More than a sneak peek at the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10

You want American muscle? We've got the American muscle. Dodge was nice enough to unveil their 2008 Viper SRT-10 ahead of schedule, breaking cover well before the Detroit Auto Show next month. This is one of the most monstrous vehicles on the market, boasting a V10 motor with a solid 8.4 liters of displacement (up from the previously reported 8.3 liters). This powerplant is good for 600hp and 560 lbs-ft of torque, which, as you know, is barely enough to get the grocery store and back, right?

The U.S.-based McLaren Performance Technologies helped Dodge develop this incredible engine, but many are saying that there are plenty more horses to be coaxed out of the huge 8.4L beast under the hood. Speaking of the hood, they have redesigned that part of the car as well, tossing in six vents to help dissipate the heat.

This new Viper SRT-10 really goes like stink, doing the 0-60mph in the mid to high 3-second range, but those huge brakes certainly do their job as well, bringing it all back to a standstill in less than 100ft. Color choices include Snakeskin Green, Viper Violet, Viper Orange, Bright Blue, and -- my personal favorite -- Venom Red.

Suzuki's Xbox 360-infused SXBox concept vehicle

It's not often that companies hit it big twice in a row, but we'd say Suzuki's SXBox concept car is just as nifty (albeit in a very different manner) as its previous carpet-ready ride, the MIO. Although this is likely a case of great engineering that'll never see any real-world play, Suzuki is still tooting its own horn at the 2006 San Diego International Auto Show by letting gamers gaze at the entertainment mecca that is the SXBox.

Part of the "Suzuki LIVE Series" of concept cars marketed at various realms of "enthusiasts," this whip is based on the 2007 SX4 and features a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360, which is coupled with a "close proximity digital projection system to display games or watch a HD DVD movie on the interior of the vehicle's retractable hood." Additionally, a second console is connected to two separate LCDs in the seat backs for folks riding in the rear, and there's even a retractable 30-inch rear projection screen in the trunk for the ultimate tailgating experience. And leave it to Suzuki to remember the details, as you'll also find force-feedback front seats, four wireless controllers, matching "green" color accents, a bevy of recessed LEDs, full surround sound rig, and even a steering wheel-mounted control for the haphazard driver. As expected, this ride isn't even close to being mass produced, but if you seriously need all that gaming while in the comfortable confines of a vehicle, you most certainly have formidable alternatives.

Via Xbox360Fanboy

Venturi Eclectic ready for solar/wind-powered launch

It may not have quite as sexy a name as its Fetish stablemate, but this golf cart-looking thing may be more practical. Venturi is off to their electrifying ways, getting awfully close to launching its environmentally-friendly Eclectic Vehicle. In fact, they should be available as soon as June 2007.

As you recall, the Venturi Eclectic gets its juice from one of two very Earth-loving avenues: it can either soak in the sun's rays via the bevy of solar panels, or take a page out of the windmill's book and get powered by the breeze, literally. If you're really in a bind, it can also be plugged into the wall.

They're only going to have about 200 units ready for the initial launch, each of which will be priced at about US$30,000, but they are going to bring the costs down for the full scale launch in 2009. By then, the expected price is below $20,000. Moreover, Venturi will be adding a single-seat variant in 2009 as well.

World's fastest scooter has just 75hp

I guess when you're as light as the Piaggio Gilera GP 800 (just 235kg), it doesn't take very much umph to really get going. Boasting a sub-liter (850cc) engine good for 75 horsepower, this scooter is said to be the fastest in the world. The automatic transmission is made up of seven gears that you can access with the sequential shifter.

While blasting your way around corners, gripping those aluminum handlebars for dear life can be a lot of fun, the Piaggio can also stop on a dime, thanks to the Brembo brake calipers on board. There's a pair of 300mm steel disks in the front (surrounded by a 16-inch wheel), and a single 280mm brake disk in the rear (surrounded by a 15-inch wheel).

No word on price, but they don't plan on starting production for about another year anyways. The Piaggio Gilera GP 800 is still a year away from entering into production.

Via Newslauches

 

Nissan working on successor to Silvia/240SX/200SX

An absolute legend among the drifting community, the Nissan Silvia (also known as the 200SX and 240SX at different times in its history) may live again in a whole new incarnation. It was originally designed to be a budget-minded rear-wheel-drive vehicle that was incredibly fun to drive. The tuners of world quickly fell in love with the platform, just as they did (and continue to do) with the Skyline series, also from Nissan.

Well, as they prepare "a new 200SX", word on the street is that the Foria Concept (pictured) is the most likely car for the job. It could be priced in an economical range ($20-22k), rock the rear-wheel-drive (a must), and boast some nice, sporty suspension. Personally, I think the concept looks a little too tame to be an aggressive sports car. It's almost like a Sentra or Altima, no?

