Citroen, the world's largest WRC team, has begun testing a hybrid version of its C4 WRC rally car in anticipation of increased calls for motor sport to reflect calls on the industry as a whole to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise.
After a low-speed demo run at the Finland WRC round in mid-2008 and the motor show rounds in Paris, Bologna and Geneva, Citroen sent the C4 WRC HYbrid4 out on its first full-speed tarmac run under rally conditions in Portugal in April, with Spanish insider Dani Sordo at the helm.
Starting with the 'standard' C4 WRC car, Citroen has added a 125 kW electric motor to the petrol engine and a 990-cell lithium ion battery pack. The car retains the gearbox and RWD system of the donor machine. The hybrid system automatically engages electric mode when the ignition is switched on without starting the petrol engine.
The system allows the driver to choose between four different driving modes, Citroen engineer Didier Clement told media. In internal combustion mode, it behaves exactly like the WRC donor car. "Then, in internal combustion mode with energy recovery switched on, braking endurance is improved and the batteries get charged.
"On road sections and in the service park, electric mode with energy recovery means that there is less nuisance, increased range and less wear on the conventional engine.
"Finally, boost mode -- which employs both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor -- gives an extra 300 Nm of torque." Which it might well need -- the electric motor and battery pack add 150 kg to the car's weight.
Meanwhile Volvo has exercised an unusual reversal to the normal racetrack-to-road development trajectory by grafting aerodynamic elements -- flat under-body panels, diffuser and rear wing -- from its production diesel-powered C30 DRIVe straight on to its E85-fuelled 'Green Racer' for the 2009 Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) season.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi