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2011-04-27T02:16:00.000-07:00

Aptera 2e — full specs of electric "spaceship"

2009-02-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

Do you like cars on electricity like me? If so you might be interested in specs of new Aptera-2 that is more than just a car without exhuast 'cause of gasoline absence, it's design also awesome! It's hust outtaspace!

So here are the specs:

Dimensions:
53" high x 91.0" wide x 173" long
111" wheelbase
80.5" front track.

Other specs:
0.15 Coefficient of drag
5" ground clearance
1500 lbs curb wt.

Electric motor torque: 60FtLb torque
110v 15A charge time: 8 hrs.
Battery output: 10-13 KWh battery pack.
Battery voltage: 336V DC Nominal Tractoon Voltage
Transmission: Gear box 10:1 ratio
Battery Type: Lithium Ion PhosphateChassis:
Front Suspension: Independent unequal length A-arm
Rear Suspension: Swing Arm
Steering: Manual Steering, tilt steering column
Brakes: Manual Brakes, dual circuit brake hydraulics, mechanical brake proportioning, 3-wheel disc
Wheels: 14-inch High Strength Stamped Steel wheels
Size: P165/65R14

Performance:
Range: Up to 100 miles per charge

Warranty:
Basic: 4/50,000
Powertrain: 4/50,000
Corrosion: 12/unlimited
Roadside: 4/50,000

Features: (S=standard, O=optional)Interior:

Push Button Start: S
Electronic shift PRNDL (shift controller): S
AM/FM/MP3/WMA with 5 speakers and MP3/Smart Phone Connectivity: S
DVD Navigation System: O
Power up/down windows with Driver side one-touch and anti-pinch: S
Power automatic door locks with anti-lockout feature: S
Center console armrest with two cup holders: S
Overhead mounted LED Dome Lights: S
Recycled Fabric-trimmed seats and door panels: S
Leatherette (recycled materials) trimmed steering wheel: S
Defroster-linked CFC-free automatic climate control with electric inverter compressor air conditioning: S
One 12V auxilliary power outlets and One 12V USB Outlet: S
Retractable passenger-assist grips at all doors: S

Exterior:
Dual color-keyed power outside mirros: S
Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps: S
Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers: S
Rear window defogger with timer: S
Rear Electronic rear hatch locking system (sic): S
Solar Energy-Reflecting glass: S
Smart Key System (Proximity locking/starting) Maintenance key & cylinder to prevent accidental lock out: S

Safety:
Remote keyless entry system with 2-stage unlocking, panic function and remote illuminated entry: S
Backup camera: O
Driver and front passenger Airbag System: S
Front and rear crumple zones and side-impact door beams: S
Engine immobilizer: S
Center high-mount stop lamp: S
Emergency Tire inflation system: S
3-point front outboard seatbelts with adjustable shoulder anchors and driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR), front passenger Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR): S
Driver and front passenger seatbelt with seat belt starter interlock: S
Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS): S
Anti-theft system: O

Ariel Atom-3 catapult you from 0 to 60 in less than 3 sec.

2009-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

Want to drive as fast as sport expensive car but less cheaper? Talk to guys from Uncrate. They just released new version of it's Atom.

New Ariel Atom has no doors, roof, or windows but for only $65 000 you'll get pretty good acceleration and speed.
This "car" is able to do 0-60 in a less than 3 seconds and 0-100 — 11 sec. Not bad, ha? What makes it's so fast? Low weight (1400 lbs.) and 300-hp engine Honda K20 (2 L). I guess 6-speed transmission is enough for this beast.

Chevrolet Volt is Out Now!

2008-09-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

Great news! Long awaited electric car known as Chevrolet Volt finally released!
PRESS RELEASE

CHEVROLET VOLT LEADS GENERAL MOTORS INTO ITS SECOND CENTURY

DETROIT – General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt – a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.

"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."

Form follows function
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.

Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.

Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.

Some of Volt's interior technological features include:

Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display
Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display
Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls
Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage
Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming

New era in automotive transportation
The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.

The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.

Charge out of driving
The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.

The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced.

DiMora Natalia - Best Ever CAR?

2008-08-08T09:21:00.001-07:00

Everything you ever wanted in a car can finally be yours with the DiMora Natalia. Yes, the car will put to shame Bond's prized wheels, the Bugatti Veyron to dust and Bat Mobile doesn't even figure in the competition.

Aldred DiMora brings to you this latest creation that will blow you off your socks! The DiMora Natalia will feature state-of-the-art technologies like color-changing paint, headlights that double as video projectors, massage seats for rear passengers, four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, night vision, external cameras, retractable TV screens, lighted Waterford crystal ashtrays, a self-corking wine bottle, wireless computer with WiFi Internet access and temperature-adjusting cup holders. The car even includes a biofeedback system to monitor the driver's vital signs and adjust the drive and internal environment according to his stress-levels.

Spec-wise DiMora Natalia features a 1,200 horsepower V16 engine capable of displacing 14 liters. If you've finished with the drooling, let me tell you that it will be while till this devil hits the road, so feast your eyes on the pictures till then.

Green Bricycles is even cooler than it looks

2008-08-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

The idea. A compact reasonably light weight single occupant vehicle.

My solution. A more "Green" alternative to the conventional automobile. A totally enclosed fiberglass monocoque recumbent trike with electric assistI am currently building the prototype out of marine plywood and epoxy, two materials that I am quite familiar with. The planned prototype will have a independent suspension system, disc brakes on all wheels, 21 speeds and have a front mounted 48 volt hub motor.

The weather here is finally breaking and I'll be able to start working in my garage. Over the winter I've completed the nose section and rear fenders. I need to reinforce all the glue joints with fiberglass tape and sheath the shell with light weight fiberglass cloth before painting. The rear suspension is nearly complete and I've finalized the design of the front fork and suspension system. My goal is to be on the street on July 4th.

OK, July 4th has come and gone and I still haven't made it to the street yet. The front suspension is finished, the rear fender have been installed and I'm working on the final peddle drive system and steering. I'll add photos soon.

Unique Rolling Hydrogen-Car

2008-06-27T04:50:00.001-07:00

We’ve seen some funky looking, eco-wary transportation devices, but the “Ozone” concept takes the cake. It would run entirely on hydrogen powered fuel cells because as we all know, gasoline just isn’t cutting it anymore. The cabin of the vehicle is encased between two giant wheels that are controlled by two separate electric motors powered by the fuel cells.

I sure hope they didn’t design the cabin to roll with the wheels because that would be a dizzying experience. Controlled with a joystick as if you’re on a light cycle in Tron, the Ozone is the definitive future vehicle. It may look like a child’s toy but take notice: the doors slide 360 degree into its own frame. That’s rad.

Most rare Volkswagen's Beetle 1975 - Phone Car

2008-06-20T11:21:00.001-07:00

Volkswagen Beetle has been modified to include a jet engine, run over water and has even been turned into a helicopter. Well you have seen it all until you see the Phone car, which is a 1975 Volkswagen Beetle modified to look like a telephone instrument from the early nineties.

This phone-car is ceated by Howard Davis to promote his telephone company Datel Communications, this baby never fails to amaze onlookers who give a thumbs up when the big red phone hits the road. The best part about The Phone Car? Instead of a horn, it rings!

Genepax's $18k car that runs on it's own Hydrogen

2008-06-13T07:16:00.001-07:00

Genepax Co Ltd explained the technologies used in its new fuel cell system "Water Energy System (WES)," which uses water as a fuel and does not emit CO2.

The system can generate power just by supplying water and air to the fuel and air electrodes, respectively, the company said at the press conference, which took place June 12, 2008, at the Osaka Assembly Hall.

The basic power generation mechanism of the new system is similar to that of a normal fuel cell, which uses hydrogen as a fuel. According to Genepax, the main feature of the new system is that it uses the company's membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which contains a material capable of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction.

Though the company did not reveal the details, it "succeeded in adopting a well-known process to produce hydrogen from water to the MEA," said Hirasawa Kiyoshi, the company's president. This process is allegedly similar to the mechanism that produces hydrogen by a reaction of metal hydride and water. But compared with the existing method, the new process is expected to produce hydrogen from water for longer time, the company said.

With the new process, the cell needs only water and air, eliminating the need for a hydrogen reformer and high-pressure hydrogen tank. Moreover, the MEA requires no special catalysts, and the required amount of rare metals such as platinum is almost the same as that of existing systems, Genepax said.

Unlike the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), which uses methanol as a fuel, the new system does not emit CO2. In addition, it is expected to have a longer life because catalyst degradation (poisoning) caused by CO does not occur on the fuel electrode side. As it has only been slightly more than a year since the company completed the prototype, it plans to collect more data on the product life.

At the conference, Genepax unveiled a fuel cell stack with a rated output of 120W and a fuel cell system with a rated output of 300W. In the demonstration, the 120W fuel cell stack was first supplied with water by using a dry-cell battery operated pump. After power was generated, it was operated as a passive system with the pump turned off.

This time, the voltage of the fuel cell stack was 25-30V. Because the stack is composed of 40 cells connected in series, it is expected that the output per cell is 3W or higher, the voltage is about 0.5-0.7V, and the current is about 6-7A. The power density is likely to be not less than 30mW/cm2 because the reaction area of the cell is 10 x 10 cm.

Meanwhile, the 300W fuel cell system is an active system, which supplies water and air with a pump. In the demonstration, Genepax powered the TV and the lighting equipment with a lead-acid battery charged by using the system. In addition, the 300W system was mounted in the luggage room of a compact electric vehicle "Reva" manufactured by Takeoka Mini Car Products Co Ltd, and the vehicle was actually driven by the system.

Genepax initially planned to develop a 500W system, but failed to procure the materials for MEA in time and ended up in making a 300W system.

For the future, the company intends to provide 1kw-class generation systems for use in electric vehicles and houses. Instead of driving electric vehicles with this system alone, the company expects to use it as a generator to charge the secondary battery used in electric vehicles.

Although the production cost is currently about ¥2,000,000 (US$18,522), it can be reduced to ¥500,000 or lower if Genepax succeeds in mass production. The company believes that its fuel cell system can compete with residential solar cell systems if the cost can be reduced to this level.

Wearable... motorcycle concept from Yamaha

2008-05-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

It's not often that you see devices huddled under the transportation and wearables categories, but you can certainly consider the above pictured contraption a proud member of each. Created by transportation design student Jake Loniak, the Yamaha Deus Ex Machina is an "electric, single passenger, vertically parking, wearable motorcycle, and the bike would theoretically be controlled via 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators. We're also told that it would be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 3 seconds, though the top speed would be capped at 75 miles-per-hour. Ah well, at least we know the wearable airbag is actually coming, right?

Tel Aviv now is full of Renault's electric cars

2008-05-13T12:58:00.001-07:00

It could be the quickest vehicle to go from concept to a public, drivable prototype in automotive history. As previewed, "Israelis got a first demonstration Sunday of the electric car that developers hope will revolutionize transportation in the country and serve as a pilot for the rest of the world," began the report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

A parking lot in Tel Aviv hosted the demonstration of the Project Better Place/Renault collaboration. Acceleration was said to be impressive and the silent drive familiar to proponents of electric vehicles was noted in the silver, normal looking sedan. The car is expected to have a range of 125 miles, more than sufficient for most drivers in a nation that's no more than 60 miles wide and 260 long. Haaretz reports that several hundred cars will begin appearing on Israel roads in 2009, with sales to begin in late 2010.

Super Jet-bike that has 3800 h.p.

2008-04-29T07:09:00.001-07:00

Some people just never get enough! You can imagine the intricate fantasies derived from riding the back of a fire breathing dragon.

This crazy bike has a lot to offer you if you share such fantasies. Of course, it a lot quicker than a dragon and has better grip rather than a scaled neck of a reptilian monster.

It's got some power from the Star Raider Alien and an afterburner. The Rolls Royce Viper jet engine fires this bike with unmanageable power of 3,800 horsepower.

Just make sure that the next time you ask for a ride from a hunky, woman magnet, that it's not Mr. Laycock.
Mad Ron Laycock is the one responsible for this crazy monster. Besides his name, his passions (especially this bike) seem absurdly mind-blowing.

Nissan Qashqai+2 now is a 7-seater

2008-04-08T06:11:00.001-07:00

Nissan Motor Co Ltd announced that it will add a seven-seat model dubbed the Qashqai+2 to its compact SUV "Qashqai" line.

Designed and engineered by Nissan's European design center, the vehicle has a larger body to accommodate the third row of seats. The third row is for passengers of up to about 160cm in height. Unlike a minivan, the third row is not designed for use at all times, but it is targeted for users who utilize the third row as seats to hold extra passengers.

The Qashqai+2 will be on display at British International Motor Show 2008.

