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It seems an inexorable sequence. Cars are getting heavier and heavier, so
need more power to maintain the same performance. And more power and higher
weight equals greater fuel consumption. Even hybrid cars like the Prius are
heavy for their size – there’s no such thing as a light-weight battery pack.
So where are the innovative cars sized for 2+2 people, with super slippery
aerodynamics and performance sufficient just for safe driving? If in the past
small cars had a mass closer to 800kg, why with all the recent design and
materials development do they now weigh up to 50 per cent more?
At the moment it’s only a concept car from an unknown company, but the Loremo
surely shows the direction which at least some cars should be heading...
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Bavaria is well-known for its innovative car-makers and Loremo AG is the
newest of this breed. The company was founded in 2000 by Gerhard Heilmaier,
Stefan Ruetz and Uli Sommer and is planning to introduce a very fuel-efficient 2
+ 2 seater onto the roads. The Loremo is a lightweight vehicle whose development
has taken a radical new direction: less is more and the most efficient use of
energy is not to use it at all. Even the name Loremo – Low Resistance Mobile –
speaks of its streamlining and economy.
Bodywork
The lightweight steel chassis is one of Loremo’s key elements. It is claimed
to perform well above average in crash simulations and provides excellent
handling characteristics with its low centre of gravity and torsional stiffness.
Longitudinal supports extend at fender height along the length of the entire
vehicle, increase stability and ensuring the linear cell structure remains
intact in offset and side crash-tests. This principle of construction allows for
a crumple zone of 600mm. The centrally mounted cross-support, on which the roll
bars are mounted, stiffens the longitudinal beams and houses the engine.
The non-load-bearing, self-supporting, thermoplastic body panels mould to the
linear cell structure and help the Loremo to achieve its aerodynamic shape. This
material has a number of advantages: it is light weight, weatherproof,
scratch-resistant and it is economical. It substitutes the classical paint with
a thin film in the colour of the car which is applied during the manufacturing
process. In this way the Loremo receives a high-quality, paint-like surface
without environmental damaging paints.
The chassis air-guiding system is perfected with the help of lower tyre fins
and by the air stream optimized chassis design. The Loremo achieves its optimum
driving characteristics with its minimized wind resistance and reduced lift. Cd
is just 0.20.
There is no B-pillar as the panorama roof has no load-bearing function and is
simply bolted to the roll-bar. The nose does away with a large radiator grill
and instead an opening provides access to the aerodynamic underside. LED
headlamps are used.
The car is entered from the front for which the entire hood of the car -
including the windscreen - is tipped forwards, allowing for upright boarding to
the interior. The opened front shows the trunk. The vertically-opening tailgate
provides the entry to the back seats.
At only 450kg, the Loremo weighs less than half of any comparable passenger
car.
Suspension
The Loremo chassis (patent no. DE 197 46 931 C 1) is claimed to offer
first-class roadability: optimum cornering ability stability, static directional
stability and, thus, safe road behaviour. The differential link axle connects
the advantages of a semi-trailing link and a longitudinal link and this way
allows excellent road performance under different load conditions.
While going straight ahead, the patented Loremo chassis shows a neutral toe
and camber behaviour. When driving curves, however, the tyre tilts inward
(negative camber change) and this way creates an improved lateral road holding.
Also the distribution of weight (50:50), the low centre of gravity as well as
its stiff structure contribute to optimum road behaviour. The 105/70 - R14 tyres
are claimed to have the same road holding as the 200mm wide tyres of heavy
passenger cars.
Safety
Loremo's linear cell structure meets all static requirements for crash safety
and driving dynamics. This structure, which has been patented in many countries
(patent no. PCT/EP98/01114), weighs only 95 kg and consists of only few sheet
metal parts and can thus be produced at very low cost. Three solid longitudinal
support bars have a low weight and a higher stiffness than would be the case if
there were side doors in the middle. Even in the case of a side impact, they
provide excellent protection. The pyramidal transverse support bar does not only
effectively increase the protection against side impact but also makes the
structure torsionally stiff.
In a 50 km/h collision with a static barrier having a 40 per cent overlap,
the dashboard is deformed by approximately 150mm. Thus, it is highly probable
that it will also withstand the 65 km/h offset crash with a soft barrier without
major deformations of the dashboard.
Interior
The Janusseater - two seats are in front of the pyramidal cross-support and
two rear-facing behind it - is equipped with super-light ergonomic seats. The
seats, embedded in the linear cell structure, create a feeling of sporty
security and comfort. There is plenty of room for sporting equipment or for
additional suitcases, if the rear-facing seats are not being used.
The lower part of the seat buckets are adjustable in tilt. Instead of a
longitudinal adjustment of the seat, the pedals and the steering wheel are
adjusted to the driver. The dashboard is replaced by a simple instrument
mushroom-shaped with a display.
The spartan, sporty interior design does away with unnecessary fittings and
its two-ply plastic construction doesn’t need any additional finishing.
High-quality interior furnishing in alcantara and high-tech fabrics provides
spacious luxury and comfort.
If required, the Loremo LS can be equipped with a simple air-conditioning
system, an on-board PC with navigation system, an mp3 player, and a driver
information system.
Performance
The 15 kW two-cylinder turbo-diesel motor powers the 450kg Loremo LS to 160
km/h. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 20 seconds and fuel consumption is
1.5 litres/100 km. Thus the Loremo can travel from Munich to Rome (over 800
miles) on only one 20 litre tank of fuel. At only 384cm long and 136cm wide,
Loremo AG has developed a true small car. In driving fun the 110cm high,
economical sports car easily runs against the large competitors and all for a
proposed purchase price under 11,000€
Those who want more should look to the Loremo GT. With 37kW and a 3-cylinder
turbo-diesel motor, it reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. And with 2.7 litres/100
km it is still very fuel-efficient. The proposed price is under 15,000.€
"At the moment", points out Gerhard Heilmaier, president of Loremo AG, "the
Loremo LS is primarily an energy-saving, minimalistic body concept. It is an
innovation which leaves room for continual development and many variations in
both its design and engine. It will certainly influence the automobile
future".
Specifications
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Loremo LS
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Loremo GT
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Engine
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2-cylinder turbo diesel |
3-cylinder turbo diesel |
Output
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15 kW / 20 HP |
36 kW / 50 HP |
Max. speed
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160 km/h |
220 km/h |
Acceleration
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20 sec. (0-100km/h) |
9 sec. (0-100km/h) |
Transmission
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5-gear manual transmission |
5-gear manual transmission |
Drive
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midship/rear wheel drive |
midship/rear wheel drive |
Consumption
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1.5 l/100 km |
2.7 l/100 km |
Fuel range
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1300 km (20 litre tank) |
800 km (20 litre tank) |
Weight
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450 kg |
470 kg |
Drag
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Cd=0.20; CdA=0.22 m² |
Cd=0.20; CdA=0.22 m² |
Seats
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2+2 |
2+2 |
Dimensions
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384cm x 136cm x 110cm (l x w x h) |
384cm x 136cm x 110cm (l x w x h) |
Proposed Price
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< 11,000 Euro |
< 15,000 Euro |
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