New Porsche Concept sport Car

Who would have thought that you could have a mean looking, fast racing, good looking sports car that also has impressive green credentials? Well, that’s exactly what Porsche are proposing with their latest concept car: the Porsche 918 Spyder. Let’s take a closer look.

Ferrari FXX Sport Car

Ferrari introduced its new sport car during Auto Shanghai 2007. Known as the Ferrari FXX, the car is powered by V12 engine with 800 horsepower and six-speed semi-automatic transmission. The FXX accelerates from 0 to 100km/hour in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 370km/hour.

Via Aving USA

2006 Lotus Sport Exige GT3

A prototype of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 race car was unveiled at the annual FIA GT Championship presentation ceremony outside the world famous Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 2 December, 2005. The following day (2 December, 2005), the first test for the car took place at the high speed Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Southern France under FIA supervision, the first stage in the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 becoming eligible for FIA GT3 competition. This latest FIA series, which will start in 2006, is for race cars that have an equal power to weight, and that have a direct lineage to their road going versions.

The Lotus Sport Exige GT3 entrant has been developed by Lotus Sport, the performance arm of Lotus Cars and is a derivative of the standard Lotus Exige coupé model. Weighing in at approximately 750 kg, it stays true to the "performance through light weight" core Lotus philosophy. The car uses a race prepared 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine with a Roots type supercharger and air to air intercooler which utilises the Lotus T4e Engine Control Unit to produce 285 hp (289 PS) at 7,800 rpm. This gives an impressive power to weight ratio of 380 hp / tonne or 2.6 kg / PS.

Following a brief shakedown programme at the Lotus Test Track at Hethel, factory test driver Gavan Kershaw carried out final chassis set up work on wet tyres in the morning session at the Paul Ricard official FIA test. This was followed by an outing on slick tyres on a drying track by FIA nominated test driver Christophe Bouchut.

Commenting on the encouraging test session, Chris Arnold, General Manager of Lotus Sport, explained: "We were delighted to attend the official FIA test session. Considering the car was still on the drawing board two months ago it's a fantastic achievement by the team to complete the build in such a short time. We knew this test would be a first shakedown for the car on slicks and I'm very pleased with the results. Our winter development programme starts with a wind tunnel test just before Christmas followed by further work in preparation for the next FIA test in March."

The FIA has announced a five race European championship for the new GT3 class with rounds in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. Various national GT Championships are also considering amending their regulations to include a GT3 class.

Basic prototype specification
Like the standard Exige, the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 comes complete with the award-winning light weight bonded aluminium chassis. This is complemented by low weight 5-spoke forged alloy wheels, carbon body panels, and a revised high downforce aerodynamic package incorporating a race front splitter and adjustable carbon fibre rear wing.

An FIA 6-point roll cage, ignition kill switches, and uprated braking and suspension systems including Öhlins 3-way adjustable dampers also feature on the new race car. A 6-speed sequential transmission system, and full data logging system have been fitted to the single seater prototype vehicle.

Availability, full specification, and price of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 will be announced in early 2006.

Top 10 – Environment Friendly Sports Cars

“Go – Green” seems to be the automobile industry’s new mantra. As environmentawareness is growing into the mainstream, more and more car companies are developing green cars which have excellent designs and performance. A hindrance to the green cars was its’ incompetence with the big boys of the industry. Now these cars are getting fully-fledged in terms of speed & power and raring to go. The list that follows comprises the top 10 of the greenest, sexiest and fastest beauties on wheels.
  

Saab Aero-X is a concept car unveiled by Saab. It comes equipped with ethanol guzzling 2.8L twin-turbocharged, V6 engine that produces 650 hp and races from 0 to 60mph in 4.7 s. The entire top-canopy of the car opens up for entry & exit, making it one of the extraordinary designs. The maximum speed is 155 mph and has a 7-speed, manual transmission controlled by paddles on the steering wheel .

9. The Rinspeed sQuba

The sQuba is the world’s foremost car that can be driven on land as well as under water. It is developed by Swiss company Rinspeed. The sQuba is a zero emission, all-electric vehicle which uses 3 electric-motors, one for land and two for water. On land, it is powered by its electric, rear-wheel drive power-train to speed of 80mph, using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Upon entering water, it is powered by twin electric-powered propellers with two Seabob water jets and can be submerged to a depth of 10 meters. On the water surface, the speed is 3.7 mph and underwater it is 1.9 mph. It is almost out of your budget but is a real Bond car.