The vehicle measures 4,526 (L) x 1,643mm (H), and the wheelbase is 2,365mm long. Compared with the five-seater model, the body and the wheelbase are 211 and 135mm longer, respectively. To ensure ample headroom in the third row of seats, the vehicle height was increased by 38mm. As a result, the headroom in the first row was increased by 16mm, while that in the second row was increased by 10mm.

The footspace in the second row is also increased by 23mm, and the seats in the second row can be slid back and forth so that the passengers can easily get in and out of the third row. In contrast to the five-seat model with a 60/40 split backrest, Qashqai+2 has a 40/20/40 split folding backrest.

The seats in the third row have foldaway headrests and the backrests are integrated with the luggage room floor when folded flat. With the third row folded away, the luggage room capacity is increased to 500L, which is 90L larger than that in the five-seat model. The tailgate opening space was also expanded. With the provision of the third row, the new model is 100kg heavier.

The portion forward of the front pillar has the same design as that of the five-seat version, except for a redesigned front grill. In line with the modification of the roof shape, the rear side doors, the tailgate and the bumper in the rear portion are redesigned, while the side windows are extended.

A roof rail, privacy glass for the side windows in the back and rear windshield, and the glass roof, which is popular in the five-seat model, are provided as standard. The glass roof is stretched by 140mm and has an electric sunshade.

The power train comes in four types: 1.6L and 2.0L gasoline engines, and 1.5L and 2.0L diesel engines. The diesel engines come with DPF and the 2.0L engines are equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. For the 2.0L gasoline and diesel engine models, Nissan offers a version with an "ALL-MODE" four-wheel system in addition to the two-wheel drive version.

Slated for launch in Europe October 2008, Qashqai+2 will be manufactured at the plant in Sunderland, UK, like the five-seat model. In January 2008, the plant transferred the production of vehicles for Japan to the Kyushu Plant. The Sunderland Plant will strengthen its production system by operating on triple shifts in order to meet the increase in production.

Technorati Tags: Nissan Qashqai+2

New BYD F1 ~= Toyota Aygo

2008-03-10T06:22:00.001-07:00

BYD Co Ltd presented the F1, its smallest model slated for debut in the second quarter of 2008 in China, at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show.
It plans to release the car in Europe sometime in the next 2-3 years, the company said. It was the first time BYD Auto Co Ltd revealed the model outside China.

The trapezoidal body and the lower part of the side windows that pop up look quite similar to Toyota Motor Corp's Aygo. The interior, with its instrument panel accentuating the repetition of circular design, looks just like that of Aygo.

The F1 has a body length and width that are slightly longer and wider compared to the Aygo, but its height is exactly the same. The only part real differences between the two models are the front and rear lamps.

In spite of being a four-door car, the rear windows are not rolled down but are pushed open to the outside. Again, this is similar to the Aygo. With such a layout, recessed areas are formed under the windows inside the car. The areas can serve as elbow rests, which makes the interior width wider.

Setting aside whether this is similar to Aygo's layout, the car should be appreciated more now that air conditioning is common.

The F1 measures 3,460 (L) x 1,618 (W) x 1,465mm (H) and weighs 870kg. The wheelbase is 2,340mm. The front and rear treads are 1,420 and 1,410mm long, respectively. The turning radius is 5m. The minimum ground clearance without load is 120mm, while that with full load is 90mm. The car is shod with 165/60 R14 tires.

The F1 mounts BYD's proprietary engine, the BYD371QA. It is a 0.998L three-cylinder 12-valve SOHC engine with a compression ratio of 10.5, the maximum output of 50kW/6,000rpm and the maximum torque of 90Nm/4,000-4,500rpm (3,500-4,500rpm, according to some sources). The engine is compliant with the ChinaIV emission standard. The maximum speed is 151km/h. The fuel consumption is 4.2L/100km. The car is equipped with a 30L fuel tank.

Volkswagen Golf - Hybrid that combines TDI & electriс motors

2008-03-04T17:38:00.001-08:00

To get even more fuel efficient, to get even more environmentally-friendly, Volkswagen has combined two technologies into the appropriately named Golf TDI Hybrid concept car. As you can imagine, this hot hatchback makes use of the company's famous turbodiesel technologies but it also combines it with an electric motor for optimal fuel efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

On the one hand, you've got a tiny 1.2L inline-3 diesel engine (TDI). On the other hand, you've got a 220V electric motor. These are mated to Volkswagen's newest 7-speed DSG transmission. According to the reps in Geneva, the Golf TDI Hybrid puts out a mere 89g/kg of CO2 emissions while offering an affordable 69 miles on the gallon.

The 73hp diesel engine only kicks in when the throttle is "generously applied or at highway speeds." Otherwise, the 27hp electric motor does the brunt of the work. Yeah, it's not the fastest or most powerful thing on the road, but you'll appreciate it during your rare trips to the pump.

Morgan Aero-8 roadster - hydrogen-powered Lifecar

2008-03-03T19:15:00.001-08:00

A "zero-emission" sports car with a top speed of nearly 100mph is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

The hydrogen-powered Lifecar, based on the design of the Morgan Aero-8 roadster, produces little noise and only water vapour from its exhaust.

The lightweight model packs advanced fuel cells and an energy storage system that gives the car a range of 250 miles (400km) per tank of hydrogen.

It has been developed by a consortium of UK companies and universities.

However, the exact acceleration will not be known until the complete car is taken for its first test drive.

"It's nearly there and the plan is to drive it when the show is over," said Mr Parkin.

Clever power

The £1.9m project to build the Lifecar, part funded by the UK government, has taken nearly three years.

Enlarge Image

"The basic concept was to build an entertaining and fun sports car that would act as a showcase for the technology and would deliver 150 miles to the gallon," said Mr Parkin.

"Everything else has tumbled out from that."

The car is powered by a bank of lightweight hydrogen fuel-cells developed by UK defence firm Qinetiq.

"If you took a typical internal combustion engine and replaced it with a fuel cell, the fuel cell would be very large," explained Ian Whiting of Qinetiq. "That's not an efficient way to do things."

The fuel cells in the Lifecar produce about 22 kilowatts - roughly one fifth of the amount of power of a typical combustion engine.

"With that we can provide all of the cruise capability we need to," he said.

When the car needs to accelerate or climb a hill it draws extra power from a bank of ultra-capacitors aligned down the centre of the car.

These are primarily charged by a regenerative braking system which slows the car by converting the vehicle's kinetic energy into useful electrical energy using a motor.

"Hybrid cars already use regenerative braking - normally it restores about 10% of the energy," said Mr Parkin. "Lifecar is aiming for 50%."

Quiet runner

The car has a range of about 250 miles (400km) and has a top speed of around 90mph (145km/h).

"The whole thing has to be built around efficiency which comes down to weight at the end of the day," explained Mr Parkin.
As a result, the car has an aluminium chassis and a lightweight wooden interior, including seats.

It also doesn't have any of the "luxuries" such as a stereo, central locking or even airbags, found on many modern cars.

"The objective is to get the weight down to 700kg."

There are also other notable omissions such as a gearbox and - as the fuels cells produce little noise - the roar of an engine.

"We may have to supply headphones with the sounds of a five litre V8 linked to the throttle pedal," said Mr Parkin.

Other car manufacturers have shown off hydrogen-powered sports cars, although many have been conversions of existing models or hybrid cars that can also run on petrol.

For example, Japanese manufacturer Mazda has unveiled a modified version of its RX-8, known as the Hydrogen RE, which uses a dual-fuel system.

Honda has also announced that its petrol hybrid CR-Z sports car concept would launch in 2009.

Critics point out that to produce hydrogen by splitting water uses a large amount of electricity. At present, the majority of this electricity comes power stations burning fossil fuels and therefore brings no environmental benefit.
In addition, there is little infrastructure for refuelling the vehicles.

"There's a whole range of questions about how you [could roll out a hydrogen infrastructure] and when you could do that," said Mr Whiting.

"For vehicles which have a central base you can readily install a system to refuel those."

For example, hydrogen buses that return to a central depot already operate in many cities.

An infrastructure to refuel personal hydrogen vehicles would take longer, he said.

However, interim solutions do exist, such as so-called "reformer technology".

"It allows you to take the existing fuel infrastructure - diesel for instance - and convert it into hydrogen on the vehicle," said Mr Whiting.

The car is a concept at this stage but Morgan does not rule out going into production at some point in the future.

"We will gauge reaction when we show it," said Mr Parkin. "If there is an enormous response we will have to look at the project, the pricing and how it will function."

The car will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland between 6 and 16 March.

Other collaborators on the project were Oscar Automotive, Cranfield University, Oxford University and Linde AG.

Acabion GTBO - is there faster vehicle?

2008-03-01T07:58:00.001-08:00

These days there is no limit for being labeled as the fastest on the road. Just hang on to the tag of being the fastest in a specific category till some other creation zooms past and grabs it! Well as of yet the honor goes to Acabion GTBO for being the world’s fastest-ever road vehicle, taking just 30 seconds to reach 300mph before hitting a maximum 340.

Considered to be a fusion of a four wheeler and a two wheeler, this two (with two-mini wheels) wheeler is described as a “road streamliner” by its creator. Based on the cockpit of a jet fighter and using aerodynamic techniques used in aerospace design, the GTBO is a full 90mph quicker than its nearest rival, the Bugatti Veyron, which takes 55 seconds to reach its 250mph top speed. It packs an astonishing 800 brake horsepower in its 1,300cc turbo-charged engine. What’s more astonishing is that it weighs just 700lb, half the weight of the original Mini. The Acabion GTBO minimizes weight and maximizes power and aerodynamic efficiency.

Being developed in Britain and Switzerland by German Dr Peter Maskus, an ex-Porsche engineer, it is believed to hit the roads of UK and USA within three years. But for an estimated price of £1.5million ($3 million)!

5-seat car runing on Air & cost only $5000!

2008-02-13T06:16:00.000-08:00

An engineer has promised that within a year he will start selling a car that runs on compressed air, producing no emissions at all in town.

The OneCAT will be a five-seater with a glass fibre body, weighing just 350kg and could cost just over £2,500($5,000) It will be driven by compressed air stored in carbon-fibre tanks built into the chassis. The tanks can be filled with air from a compressor in just three minutes - much quicker than a battery car.

Alternatively, it can be plugged into the mains for four hours and an on-board compressor will do the job. For long journeys the compressed air driving the pistons can be boosted by a fuel burner which heats the air so it expands and increases the pressure on the pistons. The burner will use all kinds of liquid fuel.

The designers say on long journeys the car will do the equivalent of 120mpg. In town, running on air, it will be cheaper than that. "The first buyers will be people who care about the environment," says French inventor Guy Negre.

Mr Negre has been promising for more than a decade to be on the verge of a breakthrough. Independent observers are more convinced this time because he recently secured backing from the giant Indian conglomerate Tata to put the finished touches to the engine.
The compressed air is stored in carbon-fibre tanks

Tata is the only big firm he'll license to sell the car - and they are limited to India. For the rest of the world he hopes to persuade hundreds of investors to set up their own factories, making the car from 80% locally-sourced materials.

"Imagine we will be able to save all those components travelling the world and all those transporters." He wants each local factory to sell its own cars to cut out the middle man and he aims for 1% of global sales - about 680,000 per year.

Terry Spall from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers says: "I really hope he succeeds. It is a really brave experiment in producing a sustainable car." But he said he was interested to see how the car would fare with safety tests and how much it would appeal to a public conditioned to expect luxury fittings adding to the weight of the vehicle.

Mr Negre says there's no issue with safety - if the air-car crashes the air tanks won't shatter - they will split with a very loud bang. "The biggest risk is to the ears."

Chrysler Unveiled Dodge ZEO - Electric Car w/ 64kWh Li-ion on Detroit Show

2008-01-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

Chrysler LLC unveiled the Dodge ZEO, an electric vehicle concept car with a 64kWh Li-ion rechargeable battery at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show (2008 North American International Auto Show, public showing from Jan 19 to 27, 2008).

It runs 250 miles (approx. 402km) for one battery charge. The manufacturer of the battery has yet to be announced, Chrysler said. The schedule for the commercialization is not decided, either. The name "ZEO" stands for "zero emission operation."

It is a rear wheel drive car with a 200kW motor mounted on its rear side. It weighs 1,202kg. The time required to reach 60mph (96km/h) from the halt state is 5.7 seconds. The top speed is 209km/h.

"The motor and the battery account for most of the vehicle weight," the company said.

It is a four-door (two sets of double doors), four-passenger car without the B-pillar. White LED is used for the headlights. The indicators and the center console are arranged using LCD displays on the instrument panel. All of the three concept cars exhibited by the company at the Show use LCD displays for indicators on the instrument panel.

