Avion (car)

The Avion is a prototype sports car that achieves over 100 miles per gallon. The Avion car is based on a simple concept: fuel economy is largely determined by aerodynamic drag and vehicle weight. The Avion uses existing automotive components, an existing high-efficiency automotive diesel engine and marries them to a lightweight aluminum frame and highly aerodynamic composite body. The Avion was an official contender in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize.

Avion
TypePrivate company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1986
FounderCraig Henderson
Bill Green
HeadquartersBellingham, Washington, United States
ProductsAvion
Websitetechnology in car games

History
The Avion car on display in 2022
The Avion car on display in 2022

The Avion was developed in 1979 by Craig Henderson and Bill Green after graduating from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington where they had worked at the Vehicle Research Institute. The prototype was completed in 1984, and entered the Guinness World Records for fuel economy in 1986 at 103.7 mpg.[1]

The plan when the car was designed was to manufacture the Avion in limited quantities and sell into the car enthusiast market. But the real price of gasoline fell steadily from 1979 through the 1980s [2] and interest in highly fuel-efficient cars disappeared along with the interest of potential investors.

The dramatic increase in real fuel prices from 2000 to 2008 had renewed interest in automobile fuel economy. The original Avion was taken out of storage and an updated version was entered in the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition. Recent testing, using the original body and replacing the original Volkswagen Rabbit diesel engine with the Smart Car ForTwo diesel show 80 mpg at 70 mph (110 km/h) and a remarkable 114 mpg at 55 mph (89 km/h).

Vehicle

The car was designed to be manufactured in small volume using existing automotive components, including a small automotive diesel engine. It features a lightweight composite body of highly aerodynamic design with butterfly doors attached to an aluminum frame.

Notes
  1. "Automotive X-Prize Profile: Avion Car Company". Futurecars.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  2. "EIA - Short-Term Energy Outlook - Real Petroleum Prices". Eia.doe.gov. Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
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