It’s time for TopSpeed: Celebrity Edition! Per a report from TMZ, oft-troubled actress, Lindsay Lohan, learned that an 18-wheeler always wins against a Porsche 911. While driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, Lohan managed to plant the front end of her rented – yes, RENTED – Porsche 911 into the backside of an 18-wheeler.
Don’t worry, your favorite teen star gone awry is A-okay, as she went to the hospital for tests and was released shortly afterward. According to reports, she heading to the set of the TV show she is surprisingly starring in, “Liz & Dick,” when she smashed the Porsche into small bits of $100K plastic, metal, and rubber, and she is now on the set and in good health.
According to reports, Lohan is claiming that the accident was not her fault and that the 18-wheeler cut her off. Looking at the accident scene, we really don’t see how an 18-wheeler could possibly cut someone off and not leave enough time for the driver to respond. Unless, of course, she was driving really, really, REALLY fast. But, we’re not here to judge, we are simply stating what we can see from the images. We are certain that this is not the last we will hear about this accident.
We are all glad to hear she is in good shape, so we can all continue on our normal path of ignoring any piece of work that she happens to be in…
The thing with people who love cars and have the money to splurge on them is that if they’re not impressed with the stock model, they can go crazy with aftermarket enhancements.
Take this particular Rolls-Royce Ghost for example. Built by Polish interior specialist Carlex Design, this project called "Ghost Save the Queen" isn’t your typical interior enhancement because as Carlex Design puts it, "we are not afraid of challenges and seek original solutions, which produce stunning interior innovation and unique solutions."
With that in mind, Carlex Design backed it all up with an exterior that has been painted in a stunning Deep Green paint finish. The luxury limousine was also given a number of upgrades, including the use of luxury ostrich and kangaroo leather, the presence of a royal crown embroidered in the seats, plenty of chrome parts, and wool rugs that have a pile length of 2.5 cm.
The embroidered royal crown, in particular, is an ode to the Queen, something that you would’ve probably guessed considering that the name of the program is, after all, "Ghost Save The Queen."
All told, the entire build took two months to complete, and certainly, if a picture did paint a thousand words, it would be foolish to underestimate how far these guys do take the phrase "unique solutions" seriously.
One of the latest models created by Carroll Shelby is the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, so it’s not a surprise that this was the model featured in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
Next to Leno, Jamal Hameedi, SVT Chief Engineer, was also present providing all of us the best details on the new Mustang GT500. A very interesting thing to know is that Jay was the first guy outside of Ford to drive this 2013 high-performance model, but with a reputation like the one he has, that’s not surprising either!
As a reminder, the 2013 Ford Mustang GT500 is powered by a 5.8-liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 650 HP. Its top speed may reach up to 200 mph, making it the most powerful production V8 in the world! Check out the video to learn more about the amazing Shelby GT500!
Many families choose to take road trips over long weekends, and with Memorial Day being this weekend, more people than ever will take to the open road. This can be quite the scary notion for two distinct reasons. For starters, gasoline is spiking at $4.00 per gallon which makes travel expensive even just across town. The second reason is that more and more drivers on the road seem to be getting their drivers license without having taken the test. I drive roughly 20 minutes each way to and from work in Southern California and to be honest, I fear for my life nearly every time. Between cell phones, eating, passengers, and plenty of other distractions, it is a very dangerous world. Hopefully these tips can help keep you be safe and thrifty over the holiday weekend.
One way to temporarily increase fuel economy is by coasting to a stop. If you notice a light turn red in the distance - do not speed up just to stop short at the end. By letting the car coast as if it were in neutral you can boost gas mileage and save your brakes. The brakes on your car will ultimately bring you to a halt and keep your car from moving, but up until they are needed all they do is waste kinetic energy. Allowing your car to coast in stop and go traffic situations will allow the engine to work less, the brakes to work less, and will most likely cut down on those irritating false starts.
When we are driving around town, we love to be the first person at a stop light. It gives that sense of being at a drag strip when the light turns green and you get to essentially race against the other drivers. It turns out that my tactic of getting up to speed quickly may be more practical than reckless after all. The faster your car is traveling, up to a point, than the less your engine has to work in order to keep it moving. That means that when you start off slowly from a stop, your engine is having to exert more force and use more gasoline to get up to higher speeds. By moving through this lower efficiency time frame faster, you can ultimately increase your mileage. Popular Mechanics was able to discover that taking 15 seconds to accelerate your vehicle to 50mph uses less fuel than using 30 seconds to reach an equal speed.
