Whirlfire Turbo-Power gas turbine
E573708
The Whirlfire Turbo-Power gas turbine is an experimental jet-style automotive powerplant developed by General Motors for its futuristic Firebird concept cars in the 1950s.
Statements (40)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
automotive gas turbine engine
ⓘ
experimental jet-style powerplant ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
GM’s vision of future turbine-powered automobiles
ⓘ
futuristic Firebird concept styling ⓘ |
| automotiveApplication | experimental turbine-powered passenger car ⓘ |
| category |
experimental automotive powerplant
ⓘ
gas turbine technology demonstration ⓘ |
| conceptualSuccessorTo | earlier aircraft gas turbine technology ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| developer |
GM Research Laboratories
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
General Motors NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| displayedIn | GM Motorama shows NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| era | 1950s ⓘ |
| exhibitedAsPartOf | General Motors Firebird concept car program NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| feature |
compact power unit for automotive use
ⓘ
free power turbine driving the wheels ⓘ high exhaust temperature ⓘ high operating speed ⓘ regenerative heat exchanger in later versions ⓘ |
| firstUseDecade | 1950s ⓘ |
| fuelType |
diesel fuel
ⓘ
kerosene-based jet fuel ⓘ wide-cut petroleum fuels ⓘ |
| influencedBy | jet engine development after World War II ⓘ |
| intendedUse | automotive propulsion ⓘ |
| limitation |
high exhaust temperature unsuitable for traffic use
ⓘ
poor fuel economy for road use ⓘ throttle lag compared to piston engines ⓘ |
| manufacturer | General Motors ⓘ |
| massProductionStatus | not mass-produced ⓘ |
| notableFor |
demonstrating feasibility of turbine-powered cars
ⓘ
public demonstration in GM Firebird show cars ⓘ |
| partOf | General Motors experimental powertrain research ⓘ |
| powerTransmission | turbine output shaft to drive wheels ⓘ |
| propulsionType |
gas turbine
ⓘ
jet-style powerplant ⓘ |
| status | experimental ⓘ |
| usedInVehicle |
General Motors Firebird I
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
General Motors Firebird II NERFINISHED ⓘ General Motors Firebird III NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
GM Firebird I