MG and MIRA Debut 'Hybrid Performance Development' at Key Motorsport Event

[SteveChilds]

As reported on here earlier (*cough* )....

An exciting new technology concept was unveiled at the Motorsport Industry Association's 'Clean Racing Conference', by Rob Oldaker, product development director, MG Rover Group and John Wood, managing director, MIRA. The 'Hybrid Performance Development' is a petrol/electric powered MG TF featuring a combined output of 200Ps deployed through its four road
wheels. MIRA engineers in consultation with MG Rover Group have produced the '200 HPD' specification, derived from the popular MG TF sports car, producing functional and environmental benefits, with a wider performance capability potential for motorsport.

Rob Oldaker, commented: "The 200 HPD is the culmination of two talented Midlands-based companies, bringing together their expertise to create this MG car, that perfectly illustrates the vision of the Clean Racing Conference."

John Wood, added: "We conceived the idea to produce an enhanced performance car that anticipated environmental requirements, while expanding today's sports car driving experience. The car achieves this with 'responsible performance' where the innovative hybrid solution sharpens acceleration, at
no expense in tailpipe emissions, yet also offers customer benefits like all-wheel-drive traction and the low-speed clutchless operation of 'City mode'."

Responsible Performance
The holistic approach combines electric traction with aerodynamic advances, driving the perception of hybrid cars forward into the realms of driving excitement. Motorsport has a renowned capacity for efficient development of components and systems while stimulating the public's interest. This is a new opportunity for the industry to accelerate both technical progress and customer excitement of these hybrid technologies that are capable of giving a competitive edge with green credentials.

Enhancing the performance of an existing MG TF without increasing the environmental impact was the aim of the project undertaken through a partnership between MG Rover Group and MIRA. The initial development vehicle - the MG TF 200 HPD - reduces the existing 0-60 time from 6.9 to sub-6 seconds, without increasing tailpipe emissions or fuel consumption, yet also offers a range of other benefits high on the customer wish list, such as enhanced traction through all wheel drive and the low speed clutchless option of 'City mode'.

Working in consultation with MG Rover Group, engineers at MIRA designed and developed a parallel hybrid drivetrain to supplement the existing rear wheel drive 160Ps MG TF, using an electric motor to drive the front wheels. The additional power of the electric motor results in a 25% increase to 200Ps, greatly enhancing the sprint acceleration of the MG TF. The motor, innovatively combined with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), extends opportunities for advanced all wheel drive active torque distribution.

The application of hybrid technologies has been holistic, with implications far beyond the motive power. New approaches have been required for vehicle aerodynamics, styling, cooling efficiency and weight distribution as a consequence of the hybrid specification. The team took advantage of the revised package to eliminate front and rear lift, a key element in vehicle stability, and to reduce drag by 7%, benefiting emissions and fuel economy. In this development car, the addition of the front electric drive train and battery pack combine to produce an ideal 50/50 weight distribution.

"MG Rover Group anticipates the potential of using hybrid technology to boost performance responsibly and to offer a range of additional functional benefits that include all wheel drive and city mode capability," says Rob Oldaker, product development director.

MIRA's advanced design, control and simulation techniques have configured the system so that the hybrid system re-charges during part throttle cruising, to deliver clean, additional performance when the driver needs it most. One potential motorsport application envisaged could use the battery pack to provide a finite number of boosted acceleration cycles, allowing
evenly matched drivers to overtake and stimulate spectator appeal.

Additional virtues of the hybridisation are the continuous 'hotshift'
acceleration capability and the 'City mode' where the electric drive is used independently of the engine and gearbox for relaxed driving in urban areas.

MG Rover Group and MIRA expect that, once developed, the technologies will move onto the manufacturing design feasibility stage. Indeed, the partnership, which includes MG Rover Group, MIRA Ltd and Powertrain Ltd, has just been awarded a contract by HM Government's Energy Saving Trust to develop these technologies into production viable passenger cars.

"Consumers are demanding cleaner cars," concludes John Wood of MIRA, "and the MG TF 200 HPD technology offers motorsport the opportunity to both increase consumer excitement and accelerate technical progress."