Via autoblog.com

Camper Lotus: the sit-down Segway with a roof

Designer Patty Yuan has come up with an all-new peoplemover concept that may soon become all the rage in China. It's a two-wheeling ball of a vehicle that runs on just two wheels, much like the Segway except it's got a roof over its head and you'll be sitting instead of standing. In this way, it could very well be an excellent "personal commuter" solution for "young entrepreneurs."

Camper is a manufacturer of many different things, including shoes, and Yuan hopes that they will consider her "Lotus" design as part of their upcoming lineup (not of shoes). The Lotus keeps balanced on its two wheels via gyroscope technology (again, like the Segway) and because it's fully electric (a plug-in, in fact), it gives out absolutely zero emissions.

Yuan is saying that it is perfect for the increasingly crowded cities of China. It cuts down transportation costs as well as air pollution, and it should be a cinch to park with its minimal footprint.

Toyota: next-gen Prius numbers!

Our friends across the pond at AutoExpress magazine are reporting lofty goals for Toyota Prius: The Next Generation. One of these details is scary.

Engineers at Toyota say that their next hybrid wonder child car can get up to 113 miles per gallon. Sounds like one of those figures that's too good to be true, but there it is. They are also saying that the acceleration has been improved, with the 0-60 mph time cutting under 10 seconds. The folks at Toyota are even saying that the Prius might get the holy grail of hybrids, plug-in capability.

That all sounds fantastic, and we hope that they keep the price down so that enough can appreciate it to encourage Prius 3.0.

What we're most concerned about, however, is the report that the Prius will be switching battery technology from nickel metal hydride to (gasp) lithium-ion. We've heard how automotive lithium ion technology is much safer than that used in notebooks, and the chances of that kind of fire under the hood of a hybrid are tiny. We guess that Toyota, normally a champion of safety, wouldn't do such a thing without rigorously performing tests to alleviate our concerns.

Toyota says that switching to lithium-ion will mean that the batteries are more compact, so they can pack more cabin space into the existing car frame. Whatever the fire risk ultimately happens to be, these cars won't be hitting showrooms until 2009, so there's plenty of time for things like safety testing and risk assessment.

via autoexpress

A full electric vehicle - Scion xB

Well, you won't exactly be able to waltz into a Scion dealership and pick up this electrifying number, but the folks at AC Propulsion have managed to convert the xB into a fully electric car. They call it the "eBox."

AC Propulsion, a California-based company, isn't exactly claiming to save the environment with this conversion -- you'll still have to get your electricity from somewhere, and chances are that power plant pollutes at least a little -- but it certainly is paving the way to show what is possible. The eBox won't be quite as fast as the Tesla Roadster either, but it will be able to top out at 95mph and travel for about 180 miles on a single charge (which takes about five hours).

The full electric conversion doesn't come cheap. In fact, at $55,000, it costs about three times how much the Scion xB ($18,000) does. But you do get 635 pounds of lithium ion batteries.

via mobilemag

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer fresh off the boat

Granted, it's no Evo X, but it could mean that we are that much closer to the new rally champion. Mitsubishi Motors has finally announced the all-new 2008 Lancer sports sedan and they'll be showcasing the new "driven-to-thrill" vehicle at the North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit.

To be available at dealerships sometime in early 2007, the new Lancer borrows much of its styling from the previously revealted Concept X. Probably the most prominent feature is the "shark-nosed front end inspired by jet fighter air intakes." Under the hood, you'll find a 2.0L MIVEC four-banger good for 152hp (143hp in California). The 5-speed manual gearbox comes standard, but if you want to be a little different, then you can opt for a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This is the first time a CVT has been offered in a Mitsu in North America.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer will be offered in three trim levels -- DE, ES, and GTS -- the last of which is the most performanced-geared of them all. In fact, if you get CVT-equipped GTS, you can enjoy a "6-step Sportronic mode using magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters."

Alterna-fuel RV takes family cross-country on $47 of diesel

Don't get us wrong, we enjoy burning up gobs of those precious fossil fuels just as much as the next guy, but a cross-country road trip in a hugemongous RV for a mere $47 of diesel fuel sounds like a bit too much fun to pass up. That's exactly the adventure the Adler family undertook this year, and while the $100k+ spent on the RV and waste vegetable oil conversion doesn't make the whole undertaking an exact steal, we've still got mad love for the project.

With help from the crazies over at Frybrid, who specialize in diesel/vegetable oil engine conversions, Mr. MidLifeCrisis Adler was able to get his 21 ton, 40-foot luxury RV outfitted for sucking up waste vegetable oil from fast food joints, and converting that gunk into usable fuel on the fly as the Adler fam enjoyed the countryside. The whole trip, originally slotted for 3 weeks, ended up lasting 78 days and costing 6-year-old Julia her tooth fairy money to get through the final toll booth, but the story proves to be quite a bit more entertaining than Robin Williams' RV, and the alterna-fuel experiment is a notable one.

