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Power gets to the tires through a new type of electronically controlled twin-clutch manual automatic transmission that doesn’t have the power losses associated with a regular automatic’s torque converter, but does offer the seamless, quiet shifting of a full automatic.
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This seems to be
the key feature to getting amazing fuel economy, an electronically controlled manual that can shift at precisely the right time for fuel economy, and freewheel with the clutch out automatically. Combine this with a hybrid system and you can still have drive (from the motor) and regenerative braking with the clutch out.
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To save weight and increase efficiency, ESX3 uses climate-controlled seats similar to those available in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class to cool or warm the occupants, rather than an air conditioning compressor and electric blower.
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This has always seemed a more efficient way to handle climate control to me, cool or heat the seats directly, and just have a normal fan for air circulation.
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DaimlerChrysler officials said that, while the first version of this car, ESX, carried a huge $60,000 cost penalty versus a conventional car and that ESX2 reduced that cost penalty to about $15,000, ESX3 would carry only about a $7500 cost penalty if produced in quantity for sale to the public. That would translate to an MSRP of about $28,500.
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I'm guessing this is the reason this car didn't see the market. LiIion batteries mean that the performance from the hybrid system should be lightweight, and powerful, but extremely expensive. $7500 penalty (likely very optimistic) is probably not enough for them to be able to recoup their investment. The market that woudl be interested in a super-economical car would in generally not want to cough up $29,000 up front. They'd probably be better off from a marketing standpoint putting in a larger engine so as to have this vehicle compete with the Accord Hybrid, in the same price-range. Also, since it's a diesel, that right there eliminates California, among other states, from the potential market.