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| Click to enlarge |  | | The EcoJet does run on biodiesel fuel, although admittedly it doesn't get very good fuel economy being powered by a 650-horsepower Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine. Photo: Bruce Whitaker | | | Click to enlarge |  | | Comedian and auto aficionado Jay Leno discusses the EcoJet concept with the media at SEMA. | | | advertisement | | | | Click to enlarge |  | | Leno wanted to show that environmentally friendly vehicles do not have to be boring to drive. Photo: Bruce Whitaker | |
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| Click to enlarge |  | | Design cues were borrowed from jet aircraft and Formula 1 race cars, while certain design aspects are reminiscent of GM project cars from the past. Photo: Bruce Whitaker | |
Late-night talk show host and avid car enthusiast Jay Leno and GM Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn introduced the EcoJet concept at Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas. With the help of General Motors Advanced Design Studio, Leno's idea for an eco-friendly high-performance supercar became a reality for the SEMA show.
As the exotic mid-engine sports car called the EcoJet was unveiled, Leno explained he wanted to show that environmentally friendly vehicles do not have to be boring to drive. The EcoJet does run on biodiesel fuel, although admittedly it doesn't get very good fuel economy being powered by a 650-horsepower Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that would more commonly be found in a helicopter. But the fuel coming from Seattle Biodiesel is produced from renewable resources.
The idea for the car first arose during a discussion between Leno and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno's collection. Leno then asked Welburn to help design the car.
"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."
Photo Gallery: General Motors
Welburn agreed to help Leno with the design and GM's designers spent a couple of weeks sketching as they began working after-hours with Leno's team. As the design began to take shape, design cues were borrowed from jet aircraft and Formula 1 racecars, while certain design aspects are reminiscent of GM project cars from the past.
"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."
The project was constructed by Juchli and the Big Dog team at Leno's facility with the help of a number of partners. The car is based on a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with both aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The chassis was supplied by Dana and Alcoa contributed chassis and wheel engineering. Metalcrafters engineered and constructed the body, which is carbon fiber over Kevlar.
Other partners include engine supplier Honeywell, engine builders Intermountain Turbine, paint by BASF, Lexan windows from GE Plastics and Viper Technology, the company that constructed the wheels.
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