Possibly the most quirky idea for saving fuel this weekend is to only make right turns. This is essentially playing a game against the flow of traffic. We all know that it takes less time to turn right on most streets than to sit in the left lane and wait for traffic to pass or a green arrow to appear. If you are able to avoid traffic by turning right, even if the distance ends up being further, than you may be able to gain a few precious mpgs by not waiting around at a light.
For the most part, most of today’s supercars call the European continent their home. The growing trend of these high-powered machines has stretched far and wide in the continent with established countries like Germany, Italy, and the UK being joined in the supercar arms race by Sweden, Denmark, and Spain, among other countries.
Now you can add Poland to the mix.
The country best known for their polish sausages is set to introduce their very first supercar courtesy of Arrinera Automotive. The name for this Lamborghini-inspired beast hasn’t been announced yet, but Arrinera has nonetheless released a number of renderings to give us a first look on what to expect when this Polish hammer hits the streets in the future.
Initial details behind the car suggest that it will ride on a tubular steel chassis and will come with a carbon Kevlar body with plenty of carbon fiber, aluminum accents, and premium leather upholstery. It will glide along the streets with large diameter light alloy wheels wrapped around ultra low profile tires, 255/30 R19 at the front and 335/30 R20 at the rear. Stopping power will come from Ceramic brake discs.
As for the powertrain, there are whispers that it will come with a mid-mounted 6.2-liter V8 engine with four Eaton superchargers, producing an output of 638 horsepower and 604 lb/ft of torque.
Automotive racing has a long history in many countries, but France was the first to hold a Grand Prix race. The small town of Pau hosted the event in 1901 on the short 1.7 mile course that runs through the town. The town is about 50km from the Spanish border and is known as a resort area set among beautiful rolling hills. It took them until 1933 to set up an annual Grand Prix race for the town, but ever since then its people have been enamored with racing.
This past weekend saw a change for this town and its racing heritage. Instead of roaring loud Formula 3 cars tearing up the race track, 12 drivers took electric race cars out for this new event. It must have been an odd sight considering that these petrol heads are used to the sounds associated with Formula racing and thrive upon the excitement, but this sleepy little French town was hardly even disturbed by the low hum emitted from these new race cars.
Talk about a ‘Unicorn Project’ if there ever was one. Jon Olsson, the Swedish free-skier and alpine ski race, has made no bones about his love for finely tuned supercars, which includes his own stable of machines like the Nissan R35 GT-R and the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Now, Olsson is collaborating with ADV.1 wheels to create and develop the “ultimate” Ultima GTR project. Details on the car are still not known with the exception of these jaw-dropping renderings, but if you know what the Ultima GTR is capable of, then you know that this car project is going to be a one sweet ride.
Fast, powerful, and road-legal, the Ultima GTR is one of the fastest vehicles on the planet, no questions asked. It’s got a Chevrolet-sourced 6.3-liter V8 engine that produces 543 horsepower – the chassis, however, can take in engines that have an output of well over 1,000 horsepower – and 528 lb/ft of torque. The car also weighs a little less than 1,000 kilos, thanks in large part to a number of lightweight materials, laminated glass, and a carbon fiber rear wing. According to ADV, the project is well on its way to developing so we’re going to stay tuned for all the important updates. For a car that has the stature of the Ultima GTR, we highly suggest that you do the same.
UPDATE 05/24/11: After a few months of lying under the sheets in constant testing and development, Jon Olsson’s Ultima GTR, which has since been christened the "Rebellion R1k", finally made its first appearance under the sun in Stockholm, Sweden. In this video captured by Olsson and his team, the Swedish ski racer takes his newly-built baby out for a nice test run along the streets of Stockholm while he prepares for the 2011 Gumball run from London to Monaco. Check out the look and sound of Olsson’s Rebellion Rk1 in all its fiery red glory.
Here’s another helpful infographic for all to ponder. Ever been hightailing it on the freeway when all of a sudden brake lights start lighting up like the Griswold house around Christmastime and you wonder why in the heck everyone has decided to slow down? It’s called a shockwave by traffic planners and it affects just about everyone at some point in time.
It starts off when one driver takes a bit too long to get into their lane or when something in the road catches their eye and they slow down to see if they should swerve or run over it. That minor change in one driver’s pattern begins a ripple effect that affects everyone behind them. All of a sudden, that driver is going 5mph slower than they were, making the person behind them slow down by 10mph to keep a safe driving distance. The more cars involved in this effect, the slower they have to drive to adjust to the change in flow. By the time everyone reaches the point where the original driver slowed down just a bit, there is no evidence as to why the change occurred and angry drivers chaulk it up to rubbernecking or bad driving.
