FOR RELEASE: 2006-10-31

Turbine-Powered EcoJet Concept Began With Meeting, Sketches On A Napkin

Jay Leno, GM Advanced Design Studio Collaborated on 650-Horsepower Supercar That Runs on Bio-Diesel

LAS VEGAS - What would keep a group of automotive designers up all night? "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, for starters, but not by his monologue or parade of Hollywood guests. This time it's because the late-night talk show host invited the General Motors Advanced Design Studio to help design a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar called EcoJet. Leno and Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, introduced the car today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.

EcoJet's genesis goes back to a discussion between Leno, an avid car enthusiast and collector, and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno's collection. Leno then turned to Welburn for design direction.

"A couple of paper napkins later, Ed had begun to capture the essence of the car," said Leno. "I've admired the work of GM's Design Studio in North Hollywood, Calif., and asked Ed if the studio's director, Frank Saucedo, and his guys could continue the design study,"

Welburn agreed, and a two-week sketching frenzy commenced as GM's designers began working after-hours with Leno's team on the project.

"EcoJet's esthetics were driven by aeronautical and jet-age influences," said Welburn. "It's a purpose-driven design that conveys power, capability and even danger, with a hint of Cadillac's sophisticated design vocabulary."

Borrowing design cues from jet aircraft and Formula One racecars, the supercar began to take shape under the watchful eyes of Leno and Welburn. A concurrent engineering program defined the vehicle's proportions and mechanics.

Leno relied on Juchli and the entire Big Dog team at his garage to turn the EcoJet vision into a reality.

"We thought we pushed the creative envelope with the '66 twin turbo Toronado project with GM, but this turbine-powered monster is a whole new level of complexity," said Juchli, who constructed the car at Leno's facility.

The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle's shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.

EcoJet project partners

• GM Advanced Design Studio, North Hollywood, Calif. - conceptual and build design, engineering, digital design and fabrication support
• Alcoa - chassis and wheel engineering
• Metalcrafters - body engineering and construction
• Honeywell - engine supplier
• Intermountain Turbine - engine builders
• Dana - chassis supplier
• BASF - paint and finishing supplies
• GE Plastics - Lexan windows
• Viper Technologies - wheel construction

ECOJET SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle description:

Mid-engine, turbine-powered, two-seat supercar

Wheelbase (in / mm):

110 / 2795

Engine:

Honeywell LT-101

Horsepower @ % turbine speed):

650 @ 70

Torque (lb-ft @ % turbine speed):

400 @ 70

Fuel type:

Bio-diesel

Wheels:

20 x 10-in front

22 x 12-in rear

Tires:

255/35R20 front

305/30R22 rear

Track (in / mm):

66.9 / 1698 front

66.6 / 1692 rear

Overall length (in / mm):

184 / 4674

Overall width ( in / mm):

79.4 / 2024

Overall height (in / mm):

46.5 / 1180

Looks like a combination of the Cadillac Cien and the upcoming Nissan GT-R.

It's good to be Jay Leno.

and in the winter time it can be used for plowing duties....

It's good to be Jay Leno.

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Indeed, it is.

I wonder what that emblem is supposed to be.

The car looks nasty in the generic SEMA pic, but looks much better on the platform next to Welburn and Leno.

A shame it's not street legal, though. At least it doesn't appear to be.

It looks, umm, interesting. I can't say I really like it.

Edit: I just noticed that the front end looks like it would make a good snowplow.

Weird...

The back end looks terrible. Everything else looks okay. Mediocre at best.

Cook car...not sure about the rear Buick-esque fenders, but otherwise a striking car....it is good to be Leno.

Looks like a combination of the Cadillac Cien and the upcoming Nissan GT-R.

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You're all sooo wrong!

This is obviously the Blue Devil mule....

Eh...the specs sound cool...but I'm not too sure about the front end.

So they reskinned an Aero-X?

Nearly 900hp @ full turbine speed, w/low grade fuel.....

and people are still bitching.

Unbelievable.

Good to see that some of the alternative fuels vehicles are able to crank out good numbers. Overall not a bad design in a Batman-cartoon kinda way.

Amazing idea. Bad execution. It's not horrible but they could've done a lot more to make it stand out. I don't understand why they would premiere this at SEMA. I guess they didn't feel confident showing it at a bigger autoshow. I wouldn't blame them if they felt that way.

Wow...and powered by a bio-diesel turbine? Pretty cool.

Wondering about the logo, though. Maybe its a potential new GM division...if the car gets produced and isn't just a one-off for Leno. I always wanted to see the General with its own supercar division.

Edited November 1, 200619 yr by AxelTheRed

Wow...and powered by a bio-diesel turbine?  Pretty cool.

Wondering about the logo, though.  Maybe its a potential new GM division...if the car gets produced and isn't just a one-off for Leno.  I always wanted to see the General with its own supercar division.

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If you actually read the description, it IS a one-off car for Leno, made at Leno's place, just with some collaboration with some GM engineers. They'd never produce more, and it's not some new division. It's just Leno's new toy, and something extra for GM to show off.

What kind of exhaust emissions does it have? I know its biodiesel but is there anything to clean it up further?