The body measures 4,390 (L) x 1,743 (W) x 1,290mm (H), and the wheelbase is 2,792mm long.

Chrysler set up an in-house organization dubbed "ENVI," which is specializing in the development of technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles, in late 2007. And the company unveiled three motor-driven concept cars at a stroke at this year's show.

They are ecoVoyager, which mounts a fuel cell and a Li-ion rechargeable battery, Jeep Renegade, a diesel hybrid vehicle with a Li-ion rechargeable battery and Dodge ZEO.

CES-2008: Photos of best cars

2008-01-15T04:06:00.001-08:00

The Consumer Electronics Show is absolutely massive, in case you didn't know. Thanks to its gargantuan stature, it's hard to not see a bit of everything while perusing the halls. PCs, monitors, gadgets and the like are just some of the few things you will find. But there is so much more... especially in the north hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Of course, I am talking about cars. The north hall was jam packed (no understatement) with cars of various makes and models and production years. It's hard to place a finger on what wasn't there, actually. In this pictorial, we will be taking a look at almost all of the cars we stumbled on during our travels with everything ranging from a Mini Cooper to Mercedes SL500 to El Camino to Lotus Exige to Hummer H3 to Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera to Buick Enclave. Wait, what? Yes... everything.

First and foremost... I do not know the name of every single car here, and won't pretend to. Therefore, only a few of the cars will have names below them, and even then, they may be slightly off. My knowledge lacks with older cars especially, so some discrepancies may be found.

Pontiac Trans-Am

Lexus IS 350

Feelin' Blue

I caught a bug at CES

Stand By Your Van.. Unless Your IQ Is Half Its Decibel Count

Porsche Cayman

Tesla Roadster

Ford Mustang "JL Audio Special Edition"

Chrysler 300

Whoa...

Mini Cooper

Huge is good. Huge is very good.

Ford GT

Mercedes SL Roadster

With Tank-Chair you can get everywhere!

2008-01-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

Just because you are confined to a wheelchair that doesn’t mean that you should restrict yourself to limited activities. Thanks to the efforts of Tank Chair’s designer the improved model called TankChair MK II will allow the confined persons to conquer streams, mud, snow, sand, and gGravel, allowing them to get back to nature, and also climb up and down stairs. The new chair offers a lower center of gravity, more torque, and a stronger chassis incorporating a full-height chair with plenty of cushioning.
For every 10 chairs sold, TankChair is going to donate one to a fire department in a rural area so that they can give it away to someone who would not normally be able to afford one. The first is going to go to Parker Fire Department in Arizona. This the designer’s hometown and they were the ones who rescued him, his wife and his kids when they got in the accident that put his wife in the chair.

Russian girl trying to get drive licence, a hard way

2007-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

In a Russian city Saint-Petersburg one student girl was trying to pass an exam to get here driving licence. She were driving famous Lada VAZ-2110. Somehow she pushed acсelerator instead of pedal stop... What's happened next is very funny, but not for her, other student, and instructors :)
See pics below:

Big Porsche 928 with Six Wheels

2007-12-18T01:34:00.001-08:00

Two wheelers are a cool option for short routes or congested roads while four wheelers are the ultimate option for traveling as they shelter you from hazards of pollution and weather and offers stability in addition to privacy too. But what gets be my common sense tickling is a six wheeler car! So let Harry Thomas justify himself – he says on the video that he had Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc., but that he wanted something no one could just go out and buy. So he built his Porsche 928-amino. The result is this six-wheeled abomination creation that has heads turning on the streets of Germany. In addition to the enhanced bodywork, the three-axle flatbed also gets an engine upgrade from a 5.4-liter to 6.1-liter plant to assist with the extra weight.

The result is this six-wheeled abomination creation that has heads turning on the streets of Germany. In addition to the enhanced bodywork, the three-axle flatbed also gets an engine upgrade from a 5.4-liter to 6.1-liter plant to assist with the extra weight.

KGB-Russia UFO Photo-Files!

2007-12-14T06:06:00.000-08:00

Some people say that these are real KGB files that are declassified and published recently. Some say it’s fake. Decide for yourself.

See pictures and videos below.

Ecosse ES1 - when a bike costs more than Bugatti Veyron

2007-11-29T06:04:00.000-08:00

Add a dash of excitement to your life and hit the highway on a bike. Nothing compares to the wind in your face and you fancy-free, breaking the shackles of monotony. Ecosse ES1 Superbike is a dreamy piece of machine that maxes 250 mph and has a custom tailored, state of the art carbon fiber body.

Like the makers say these customized motorcycles will be fully developed, F1-spec machines that will be available at least one year ahead of the production model. The bike will boast of an ergonomic fitment (like F1 driver's seat), to advanced composite construction, to desired engine output parameters, to electronic control systems, thus recreating F1 on two wheels. Apparently 10 customers can expect full-factory support and involvement for a limited time period. This support will include everything required to properly and safely ride the ES1; comprising of personal protective equipment, paddock equipment, spare parts, scheduled inspection/rebuild program, training with champion road racers.
Ecosse ES1 Superbike sells for $3.6 million.

The Bigest Bike in The World!

2007-11-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

Today the group of enthusiasts led by Thilo Nibelem from eastern village "Zilly" showed to everyone this motorbike... It was made by thier own hands. Monster weighing nearly five tons (!) and a length of five and a half meters (5.5 m!), is equipped with an engine from the Soviet tank "T55" which has power of 800 hp!

As you may see it even has side-car for 2-3 passengers.

Bike Dragster do 0-60 mph in 1 sec!!!

2007-11-12T02:02:00.000-08:00

Here is the video about new motorcycle that can do 0-60 mph in under 1 second... The goal of the creators of electric bike was "to beat'em all" and seems like they succeeded.

Shelby SuperCars' (SSC) Ultimate Aero - Fastest Production Car today by the Guinness Book of World Records

2007-10-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

Shelby SuperCars' (SSC) Ultimate Aero was officially named the Fastest Production Car today by the Guinness Book of World Records. It's the first American-made car to hold the title since the Ford GT40 in 1967.

The 71-year-old driver of the Ultimate Aero, Chuck Bigelow, reached an average top speed of 256.19 miles per hour on two passes--one in each direction--on a two-lane road in rural Washington state. It broke the current official record held by the Koenigsegg CCR by 15.09 miles per hour, and the Bugatti Veyron's unofficial speed by 3.63 miles per hour. And although the Ultimate Aero broke the record, the SSC folks said the car has the potential to go even faster. Langley Full Scale Wind Tunnel testing calculates the vehicle to be aerodynamically stable at speeds of up to 273 miles per hour.

In order for a Guinness hopeful to contend in the "production car" category, the car must use pump gas and conform to all DOT/EPA regulations, including those for emissions and safety.

The Ultimate Aero uses a proprietary, twin-turbo V8 that produces 1183 bhp and 1094 foot-pounds of torque, with a drag coefficient of .357. The car is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, which, according to SSC testers, show little signs of wear at speeds from 200 to 257 miles per hour on public roads.

SSC is also hoping the Ultimate Aero will set the Guinness World Record for the production car with the most horespower.

Source http://crave.cnet.com

Need to move a car? Call fire-brigade with fire-hose :)

2007-09-13T08:19:00.001-07:00

Amusing video appeared on YouTube. Video shows how fire-brigade with their powerful hydrants & fire-hoses can move car. Its safety is not guaranteed ;) Watch the movie!

BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid is green car!

2007-09-11T06:25:00.001-07:00

BMW made two important announcements today. The first was the Concept X6 which BMW describes as "a BMW Coupe with the striking DNA of BMW's X Vehicles."

The Concept X6 is based on BMW's X5 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). With the Concept X6, BMW is introducing a new moniker: the Sports Activity Coupe (SAC). Although the Concept X6 is actually a four-door vehicle, the coupe terminology has been used to describe other vehicles such as Mercedes' striking CLS.

Everything about the vehicle from its twin kidney grill to its notched headlights to its sculpted flanks and slightly "Bangled" butt clearly showcase BMW's current design trends.

Given that this is a BMW, performance and handling are likely to be a step above other AWD SUVCrossoverWhatchamacallits on the road. Since the Concept X6 is based on the X5, expect that vehicle's 6-speed automatic transmission, 3.0 liter inline-6 and 4.8 liter V8 to power the production version.

In keeping with the current trend of staying green, BMW also today announced the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid. The Concept X6 ActiveHybrid builds on the new Concept X6 by adding a two-mode hybrid system that was developed in conjunction with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler.

BMW says that the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid consumes 20 percent less fuel and emits 20 percent less CO2 emissions than comparable vehicles.

BMW's production X6 SAV is expected to be made available in late 2008 and will likely be produced in South Carolina alongside the X5 SAV. There is no word, however, on when the two-mode hybrid system will show up in BMW's lineup.

i MiEV SPORT electric vehicle from Mitsubishi

2007-09-10T14:55:00.001-07:00

The Tokyo Motor Show is seven weeks away, but as the home of the all-powerful Japanese industry it is where the most advanced technologies go on display first. Accordingly, Mitsubishi has announced a show car for Tokyo we won’t see in Frankfurt next week. The i MiEV Sport looks like a 21st century Goggomobile but promises genuine sporting capabilities with a whopping 680 Nm of torque pushing a small lightweight electric vehicle. Based on the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), the car features a 20 kW motor inside each front wheel another 47 kW at the rear, plus the company's S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system, all in a lightweight, rigid aluminium space frame with the batteries and inverter tucked underneath for a low centre of gravity and plenty of interior space. Using every last bit of available energy effectively, the car has an auxiliary photovoltaic unit built into the roof, a power-generating fan inside the front grill to harvest the air flow, and regenerative braking.

The S-AWC powertrain employs three permanent magnetic synchronous motors - one in-wheel motor in each front wheel plus a single motor driving the rear wheels. A computer-controlled E-4WD system optimises the output of all motors and an E-AYC (Electric Active Yaw Control) system directly regulates torque to the left and right rear wheels via an electric motor. The system also integrates ABS and ASC (Active Stability Control), thus controlling driving force, traction and braking at all four wheels – in effect, an electric go-kart with highly advanced maneuverability and stability.

The exterior is designed to express the quickness of the car and the aluminium space frame, a combination of extrusions and die casting is optimized to efficiently absorb crash energy in front-end or side collisions. In a collision from the rear, EV components under the back seat and rear floor serve as a barrier to ensure the integrity of the passenger compartment. By making use of the rear-midship layout and Mitsubishi's RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body, the concept realizes excellent occupant protection in collisions from any direction, even when colliding with a vehicle of different height or weight.

A simplified interior styling uses geometry, metallic materials and blue LED lighting to create a sophisticated, cutting-edge atmosphere. Even the efficiency of the air conditioning is enhanced by the use of heat-absorbing window glass.

The pearlescent light green paint illuminates when hit with direct light, purposefully evoking the vision of an advanced, futuristic vehicle, which it unquestionably is. We can’t wait for this one!!

Porsche shows it's hybrid version of the Cayenne

2007-09-07T08:52:00.001-07:00

Porsche buyers aren't exactly known as people that really worry about how much gas they consume while driving their cars. That is especially the case when it comes to the Cayenne sport utility, which - in its Turbo version - may only yield 6 mpg when driven hard, according to a recent test of German car magazine Auto Bild.

A hybrid version of the Cayenne may help to improve the car maker's image. The company has been preparing a hybrid SUV, which is currently shown to the public in Frankfurt. The Cayenne hybrid combines the base 3.6 liter V6 engine with 280 hp with a 52 hp electric engine, which is driven by a 240-cell battery. According to Porsche, the electric system is strong enough to propel the car to a speed of about 75 mph. Beyond that, or if strong acceleration is needed, the regular combustion engine will kick in.

Porsche claims that the Cayenne hybrid can achieve a gas efficiency rating of 28 mpg, which is impressive in consideration of the SUV's expected curb weight of more than 5000 pounds. Pricing and expected availability of the hybrid have not been announced.

There was no information on the performance abilities of this car. But then, if performance counts, the average Porsche buyer is likely to look for something else. And for this group, Porsche introduced the Cayenne GTS. This new version is based on the Cayenne S with the 4.8 liter V8 with 385 hp. In the GTS, this engine makes an additional 20 hp for a total of 405. In Germany, Porsche will charge for the GTS about $105,000 which is a premium of about $13,800 over the Cayenne S.

Volvo planing the hybrid car - "ReCharge Concept"

2007-09-07T00:31:00.001-07:00

The ReCharge Concept is based on the Volvo C30, a compact that competes in the same category as a VW Golf or the Mazda 3. In the U.S., the C30 is marketed to young people looking for sporty performance – the only model offered here is the T5 with 227 hp; In other parts of the world, Volvo also offers less sporty, but more energy-efficient models such as a 1.6-liter, 103 hp diesel that is rated at up to 56 mpg (the U.S. model is rated at 19/28 mpg).