8. The Velozzi

The Velozzi is a hybrid vehicle created by Italian Team Velozzi to compete in the X-Prize’09 for environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and marketable vehicles. The car attains a top-speed of 200 mph and goes 0-60 in under 3 seconds. The hybrid’s gas tanks can be fuelled by anything ranging from gas, methanol and bio diesel to any normal alternative fuels. The Velozzi has the aura of an Italian car in its design.

7. The ZAP Alias

The ZAP Alias is the outcome of a partnership between ZAP (Zero Air Pollution) motors and the British car maker Lotus. It will do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and can reach a top-speed of 155 mph. The car comes with a unique three-wheeled-design. The car gets its speed and power from each of the two front wheels powered by its own electric-motor. The Alias delivers 100 miles per charge and is priced at about $35,000.

6. Venturi Fetish

Venturi Fetish is produced by Venturi in Monaco. Its top speed is only 100 mph, but it generates a plenty of power during the initial acceleration as it goes 0-60mph in about 5s. The batteries are all lithium-ion and offer a full recharge in 30 kWh three-phase. It runs at a reliable translation of 9.58: 1, with a torque of 162 lb ft. Unlike internal-combustion-engine cars, the maximum torque is available for all motor speeds including from a dead stop, due to the electric traction motor. Only, 25 of them are being produced in a year and can be yours only for the price of $500,000.

5. Citroen C-Metisse

It is a concept-car manufactured by the French car-maker Citroen. It was first introduced in the Paris auto show ‘06 as a hybrid car that has the same performanceas a diesel or gasoline powered car. The hybrid-powered C-Metisse can operate in a Zero Emission mode. It is an all electric mode perfectly suited for city cruising, at the same time giving you the diesel-engine power when needed in the motor way. The car can use front wheel, rear wheel and AWD depending on condition. It attains a top speed of 155mph and returns 36 mpg.

4. Toyota FT-HS

Toyota FT-HS is a hybrid sports concept car introduced at the North American International Auto Show ‘07. FT-HS denotes Future Toyota Hybrid Sport. The aesthetic beauty with a rear-wheel drive hybrid power- train produces 400 hp and achieves 0-60 mph in an astonishing 4 seconds. This is done by combining a 3.5 L V6 and an electric-motor. The hybrid car powers Toyota ’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

3. The Fisker Karma

The Fisker Karma is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) released by Fisker Automotive . It features the Q-Drive technology by which a small, gasoline-powered generator recharges the battery. It is powered by innovative petrol engine/electric-motors combination and can drive for 50 miles with a single plug-in. The Karma will be capable of 100 mpg and a top-speed of 125 mph. The Karma has built-in, roof-top solar panels to facilitate the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries and also to aid the cabin climate-control-system. That will cost over the $80,000 base price.

2. The Lightning GT

The Lightning GT is a battery electric sports car from the British manufacturer Lightning. The sports car will travel nearly 250 miles on a charge with its 36 kWh batteries by Altair Nanotech. Its PML Flightlink Hi-Pa Drive motors provide an output electrical equivalent of 650 hp. The Lightning GTS accelerates to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. The body made from carbon fiber and Kevlar composites results is a sleek, powerful-looking car. Priced at $300,000, this is the car eco-geek will want to drive.

1. The Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric sports car produced by Tesla Motors. It is probably the greenest sports car on the planet. Lotus helped in giving it a curvy, downright, sexy body-design. The Roadster can travel 244 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery and can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 3.9 s. Its top speed is electronically set at 125 mph. The Roadster gets 4.7 miles per kWh and offers a whopping 135 mile per gallon with 92% efficiency. You can not get a better green-car priced at $100,000.

Most expensive cars in the world

Every year a new dilemmas appears to find out the most expensive car in the world. Even in times of crisis, people love to buy expensive cars not just for driving , but also to show a good status of life. Which makes this business a success. The question of which car is the most expensive in the world could be a bit difficult to answer. You know it !!! In terms of production cars I can pretty easily come up with a factual list. Before we get started, a few notes to remember. There are single or custom cars that may exceed these prices. What you’ll see below are just the most expensive new models you can buy today in quantities of 20 or more. They are luxurious and extremely fast. It’s a very special car for customers who want to take the bespoke experience to a higher level. Surprisingly enough, you won't find Lamborghini, Bentley, Ferrari or Rolls Royce on this list. If your passion for performance and luxury autos cannot be stopped, then it’s time to find out the10 most expensive production cars available on the road today.........

