Toyota Motor Corp. is considering expanding last week’s recall of 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. for unintended acceleration to some vehicles sold in Europe. Company officials tell Bloomberg News that a decision on a potential European campaign will be made soon.

Toyota didn’t say how many vehicles could be affected in Europe, but others estimate it at about 2 million.

The automaker insists that the latest U.S. recall is a mechanical issue and is not related to a campaign launched last year to fix 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus models due to faulty designs that could cause floormats to jam under the accelerator pedal and prevent it from returning to its idle position. In those vehicles, the automaker is replacing the floormat, redesigning the accelerator pedal, installing a brake override and modifying the floor pan. It hasn’t decided yet on what fixes will be made as a result of the new recall.

Ricardo plc says it has overcome much of the poor mileage of ethanol-fueled engines that stems from the biofuel’s low energy content. The U.K.-based engineering company is testing an ethanol-fueled, direct-injection, turbocharged engine that delivers fuel efficiency comparable to a diesel with twice its displacement. The system is being road tested in two GMC 3500 heavy-duty pickup trucks.

Based on a heavily modified General Motors Co. production block, the prototype 3.2-liter V-6 is capable of running on any mix of gasoline and ethanol. It takes advantage of ethanol’s high octane rating to help raise cylinder pressure in the spark-ignited engine. The twin turbo system boosts pressure to 508 psi when using E85 as a fuel. This compares to 435 psi for a typical gasoline engine and 290 psi for a diesel.

Ricardo's E85 engine

Another notable difference from current turbocharged DI engines is the prototype engine’s high compression ratio: 11:1 vs. 10:1 for a typical high-compression gasoline engine.

The Ricardo engine produces about 380 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque is maximized at 670 lb-ft with E85; it falls to 572 lb-ft when the engine runs on pure gasoline.

The lower mileage of E85 engines until now has discouraged the use of the fuel. But Ricardo says the new engine, when running on E85, is 30% more fuel efficient than when fueled with gasoline, which would make it comparable to a diesel engine. Factoring in the low cost of ethanol compared to diesel gives the new engine the edge on a cost-per-mile basis, the company adds.

The construction of the engine contains several features that aid its enhanced performance. The interconnected twin turbochargers can shift from sequential operation to each supplying one bank–-an innovative design that improves low-end response while maintaining maximum output, according to Ricardo. Most systems today do one or the other but not both.

The block is heavily reinforced with new bottom bearing supports. The turbos and the exhaust gas recirculation system are cooled, and an engine control system allows homogenous operation at high loads.

Ricardo says the high-pressure turbocharged GDI can be applied to engines ranging from one to seven liters in size. The prototype V-6 is some 500 lbs lighter than a comparably powered diesel.

Ricardo developed the engine with technical assistance from Behr, Bosch, Delphi, Federal Mogul and Grainger & Worrell. The powerplant is being tested for a year in the two GMC pickups. Ricardo expects performance to match that of the 6.6-liter Isuzu diesel offered in the trucks. Cost is expected to be midway between that of a gasoline and diesel of equivalent power.

Hyundai Motor Co. launched its first gasoline-direct-injection engine—the 2.4-liter Theta system that powers the Sonata in South Korea—in December. It’s part of a new family of GDI four-cylinder engines; other larger displacement powerplants also are expected to use the fuel-saving technology in the future.

But GDI isn’t on the immediate horizon for Hyundai’s smaller engines. John Juriga, powertrain director at the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc. in Superior Township, Mich., tells Automotive News that such systems are too complicated and costly for engines that displace 1.6 liters or less. He points to the challenge of integrating four valves, sparkplug and the injector into a small cylinder bore.

Instead of direct injection, Hyundai will use other unspecified technologies to improve the fuel economy of small engines, Juriga says.

A U.K.-based consortium says it has received a grant for $24 million from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board to develop an ultra-lightweight range extender for hybrid-electric vehicles.

The group is led by Bladon Jets Ltd., which is contributing its micro gas turbine technology. Other partners include Tata Motors Ltd.’s Jaguar Land Rover unit and electrical machine company SR Drives. Their goal is to produce what they describe as the world’s first commercially viable gas turbine generator designed specifically for automotive applications.

The consortium will team Bladon’s patented, axial flow gas turbine coupled to a high-speed generator utilizing SR Drives’ proprietary switched reluctance technology. JLR will coordinate vehicle integration.

The partners say the design, which can run on any type of fuel, is more efficient than current small gas turbines with centrifugal (radial-flow) compressors. Bladon also notes that electric motors used in hybrid and all-electric drive systems negate previous concerns about the turbo lag associated with gas turbine power.

Purported benefits of the system include up to a 95% reduction in weight vs. a comparable combustion engine, fewer parts and low noise and vibration. A unique design that integrates the blades and hub as a single unit helps reduce manufacturing costs.

Chrysler Group LLC says its Environmental Leadership Award (ELA) program has reduced carbon dioxide output by about 370,000 tons—equivalent to the annual CO₂ emissions of four large manufacturing plants or 71,000 automobiles operating on the road. The initiative also saves more than $50 million per year.

Chrysler initiated some 29 ELA projects worldwide in 2009, the 16th year of the program. It singled out the best of the projects in several categories based on environmental impact, cost savings and innovation.

On the production side, the company’s Trenton, Mich., south engine plant was applauded for a 39% reduction in energy consumption, heavy use of recycled materials and eliminating contributions to landfill waste.

Chrysler’s Saltillo, Mex., complex implemented comprehensive process controls aimed at curbing energy and water use, air emissions and waste generation while increasing recycling. Employees also worked with two colleges to establish a post-degree academic program for environmental protection, and spoke at several elementary schools.

Another team helped redesign Chrysler’s Mopar parts delivery system, improving response time and customer satisfaction. As a result of the plan, the automaker says it cut about 4.6 million miles of driving, saving 722,000 gallons of fuel, 8,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, 1,560 gallons of motor oil and 1,344 tractor trailer tires per year.

The first dealer to be recognized under the program is Frank Videon, who owns the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep store in Newtown Square, Pa. It reduced energy use 20% by recycling oil as a heating fuel.