The ReCharge concept puts a different spin on the hybrids we are used to today and promises to boost the C30's gas consumption further up – much further up. It uses a lithium-polymer battery pack in the trunk, four electric motors (one at each wheel) electric engine as well as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) as the primary system to keep the car in motion. A regular Flexfuel combustion engine is present just in case the electric power is consumed up.

Volvo claims that there is enough electric juice to keep the car going for 62 miles without the need to kick in the gas engine. According to Magnus Jonsson, senior vice president of Research and Development at Volvo Cars, 80% of drivers in the U.S. drive less than this distance every day, which means that these drivers will rarely see a gas station. But if you go on longer drives, say 150 km or 93 miles and the gas engine will be needed the average fuel consumption on this distance will be about 124 mpg, Volvo said. The longer the ride, the worse the gas efficiency (by default the gas engine will be activated when 70% of the battery power is used up): If only the gas engine is used, the car will achieve about 42 mpg, the manufacturer claims.

There are several interesting innovations in the ReCharge to increase the gas mileage. Perhaps most interesting is the APU, which steps in when battery charge becomes insufficient for "adequate" driving performance. The APU can also be used as an external power source for other applications and, according to Volvo, is powerful enough to supply an entire house with electricity. There's a whole different thought process in this concept: Plug your house into your car, if the lights go out during the next thunderstorm.

Of course, driving performance of the ReCharge Concept cannot be compared to the regular turbo-charged car, but it may be sufficient for commuting needs: Volvo said the car will accelerate from 0-62 mph in 9 seconds and reach a top speed just under 100 mph. And besides making you more independent from gas consumption, there is an environmental factor in there as well: "This plug-in hybrid car, when used as intended, should have about 66% lower emissions of carbon dioxide compared with the best hybrid cars available on the market today. Emissions may be even lower if most of the electricity in intended markets comes from CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, hydropower and nuclear power," says Magnus Jonsson.

Volvo did not say when the ReCharge could become a reality for consumers to purchase. Possible pricing was also kept out of the announcement, but we do hope that the car will be cheaper than Tesla's battery-only roadster.

Chevrolet Camaro: 500 Horsepower!!!

2007-09-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

The new Camaro could receive a new 6.2 liter V8 with direct-injection boasting more than 450 horsepower, a new report says. The new engine will be based on GM's existing all-aluminum Gen IV Vortec 6.2 liter V8 (L92) that powers the Cadillac Escalade.

According to Wards, the prototype engine is currently being tested in a Cadillac Escalade at GM's proving grounds. One GM engineer claims the new engine is developing "well north" of 450 horsepower, a 10% increase in low-end torque, and still manages a 3-6% increase in fuel economy over the current engine.
The new engine features eight high-pressure injectors that feed fuel directly into the side of the combustion chamber at 2,250 pounds per square inch.

First all-electric Police car takes to the streets

2007-08-24T06:14:00.001-07:00

The first all-electric powered police car in the country was quietly debuted Wednesday by its design engineers and those that will be using it on a day-to-day basis.

Although it has been put into limited service by the Connellsville Police Department, the refitted 2000 Chevrolet Impala was moved from the municipal garage to center stage making very little noise as it was officially unveiled to the public.

"It is quite a masterpiece," said city police Chief Stephen Cooper, as he introduced Coherent Systems International Corp. representatives that moved the project from the drawing board to the city streets.

The white background with blue and gold police decals gives the car the appearance of a routine cruiser, but beneath the hood and trunk is a technological wonder.

The Connellsville Police Department unveiled its new all-electric patrol car Tuesday in Connellsville. The refitted 2000 Chevrolet Impala was produced by Coherent Systems International. Ken Brooks/Herald-Standard The process began three years ago, said Cooper, when Dick Oglevee, a long-time friend approached him about the concept.

In order to participate, the department would have to give up one of its vehicles, a move that would require a downsizing of an already small fleet and approval of the mayor and council. Plus, there was no police force in the state or in the country that could offer input as to how well the car, when finished, would perform.

"Not knowing a lot about the technology or a lot about the company Dick (Oglevee) said he would be dealing with, I was a little hesitant initially," said Cooper.

With the "complete support" of Mayor Judy Reed and council, he added, the vehicle as it was initially manufactured made its final trip to the Windber-based firm.

Oglevee, a Connellsville-area resident and co-owner of United First Responders (UFR), said while other communities expressed interest in participating in the program, he wanted the ground-breaking technology to have its trial run in his hometown. UFR, of Lemont Furnace, manufactures products and provides training services for first responders, military and the private sector to detect bioterrorist threats.

It was the working relationship of his company and Coherent and his friendship with Cooper that resulted in the local project, said Oglevee. "We talked about the cost-savings; pennies a day versus dollars a day," he said. "No oil changes or tune-up or trips to the gas pump."

According to the developers, the all-electric vehicle costs approximately 35-cents a day to maintain while a gas fueled police car costs more than $3.50 per day to maintain. This, of course, does not include the price of gasoline. Coherent engineer Jack Fagan said that after the car arrived it was completely stripped of the transmission, motor and all other equipment that could not be powered by electricity.

"One of the key factors was making sure that our electric motor was directly aligned with the car's in-place components," he said. "You already have a car; you want to make sure that everything is functioning properly, such as the brake lights and front head lights."

The interior of the car is configured somewhat differently with no gearshift or speedometer. Three buttons - forward, neutral and reverse have replaced the shifter, while the speed is shown on a computer screen. The vehicle makes very little sound, eases quickly from slower to higher speeds and only requires an electrical outlet and power cord to recharge. Cooper said that the car is capable of operating for a full eight-hour shift before needing to be recharged. Currently its use is restricted to dry, daylight hours.

The Coherent representatives declined to reveal the price tag for the project. Bob McGowan, Coherent vice-president and general manager, said all costs were defrayed through the company's research and development department and was not government funded. "It is a prototype," he said, adding that the costs will decline as more vehicles are converted. "Parts alone (for the Connellsville project) were around $75,000; but that certainly is not an indication as to what it will cost in the future.

"We want to make this affordable; in the range of what an ordinary fleet car would cost." The company plans to meet with state government representatives today to discuss expanding the project to include state-operated vehicles. Lance Simmens, special assistant to Gov. Ed Rendell, said the technology fits in with the state's Growing Greener initiative.

"This is an incredible opportunity," he said. "It plays very nicely into the energy independent strategy the governor has been promoting the past several years. "This is the future for the environment and the economy." Simmens said the Connellsville project and similar ones in development do hold the governor's interest. "We are very interested in any and all opportunities to help reduce our dependence on oil and this represents one of those opportunities," he said. "We are going to do everything that we can to see it comes to fruition."

The company, said Fagan, has had inquiries by other governmental entities about the project. The technology has led to the production of a clandestine buggy-type vehicle that can be used by local police departments with rugged terrain, combat soldiers on the battlefield or golfers on the golf course. Each has its own unique characteristics to meet the need of the users, said Fagan.

McGowan, meanwhile, said that the working relationship with the city is "phenomenal." "You can't imagine how critical it is to pick the right community to work with," he said. "The car was back and forth because the springs and brakes needed to be enhanced, because the car has so much pick up and go. We want to make sure it meets the needs of the department."

Reed said that the city is fortunate to have industry leaders like Oglevee and a dedicated police chief interested in bettering the community. "These opportunities take a lot of time and commitment," she said. "This will be a cost-saving measure for the city and at the same time we are participating in the governor's Growing Greener initiative."

$2,400 for a car? Meet Tata Motors!

2007-08-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the nation of India can do more than handle your outsourced call center needs? In fact, an Indian car maker -- Tata Motors -- has effectively created the least expensive, commercially-available car in the world। The plastic car will cost just 100,000 rupees, which works out to a mere $2,400 of the American stuff.

Tata Motors is saying that the yet unnamed vehicle will be about the same size as a Volkswagen Rabbit and the savings don't stop at the dealership. With a tiny 30hp engine, this little Tata barely sips on gas. They haven't offered exact fuel economy ratings, but at 30 horses, it ain't gonna take much. At the 100,000 rupee price point, Tata Motors hopes that this vehicle will drastically increase the car ownership rate in India (currently 8 per 1,000).
But what about safety? Their neighbors to the east aren't doing so well, after all.

All-Wheel-Drive BMW 335xi Coupe in Next Year?

2007-08-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

Reports are coming in that BMW will be launching an all-wheel-drive 335xi Coupe sometime in the first half of next year. It will be the first time all four wheels will be powered on a 3-Series coupe, and the car will stand as a direct competitor to Audi's A5 Quattro coupe.

Being coupled with BMW's 300-hp twin-turbo inline-six means the 335xi Coupe can reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds for the manual version (0.1 second quicker than the RWD model) and 5.3 seconds for the automatic (0.2 seconds quicker than the RWD model). It turns out the additional traction more than compensates for the extra weight of BMW's xDrive AWD system. We hear the base price will be $42,600, which we assume is in USD since it falls right above the $40,800 starting price of the 335i (shown) in the U.S.

Ford Fusion 999 Hydrogen: runs 207.3 MPH at Bonneville!!!

2007-08-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Ford Motor Company today became the world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car. The Ford Fusion Hydrogren 999 fuel cell car raced to 207.297 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah to set the record.

The Ford "999" is the world’s first and only production vehicle-based fuel cell race car. It was built in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems, Roush and Ohio State University and is one of two vehicles demonstrating the potential of fuel cell technology. Ford researchers also are supporting student engineers from Ohio State University on its Buckeye Bullet 2, a streamliner-type fuel cell-powered racer attempting 300+ mph.

“What we’ve accomplished is nothing short of an industry first,” said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering for Ford Motor Company. “No other automaker in the world has come close. We are excited to have accomplished something never before done. We established this project to advance fuel-cell-powered vehicles and to do what has never been done before; and we did it.”

Schmidt said Ford’s historic run at Bonneville will further expand the company's technological horizons with fuel cell-powered vehicles, because the use of hydrogen as a fuel could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford’s latest environmental innovation and is another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The speed was reached during a run at the Bonneville Nationals, which are being held from Aug. 10-17. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 land speed record vehicle was designed by Ford engineers and built by Roush in Allen Park, Mich. Ford engineers leveraged the 2004 Buckeye Bullet’s electric motor, while Ballard Power Systems supplied the 400 kW hydrogen fuel cells. Ford retiree Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer, piloted the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 on its record breaking run.

Ohio State students have designed their streamliner, dubbed Buckeye Bullet 2, from the ground up. Ballard donated the hydrogen fuel cells for Ohio State’s car, Roush its engineering services and Ford has provided overall project coordination and expertise in fuel cell drivetrains.
In 2004, Ohio State students set the unlimited land speed record for an electric vehicle by running 314 mph in the first Buckeye Bullet, dubbed BB1.

Loremo AG Displays Prototype of 100+ MPG Car!

2007-08-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Working Loremo L1 prototype to debut in Frankfurt. It's been roughly a year and half since we last talked about Loremo AG's lightweight 2+2 coupe. The vehicle generated a lot of interest due to its futuristic shape and incredible fuel efficiency from its diesel engine.
When Loremo first debuted the vehicle, it said that two models would be released: a 992 pound, 157 MPG, $13,000 USD Loremo LS and a 1,032 pound, 87 MPG, $17,800 USD Loremo GT. Loremo noted that the LS would reach 0-60 in 20 seconds and have a top speed of 99MPH whereas the faster GT would hit 60 MPH in 9 seconds and race on up to 137 MPH.
According to Autoblog, Loremo is now ready to display a working prototype of its vehicle -- which is now called the Loremo L1 -- at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Loremo has also revised the fuel consumption of the vehicle from 1.5 liter per 100km to 2 liters per 100km -- that works out to roughly 117 MPG putting it squarely between the previous ratings for the LS and GT.
Loremo's L1 is also scheduled to compete in the Automotive X PRIZE (AXP). Contestants in the AXP much archive at least 100MPG and emit no more than 200g/mile of CO2. There are 31 teams currently signed on to participate in the AXP competition.
"We are thrilled with the wide variety of teams and technologies from around the world that have expressed an interest in joining the competition," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation. "We are confident that the Automotive X PRIZE will motivate and bring visibility to a range of non-traditional solutions from both traditional and non-traditional players. The time for incremental change is over. We need radical breakthroughs to stem the consumption of fossil fuels. An X PRIZE can help make this happen."

