The Hyperlogos

JCB Dieselmax

On August 22, 2006, a car built by JCB reached 328.767mph (529km/h) and became the world's fastest diesel-powered automobile. That car was the JCB DieselMax. It was driven by RAF Wing Cmdr Andy Green, who is already well known at Bonneville for breaking the sound barrier there in the Thrust SSC, back in 1997.1

This vehicle sports two diesel engines, both of which are based onthe JCB 444. This is an engine available with 58-120 horsepower depending on the model; meanwhile, this vehicle is getting over 700 HP per motor. The engines are twincharged, which means they each have both a supercharger and (at least) one turbocharger. This provides for maximum boost, while still helping to smooth out overall boost. Superchargers typically have problems at high RPMs, but this is where turbochargers excel.

The entirety of the aerodynamics design was done using CFD, or computational fluid dynamics, a process by which the behavior of air molecules is modeled by computer. This is necessary because near maximum speeds, the air being compressed under the vehicle actually surpasses supersonic speeds, and it simply cannot be accurately modeled in any wind tunnel.2

Otherwise, the vehicle uses a fairly traditional layout. Suspension is ordinary double-wishbone (rather than using a bellcrank design, for example) and steering is the good old front-end rack and pinion. The driver sits between the engines, lending the best possible weight distribution. A great deal of the vehicle's design has been driven by the Southern California Timing Association which manages vehicular interest in the Bonneville Salt Flats where many speed trials like this are held, and as such there is no traction control, active suspension, moving ballast, or any other such features.

JCB Dieselmax 3/4 view cutaway

Specifications

• Engine
  2x JCB444 common rail injection diesel
  
  • Valves: 4/cylinder
  • Modifications:
    
    • Bored and stroked to 5000 cc
    • Dry sumped
    • Inclined at 10 degrees
    • Fitted with Engine Brakes
  • Induction:
    
    • Style: Twin compound turbochargers plus twin compound intercoolers.
    • Cooling: Icewater tank
    • Max boost: 5.2 bar (operating pressure, full output)
  • Maximum Power: 750 bhp (560 KW) at 3800 rpm
  • Maximum Torque: 1105 lb.ft (1500 Nm) at 2000 rpm
  • Fuel Injection: EDI, Common-Rail
  • Fuel Injection Pressure: 1600 bar
• Transmission
  Forward transmission and final drive connected to forward engine; rear transmission and final drive unit connected to rear engine.
  • Speeds: Six
  • Type: barrel-shift
  • Clutch: oil-immersed multi-plate from JCB 3CX Backhoe Loader
• Suspension
  
  • Front: Double Wishbone
  • Rear: Double Wishbone
  • Steering: Rack and Pinion (front)
  • Brakes:
    
    • Circuits: 2
    • Rotors: Carbon Fiber
    • Pads: 2/caliper
  • Wheels
    
    • Diameter: 23"
    • Width: 15"
  • Front track: 800mm
  • Rear Track: 600mm
  • Wheel Base: 5878mm
• Chassis: Hybrid square steel tube spaceframe with bonded carbon composite panels
• Body:
  
  • Material: Carbon Composite
  • Length: 9091mm
  • Width: 1145mm
  • Height
    
    • to top of canopy, at run speed: 979mm
    • top top of fin: 1337mm
  • cdA: < 0.15m2
• Capacities and Specifications:
  
  • Weight: 2700kg including fuel, oil, ice and water coolant and driver
  • Fuel: 9 liters
  • Icewater cooling: 180 liters
• Additional Goodies:
  
  • manually operated twin parachutes

• 1. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/5273540.stm)
• 2. (http://www.jcbdieselmax.com/html/car.php?subsection=3)