1. Aston Martin One-77. It’s a $2.3 million hand-made coupe from Aston Martin. With a projected weight of 1,500kg the One-77 will occupy soon the very highest echelons of road car performance. Top speed is estimated at 220 mph and 60 mph arrives in 3.5 seconds. Thanks to the purity of a front-engined, rear-drive layout, the responsiveness and immense tractability of a naturally aspirated V12 and the low mass, high-rigidity properties of a carbon fibre chassis, this fabulous car promises a driving experience of unrivalled intensity and excitement while representing the world’s most desirable automotive art form. Aston Martin is building only 77 examples of this car. I want one !!!!

2. Bugatti Veyron. The Bugatti Veyron is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. The exotic two-passenger Bugatti Veyron is powered by a four-turbocharged, 8-liter, 16-cylinder engine that creates 1001 horsepower. A complicated 7-speed transmission and AWD system allows the Veyron to control the 1001hp. Its interior is almost completely leather upholstery, save the center console, and its body is fashioned with carbon fiber to offset the weight of the powertrain. Some unique features are a large rear spoiler that tips forward at elevated speeds to act as an air brake and a large interior cabin designed to accommodate six-foot seven-inch drivers. This remarkable car benefits from aeronautical and aerospace technologies, making it the fastest production car ever made. It can cost up to $1.2 million dollars right off the showroom floor if you opt for some designer special editions.

3. The Pagani Zonda is a mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani in Italy. Hard top version priced at $667,000.

4. SSC Ultimate Aero is aiming to be the fastest car in the world for half the price of the Veyron priced at $654,000.

5. LeBlanc Mirabeau is a street legal race car priced at $645,000. Mirabeau is the car from Wysstec GmbH and Leblanc cars. A real piece of art with the spirit of race and prepared to FIA/Le Mans standards. With this kind of potential, the Leblanc Mirabeau really belongs on the racing track. The fact that it is street legal, is almost unbelievable. Swiss supercar builders, Leblanc, designed the Mirabeau to comply with all the FIA / Le Mans Homologation standards to drive the racing version of the LeBlanc Mirabeau at Le Mans. Another remarkable car. This piece of art also can be driven on public roads, is sensational.

6. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo which is a real American 250 mph super exotic priced at $555,000.

7. Koenigsegg CCX Swedish with a top speed of over 250 mph priced at $546,000.

8. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren priced at $457,000.

9. Porsche Carrera GT priced at $440,000.

10. Maybach 62 priced at $385,000.

Only the richest of the rich can afford them, we can still dreaming..............

Honda Helix Adapts and Reacts To Specific Environments And Traffic Patterns

The Honda Helix concept with advanced adaptive polymers can change its shape, color and even material properties when required. The three distinct conformations of Helix are A, B and Z. The car is short and wide when it is in “A” status for lighter and intertwining road system cities where the vehicle can run fast. “B” is low and long Helix for sprawling cities where long distances are allowed for high speed voyage. For congested cities, the tall and thin “Z” model comes in where occupants seat vertically on two levels. The use of flexible and renovating multi-functioning parts, this car can react to particular environments and traffic conditions by changing the orientation for optimal user functionality and environmental operation.

The Honda Helix is a vehicle capable of adapting, evolving, and conforming to user needs anywhere in the world. Using insight gained from the human genome, biotechnology, and environmental forecasting, the Honda Helix will actively and dynamically conform to the user’s needs, in environments ranging from the congested skies of Japan, to the wide open roads of America.

(Click image for bigger view)

Peugeot+ Three Wheels Car Concept

With constant increase in the private cars and depleting fossil fuels, it is but obvious that the space on the road is reducing pretty fast. The designers are looking for solutions that work on alternate fuel while occupying lesser space. Designer David Vargas has designed a three wheel design for Peugeot Design, what he calls Peugeot. It’s a two-seater vehicle using smaller electric engine as compared to most cars of similar sizes, and the third wheel is added for better stability. The car is perfect for crowded parking lots and is easy to maneuver and the design has surely hit bull’s eye.