Rearview mirror does the light work for you

OK, so do you know the name of that thing that's on the bottom of your rearview mirror that you use to change it from day-view to night? Well, neither do I. I'm not even sure it has a name. But you don't have to worry about either of those things anymore—the name of the thing or the actual dimming of the mirror.

Gentex has one of the answers for you, an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It has smarts all its own, in addition to a light-sensitive sensor, and can determine when the driver behind you has his brights on, responding by switching the mirror for you. No more Troxler Effect for you! (That's the afterimage blind spot that you get from seeing bright lights in an undimmed mirror.)

And where can you get one of these fancy-shmancy mirrors, you ask? Well, the easiest way to get one right now is to buy a new car—seriously. Nearly every major auto manufacturer offers the mirror as an option on some of their models. If I had a choice, I wouldn't get a plain old Ford Escape just because it had this kind of safety device in it. Now an Alfa Romeo I could get excited about.

Hummer O2 concept brings shame to the nature-terrorizing brand

In a humiliating blow to the once proud, gas-guzzling Hummer SUV, engineers at GM have re-imagined the poster child for environmental apathy as a completely green vehicle that not only leaves a small "footprint" in its wake, but actually promises to give something back to nature as well. Called the Hummer O2 (like the H2, only less toxic), this concept -which just won the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge -- incorporates a number of innovative, futuristic features into its oddly-shaped chassis, not the least of which is a "phototropic" body shell that contains algae-filled panels.

Yes, you read that right: this Hummer-branded vehicle, made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials, pulls double-duty as a mobile algae cultivation farm, whose photosynthetic waste provides oxygen for both the O2 itself and the surrounding environment; what's more, used algae are employed as biomass to provide partial power.

 The main power sources, though, are the fuel cells built directly into each wheel (wrapped in adaptable Active Tread tires, naturally), which drive independent hydraulic motors when fed hydrogen from a central holding tank.

Unfortunately for all those SUV-loving environmentalists out there (a huge demographic, we're sure), the Hummer O2 is slated to remain little more than a set of drawings for the time being, and we hear that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is already pushing to ban the production of these vehicles for "sullying the reputation that Hummer has worked so hard to earn."

Full-electric car to be demo'd this weekend

While everyone else may be filing into the shopping malls this weekend to get started on the holiday gift-giving season, there will be a fairly enthusiastic and dedicated crowd gathering at the Alternative Car Expo in Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Air Center for a completely different reason. It is there that Universal Electric Vehicle will be showcasing their Electrum Spyder. This full-electric car gets juiced up from a wall plug overnight, meaning that you can start "with a full tank every day without going to a gas station."

There's no need for a special generator or a propriety jack, because the Universal Electric Vehicle (as its name implies) can plug into any standard 110 or 220 volt outlet. This all-electric "freeway flyer", as you'd expect, gives off zero emissions. If you live somewhere where electricity is generated in an environmentally-friendly way, then this really is a true "green" transportation solution.

"The Electrum Spyder provides an effective range of up to 150 miles at a top speed governed at 80 miles an hour on a full charge using nickel zinc batteries. The Spyder is available with optional lithium ion batteries with a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge."

If you happen to be down Santa Monica way, head on out on Friday at 10:30am to check out the Electrum Spyder in action.

BMW's liquid hydrogen sedan has promise, issues

Liquid hydrogen is the fuel that BMW says will help power its luxury sedan, the Hydrogen 7 - a newly unveiled hybrid that takes one touch of a button to switch to gas power. You'll need both engines, of course, because the hydrogen alone won't get you very far.

The Hydrogen 7 had its coming-out party at the L.A. Auto Show. The company's details included a 12-cylinder liquid hydrogen engine powered by 260 horsepower that can rev up to 62.1 mph in 9.5 seconds and ultimately reach a top speed of 143 mph. You can go for 125 miles before needing more fuel. That more traditional gas-powered engine is a 438-horsepower 760i, something more familiar to BMW enthusiasts.

Despite all the hype, the vehicle has some "features" that you should definitely know about. First of all, that cool-sound elixir, liquid hydrogen, has to be used within a week or it will get together with the oxygen in the air and poof!—evaporate.

Secondly, you'll have to work very hard to find a hydrogen fueling station. We just aren't there yet as a global society. Mobile filling stations can be had, for a pretty penny. So you're looking at some serious expenses just to keep using the new functionality.

But maybe you don't have to worry about any of this, since BMW says, whether they realize it or not, that this is just a concept car. The company is planning to make only a large handful of the current model, which it will personally hand-deliver to lucky folks like celebrities, who really can afford the Hydrogen 7.