It’s comparable to water flowing through a funnel. A slow drip flows smoothly down and exits freely; add a sudden rush of water and that funnel is now filling up and spilling over. Just something to think about next time you’re out on the freeway and are convinced some idiot just ruined your day.
We’re trying to gather up some of the roads less traveled in America as part of our Road Trip series and in doing so, have pieced together this little seven hour road trip near Los Angeles, California. This long and twisty trip starts off at Placerita Canyon Road and takes the traveler through a series of roads that offer many activities to entertain along the way before ending at East Sierra Madre Avenue.
Right off the bat, road trip attendees can capture the scenery of the western San Gabriel Mountains off of Placerita Canyon Rd. About two miles from Placerita Canyon Road’s intersection with California State Route 14, travelers can head up to Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch to check out the location used by the film industry for many shows and movies such as Independence Day, The X-Files, CSI, My Name is Earl, Entourage, Boston Legal, Bones, Sons of Anarchy, and American Idol.
Just like a cinematic trilogy, Swiss electric car maker Protoscar has introduced the third version of their Lampo concept line, called the Lampo 3.
The unveiling of the third concept line comes two years after the first Lampo first made waves at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009 and a year after the Lampo 2 was introduced to us. Three concepts in three years with no production version in the horizon.
Disappointing as that may sound, there’s just may be a little glimmer of hope for the Lampo 3. With the ultimate goal of producing a purpose designed premium electric sports car, Protoscar has spared no expense in developing every nook and cranny of the whole Lampo line, complete with over 30,000 kilometers of testing with the Lampo and Lampo 2.
All the testing and development was then put into the Lampo 3, marking the first time in the company’s three-year development phase that word is spreading of a limited production release sometime in the future.
Whether there’s truth to that or just a product of wishful thinking, one thing we know is that there’s some legitimate buzz going on about the Lampo 3. Let’s hope that this ’buzz’ leads to something a little more concrete.
A few days ago, we were introduced to a pair of concept race cars for the upcoming IndyCar seasons courtesy of its builder, Dallara. Today, we’re introduced to the Formulec EF01, the first of what appears to be a new generation of single-seater electric race cars that will participate in the upcoming Formulec World Series in 2012.
And who said that automotive competitions aren’t safe from the electric revolution?
The Formulec EF01 was designed and created by South African firm Formulec and its partner, SEGULA Technologies and was built with the intention of combining speed and efficiency with sustainability and an eye towards environmental responsibility. Despite its electric nature, the EF01 is still capable of posting a north-to-60 mph time of just three seconds and a top speed of 150 mph.
This electric race car differentiates itself from the rest of its gas-emitting brethren through a technology that puts importance on hi-performance connectors that are used for the high current and high voltage - 250A/400-800V - DC connection for the battery, junction box, and the inverter.
The EF01 is scheduled to participate in the Formulec World Series in 2012 in an effort to establish the series as the first electric single-seater competition in the world. For the 2012 season, 10 races are expected to take place with the target for 2013 allowing world class drivers to test their racing know-how on board an EF01.
The end result – or goal – is to create the 2014 Formulec World Championship, which will be participated in by automakers and their newly built and developed electric racers.
The future of electric single-seater racing has arrived. Whether it shapes up to be the future of automotive racing remains to be seen.
In our efforts to gather some cool graphics for our Car Infographics series, we’ve come across an interesting little tidbit about how much we pay for gas in comparison to the many other things we use on a daily basis. Yes, we may use a heckuva lot more gas than we do, say, nail polish, but the price tags associated with many of these items are a bit astronomical when looked at on a per gallon basis.
Let’s take shampoo, for instance. Americans pay about $28.60 per gallon of the stuff and that’s nothing compared to the $32 per gallon we pay for that delicious Starbucks Grande Latte. Even Fiji Water is emptying our pockets of $10.24 per gallon and that energy kick from Red Bull costs us $28.16 per gallon. The most expensive price per gallon on the list? Try justifying $1,024 per gallon of nail polish.
There’s plenty more comparisons in the image, including gallon prices for milk, orange juice, and even some alcoholic beverages. Make sure you check them out right before you go fill up your car’s gas tank. The prices may not be comparable to the usage of the product, but it may make us feel a bit better about paying $4 per gallon to get us from point A to point B.