Chery: S21 named as QQ6 will arrive in August listed 1.1 and 1.3 engines

2007-08-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Recently, Chery Automobile sales company formally announced : Chery brand new S21 name officially identified as "QQ6", which will be in August in a formal listing. This will be the Chery following autumn Chery A5 and more cool cars (New Crossover) Chery V5 years after the 2006 launch of three new models.
With the official naming of the official release, this continuation of the fashion brand QQ genes, the recent concerns about the new models to lift the veil.
QQ6 (original S21) since the beginning of this year, Chery dealers live appearance since the General Assembly has always been the concern of all sectors, but in a very long time on the QQ6 the names people have heard Chery has not issued an open voice. Therefore, "the Ikea QQ" and "QQ husband" and other popular names in the industry.

In this case, Chery Automobile sales force Qin Hong, deputy general manager, said : "It has always been outside on the name QQ6 different view, we are very grateful to all of our new products concern. 'S21' is our internal development code, now based Chery Automobile framework of the overall brand planning, Chery decision this product officially named as the 'QQ6', which Chery QQ brand family. "
With Chery had earlier listed A5 and V5, the QQ6 Chery name reflects the company's new brand architecture system. "Chery brand planning, 'QQ' representatives Series compact car,'6 'said the 6-QQ, the present plan QQ6 will unveil two NEC and emission series, which will be known as the specific QQ6 QQ6 11 and 13." Qin Li Hung right QQ6 nomenclature made a very clear explanation.

"Correspondingly is now on the market, we are familiar with the higher authorities Chery QQ names of Evolution 'QQ3', QQ brand belonging to the 3 Series. QQ6 is the original design of the shaft, and QQ3 common descent and fashion brands genes, is the parallel between the two, "Qin Li Hung introduced.
"Chery QQ as a fashion brand has won QQ3 which has been beyond the traditional concept of the product, the contemporary young people become self-expression of cultural symbols. While QQ6 QQ brand as a new member of the QQ3 successful launch of the foundation will enable the brand QQ system become stronger. it promotes the compact car large space technology and the pragmatism calmly pragmatic philosophy of life, "Qin Li Hung said.

QQ6 on the date of the formal listing of the issue, Qin Li Hung said the first of the year early in August. There are signs, QQ6 Chery has been no reversal of the listing. It should be said that this will be one worth looking forward to a masterpiece.

Bugatti Veyron Pegaso Edition - now 1200HP!!!

2007-08-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

What does a filthy rich Russian oil baron do in Dubai? Nothing much, but just throw up a million and more for a spruced up super car - the Bugatti Veyron Pegaso Edition.

In this unique color combination of Pearl White and Light Red Metallic, it stands out distinctively.

But this moneyed fellow wanted more so he decided to boost up the car’s output with extra 200HP. That makes a total of 1200HP!

Wonder 1000HP wasn’t enough for him! But then it’s his car, his vision and to top it all, his Money! The car stands outstandingly nice-looking with the "1" number plate, the Pegaso badges and custom stitching inside.

As for the figures, I’m sure it is gonna cost any day more then the standard price of $1.2 million for Veyron.

Volkswagen Golf aka "Rabbit VI" spied by photographers

2007-07-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Spies have caught the next-generation Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit in testing. Both the two- and four-door versions were photographed.

Although sales of the new 2007 model Rabbit just recently started here in the United States, European sales of the Golf have apparently been lagging, and manufacturing time is nearly twice as long as other cars in its class.

Recent reports suggest orders from management are to simplify and shorten the assembly process, and produce the next “generation” on the current but updated platform – with, of course, considerable cost-cutting savings. And, in the process, giving it a more exciting and slightly more aggressive look.

Sources close to Volkswagen believe the next generation Golf will reach European dealerships in late 2008, or 2009 – but American’s will have to wait a bit longer to purchase what will commonly be known nearly everywhere as the Golf VI.

2008 Toyota Prius gets cheaper or even more expensive?

2007-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

Toyota just released pricing for most of its 2008 lineup, and along with a brief summary of model changes was information about a new, lower-cost Prius. That's right, a cheaper Prius. We had talked about the fact that consumer clamor for hybrids was waning, but we never expected to see the Prius price reduced. Reading the fine print shows what's really happening is that Toyota has introduced a new "standard" model with slightly less content to get to a lower price point. The base MSRP for the new Standard Prius starts at $20,950, while the Limited goes up about $150 to $23,220.

The recent JD Power finding that hybrid popularity is giving way to more interest in diesel powertrains seemed to have some merit as Toyota had said it would be trimming the entry price of its 2008 Camry Hybrid by about $1,000, as well. Although the Camry isn't included in this release, the cheaper Prius seems to bear out that fact. The cheaper '08 Standard Prius should be in dealerships in August. New pricing for the other '08 Toyota models was also announced, and not surprisingly, all went up, even if just a bit.

Stuttgart: Porsche Cayenne Hybrid prototype unveiled

2007-07-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Appropriate Fuel Consumption is not only an issue that matters to some one who is buying a car…..in fact it’s a global crisis. Porsche has looked in to this crisis and come up with a Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype that is specifically designed to decrease fuel consumption.

Just recently in Stuttgart the company demonstrated its vision to the media through this hybrid car. The Cayenne Hybrid will feature a full-hybrid design where the hybrid module (clutch and electric motor) is positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission rather than having the hybrid drive train branching output along various lines and in various directions via a planetary gear set. This in-line configuration is a better fit for Porsche as it will provide improved acceleration and engine flexibility compared to a conventional Cayenne. Coordinating the car's three main components - the combustion engine, the electric motor and the battery - is the Hybrid Manager, the heart of the Cayenne Hybrid.

The power steering and vacuum pump for the brakes, as well as the air conditioning, which operate on electric power…..all contribute to its enhanced mileage factor. Porsche intends to introduce similar hybrid technology in a version of its Panamera four-door Gran Turismo that is scheduled to debut sometime in 2009.

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid to Cut Fuel Consumption by a Third

2007-07-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Porsche's SUV will get a hybrid powertrain to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions
When most people think about the high-performance Porsche Cayenne SUV, fuel economy isn't exactly the first thing to come to mind. The Cayenne S with its 4.8 liter normally-aspirated 385HP V8 engine achieves city/highway numbers of 13MPG/19MPG according to 2008 EPA estimates. Stepping up to the 500HP Cayenne Turbo drops fuel economy to 12MPG/19MPG.

Cayenne buyers who wimp out and go for the 290HP 3.6 liter V6 are greeted with EPA numbers of 14MPG/20MPG. Regardless of which engine you choose, the Cayenne does not impress when it comes to fuel economy -- and it was never really intended to do so until now.
The European Commission is clamping down on CO2 emissions and fuel economy requirements for new vehicles and companies like Porsche will be obliged to comply.
One way that Porsche is looking to avoid potential fines for producing vehicles that fail to comply with standard is by purchasing Volkswagen AG which has an entire stable of fuel-efficient vehicles. Although Porsche recently withdrew its offer to take over Volkswagen, the option still remains. The second way is by developing a hybrid-electric system for its gas-guzzling Cayenne.
The hybrid system which will debut next year in the Cayenne's platform-mate, the VW Touareg, and the following year will appear in the Cayenne. A 50HP electric motor will be used in conjunction with the existing 280HP 3.6 liter V6 on both vehicles.
According to Reuters, the Cayenne hybrid will consume 8.9 liter of gasoline for every 100 kilometers as opposed to 12.9 liters on the European cycle.
The hybrid system will also help to reduce C02 emissions. The Cayenne currently spews 320 to 378 grams of CO2 per kilometer. That number will have to be reduced to 130 grams per kilometer by 2012 according to new rules set to go into effect courtesy of the European Commission.
Reuters also notes that the upcoming Porsche Panamera four-door sedan will also receive a hybrid powertrain option. The 911, Boxster and Cayman, however, will survive the hybrid craze unfazed.

The first look at 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid

2007-07-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Remember earlier this month when we heard that 50% of people buy a Prius to "make a statement"? There are other hybrids out there, but it is the Toyota Prius that is immediately recognizable as one. As such, Toyota could be taking it several steps further with this outlandish approach to the next-generation Prius.

Created by some Transportation Design students at the Instituto Europo di Design in Torino, Italy, this Prius concept vehicle mockup has been drawn up to scream "hybrid!" louder than the current iteration. There's no saying whether the guys at ToMoCo are paying attention to the scribblings of students on the other side of the Earth, but I wouldn't be all that surprised if they took on a similar mentality with next Prius.
After all, the Toyota Prius outsells its rivals by far and a lot of it has to do with the look.

MIT researchers: spark-free efficient engines are coming!

2007-07-24T03:37:00.000-07:00

Cambridge (MA) – MIT researchers have developed a fuel-efficient car engine that doesn’t use a spark to ignite fuel. The homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) combines elements from standard spark ignition and diesel engines. Researchers say the engines cut pollution and improve fuel economy by several miles per gallon.

The research team showed off their findings to the Japan Society of Automotive Engineers on July 23rd. Fuel in the HCCI engine is pre-mixed with air before being injected into a cylinder. A piston then compresses the mixture and causes combustion. Regular gasoline engines use a spark plug to ignite the fuel-air mixture while diesel engines inject fuel into an already compressed and hot chamber.
By premixing the fuel and then injecting into the chamber, researchers say combustion occurs evenly which reduces pollution. However, researchers admit that HCCI engines are a bit more finicky when it comes to temperatures and fuel composition. Large variations in either can drastically cut power by making the combustion occur during the wrong stroke cycle.

Professor Wai K. Cheng of MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering has partially fixed that problem by creating a hybrid engine that runs in standard spark ignition mode most of the time and then switches to HCCI mode when temperatures and fuel are just right. Cheng and his team believe the engine operates in HCCI mode 40 percent of the time.
An HCCI engine improves fuel efficiency by a few miles per gallon and if most cars used them, the researchers say nationwide oil consumption could be reduced by a million barrels a day.

Electric bike with 2 whell drive is a reality in Alberta

2007-06-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Electric bike project from Bill, and his last name is Craft!Hi, my name is Bill Craft and I read your blog pretty much on a daily basis. It's good to know that there's so many people out there who are that creative. I live in a very small town in Alberta and I find there's not much to do with my spare time but make things with what I can find around here or order over the net. I made an electric bike to get around here. This is actually my second one, I should have taken pictures of the first but oh well. This one has a range of 20-30 km. and a top speed of 65km/hr. and the weight is about 60 pounds. I'm not sure if thing is actually legal to drive but like I said it's a very small town.

The bike itself started as a $150 walmart special. Within 30 minutes of getting it home I had stripped everything off the frame. Then bolted on 2 brushless hub motors rated for 500 watts. Next came drilling some holes through the frame and bolting on some sheet aluminium panels to hold the electronics. There are 2 battery packs( 36volt 8amp nimh cells ), 2 36volt 3 amp charges for them and 2 speed controllers. Both speed controllers are tied to the throttle grip and you can switch between front wheel drive, rear wheel or both. 2/wheel drive is a lot of fun when you go offroad with it. And the side covers and tank where made from scrap pink insulation core then covered with fibreglass cloth and epoxy resin. I was trying for a Thunderbirds look, maybe I need to make wheel disks.

Motorbike uses all surface area as solar battery

2007-06-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Powering a car with solar panels is a relatively easy task, but on a motorbike it's a lot harder to find flat surfaces to catch the sun.

That means that a solar powered motorbike has got to look rather odd in order to provide enough surface area for the panels: hence the snail shell-like design of SunRed's prototype solar powered bike.

When (or if) SunRed completes a real world prototype, the bike's surface area will be 25 square feet, allowing the bike to store enough of the sun's energy to ride for 13 miles at speeds of up to 30 MPH. The motor is integrated into the wheel too, so there's no transmission.

Once these "green" bike thinkers sort out the problem of running a bike without oil, we hope they'll move onto making them a little less fugly. It seems like a precedent is being set here.

Indian City Cat -- car that can run 125 miles on comressed air!

2007-05-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

The world’s first commercial compressed air-powered vehicle is rolling towards the production line. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre, will be built by India’s largest automaker, Tata Motors.

