Hydrogen Car Scorpion by Ronn Motor
Wednesday, August 4, 2010A big factor holding up the push for alternative-energy vehicles is cost. Bringing alt-fuel to the masses means making it easy and cheap to reproduce. But until then, one sure way to get around the cost factor is to appeal to people for whom money is no object. Ferarri and Lamborghini are now underway developing hybrid/alt-fuel cars of their own, and Tesla’s roadster costs north of $100k.
Another contender, in the works for years and with a road-worthy prototype now complete, hails from the Ronn Motor Company. Called the Scorpion, this hydrogen-injected supercar hopes to turn the exotic world on its head.
Using the ultra-efficient and powerful Acura 3.5 liter V6, the Scoripion aims to make 450-650 horsepower while claiming 40 miles per gallon, thanks to its H2GO hydrogen injection system. The system injects hydrogen into the fuel stream, boosting mileage by 20-30% and dropping carbon emissions drastically. Hydrogen injection systems have gotten a bad rap, but the Scorpion has been designed from the ground up to utilize the system. Lets see a Ferarri get 40 MPG!
Of course help comes from the love-it-or-hate-it carbon fiber body and twin-turbo Acura engine. Weighing in at just 2,200 lbs, the Scorpion is even lighter than most Miatas. 650 horsepower is also definitely a possibility, since hydrogen can boost petrol’s octane rating to 130, which is higher than many 1,000+ horsepower drag cars run. Yes, the Scorpion does still use gas, but when it does make it to market it will be the Prius of supercars, considering many of them sometimes manage only single-digit gas mileage.
The best sports cars
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The motorcycle portion is built on a Laverda triple 1000cc base, giving it power and grace. And it needs it when it’s hauling around a sidecar that’s as big as a commuter car. But taken together, the motorcycle and sidecar just seem to blend together like they were born attached at the hip, which is likely just what the amazing vehicle’s creator was going for.
The literal sidecar was built from various pieces of a Citroen Xantia, a VW GTI and an Audi 80. Rather than going for the usual configuration of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle with a bridge connector, Snaefell decided to build a smooth body encompassing both parts of this extremely unusual vehicle. The result is something you’d probably have no choice but to stare at enviously if you saw it passing you on the highway.
It’s hard to understand how a car company employing the designer of the original Batmobile could go wrong. But Bricklin Motors amounted to little more than a couple of years of wasted time and a lot of debt in the end. Started in 1974 by American millionaire Malcom Bricklin (who, incidentally, had previously founded Subaru of America), the Canadian-built machines were supposed to be safe and economical sports cars. They boasted a ton of safety features and the world’s only powered gull-wing doors. But the visionary amateur car designers didn’t take into account the massive amounts of weight all those safety features would add, resulting in a clunky car. In addition, the acrylic fiberglass body wasn’t designed well and was prone to failure. Add to that the faulty radiators, and it was a recipe for failure.
But the icing on the fail cake was the fact that Bricklin borrowed over $4.5 million (Canadian) from the government under shady circumstances, then sold the cars at a significant loss: the manufacturing cost was $16,000 but the dealers’ cost was $5000 each. That amounted to gigantic, nonsensical losses. Overall, only 2,854 of the cars were manufactured before the company folded in 1976. The Bricklin SV-1 (which stood for “safety vehicle one”) wasn’t fated to fade into obscurity, though: the car still has a large fan following, and approximately 1100 of them still exist. Canada is still a big supporter of the failed car, and in 1996 issued a commemorative Bricklin stamp. Then in 2003, the Canadian Mint decided to commemorate the historic car once again with a $20 sterling silver Bricklin coin. The company may have been an overall failure, but it apparently has a permanent place in the hearts of Canadians.
Futuristic car
Palermo suggests that by 2050 we‚ All only be driving ourselves around on the weekends, with our transportation needs being handled by suspended rail systems. But when we need a leisurely Sunday drive, this MAGLEV - driven vehicle will let us take control and explore the world on magnetic wheels.
The main compartment of the two-passenger car shifts with turns to keep riders safe and comfortable as they ride along. Since the wheels are actually secured to the roadway with magnets, there is a much smaller chance of off-road crashes and rollovers.
The wheels on this futuristic vehicle are also quite astonishing. They allow for re-injection of rubber when the treads become worn or experience a flat. This feature would keep untold amounts of old tires out of the waste stream, which is a good thing for everyone involved. The retro-Mercedes-inspired concept is nowhere near becoming a reality, but the prospect of an agile sports car that‚ Äôs safe and fast is a decidedly intriguing one.
Amazing the automobile of a million dollars - Batmobile
The Batmobile was built over three and a half years, and has 700 horses under the hood. The automobile cost a million dollars to build, thereby proving that Bruce Wayne lives in Stockholm, and not the fictional Gotham City as publicized.