Hennessey Performance have revealed the official details on the Venom GT supercar. Based on a Lotus Elise, their kit will be limited to only five units, four of which have already being spoken for.
The Venom GT is powered by a supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 engine, same used in the Corvette ZR1, that delivers a total of 725 bhp. And if this is not enough, the tuner will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. With a curb weight of 2,685 lbs, the 1200 HP Venom GT will hit a top speed of 275 mph.
The supercar features lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels, a programmable traction control system, CFD (computational fluid dynamic) tested bodywork, an active aero system with adjustable rear wing, and an adjustable suspension system.
Prices start at $725,000 for the 725 HP variant, and go up to $950,000 for the 1200 HP Big Daddy model.
UPDATE 05/17/2011: The review has been updated with more information on the Venom GT, including the fact that the limited run of 10 units has been taken down to only five units. The Venom GT will be making its European show debut at Salon Prive’ London from June 22 - 24, 2011 and its first track appearance will be in the Supercar Run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 1 - 3, 2011.
Exterior and Interior
The Venom GT started its life as a Lotus Elise and focused as much as possible on weight reduction. For that, Hennessey added lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and 20" carbon fiber wheels wrapped in massive Michelin PS2 tires. The car gets Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in rear clamping down on 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors.
Hennessey is also offering an active aero system with an adjustable rear wing that will deploy under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack. Customers will also be able to adjust the ride height according to speed and driving conditions thanks to an adjustable suspension system.
Engine
For the Venom GT, Hennessey uses a Corvette ZR1 sourced 376 cid aluminum V8 engine that delivers an impressive 725 HP. The engine sends its power to the rear wheels via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox and handling is facilitated by a KW variant three-adjustable coilover suspension.
The tuner is also offering 1000 HP and 1200 HP twin turbo V8 engine variants that utilize twin precision ball bearing turbochargers. In the more powerful version, the Venom GT pushes out 1200 HP at 6,500 rpm and 1,155 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. That translates into a specific output of 166 HP/L and a HP/Weight of 767.23 per ton (2.61 lbs/HP).
Getting to the numbers that are a little easier to swallow, the 1200 HP Venom GT will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and to 200 mph in 15.9 seconds. The tuner has also reported a top speed of 275 mph.
Prices
Hennessey will only produce 5 units of the Venom GT, and four of them were reserved even before the car was launched. The 750-hp Venom GT price starts at $725,000, while the 1,200-hp version goes up to $950,000 plus shipping. At this price, customers will also be getting a 2yr/24,000 mile warranty. Each model will take six months to build.
There are also a few options that can be thrown into your Venom GT for a price. Check them out in the table provided.
Options & Personalization
Price
Right-Hand Drive
$28,225
Center Locking Hubs / Wheels
$37,500
Dry “Naked” Carbon Fiber Exterior
$375,000
Competition
With that amount of power and a 267 mph top speed, the Venom GT will tackle the latest Bugatti Veyron Super Sport head on. We know there is a huge difference between the two models, but power and mph are the only two taken under consideration here.
The Bugatti model is powered by a W16 engine that delivers a total of 1200 HP and has already established an impressive world record: 267 mph. All Hennessey has to do now is challenge that record. It already beats the Veyron in the 0-200mph sprint with a time of 15.9 seconds, compared to the Veyron’s 24.2 seconds, so maybe it will be an attainable goal.
2011 Hennessey Venom GT Specifications
Engine Chevrolet LS V8
Block Aluminum
Size 376 CID (6.2 Liter)
Position Mid Longitudinal
Compression 8.8:1
Redline 7,200 rpm
Forced Induction Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers
Oiling System Dry Sump
Valvetrain OHV, 2 Valves per Cylinder
Fuel System Sequential Multi-Port Electronic Fuel Injection
Power
Horsepower 1,030 bhp @ 6,500 rpm (933 rear wheel hp)
Torque 972 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm (874 rear wheel lb-ft)
Specific Output 166 bhp / Liter
BHP / Weight 767.23 hp per ton (2.61 lbs / hp)
Boost 16 psi (1.1 bar)
Fuel 93 octane
Transmission
Type Ricardo 6-Speed Manual
Gear Ratios 2.61:1, 1.71:1, 1.23:1, 0.94:1, 0.77:1; 0.63:1
Final Drive 3.36:1
If anyone is in the Texas area and looking for a little time away from home, check out this 320 mile road trip from El Paso, TX to Big Bend. This trip guides drivers through where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico meet and provides ample opportunities to take advantage of a bit of culture.