The Air Car uses compressed air to push its engine’s pistons. It is anticipated that approximately 6000 Air Cars will be cruising the streets of India by 2008. If the manufacturers have no surprises up their exhaust pipes the car will be practical and reasonably priced. The CityCat model will clock out at 68 mph with a driving range of 125 miles.
Refueling is simple and will only take a few minutes. That is, if you live nearby a gas station with custom air compressor units. The cost of a fill up is approximately $2.00. If a driver doesn't have access to a compressor station, they will be able to plug into the electrical grid and use the car’s built-in compressor to refill the tank in about 4 hours.
The compressed air technology is basically just a way of storing electrical energy without the need for costly, heavy, and occasionally toxic batteries. So, in a sense, this is an electric car. It just doesn't have an electric motor.
But don't let anyone tell you this is an "emissions free" vehicle. Sure, the only thing coming out of the tailpipe is air. But, chances are, fossil fuels were burned to create the electricity. In India, that mostly means coal. But the carbon emissions per mile of these things still far outdoes any gasoline car on the market.
Unfortunately, the streets of North America may never see the Air Car, though; it's light-weight, glued-together fiberglass construction might not do so well in our crash tests. However, that does not mean the Air car is confined to the sub-continent. Nègre has signed deals to bring its design to 12 more countries, including Germany, Israel and South Africa.
And this isn't the last we'll hear of the technology. The folks making the Air Car are already working on a hybrid version that would use an on-board, gasoline-powered compressor to refill the air tanks when they run low. Negre says that technology could easily squeeze a cross country trip out of one tank of gasoline.

Via: Popular Mechanics

The Ultimate GTI in every way -- VW Golf GTI W12 650

2007-05-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

There's fast and then there's uber fast. The 200hp Volkswagen GTI is pretty peppy in its own right, but the German carmaker was far from satisfied. Thus, they created the Golf GTI W12 650 concept vehicle at Worthersee 2007 in Austria. They're saying that this is "the ultimate GTI in every way", with its 0-62mph time of just 3.7 seconds.

Keep the pedal to the metal and this rabbit on steroids will keep going and going until it tops out at around 325 km/h (201mph).
They don't plan on selling through their dealerships -- it's "a pure show car" -- but it surely shows what the company is capable of. I guess having both Lamborghini and Porsche backing you up goes a long way, because this pocket rocket produces 650 horsepower (hence its namesake) and over 530 lbs-ft of torque. This is thanks to the monster 6.0L biturbo W12 it's got mounted behind the front seats. It's also 100% rear-wheel-drive.
But it's not just the engine that's different. It's lower and wider than the stock GTI, it's got a bunch of new intakes and a redesigned C-pillar, and they've designed the carbon fiber roof so that it can act "as a giant diffuser that funnels air under the smaller spoiler at its trailing edge." This was so that they could avoid the installation of a massive wing out the back.

Toyota's Prius will get it's own brand

2007-05-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

Automobile Magazine reported today that Toyota is considering creating another brand, named after its successful Prius to better market its hybrid cars.
After the 2011 model year, Toyota hybrids will no longer be sold under the Toyota nameplate, but instead under the Prius brand, the report said.

The Prius line of cars will be markedly different from their Toyota counterparts with unique sheet metal and hybrid powertrains. The Prius line will offer three different models which have been internally dubbed Prius A, Prius B and Prius C, ranging from Yaris to Camry in size. The Prius A will be introduced in 2009, "B" will be introduced in 2010 and the "C" will launched in 2011.
The exterior of the new Prius cars won't be as controversial as the first and second generation Prius, but Toyota forsees difficulty in providing a spacious interior and trunk space because of the size of the battery packs, meaning designs will have to be somewhat unconventional.

BMW develops @787 VIP Business Jet@

2007-05-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

BMW is a name synonymous with luxury and performance and now the german automaker has decided to venture into aircraft designing.

At the Hamburg Aircraft Interior Expo, BMW group DesignworksUSA unveiled concept drawings of an ultra-luxury 787 Business Jet.

The design was approached with a fictitious Russian client in his mid-thirties who "spends a significant amount of time traveling across the globe and needs an aircraft that function as a second home." The plane comes with white leather lounge chairs, full bar, burgundy accent pillows, luxury bedrooms, artwork and glass areas to keep an eye on your rides parked in the garage.

Hyundai RWD Coupe Powered by a V8 below $30k!

2007-05-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

In recent years, Korea has made a lot of headway in all sorts of industries. Samsung is on a perpetual quest to create the world's slimmest cell phone and LG has kept things sexy with the Chocolate and Shine. A similar trend has been occuring in the automotive world: Hyundai and Kia have been growing very quickly these past few years, and if this rumor holds up, they're surely make some crazy waves in the industry.

According to Winding Road, Hyundai is reportedly working on a rear-wheel-drive coupe based on the same BH platform as the Genesis sedan concept. And it'll be powered by a super beefy V8 (Tau), good for over 300 horsepower. There may also be a 3.8L V6 version, but both cars will likely come with a manu-matic transmission, rather than a true manual.
It's unclear whether Hyundai plans on keeping the price down (the V6 Genesis will be priced below $30k) to compete against the Ford Mustang, or whether they'll move it upscale to compete against the upcoming Infiniti G37.
On a side note, the BH platform will also underly a long-wheelbase Genesis Plus and a similarly-styled Kia.

New Smart Fortwo glows with 'Midas Touch'!

2007-04-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Instead of getting a gold watch to match your designer vehicle, you can now go for a gold plated Car to set off your watch. There is no match for the extravagant gold Smart Fortwo that may hit the roads soon. Lately Brock Alloy Wheels has displayed its gold plated Benz Smart tuning-car during Tuning World Bodensee 2007. This customized car is no different then its plain-Jane version except for its Golden exterior. Smart Fortwo is a car that has been perfectly designed for your everyday life.

Offering maximum comfort, agility, safety, ecology and driving fun, this pioneering vehicle is one of the best with its exceptionally low CO2 emission figures. Ouchh......my eyes are hurting!

How to turn highway into wind farms

2007-04-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Clogged highways and frustratingly waiting while your gas needle plummets to empty usually doesn't conjure up thoughts of green, but it seems like these very roads could become the source of a lot more energy.Several recent student designs have proposed that major roadways be retrofitted with various forms of wind energy collection devices, ranging from overhead turbines that collect energy from quickly-moving cars below to barrier panels (pictured after the jump) that harness the wind from closely passing vehicles moving in opposite directions. Ideally, the wind energy could then be sent back out to the grid to power nearby communities, light-rail transportation systems, or even intelligent billboards.

Of course, most of these ideas are still in the research phase, and even if proven feasible, we can't imagine the up-front costs (or inconveniences of installing these things) to be minor, but we're sure that government subsidies should be able to to lend a helping hand.

New BMW M3 Concept in Geneva is Sleeker than Ever Before? Yes!

2007-03-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

The BMW M3 has always been a highly sought after car, evoking feelings of class while throwing you back in your seat with a surge of exhilaration. The Bavarian car maker took the stage at the Geneva Motor Show and revealed the next incarnation of the M3 coupe, and yes, it's as gorgeous as ever.

The fenders bulge out, showing you its strength. The wheels are huge, but understandably so considering the giant brakes they need to house. The gaping air inlets and carbon fiber roof add in those final touches that let you know this beast means business. It's hot, it's fast... but it's still a concept.

As such, BMW hasn't officially announced what engine they'll plunk under the hood of this rear-wheel-drive behemoth, but the M3 on display was sporting a 420hp+ V8 mated with a six-speed manual transmission. A new twin-clutch gearbox may also be available.

Via MobileMag

Biofuels power "clean energy" boom

2007-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

The amount of money spent on so-called clean energy--already growing at a torrid pace--is poised to quadruple in the next decade, according to a report published Tuesday by research firm Clean Edge.

The spending boom is being fueled by a confluence of factors, including broader recognition of global warming, an influx in venture capital and growing interest in energy among corporations and politicians.

Clean Edge said in the overall market for fossil fuel alternatives, biofuels represent the largest portion at $20.5 billion in spending in 2006. Wind and solar power saw $17.9 billion and $15.6 billion, respectively, while $1.4 billion in funding went into fuel cell technology last year.

Those four energy technologies grew in aggregate by 39 percent in 2006, year over year, to $55.4 billion. Clean Edge forecasts that rapid growth rate will continue for the next decade, making clean technology a $226 billion market globally.

Led by the projected use of ethanol for transportation, biofuels are projected to grow to over $80 billion in 2016. Solar power will grow more rapidly than wind, as solar manufacturers scale up their operations, Clean Edge said. The solar market, representing both products and services, will expand to nearly $70 billion, and wind will be a $60 billion market in 2016, the research group forecast.

Amid the boom, Clean Edge detailed a number of factors that potentially could slow adoption of these different energy technologies.

The rising costs of manufacturing solar photovoltaic systems and building biofuel refineries could slow anticipated price drops relative to other fuel sources, said Ron Pernick, one of the report's authors.

Due to the high cost of materials, the cost to install a megawatt of wind and solar power has gone up since 2004, and profit margins for ethanol in the U.S. "all but collapsed" in 2006.

Also, it's unclear whether the high investment rates from venture capitalists will continue, said Rodrigo Prudencio, a partner at venture firm Nth Power, which participated in the report.

Venture capital in energy technology more than doubled last year to $2.4 billion, which is 9.4 percent of all venture dollars invested in the U.S. By comparison, energy represented only 0.8 percent of total venture investments in 1999.

Prudencio noted that investments in biofuels, in particular, is something of a departure for venture capitalists because much of the equity is spent on construction of physical plants, rather than intellectual property. He added, though, that these "low tech" biofuels investments are relatively low risk.

In a conference call on Tuesday, analyst Joel Makower singled out five trends that will shape clean energy during the coming years.

Those he noted were anticipated government regulations designed to put a price on carbon emissions; biorefineries that improve the overall energy output by using animal wastes or plant byproducts during production; improved battery technology for vehicles; retail giant Wal-Mart's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and utilities like PG&E and Duke Energy starting to embrace carbon limits and clean energy.

Opel GTC Coupe Concept now is TurboCharged!

2007-03-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

General Motors has a lot of brands under its belt, several of which never see the light of day here in Canada. One such badge is Opel, though we found the GT Roadster around these parts slightly retooled as the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky. The Opel Gran Turismo Coupe (GTC) concept is quite a different beast, however, exuding a certain sense of luxury to go with its 300 horsepower V6 engine. It's also got a turbo and all-wheel-drive to boot.

The Opel GTC is based on the next-generation Vectra platform. The Vectra is a four-door sedan, while the GTC is a two-door coupe, not unlike the Opel Calibra (1989 to 1997) that was based on the Vectra of that era. More details surrounding the Opel GTC should be revealed in Geneva this week. It's probably going to be Euro-only for now, but I can totally see this transforming into the next Pontiac G6 or something.

Via http://www.leftlanenews.com

Alert Car Seat Warns You When You Are Sleepy

2007-03-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

Sleeping on the wheel have caused many accidents in the past and the only way to probably contain such kind of scenes is to have a system wherein the car driver could be warned that he is sleeping and be jolted awake. Researchers from the University of Tokyo, Oita University, the Shimane Institute of Health Science and Delta Tooling have been laboring towards this cause. They have built a prototype of a smart car seat capable of detecting when its driver is on the verge of falling asleep. This prototype was unveiled at a symposium held at the University of Tokyo on February 5. After studying the physiological signs of 100 sleepy subjects and monitoring the changes in their pulse and respiration that occur 10 minutes before falling asleep, the researchers have been able to develop this seat.

Basically they have developed a sensor to detect these changes and integrated the sensor onto the seat. The sensors work though layers of clothing too. And with the results interpreted the seat’s sensor is able to judge whether the driver is on the verge of sleeping or not. So far the seat is only able to detect whether the occupant is sleepy or not, no alarms have been incorporated, but I guess that will be the next step. The researchers hope to make the smart seat commercially available in 5 years.

Source: http://www.pinktentacle.com/

Bugatti Veyron -- one of the first accident

2007-03-06T04:03:00.000-08:00

This is horrible some sucker crashed the Bugatti Veyron, though it is not as bad as the infamous Ferrari Enzo which split into two. However the Veyron is still heavily damaged from the front and needs extensive repairs.

In case you did not know the Bugatti Veyron is the world's most expensive car at $1,192,057 and also the fastest with a 1001 horsepower engine which propels the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds. It has a proven top speed of 400 km/h or 253 mph.

Front Runner hydrofoil watercraft plays in the kiddie pool

2007-03-02T04:43:00.000-08:00

At the recently conlcuded Grand Rapids (MI) Boat Show designer Joey Ruiter unveiled his new concept boat the Front Runner, a hydrofoil with twin forward-mounted 215hp jet-drive motors. the unique design allows the boat to run in extremely shallow water, and the jet drives also enhance the shallow water ability of the vessel. Additionally, it is all aluminum with no glue, a nod to sustainable manufacturing.

More info available at www.jruiter.com

New Volkswagen Beetle to be more modern

2007-02-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

Looks like Volkswagen is ready to take the Beetle in a whole new direction, because a few new illustrations of the revamped VW Beetle have surfaced and they are decidedly less retro-themed than the current "New Beetle." Instead, these images -- found in German magazine Auto Motor und Sport -- depict a fairly modern looking vehicle, set to arrive in stores as a 2010 model. Instead of a big bulbous roofline and bubbly features throughout, the next-gen Beetle "will also become sportier, with the aim of competing more directly with BMW's MINI."

