Super Electric Car : Ariel Atom Wrightspeed X1: 0-60 mph in 3.07s

The Ariel Atom Wrightspeed X1 is an Ariel Atom sports car heavily modified to use an all-electric powertrain. The Atom was chosen for its light weight and efficient design.

The electric motor and inverter are sourced from AC Propulsion, makers of the TZero concept car, while the batteries are low weight, high energy density lithium ion provided from A123 Systems. As with the Atom the transmission is a Honda unit, but stripped of its shifting mechanism and other parts to provide only the second gear speed, allowed by the wide speed and torque range available from the electric motor.

Ariel Atom Wrightspeed X1 Built by San Francisco-based New Zealand engineer Ian Wright, the X1 created a stir when it bested several sports cars in a drag race, including a Carrera GT (though with a rolling start, a disadvantage for the gas burning vehicles), all while being filmed by local news station KRON 4. Despite the impressive performance, the vehicle is intended only as a proof of concept. Future production is planned; however, according to the website, “… the production car will be quite different, since it will meet the safety standards, which the prototype does not. It will, however, be at least as quick as the prototype.” Mr. Wright was an early employee of electric-car company Tesla Motors, but soon left to pursue his own ideas.

Tags: ac induction motor, ac propulsion, Ariel, ariel atom, Atom, concept, ft lbs torque, kron 4, local news station, mpg, mph, prototype, race, Super, tesla motors, torque, torque range, use, weight, wrightspeed x1

Posted in Ariel Atom, British Sports Cars, Electric Cars, Super Cars | 89 Comments »

Dream Road : Ferrari F40

The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it held the title as the world’s fastest street-legal production car, and during its years of production, was Ferrari’s fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car. The car had no traction control, and was one of the few to utilize turbochargers.

The car debuted with a factory suggested retail price of approximately US$400,000, although some buyers were reported as paying as much as US$1.6 million. A total of 1,315 F40s were produced.

Power came from an enlarged, 2.9 L (2936 cc) version of the GTO’s twin IHI turbocharged V8 developing 478 PS (352 kW; 471 hp) under 110 kPa (16 psi) of boost. The F40 did without a catalytic converter until 1990 when US regulations made them a requirement for emissions control reasons. The flanking exhaust pipes guide exhaust gases from each bank of cylinders while the central pipe guides gases released from the wastegate of the turbochargers.

Tags: car, coupé, dream road, emissions control, exhaust gases, exhaust pipes, ferrari 288 gto, ferrari f40, ground, Lamborghini, mph, pipe guides, porsche 959, production, rear wheel drive, successor, vehicle, version, weight

Posted in Ferrari, Italian Sports Cars, Sports Cars, Super Cars | 245 Comments »

Super car : Lamborghini Reventón

Lamborghini presents the ultimate driving machine in the open two-seater – the Lamborghini Reventón Roadster sports car one of the breathtaking fascination, threatening power and unmatched performance. The 6.5-liter twelve cylinder 493 kW (670 hp) is generated, catapults the Roadster 0-100 km / h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 330 km / h (205 mph).The open-top Lamborghini Reventón is not only one of the fastest, but also one of the most exclusive cars in the world – Lamborghini, the limited series.

The Lamborghini Reventón is not destined for a one-time stay. Less than 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors, these extraordinary use of the car and of course, own, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving.

Any Lamborghini Reventon Roadster will be sold for 1.1 million euro (excluding taxes). Delivery will start in October 2009.

“The Reventón’s most extreme car in the history of the brand,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA The new Roadster an additional emotional component adds to combine our technology expertise – it combines superior performance with the sensual attraction of the open car. “The Lamborghini Reventón coupe was unveiled at the IAA 2007 in Frankfurt and was immediately sold out.

Tags: acceleration, automobili lamborghini spa, body, car, emotional component, extreme car, fiber, incomparable pleasure, Lamborghini, lamborghini diablo, lamborghini diablo roadster, matte, percent, Reventon, sant agata, stephan winkelmann, wedge shape, weight

Posted in Italian Sports Cars, Lamborghini, Sports Cars, Super Cars | 113 Comments »

Classic Cars Wanted : Citroen DS

Classic Cars Wanted The Citroen DS was a car from the French manufacturer Citroën executive 1955-1975 produced. Styled by the Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni, French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre was the DS is known for its futuristic aerodynamic body design and innovative technology, including a hydraulic self-leveling.

The DS advanced attainable standards in the automobile ride, handling and braking. Citroën sold nearly 1.5 million D-run series during the model’s 20-year production. The DS was third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, recognizing the world’s most influential car developed and was the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car magazine.

Classic Cars Wanted Citroen DS Model History

Avant After 18 years of development in secret as the successor to the venerable Traction DS was 19 on 5th October 1955 on the Paris Motor Show. The car looks and innovative technology, the imagination of the public and the automobile industry almost overnight. In the first 15 minutes of the show were taken over 743 orders and orders for the first day was 12,000.