On this trip, vacationers will be able to ride through the arts community in Marfa, Texas on Route 67, where the famous Marfa Ghost Lights will be waiting for your viewing pleasure. These lights are known as a paranormal phenomenon, but some people with a little less flair for the dramatic believe they are just atmospheric reflections of auto headlights and campfires. Others even say they are just static electricity or the more eccentric, swamp gas. Whatever they are, they draw many visitors every year, so take a trip and decide for yourself.
Map of Big Bend National Park
Another big feature for this particular road trip is the Big Bend National Park where about 364,876 people visit every year (number taken from 2008 figures) for hiking, camping, and rafting. There are picnic areas, front country and back country camping, and about 201 miles of hiking trails. On a more educational note, there are 287,342 catalogued museum objects and about 2,340 sites for archeological resources to date.
Big Bend National Park
Animal lovers will also have their fair share of critters to check out. Big Bend is home to many different animals, including the more interesting mountain lions, snakes, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes. Visitors are instructed to check their shoes, sleeping bags, and bedding before sticking any one of your body parts in them, and always carry a flashlight at night. This all sounds a bit scary, but the warning is there so people can travel safely. Only three mountain lion attacks have been reported in the last decade, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Big Bend National Park
Another thing to look out for is sunburn and dehydration. Big Bend encourages everyone to stay hydrated with at least one gallon of water per person/ per day of their trip. It is also important to apply sunscreen and, although it may be tempting, don’t swim in the Rio Grande. If swimming is important to add to your agenda then a three hour drive north to the Balmorhea State Park is in order. If more driving is not on the agenda, then take a soak in Big Bend’s hot springs.
Pixar has released its final trailer video for the new Cars 2 just a month before the movie will be released in theaters. This trailer also incorporates some official specifications of some of the movie’s main characters, including Lightning McQueen’s competition for the World Grand Prix.
Our favorite little red racer is Lightning McQueen with his 750 HP V8 engine. This engine can get the champion from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 200 mph. For the sequel, Lightning’s competition gets pretty stiff with Francesco Bernoulli, who also develops 750 HP, but can hit a top speed of 220 mph. His 0-60 mph sprint is also significantly better with a 2.5 seconds time. Guess Lightning McQueen will have to have a few tricks up his sleeve to pull this one off.
Make sure you check out Cars 2 when it hits theaters June 24, 2011!
Lightning McQueen
Hometown: Radiator Springs, Carburetor County
When the name Carroll Shelby is brought to our attention, the first thing we all think of is the legendary Shelby Cobra, a car that has to be considered as one of the most popular and iconic in automotive history.
That car propelled the name Shelby to staggering heights. So much so, in fact, that Shelby has become a licensing juggernaut within the industry, having been involved with a number of companies - Classic Recreations and Superformance come to mind – who specialize in building replicas of the iconic vehicle. The latest company to strike a deal with Shelby is Felt Bicycles, which released a special edition line of cruiser bicycles called ‘the Shelby Cruiser’.
The bicycle is made from Felt’s very own hydro-formed aluminum tank frame that also comes with a three-speed Shimano Nexus internal gearing and 36-spoke wheels wrapped in “blue dot” tires to assimilate the look of racing tires. Each of the limited edition bicycles will also come with its own individual badging and serial number to ensure its authenticity. And to ensure that the Shelby image exudes in the “Shelby Cruiser”, Felt decided to splash the iconic Wimbledon White paint finish and accentuated by Guardsman Blue racing stripes in honor of Shelby’s iconic two-tone finish.
If you’re interested in scooping up this limited edition bicycle, you can get one through Felt Bicycles and its retailers for a princely sum of $999.
When Hublot and Formula One struck a partnership last year for the former to serve as the official timepiece maker of the latter, you kind of expected the watchmaker to roll out a slew of special edition timepieces. Since then, we’ve seen a number of limited edition watches from Hublot and now, they’re preparing to release their latest model. It is called the Hublot Formula 1 King Power Ceramic Watch and will only come in a limited run of 500 pieces.
Coming in a matte black ceramic King Power style case measuring 48 mm wide, the watch was given black and red tones with a strap mixed with titanium tones. There’s also a ceramic bezel placed over a carbon fiber plate and a black Nomex strap with red stitching attached to the case. All the elements used on the watch boast of premium quality, something that you would expect from the luxurious and extravagant world of Formula 1.