Like the current New Beetle, we also fully expect this next offering to come in both a standard coupe and droptop cabriolet. My personal impression is that this new car has certain elements that make me think of Peugeot and Citroen. Is it just me?

BMW rumored to plan iPhone integration

2007-02-15T13:09:00.000-08:00

Munich (Germany) - According to media reports, BMW will be the first car maker to include integration with the forthcoming iPhone. The connectivity with Apple's flagship cell phone is reported to be available in later versions of the high-end 7-Series sedans.

The communication features between the phone and the car will be based on Bluetooth wireless technology and is reported to include more than just standard functionality like hands-free talking.

Having BMW as the maker of the first iPhone car would make sense, as it has been working with Apple for in-car technology for years. BMW was the first to include factory-installed iPod connectivity and Apple is helping with the new in-dash i-Drive system that comes with high-end BMW vehicles.

The market of iPod accessories is now a strong focus for in-car tech companies, but cell phone connectivity has not yet seen a high level of consumer interest.

Silence PT2 rocks three wheels, all electric powertrain

2007-02-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

Getting word of a new electric car hitting the pavement is (thankfully) becoming quite common these days, but crafting a vehicle that's made it a few steps beyond the easel is certainly noteworthy. Silence, Inc., a mash-up of Canada's EBW and T-Rex, has set out to "design and build high-performance electric vehicles," and the company's first attempt looks to be a winner.
The three-wheeled PT2 certainly has a flair for the dramatic, as its metallic paint, vivid interior, and overall dashing good looks make it a sight for sore eyes in the fully electric vehicle department, and as if that weren't good enough, this bad boy can reportedly cruise 125 to 250 miles on a single charge, hitting speeds "around 125-miles per hour" along the way. Silence states that its PT2 will be "available for ordering" sometime this Spring, but folks with enough interest (and the spare loot to back it up) can hit them up right now to get on the short list, and for those already glancing away to save yourself the pain from viewing the pricetag, remain focused -- this hotrod will only run you around $50,000CDN, or just over 42 large here in the US. Be sure to head on over to AutoblogGreen for a sweet high-resolution gallery.

Hybrid Sports Car Concept

2007-02-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

Honda's new hybrid sports car concept may foreshadow a second generation Insight

Toyota isn't the only company looking to bring hybrid technology to small sports cars. Toyota unveiled its first hybrid sports car concept, the Volta, in 2004 and just recently showcased its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept at the Detroit Auto Show.

Archrival Honda wants back into the game and will unveil its Small Hybrid Sports Concept at the Geneva Auto Show. Not much is known about the hybrid other than the fact that it was designed by Honda R&D Europe in Offenbach, Germany. And from the image on the right, the new car is miles ahead of the tadpole-esque Honda Insight.

AUTOCAR.co.uk believes that the concept will foreshadow the production version of the second generation Insight which is to be introduced in 2008. The car is expected to be similar in size to the current generation Civic and will be priced under the Toyota Prius.

The first generation Honda Insight was the first gasoline-electric hybrid automobile to be sold in the United States. The tiny 2-seater weighed just 1,850 pounds, was powered by a 73HP 3-cylinder engine and achieved EPA mileage ratings of 60/66 MPG city/highway.

Also on tap for the Geneva Auto Show is a fully functioning FCX Concept. The concept will feature Honda's FC Stack which DailyTech profiled in September. Honda estimates that the FCX Concept will offer a driving range of 354 miles and a top speed of 100 MPH.

Toyota and Honda, however, aren't the only companies looking to bring hybrid and fuel cell technologies to the masses. GM is developing a "plug-in" gasoline-electric hybrid for production in 2009 while Ford is working on a flexible "HySeries Drive" platform to provide gasoline, diesel and fuel cell hybrid electric powertrain options.

Top 10 Design Contest Vehicles from Peugeot

2007-02-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

The Peugeot Design Contest from last year is near its end. Ten designs have been selected as the finalists, some fancy, most futuristic, and definitely all are very creative.

What's interesting is that Peugeot actually plans to build one of these top 10 designs later this year, and that winner will be selected at the end of this month. Have a look at the designs here, and more angles of the renderings are on Peugeot's official design challenge website.

Which one of these concepts would you choose to win?

Reason # 131 - Why Porsche's are expensive

2007-01-23T04:42:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a Porsche and why not as it is has hundreds of horses carefully tuned and packed into an insanely beautiful body. However this is not the only reason Porsche's are so expensive as new study has found that Porsche earns an incredible average of $28,000 in profit on every vehicle it sells. The figure — printed in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper, citing a study by B&D Forecast which dwarfs the per-car earnings of virtually any other automaker. Compare the astronomical $28,000 to $3200 which BMW makes per car, $1580 which Audi makes and just $900 and $400 earned by Chrysler and Volkswagen per car.
So those of you planning to buy one know what kind of discount to ask for at the Porsche dealership.

BMW confirms that 135i hatchback is US-bound

2007-01-18T22:03:00.000-08:00

We were pretty certain that the BMW 1-series was heading to the United States, but now we can know for sure. BMW has officially confirmed that the entry-level hatchback is bound for North America in the form of the 135i, a tight little package powered by a twin-turbo 3-liter inline-six engine (that's a lot of hyphens). A little further down the road, they hope to also introduce the cheaper 130i model as well.

But wait, there's more. It's not just the hatchback that will hitting our shores. According to Winding Road, the BMW 1-series will be offered in the United States as a convertible and a coupe as well, though it's unclear exactly when those additional models will make their first appearance. If you're looking for more fuel efficiency, though, you may have to wait until the Bavarian automaker produces a "proper turbocharged four-cylinder engine" (which may be sooner than you think).

As expected, the BMW 1-series will be priced below the 3-series (obviously), but it will be distinctly more high-end (and more expensive) than the Mini Cooper.

Audi R8 official photos and specs

2007-01-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

So, Audi has got a supercar and the world is abuzz. Sure, it shares several components with the Lamborghini Gallardo, but those four circles on the hood remind us that the R8 is an Audi, through and through.

Did you think that the German automaker was through was promoting their latest creation? Did you really think so? Far from, 'cause they just unleashed a bevy of photographs, feature lists, and specifications surrounding the Audi R8 supercar.

Audi R8 Specifications:

Body:
- Powerfully dynamic, elegant design
- Lightweight aluminium body based on Audi Space Frame
- Aerodynamic negative lift for high directional stability
- Dimensions: L 4.43 m, W 1.90 m, H 1.25 m, wheelbase 2.65 m
- Generous amount of space for a mid-engine sports car
- Luggage compartment 100 l at front, a further 90 l behind the seats

Road performance:
- Acceleration 4.6 seconds
- Top speed 301 km/h

Engine:
- High-revving V8 developing 309 kW (420 bhp), 430 Nm between 4,500 and 6,000 rpm
- FSI petrol direct injection
- Dry sump lubrication for a low centre of gravity and high loadability

Transmission and drivetrain:
- Six-speed manual gearbox with short gearshift travel
- R tronic sequential gearbox (optional)
- quattro permanent four-wheel drive, perfect weight distribution 44 % to 56 %

Suspension:
- Double wishbone axles at front and rear, safe self-steering properties
- Innovative damping system Audi magnetic ride (optional)
- 18-inch or 19-inch wheels, high-performance brake system
- Ceramic brake discs (optional, to follow)

Equipment:
- Sophisticated interior character, wide range of customisation options
- Extensive standard specification, xenon plus headlights with LED daytime
- running lights
- Bang & Olufsen sound system (optional)
- First car in the world with all-LED headlights (optional, from end 2007).

They've released no fewer than 69 new images, showing us the R8 from every which angle. We get a nice up-close look at the LED headlights (a production first), that crazy interior, and the sexy profile that begs to be taken for a rip around the test track. Oh, and in case you forgot, the R8 comes powered by a V8 FSI engine good for 420 horsepower. That thrust is spread over all four corners as the R8 comes equipped with Quattro permanent 4WD. Base price is set at EUR 104,000 with the first shipments scheduled to start in Q2.

1-Series BMW revealed, heading to United States

2007-01-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

They haven't exactly set a date as to when they plan on shipping the entry-level Bimmer across the Atlantic, but we have a pretty good idea what it'll look like. BMW has just revealed the new 2007/2008 1-Series three-door hatchback. For the people of Europe, there are five different engine options to choose from, but I have a feeling the selection will be a little more limited when it heads to the States.

The styling is distinctly BMW, complete with sidemarkers, the trademark projector headlight assemblies, and some rather silky smooth lines. As far as technology is concerned, just because it's an entry-level hatchback doesn't mean that this three-door comes up short. It'll come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering, variable valve technologies, and High-Precision Direct Injection.

The five engine choices for the European hatch, and the associated model numbers, include:

- 130i: 265hp inline-six with 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds
- 120i: 170hp four cylinder with 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds
- 118i: 143hp four cylinder with 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds
- 120d: 177hp common-rail diesel with 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds
- 118d: 143hp common-rail diesel with 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds

2008 Dodge Viper Mopar Concept

2007-01-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

They're saying that this special edition 2008 Dodge Viper may have "even more venom" than the incredible Viper SRT-10. Mopar, the performance parts division of DaimlerChrysler, went and tinkered with the incredible supercar and out the other end came a 675hp behemoth that will surely send all those other wannabes cowering into their respective corners.

They've dressed it up in a brilliant dark gray paintjob, mated with a large GT-style wing, and some lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels in glossy black. The looks alone will get the drool pools going, but let's mosey on over to some of the digits associated with the Mopar Viper. The 8.4L V10 -- mated with a cold air intake and adjustable coilover suspension -- will push this car from zero to 60mph in under four seconds, coming back to a complete stop in under 100 feet. Astounding. I'm afraid to ask about that other important number: price.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X announced!

2007-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

This was a long time coming, and I mean a very long time coming. After months of conjecture and wild internet guessing, Mitsubishi finally made the official announcement, revealing the 2008 Lancer Evolution X to the world. A collective sigh of relief was heard clear cross the globe, followed by a few droplets of drool.

The front end is distinctly more aggressive than the rather subdued rear, but -- as expected -- the overall design and lines draw heavily on the Concept X, as well as the garden variety Lancer which will serve as its everyday stablemate.

Under the hood of this S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) vehicle is a 200hp turbocharged 2.0L engine, paired with either a five-speed manual or a sequential manual gearbox the S-AWC system is said to provide active steering and electronic yaw control. Now we just have to see how it performs on the track.

Engineuity developing hydrogen-creating, emission free vehicle

2007-01-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

Just in case there weren't enough alternate fuel developments going on around the world, it looks like we've got yet another vying for business over in Israel. Engineuity, a company started by Amnon Yogev, has reportedly developed a method for vehicles to "produce their own fuel" using metals such as magnesium and aluminum to create hydrogen and steam.

Similar to a solar-powered "zinc-to-hydrogen" approach that gained attention in 2005, this method utilizes a "long metal coil" which would be inserted into a metal-steam combustor that stands to "separate hydrogen out of heated water." After intense heating, the metal atoms would purportedly bond to the oxygen from the water, creating metal oxide; the result would free up hydrogen molecules to be sent to the engine alongside the steam to provide the juice. The firm also insinuates that "refueling" the vehicle would be "remarkably simply," and construction could be completed on current production lines without requiring entirely new infrastructures. According to Yogev, the "running cost of the system should be equal to that of conventional cars today," and hopes to have a full scale prototype ready to rumble in "around three years."

Full electric pickup truck rocks 480 lbs-ft of torque

2007-01-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

Electric vehicles have come a long way. The Tesla Roadster proved that they can go like stink, and now this thing shows that they can be super useful as well. Phoenix Motorcars has just created the Sport Utility Truck, a pickup that runs solely on electricity, yet boasts 480 lbs-ft of torque. More than enough grunt to haul all your gear.

What's more, the four-door cab gives enough room for the driver and five passengers. The bed in the back will suit you just fine for your next trip to the lumber yard, home improvement store, or construction site. Just because you're a manly man with manly needs doesn't mean that you can't be nice to Mother Nature at the same time (though I guess the pollution is displaced to wherever you get your electricity from).

Top speed isn't all that great at 95mph, but it can do a 0-60mph run in about 10 seconds. The battery pack charges up pretty quickly (ten minutes tops it up to 95%), and each complete recharge will give about 100 miles of range. Phoenix hopes to sell 500 of these in California by late 2007, with a nationwide sales goal of 6,000 by 2008.

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

2006-12-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-12-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-07T14:53:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

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.

GM's SUV does 10 miles with electric

2006-11-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

Earlier, we told you that plug-in electric cars might be just around the corner. Now we have just caught wind of GM's announcement of a plug-in SUV, and it doesn't smell pretty.

