Shanghai Surprise

I have just returned from 6 days in Shanghai, covering Challenge Bibendum-hosted by Michelin every year or two - it is a gathering of all things in the world of sustainable automotive mobility. This was the 2nd time the event was in Shanghai, the first was in 2005. In the past 2 years, Shanghai has continued to grow at a staggering pace. A second airport terminal is nearly complete - this is part of an aiport expansion that will see it triple in size in less than 8 years; a new convention center has sprung up, and what will be the tallest building in Asia is 90% complete in the Pudong district - all of this in 2 years time. in 05, the Shanghai skyline was crowded with tall construction cranes; however, the sky is virtually crane free, as most have been sent to Beijing to finish up a variety of projects prior to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The number of new tall condo buildings is staggering and is an indication on the enormous amount of new money and wealth entering the Chinese population. As is the fact that 3,000 new cars are sold each month in Shanghai.

The Challenge Bibendum event provided a great preview on what is coming next - both short and long term - to the automotive world. First will be the arrival of deisel powered cars coming to the USA. By 2009, expect Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Honda to have deisel powered cars in their showrooms. The Germans will have a few models starting in 08 and much wider coverage in the 09 model year. Also expect the American manufacturers to have similar options as well. Secondly, the introduction of stop/start technology. When your car comes to a stop for more than 10 seconds the engine will automatically shut off. Either engage the clutch or touch the gas pedal and the car immediately starts. An enormous savings in fuel and CO2 emissions. I drove an Audi A6 Avant TDI with the system and it works flawlessly. In addition, the torque of the TDI is spectatular. Third - expect more hybrid cars and trucks, fuel cell buses and cars starting in 2008. Honda will lease fuel cell cars in limited numbers next summer in southern California and a variety of cities are on board for fuel cell buses.

I have attended four of these events and the underlining feeling at the 2007 Challenge Bibendum was a sense of urgency. There is a ground swell that things must change quickly in the automotive world. Progress is being made in a number of areas and these will be seen in hybrid, battery, solar, fuel cell and other alternative fuel technologies. Perhaps the most telling comment was made by the head of Toyota's Research and Development department, who stated in a seminar that eventually all cars will be powered by alternative fuels. It is obvious the world's largest car company has looked into its crystal ball and gasoline is not part of the long-term mix.

This of course leads to another group of questions - specifically - how will the impact the future of motorsports? Opinions vary, but I will offer one to think about: In 2020, a mere 12 years from now, alternative powered cars will be commonplace. Every car manufacturer in the world will sell these cars in large numbers. Expect those involved in racing to showcase and race this new technology. The best place to do so is in endurance racing and the ACO and IMSA have shown a willingness to accept this type of forward thinking. Perhaps this will be the undoing of the Car of Tomorrow with its 1950s technology. We could only be so lucky.