[cakley]

http://www.designengineering.com/cryo2_ ... ntake.html
http://www.designengineering.com/cryo2_ ... n_kit.html

Looks like its the cold air intake on roids :!:

I couldn't find the cost or how long the bottle would last. Might be nice to have if the price is right.

 

[cakley]

Found the price. Way to expensive.

http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts.cfm ... ilyid/1160

 

[james]

Didn't see anything about how it's supposed to work, but why not go a step or two further, and pipe in a tank of LOX? Just to go along with the hydrogen-fueled car of the future thing, you know

 

[cakley]

It cools the intake air by 35%. Cooler air is more dense and = more power. Same for the fuel cooler.

 

[james]

Yeah, I understood that part. What I didn't see is an explanation of how it does the cooling. I can only think of two ways that wouldn't rob power from somewhere else. One would be some sort of evaporative cooler (and you add in a water tank), the other is to have some sort of cyrogenic gas. And if you're doing that, why not make it oxygen, and inject the evaporated gas into the intake as well?

 

[cakley]

compressed C02

 

[cakley]

Emailed to find out how long one tank is good for. Was told 3 full minutes.
It could be used for short boost of power when climbing a steep hill. This way the bottle would last about 90 hills.

Bottles are easy to refill at a welding shop or paintball store. Not sure of the cost for a refill.


So far it looks to be way to expensive.

 

[james]

Maybe 90 of what you all call "hills" back east. Around here 3 minutes is maybe 10% of your average hill

The swamp cooler idea might be doable, though... You could re-plumb the windshield washer to provide the water, and add some plastic ductwork to get a good ram air flow through the actual cooler

 

[cakley]

I'm not sure but I think cold-dry air is the best. I am looking to add a 90 degree bend in the intake and that would create a mild ram air effect at speed.

 

[bfivelover]

I don't understand this desire for more power. Mine has more than enough power. I pass going up hills with no problem at 60 plus MPH, pass on flat road at 70 plus MPH, pass on two lane roads where everyone else in their big powerful cars and trucks are afraid to pass. Why the need for more power?

 

[james]

Perhaps you don't really appreciate the sort of hills we have on this side of the continent

Besides, one of the Insight's target market segments is obviously the early technology adopter type. Hackers, in the older sense of the word. Our first instinct, on getting anything new, is to take it apart, figure out how it works, and see if we can improve it

 

[bfivelover]

I appreciate the hills James. In '79, my Datsun 210 had a tough time going from Denver to Las Vegas. I have two weeks off the end of this month and am thinking about taking a trip to Yellowstone and Rocky Mt Nat Park, so me and my Insight may get to appreciate the "hills" together :wink: As far as a "target market", Honda doesn't advertise the Insight anywhere, at least not anywhere that I'm aware of, so i don't think they have a target market. Last week in the Washington Post, there was a full page ad for the Honda clearance saying how many hundreds of cars the dealer had. 100's of Civics, 100+ Civic Hybrids, hundreds of all the models, except for the Insight. No mention at all. I've never seen any ads for it. Anyway, if I go to Yellowstone, I'll find out if mine, as I said, has more than enough power.

 

[cakley]

James is right. I like to "improve" on designs.

 

[james]

OK, maybe "market" was the wrong word. How about "population segment"? Anyway, the sort of person who's most likely to buy an Insight. I think there are probably three kinds of us: a) seriously green; b) way cool technology!; c) laughing as you pass the gas station.

As for Honda not marketing the Insight, if it's indeed true that they cost several thousand more to build than the MSRP, it's understandable that they don't try real hard to sell a whole lot

I think the Insight was intended as sort of a "loss leader" and road test platform. They sell some at a loss, but in return get a bunch of good publicity and so on from having the best mpg car, plus real-world testing of new technology.