A report out of the L.A. Auto Show that General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is promising a Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid setup. That's certainly big news on the green vehicle front, since you wouldn't normally put the words SUV and plug-in together in the same sentence, but think again.

So far GM claims that the eventual vehicle will get twice the fuel efficiency of any SUV running today, and that it will be put together using a fresh take on the blueprints of the company's existing lithium ion battery hybrid system. This is planned for 2010, and i'm sure we all hoped for a much better fuel efficiency in vehicles by that time.

The value of having a plug-in is only relevent to the capacity of the battery pack. GM is saying 10 miles range on electric propulsion before the gasoline engine kicks in, to call this an electric plug-in vehicle is dissapointing. GM had it right with the EV1, now they are setting themselves back over 90% in efficiency.

You can recharge the battery by braking for traffic, of course.

Ford Mustang Giugiaro Concept with Lambo doors

2006-11-30T14:17:00.000-08:00

Enough with the spy shots and "caught in the wild" posts. We caught a glimpse of the Ford Mustang Guigiaro concept less than two weeks ago, and now the hyped-up pony car is finally making its official introduction.

Ford has just revealed the innovative yet somewhat retro-looking Mustang Giugiaro concept, boasting Dynamic-tuned dampers, lowered springs, and yes, even guillotine doors. Powering the monstrous pony car is a supercharged 4.6L 3-valve V8 good for 500hp. There's plenty of rubber on the road, thanks to the 20-inch wheels mated with 275mm and 315mm tires in the front and rear, respectively. Naturally, they've jazzed up the interior too.

They have not announced a production version, but this is said to be a sign as to how the garden variety 2010 Mustang will look.

2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R and 2008 Altima Coupe debut at LA Auto Show

2006-11-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Japan's second largest automaker made a couple of monentous announcements at the Los Angeles Auto Show, revealing the super sporty 2007 Sentra SE-R and the highly anticipated 2008 Altima Coupe.

While the garden variety Nissan Sentra may be a direct competitor with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic sedan, the SE-R is quite the different beast altogether. Set to go on sale in March 2007, the performance-oriented sport compact sedan will be powered by an "advanced 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine designed specifically for the SE-R." The base SE-R is good for 177hp and 172 lbs-ft of torque, whereas the tuned SE-R Spec V bumps that up to 200hp and 180 lbs-ft of torque.. The latter comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox, whereas the former is fitted with a continuously variable transmission.

Also announced was the all new Altima Coupe, the first time the otherwise family-oriented vehicle has taken on a two-door form. As a result, it has a shorter wheelbased, shorter length, and lower height than its sedan counterpart. Choose from 2.5L inline-4 or a 3.5L V6. Look for the Altima Coupe to start selling next summer.

German inspiration for the new Skyline?

2006-11-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

Looking at the pictures of the new Nissan Skyline yesterday something caught my eye...this reminds me of another car...ok now I get it, there is a slight but slight ressemblance with the Mercedes CLS!

Similar headlights shape, similar radiator grill, similar hood ? The sides are another reminder of the CLS.

But in other hands... this is maybe the best way to make sure to have a potential good seller on the market... Anyway... I am quite found of this Skyline, I am really looking forward to test it.

Via Nihon

Audi Q7 gets PPI upgrade, but it's still lacking

2006-11-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

OK, it's not that I don't like Audis. I love them. I want to have a fleet of them. But I can't afford that. One thing I know I don't want, however, is an Audi SUV. The very name doesn't sound right to me. An Audi is a sleek vehicle designed to go fast, and an SUV is driven by a soccer mom or a guy on a weekend mountain bike trip.

The folks at Audi aren't listening to me, of course, especially in the Audi SUV regard because they have this little number called the Q7, which has been around for awhile but has just undergone an extensive makeover courtesy of Germany's PPI. And they did a few things right; it's better looking than before, and it has some new features that make it look sleeker and less of a soccer mom commuter.

The front bumper has large air intakes, a matte carbon fiber splitter, and fog lamps; and the company says the result is a smaller lift on the front axles when you're up to speed. The new brake kit will also help to alleviate some of the holdback when you get up to a more expected speed. The back bumper has cutouts for the exhaust system. The design also serves to tuck the wheels under the frame, sort of like the new VW Beetle.

So here's the big number: 600. That's the number of horsepower that you get, and that's a rather large number for this size vehicle.

All of that aside, it doesn't look much an Audi or an SUV. Maybe that's the point?

Ford Seeing Green with SUVs

2006-11-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

Ford to unveil two new environmentally-friendly SUVs at this year's L.A. Auto Show

At this year's L.A. Auto Show, Ford is expected to show two eco-friendly SUVs -- one of which will be soon available for the public to purchase shortly. Later this week, Ford will unveil a fuel cell-powered Explorer and a second generation Escape Hybrid.

Ford has been secretly testing its 6-passenger fuel cell Explorer for the past year in Motown and has logged over 17,000 test miles with the vehicle. The vehicle features a 50 kW hybrid battery and two 65 kW electric motors -- one on each axle. As to not impede on cargo/passenger space, hydrogen tank is mounted within the central tunnel normally reserved for the transmission, transfer case and driveshaft.

The fuel cell Explorer is said to achieve 350 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. For comparison, a V6-powered 4WD Explorer can travel 337.5 miles/450 miles (city/highway) on a single tank of gasoline and a V8-powered 4WD Explorer can go 315 miles/ 450 miles (city/highway).

Also on display will be Ford's new 2008 Escape Hybrid. The previous generation compact hybrid SUV has been quite popular due to its attractive price tag and many can be seen zipping through New York City as taxi cabs. With the help of its second generation hybrid drivetrain, the 2008 Escape Hybrid is sure to improve on the current AWD model's 33MPG/29MPG (city/highway) figures.

Tesla working on all-electric sedan

2006-11-24T00:18:00.000-08:00

The Lotus-built Tesla Roadster has certainly made some headlines these past few months. Where else can you find an all-electric vehicle capable to doing zero to 60 in less than four seconds? Well, the crew at Tesla not only want to provide you with a fun weekend sports car, they want to sell you on a more practical all-electric sedan as well.

A budget-minded Toyota Yaris this certainly is not. Instead, the Silicon Valley-based automaker has its sights set on tackling the upscale BMW 5-series. The four door vehicle will obviously not be based on the Elise platform (as the Roadster is). They will instead by using a "lightweight steel construction."

Although it won't be quite as peppy as its two-door cousin, the sedan will still get a solid 250 horsepower and a 200 mile range. An even more powerful Roadster is also being planned.

BMW to Unveil Hydrogen 7, Decline BLUETEC Diesels at LA Auto Show

2006-11-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

The new BMW Hydrogen 7, which DailyTech first mentioned in September, will make its world debut at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car started production on November 13, and is being produced in a limited series will be sold to selected drivers worldwide in 2007. It is equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running either on hydrogen or on gasoline and based on the BMW 7 Series.

The Hydrogen 7 is powered by a 260 hp twelve-cylinder engine and accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62.1 mph) in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 143 mph, as is the case with many cars from BMW. For comparison, the petrol-only 6L V12 found in the 760Li outputs a maximum 438 hp and 444 lb-ft of torque for a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds; and the petrol 4.8L V8 pushes out 360 for both hp and torque figures, accelerating the 750i from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The Hydrogen 7 also features a dual-mode power unit that can switch quickly and conveniently from hydrogen to conventional premium gasoline at the touch of a button. Engine power and torque remain the same regardless of the mode of operation, so switching from one mode to another has no effect on the driving behavior and performance of the BMW Hydrogen 7.

Because there is not yet a full network of hydrogen filling stations in the United States, the BMW Hydrogen 7 features dual-mode drive technology gives a combined cruising range of over 400 miles – the hydrogen mode gives more than 125 miles, with another 300 miles in the gasoline mode. Fuel capacity is 74-litre (16.3 Imp gal) for gasoline and approximately 8 kilos (17.6 lb) of liquid hydrogen. The control system in BMW Hydrogen 7 gives priority to the use of hydrogen; and should one of the two types of fuel be fully consumed, the system will automatically switch over to the other type of fuel.

By using hydrogen produced from water and renewable energy, such as wind, sun or hydropower, in an internal combustion engine, the car's emissions in hydrogen mode are essentially nothing but vapor, allowing the water cycle to start again.

The knowledge gained in the PDP has not only made a decisive contribution to the everyday driving qualities of the BMW Hydrogen 7, but it will also significantly impact the development and production of future hydrogen vehicle concepts, with the principle of dual-mode drive and the features of other components now going through the strict test of everyday driving practice.

While BMW demonstrates a working and viable hydrogen-powered vehicle with the Hydrogen 7, the carmaker still estimates that the complete change from a fossil fuel infrastructure to a hydrogen economy will require decades. BMW views its Hydrogen 7 as a ‘pilot’ vehicle, and any data gathered from everyday driving will significantly impact the development and production of future hydrogen vehicle concepts for all carmakers, not just the one from Munich.

A production version of the BMW Hydrogen 7 will be on display for the first time for public eyes at the Los Angeles Auto Show December 1-10. Click here to view videos of the Hydrogen 7 on the road, the refueling process, engine animation and interview clips. Edmunds also has a writeup from one of the first test-drives of the new vehicle.

In other clean vehicle news, other German carmakers DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen and Audi announced that they would reveal at the auto show details on a “BLUETEC” alliance to help popularize diesel engine technology into North America. BLUETEC is being promoted as the world's cleanest diesel technology, using filters and clever chemistry to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

BMW declined to join its fellow countrymen in the BLUETEC crusade, saying that it has no current plans to offer its diesels in Bluetec form in North America. BMW is still investigating diesels that would satisfy California emissions, but first wants to develop a urea-based technology to reduce nitrogen oxides before considering a sustained entry into the U.S. diesel market, Reuters reports. “We are in the process of thinking of a name that is different from BLUETEC,” a spokesman for BMW said.

Hit the streets with 2007 Koenigsegg CCX

2006-11-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

Easily one of the hottest and most sought after supercars out there is the Koenigsegg CCX. Its uber exclusivity is almost enough to make you drool on its own, but when you get to take it for a test drive, my... you want it so much more. The lucky crew at WindingRoad had the opportunity to take this 806hp beast for a spin around the block, and of course they finished with big smiles on their faces.

To recap, you'll find a twin-supercharged 4.7L V8 powering this behemoth, providing peak power at 6900rpm. There's 678 lbs-ft of torque to enjoy at 5700rpm, with a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds. The price maybe a touch of deterrant -- $540,000 -- but it's a relative bargain compared to the million-dollar Bugatti Veyron.

BMW Incorporates Microcontrollers to Alter Handling

2006-11-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

The 2007 X5 will feature FlexRay-powered AdaptiveDrive that will change handling characteristics with a press of a button

BMW Group today announced the inclusion of the FlexRay communications protocol in the newly redesigned X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, which the carmaker hopes to further advance its efforts in its active suspension technologies.

Freescale Semiconductor will be producing the 32-bit FlexRay microcontrollers to help enable 10Mbit/s bandwidth for communication between systems for such automotive applications as active and passive safety, collision avoidance, powertrain management and driver assistance.

BMW’s adoption of FlexRay technology is expected to give drivers improved access to handling and stability control capabilities. With the simple press of a button, drivers of the new BMW X5 can choose a sporting or comfortable ride on the fly. BMW has named its new feature AdaptiveDrive, which is a combination of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control.

FlexRay technology is not exclusive to only BMW; DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and Volkswagen also belong to the FlexRay Consortium.

"The FlexRay communications standard is continuing to gain support with key OEMs in Europe, Japan and the United States and is expected to be used by vehicle makers to enable exciting new safety-critical and performance features, as well as making on-board networking of existing electronics systems more robust," said Chris Webber, vice president of the Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics. "Bringing this technology to the market first clearly demonstrates BMW's dedication to cutting-edge technology in providing its customer with innovative product features and an enhanced driving experience."

The new BMW X5 will be launched in North America at the end of November 2006 and will be available in other markets worldwide in spring 2007.

Police vihicles: Brabus CLS V12 S "Rocket"

2006-11-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

If you're tearing it up on the Autobahn, recklessly endangering the other motorists around you, the last thing you want to see in your rearview mirror is this beast. The Brabus CLS Rocket has got to be one of the fastest cop cars out there, thanks to its highly tuned 730 twin-turbocharged V12 engine. You likely won't be able to outrun this monster of a car, as it will very quickly catch up to you with its 225.19mph top speed.
It may not be the fastest police car -- that title may belong to the Porsche 911 Carrera S -- but this Brabus tuned CLS certainly goes like stink. Too bad it doesn't have those ram-guard things on the front.