Aesthetically, it doesn’t get any better than this. It’s one of the best race-themed watches we’ve seen in a long time, and as a special edition, we expect it to be run dry faster than a Red Bull RB7 laps the Nurburgring.
Good news for all of you out there who were expecting the new Test Drive Unlimited 2: starting today the game is available into retail stores. With $50 you can get a game for the Xbox 360 or entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC and Windows PC Download.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 blends single player and multiplayer experiences seamlessly, creating a dynamic world of evolving content and challenges. Players define their online persona through unparalleled customization of their avatars and vehicles, and the acquisition of property, clothing and other accouterments of a luxurious international lifestyle.
"Test Drive Unlimited 2 continues to redefine the racing genre with massively open world online racing," said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, SA. "We’re proud to unleash this game to our loyal community as they experience a dynamic environment filled with highly detailed limited edition automobiles, skill and luxury."
Red Bull has more than a few ways of giving us a good ’ol morning jolt. The people of downtown Atlanta can attest to that.
Recently, the energy drink / racing team brought two of their esteemed drivers - Rhys Millen and Ryan Tuerck - to Atlanta for a smoke-inducing drift session as part of Red Bull’s Peachtree Drift Battle. While it wasn’t entirely a head-to-head duel between Millen’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Tuerck’s Pontiac Solstice Coupe, the two did provide a highly different way for commuters to start their day.
It’s not every day you get a chance to see rampaging drift cars plowing through Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. And as one commuter will attest, we’ll never look at Peachtree Street the same way ever again.
Check out the video for all the pulse-pounding and - in this case, morning-jolting action - as Millen and Tuerck give the innocent bystanders of downtown Atlanta a different kind of wake-up call.
The automotive world is preparing for the ultimate gas price takeover and more and more start up companies are waiting to hit it big in the electric car business. Small start-up company, Delta Motorsport, is one of these hopefuls and their latest project, the Delta E-4 Coupe, has a winning combination of performance and electricity.
The Delta E-4 Coupe is a very compact, light weight, low drag, 4-seat passenger car that the company has been working on since 2007. The idea behind this model was to build an ultra low energy vehicle, and not just a vehicle that provides low emissions. The company feels that any car can provide low emissions if run on batteries, but bigger automobiles - like the Audi Q7 or the BMW X5 - will still be depleting energy at a much faster rate than smaller, more lightweight vehicles. They go on further to explain that automakers, after creating all of these low emissions vehicle, will eventually have to focus more on reducing the energy used by these models.
Enter the E-4 Coupe.
It may not be the prettiest vehicle we’ve ever seen, but it is certainly impressive nonetheless with a carbon composite chassis that weighs only 187 lbs and high performance direct-drive electric motors that together can get the E-4 all the way up to a top speed of 150 mph. Want fast results? The E-4 Coupe can get from 0-60 mph in under five seconds.
Get ready folks, the electric car phenomenon has just taken its next step.
Design
The Delta E-4 Coupe has a 187 lbs carbon composite chassis that was designed by the Delta Motorsport team at the Silverstone track (that’s where the company is based) and manufactured by KS Composites. The body of the car is a little too Ferrari FF meets ugly hatchback, but the lightweight aspect gets the job done.
"We became involved with the design of hybrid and electric vehicles because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motor sport – light weight parts, aerodynamic efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. We’ve had to re-think road cars from the beginning, looking at low cost composite structures, system efficiencies and novel occupant packaging."
Performance
When building an electric sports car, it’s not just about a reduction of weight, but a good amount of power as well. The Delta E-4 Coupe is powered by high performance direct-drive electric motors that come in weighing about 50.7 lbs. These motors produce over 120 HP each with well over 442 lb-ft of torque, allowing the E-4 Coupe to get from 0-60 mph in less than five seconds and hit a top speed of 150 mph.
The motors used for the E-4 take their power from the batteries mounted under the floor which brings the center of gravity down and improves handling. These batteries are good for about 200-250 miles on a single charge.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Five vehicles were produced for the Technology Strategy Board Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Program, but the Delta E-4 Coupe will be taking part in the RAC Future Car Challenge on Saturday, November 5th, 2011. The event challenges every Electric, Hybrid, and Low-Emission ICE vehicle to make a 60 mile run from Madeira Drive, Brighton to Pall Mall & Regent Street, London, all while using a minimal amount of energy.