Tags: aerodynamic body, aeronautical engineer, attainable standards, car, Citroen, citroen ds, italian sculptor, level, Magazine, model, paris motor, postcolonial world, production, roland barthes, time, weight, wheel, world war ii

Posted in Citroen, Classic Cars | Comments Off

The Audi R8 Super Car

Audi R8 has made a spectacular debut at the Mondial de l’ Automobile in Paris in 2006. The super ultra-high performance Audi R8 combines the best tradition of classic sports cars buildings futuristic, suspension and technology transfer supported by the reassertion of power system Four-wheel drive. Longitudinally mounted behind the cab of his relatively light 1560 kg of aluminum-bodied sports car Audi V8 is a powerful engine.

Freewheeling limit of 8,250 rpm, the Audi R8 can operate at 62 km / h in a matter of 4. 6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 187 mph, which is extraordinary for a continuous path of Audi. fans of sports cars can choose a transmission six-speed transmission transmits torque to drive four-wheel racing as inspired “R tronic” sequential gearbox with paddle joysticks and control using cable technology, probably change appeal to driving purists, as they provide an unparalleled gears rapid change.

Tags: Audi, audi r8, center, change, Classic Sports Cars, coupé, door, double wishbone, fluid dampers, magnetic particles, mondial de l automobile, r8 audi, ride, road, sequential gearbox, sump lubrication, Super, technology, weight

Posted in Audi, German Sports Cars, Sports Cars, Super Cars | 9 Comments »

The King of Supercars in 1970 – 1980 : Lamborghini Countach

The Italian word Countach is not easy to be translated straight into English. It is an expression of amazement, like: “Wow, Look at that!”. That was exactly how people reacted when they saw the new Lamborghini Countach prototype in 1971 Geneva Motor Show. His name tells us all: Lamborghini wanted to build the most spectacular sports car of all time, would be far more advanced than his time, an even greater impact than Miura was doing would kill himself, would be the dream car of every student in the following years.

Having tasted first success with Miura, Bertone’s chief designer Marcello Gandini drew an even imaginative and radical design for the new Lamborghini supercar. Its appearance can be described as space-time. Never before has a production car looked as sharp as a knife, with a non-proportional body, a windshield so fast, spectacular looking “scissor doors” (another brilliant gimmick, because “Gullwing”), sky-looking windows, a sharp yet flowing waist line targeted mounting hood and a tail that looked like a spaceship!

Tags: aluminum alloy, Anniversary, appearance, body, car, double wishbone, edition, emission, geneva motor, lamborghini countach, marcello gandini, mph, new lamborghini, scissor doors, spectacular sports, Supercars, ventilated disc brakes, weight

Posted in Italian Sports Cars, Lamborghini, Sports Cars, Super Cars | Comments Off

Flying Car : Terrafugia Transition

Flying Car The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable aircraft under development by Terrafugia since 2006.
The Rotax 912S piston engine powered, carbon-fiber vehicle is planned to have a flight range of 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km) using automotive grade unleaded gasoline and a cruising flight speed of 107 mph (93 kn; 172 km/h). It does not include an autopilot.

On the highway, it can drive up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) to keep up with traffic. The Transition Proof of Concept’s folded dimensions of 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) high, 7 ft 6 in (2.3 m) wide and 19 ft 6 in (5.9 m) long are designed to fit within a standard household garage. When operated as a car, the engine powers the rear wheel drive. In flight, the engine drives a pusher propeller. The Transition has folding wings, pusher propeller and twin tail.

Tags: airventure oshkosh, car, extra 110, FAA, Flying Car, light sport, maximum takeoff weight, mph, piston engine, Proof, pusher, pusher propeller, range, road, Rotax, rotax 912s, terrafugia transition, unleaded gasoline, weight

Posted in Flying Car | 47 Comments »

Classic Sports Cars : Ferrari Testarossa

The Ferrari Testarossa is a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports cars from Ferrari, whose production was established in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer made. The Pininfarina-designed car was originally produced from 1984 to 1991 with two model revisions after the completion of the Testarossa production and the introduction of the 512 TR and F512 M, which produced 1992 to 1996. Nearly 10,000 Testarossa, 512 TR and F512 female were produced, making it one of the most common Ferrari models, despite the high price and exotic design. In 1995, retail sales of the F512 M for $ 220,000. The word Testarossa is Italian for “redhead”.

The Ferrari Testarossa is a two-door model with a fixed roof at the 1984 Paris Motor Show debut. All versions of the Testarossa had the power delivered to the wheels of a rear-mounted, five-speed gearbox. The rear engine, rear-drive layout (the engine between the axles, but behind the cab), the focus in the middle of the car, which improves stability and improve handling in curves, and thus leads to a constant weight distribution of 40%-60% back.

Tags: 550 maranello, Berlinetta, body, car, cars ferrari, Classic Sports Cars, enzo ferrari, ferrari berlinetta boxer, ferrari f512, ferrari models, gt sports car, Italian sports cars, model, paris motor show, Pininfarina, Rossa, stability, Testarossa, weight

Posted in Classic Cars, Ferrari, Italian Sports Cars, Sports Cars | Comments Off