under $25,000.

During the static portion of the com-petition, judges rate the teams on theirtechnical presentation, design and exe-cution and cost analysis. Once the carspass technical and safety inspectionsand are allowed to be driven on thecourses, they compete in acceleration,skid-pad and autocross events. Finally,the vehicles’ fuel economy and en-durance is rated. The points are totaledto decide the overall rankings.

This year, Cornell University won thecompetition. Texas A&M and Auburnfinished second and third, respectively.

Study Analyzes Role of Females in Vehicle Maintenance & RepairNearly nine out of ten female mo-torists are at least somewhat involvedin the decision-making process fortheir household’s vehicle maintenanceand repair, according to an exclusivenew study released by the AutomotiveAftermarket Industry Association(AAIA). “Vehicle Maintenance & TheFemale Motorist” is an analysis of the

During the Formula SAE technical inspection, the racer from the U.S. Air ForceAcademy’s team is tested on the dynamometer. Dyno testing reveals any en-gine or powertrain flaws in a safe manner.

Last year’s Formula SAE winner from the University of Wollongong in Australiaprepares its 2004 car for the safety inspection. All vehicles must pass safetyand technical inspections prior to competing in driving events.

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attitudes and perceptions that drivewomen’s behavior regarding vehiclemaintenance and repair.

“Because little has been done to in-vestigate the role of women in the de-cision-making process for mainte-nance and repairs, AAIA commis-sioned this study as an assessment ofthe factors that facilitate femalespending in the automotive aftermar-ket,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIApresident and CEO. “Interestingly,the study found that while roughly78% of women feel that following therecommended maintenance scheduleis important, 68% claimed to actuallyfollow the schedule closely.”

The study provides two sets ofanalyses—one representing the entirepopulation of female motorists andthe other comparing and contrastingfive subgroups of female motorists.The subgroups include DIFM (Do ItFor Me) Dealer, DIY Diligent, DIFMIndependent, DIFM Procrastinatorand DIY Negligent. Data featured inthe study include:

•Perceived importance of regularmaintenance.

•Awareness of the need for mainte-nance and repairs.

•The decision-making process.•Maintenance and repairs per-

formed.•DIFM attitudes and behavior.•DIY attitudes and behavior.•Vehicle, driving and demographic

profiles.For more information or to order

the study, call 301-654-6664, or log onto www.aftermarket.org and click onthe Study button.

Toyota Gaining on GMToyota is well on its way to matchingGeneral Motors’ 15% share of theglobal automotive market by 2015.Recently, Toyota reported a net profitof over a trillion yen (about $10 billionU.S.) for the past year. Its marketshare now stands at 11.2%.

Things only look to improve forToyota. So far this year in the U.S.market, Toyota vehicles are up 11%and Lexus sales are up 21%. In fact,May was the company’s best monthfor sales in its history.

Continental Starter/AlternatorAvailable in GM TrucksContinental has announced that its in-tegrated starter/alternator damper(ISAD) is now in production on Gener-al Motors’ 2005 mild hybrid ChevroletSilverado and GMC Sierra full-size

pickup trucks. The ISAD system isclaimed to be the first of its kind in pro-duction on a North American vehicle.

“We are pleased to be part of Gener-al Motors’ commitment to hybrid vehi-cle development,” said ContinentalTeves North America president and

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CEO Bill Kozyra. “The ISAD systemwill help vehicles improve fuel econo-my up to 12% by allowing the engine toshut down when the vehicle comes to astop, and to perform other hybrid func-tions. It supplies power to accessorieswhile the vehicle is stationary, restart-ing the engine immediately when thedriver presses on the accelerator. Theentire process is instant, smooth andvirtually transparent to the driver.”

The ISAD system replaces the con-ventional starter, alternator and fly-wheel with one electronically controlledunit that provides instant starts, high-ef-ficiency 12- and 42-volt electrical powerand active damping of the powertrainand driveline systems. A key feature ineach application is the ability to convertbraking energy into electricity, a processknown as regenerative braking.

The ISAD system will also powerfuture 42-volt accessories in the vehi-cle, such as power steering, thus sav-ing energy, parts and weight by elimi-

Continental’s integrated starter/alternator damper (ISAD) is being used on GM’s2005 hybrid Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups to provide up to a 12% fuelsaving, pare weight and provide 110-volt outlets for power tools and appliances.

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nating individual components.Unique with the GM hybrid system

are the 20-amp, 110-volt AC outlets lo-cated both in the passenger compart-ment and in the truck bed. They allowthe system to operate as a generatorsuitable for such uses as running powertools and recreational equipment.

4WD & AWD Numbers IncreasingFour-wheel-drive vehicle production ison the rise, according to the latest studyfrom California research firm J.D.Power and Associates. According to its“2004 Global 4WD-Driveline MarketReport,” Power estimates that produc-tion of four-wheel-drive cars, trucksand crossover vehicles will approach37% of North American production by2008, up from the current 28%.

The growth, the report states, willcome mainly as automakers equipmore and more front-drive architec-tures with four-wheel or all-wheel-propulsion capabilities.

Currently, 87% of all four-wheelersare based on rear-drive drivelines, butthat number is expected to drop toaround 68% by 2008. Power analyst Pe-ter Nally points to the SUV “explosion”in this country as the driving force be-hind 4WD’s market surge. Currently,64% of all SUVs on the road have 4WDcapability, followed by 42% of pickups,4% of vans and 3% of cars.

In Europe, however, where interestin 4WD is relatively low but growing,4WD vehicles currently make up 4% ofall vehicles sold, and are expected to in-crease to 8% of market share by 2008.

New NHTSA Data Fuels Debateon Light Truck SafetyAccording to a report in AutomotiveNews recently, the number of peoplekilled on American roads rose in 2003 to43,220, from 42,815 in 2002. The deathrate, however, was unchanged at 1.5 fatal-ities per 100 million miles traveled. Sincetravel volume is expected to keep rising,the number of people killed on the roadsis estimated to reach 50,000 by 2008.

National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-ministration (NHTSA) data tells us that58% of the vehicle occupants killed in2003 were not wearing seat belts, andthat most of the additional vehicle oc-cupant deaths were in SUV and vanrollovers. Accordingly, the agency has

set increasing seat belt use, reducingimpaired driving, limiting the harmdone in rollovers and improving car-truck compatibility as its top priorities.

The data is predicted to add fuel tothe ongoing battle over whether the fed-eral government needs to impose moreregulations on light truck safety issues.

The Automotive News report statesthat safety advocacy groups, includingPublic Citizen, have lobbied Congressto require more rule-making actions byNHTSA. The Senate approved the re-quest as part of a large highway bill.The House did not. Details of the finalmeasure are being negotiated.