MG TF 200 HPD

Technical Specification
* K Series 160Ps, 1.8-litre VVC petrol engine driving rear wheels
* 40Ps high-output electric motor driving front wheels, through CVT drive train
* Engine driven generator
* Hawker SBS8 battery pack delivers 72v at 400 amps
* BRUSA BRMD 506 motor controller
* Mathworks XPC vehicle management
* Aerodynamic Cd 0.32, zero front & rear lift
* 50 / 50 weight distribution

Performance summary
* Sprint power increased from 160 to 200Ps
* 0-60mph time improved from 6.9 to sub 6.0 seconds
* All wheel drive traction, maximum tractive effort and 'low mu' handling
* 'Hotshift' delivers continuous power through front wheels during gear changes
* 'City mode' feature enables relaxed urban motoring using electric front drivetrain

[Dr Dave]

2 pints Monday to Friday and three on Saturday, please Ernie

[X10Rich]

Another benefit of MGR developing electric cars







- they don't have head gaskets


Glad to see MGR at the cutting edge of new tech anyhow

[MGROVERnut]

How many MPG does it do?

[MGROVERnut]

...or is this just a way to make MG cars go even faster......wonder what would happen if you put this in the ZT 385

[David Lee Newsham]

Here's a photo......................where's the grille gone

I like that front. I have never been keen on the TF/SV slotted grill - it looks clumsy and cheap.

The new one probably lets more air into the radiator, perhaps helping to cut down on the TF's cooling problems.

[cosb6]

Originally posted by David Lee Newsham
Here's a photo......................where's the grille gone

First Post said....

The team took advantage of the revised package to eliminate front and rear lift, a key element in vehicle stability, and to reduce drag by 7%, benefiting emissions and fuel economy.

I guess it caused un-necessary drag....

[John Manson]

No grill, but it seems to have gained vents in the bonnet.

[tbourner]

Ooh, my next car then!!

[Stu]

Could this be the TF facelift that has been rumoured a few times?

Looks good if it is.

[andy]

MG Rover Group and MIRA expect that, once developed, the technologies will move onto the manufacturing design feasibility stage. Indeed, the partnership, which includes MG Rover Group, MIRA Ltd and Powertrain Ltd, has just been awarded a contract by HM Government's Energy Saving Trust to develop these technologies into production viable passenger cars.

So when are we going to see these hybrid TF on sell? I like them very much. The deleted vent makes it look neater, IMO.

[beamon]

I like it better with the grille TBH. Guess you can't have everything though

B

[tbourner]

I quite like the new look, like the old look too though TBH. The TF's just gorgeous.

[Ernst Blofeld]

Going off on a bit of a tangent here, but I wonder if anybody has ever thought of building a twin engined 4x4 MGF or TF?

When all said and done every transverse mid-engined car (the F, the Miura, the X19 and MR2 etc) can trace its ancestry back to the twin engined Minis of the early 60s.

[JohnSwitzer]

I think the concept is excellent... albeit it is difficult to drill down the detail of that MGR / Mira / Powertrain have actually done.

Question is, is it truly a hybrid or is it a means of maximising the efficiency of the internal combustion engine?

If its the latter, it makes the whole thing even more exciting. And presumably, there is no reason why it couldn't be applied to LPG or even Hydrogen powered vehicles?

Incidentally, love the revised TF front If Streetgear Guy is around, then there's your next challenge.

John

[X-P0WER]

Hey, that looks like my car. lol ;-)





No engine in the front at the moment though. But handling is very neat.

[ZRsteve]

Looks very nice, but there's no room for a spare?

[X-P0WER]

Room for a space saver yes. But my car didnt come with a spare when it was brand new. I recieved a lovely little can of tyre weld. Lol.. I think most cars were given tyre weld ILO spare wheel. Glad you like it.

[ZRsteve]

Yeah, the new nose is very attractive.

Does the altered airflow increase downforce at speed, like the revised front end of the HPD version?