Super Lotus

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/236575/lotuss_reborn_esprit_gets_v10_power.html



Report from AutoExpress.co.uk

A legendary Lotus is returning – it’s the new Esprit! The dust has only just settled on the stunning Evora, but already the Norfolk firm is setting its sights even higher. And our exclusive pictures show how the reborn supercar will take shape.

The entry-level Esprit will be equipped with a tuned version of the Evora’s 3.5-litre V6, producing around 300bhp, while a mid-range model gets the 414bhp 5.0-litre V8 from the Lexus IS F. But taking the new Lotus into the big league will be the earth-shattering 550bhp 4.8-litre V10 from the upcoming LF-A supercar.

Mated to a six-speed semi-automatic paddleshift transmission, this unit should provide the Esprit with performance to match some of the fastest cars on the planet.

A 0-60mph sprint time of less than four seconds is expected, and judging by pre-production testing of the LF-A (see Issue 1,066), the car is likely to hit a top speed in excess of 200mph.

Nice looking car and a promise to be fast. Probably expensive too. While I'm sure I would never be able to have one I can't wait to see one in person someday.

Nissan Introduces Dual Injectors

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/07/14/nissan-introduces-new-dual-injector-system-for-increased-fuel-efficiency/

Nissan announced today that they have developed a dual-injector system to increase fuel-efficiency on its small-displacement gasoline engines.

“The new fuel delivery system, the first of its kind in the world, uses an injector for each port rather than one per cylinder - speeding up fuel vaporization, reducing the amount of unburned fuel and reducing hydrocarbon emissions, Nissan said in a statement.

Amazing the advances automotive engineers have been able to come up with in the last couple of years since they have been really pushed finally to stop building the same old junk they had for so long. You have to wonder what the internal combustion engine has coming for us next.

Open source car?

http://wardsauto.com/ar/riversimple_urban_london_0907010/

Former British racecar driver Hugo Spowers unveils the 2-seat fuel cell-powered Riversimple Urban Car in London, which will see 10 prototypes built by the end of 2010 and 50 more by the end of 2011.

Beginning in 2013, the vehicle will be available for a jaw-dropping 20-year lease at a cost of £200 ($315) per month, which includes fuel, Spowers says.

The major investor in the Riversimple car is Sebastian Piech, great-grandson of Porsche AG founder Ferdinand Porsche and nephew of Volkswagen AG supervisory board chairman Ferdinand Piech.

Nine years in development, the Riversimple car weighs a mere 772 lbs. (350 kg), and developers claim it achieves a fuel economy of 300 mpg (0.78 L/100 km), emitting just 30 g/km of carbon dioxide.

“We believe we are closer to market with a commercially viable fuel-cell car than anyone else,” Spowers says.

The FCV's simple design, which eschews gearbox, drive shaft and heavy power-assist braking and steering, enables it to run on the minuscule 6 kW fuel-cell stack. In comparison, larger FCVs from major auto makers typically have at least 100 kW fuel cells.

Spowers forecasts production of 5,000-10,000 units of the FCV annually. He also promises the company will provide free, “open-source plans” on the Internet for downloading in order for entrepreneurs to develop their own variations of the vehicle.

Other manufacturers also will be able to source parts locally, with the only stipulation being any improvements must be shared, so the entire network of builders can benefit.

Unfortunately the top speed is only 50 mph, but since it is open source I'm sure others will quickly get that up to highway speeds. This may be the vehicle to change the future of motoring, we'll just have to wait and see.

Lightning Car Company

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/07/03/lightning-car-company-plans-three-additional-electric-models/

The creators of the Lightning GT electric-sports cars are planning three additional models, reports AuotCar. The Lightning GT is scheduled to go into production early next year with a starting price-tag of around £120,000 ($196,014 USD).

The 700 horsepower Lightning GT EV is capable of traveling 250 miles with only 10 minutes of charging. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph.

That's quite an advanced system it has if it can charge for 10 minutes and then drive 250 miles. And a 700hp electric motor, that is impressive. Can't wait for more specs on it and when it will actually be available. Unfortunately it sounds like they are a high end automaker only and normal people will not be able to get one of these.

NHTSA considering amber turn signal mandate

While many cars sold in North America feature red turn signal indicators built into their rear light clusters, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the amber signals installed in some cars can be more than 5 percent more effective at preventing wrecks than their red counterparts, which the agency says blend too much with brake lights.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/nhtsa-considering-amber-turn-signal-mandate.html

I bet if people actually used their turn signals it would be even more effective in preventing the wrecks. Every little bit helps though.

New prototype engine

http://wardsauto.com/home/scuderi_engine_fired_090701/

Key to the powerplant is the split-cycle design, which separates the intake and combustion processes into separate cylinders. Air compressed in the first cylinder (at a 100:1 ratio) is transferred via a crossover passage to the combustion cylinder, where fuel is indirectly injected by twin injectors.

It takes just one crankshaft revolution to complete a single combustion cycle, rather than the two revolutions required by conventional engines. Scuderi says it is possible to get 140 hp from a 1L displacement, using its design.

This sounds like a very promising new engine although it doesn't say what kind of mileage it gets. It could be like a rotory engine that is 1.3L but gets the mileage of a 3.6L. Hopefully that is not the case since it does cut the emission levels. And 140HP from a 1L engine, WOW! Now if they could just get it to run off hydrogen.