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Automakers focus on efficiency

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By JENNIFER HILL

jhill@wfla.com

Published: October 24, 2009

TAMPA - Scott Settlemire stood amid hundreds of cars at the 2010-Model Tampa Bay International Auto Show and wondered, for a moment, what it would be like if one vehicle fit all needs.

But only for a minute.

Surveying the muscle cars, coupes, sedans, trucks and vans, Settlemire, who was part of General Motors' Camaro design team, quickly deflated the one-size-fits-all notion.

"That's not the way America works," he said.

There may never be an "everycar," Settlemire said, all automakers are trying to improve vehicles' efficiency.

GM, for instance, is trying to determine how it can best serve motorists' green driving needs by looking at hybrids and vehicles powered by ethanol, hydrogen, electricity and "active fuel management" - a V-8 engine that switches to four cylinders while on the highway but back to eight when the vehicle is towing or accelerating.

Of the hybrids available on the market now, the Ford Fusion Hybrid - which can be seen at the auto show - tells drivers when they are being fuel-efficient. A dashboard display of a plant grows leaves when the motorist is driving conservatively, and the leaves disappear when he is not.

The bulk of ethanol is produced from corn, but Settlemire is looking to a future where garbage is the main ingredient.

The auto show continues Saturday and Sunday at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, when children 12 and younger will be admitted free with a paying adult.

Admission is $9 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, military members, students and children ages 7 to 12. Kids 6 and younger will be admitted free.

News Channel 8 reporter Jennifer Hill can be reached at (813)221-5772.

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