2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

The British manufacturer, Lotus, prepares the launch of a limited edition model, inspired by Formula 1, the performance is sure to be nothing short of spectacular! That will be available for purchase for any enthusiasts that affords the huge price of 780,000 euros ( $1,000,000 ). The entry ticket will give the owner access to special track days and instruction from actual Formula 1 drivers in not just driving but also fitness.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Named Exos T125, the model has the looks of a Formula 1 car. The 2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125 is an exclusive ultra high performance F1™ inspired race-car complete with Cosworth 3.5 litre GP V8 engine, the same company that supplies engines for the Lotus Formula 1 squad and other teams.

Smith characterizes it as a detuned race engine; outputs are 640 hp at 9800 rpm and 332 lb-ft of torque at 7600 rpm linked to a six-speed semi automatic gearbox with paddle shift and  while the maximum revs will reach 10,300 rpms (Real F1 cars use 2.4-liter V-8 engines that can rev to a maximum of 18,000 rpm; no team discloses its engine’s power output.) A bespoke carbon composite with nomex and aluminium core chassis with carbon composite panels contribute to a super light weight of just 560kg resulting in a phenomenal power to weight ratio of nearly 1000 hp per tonne.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Lotus Exos T125 is also light as a feather, weighing just 650kg. Weighing a mere 1430lbs and being propelled by 640BHP V8 will thrill the driver. The 2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125 is a track day car and designed with real life operation in mind.

Unlike a Formula One car however, the Cosworth V8 is fitted with an alternator and starter motor. A support team is not needed, as the T125 can be started with a push of a button even in your garage. The Cosworth is designed to go 4500km (2800mi) between servicing. That's a lot of track miles and a lot of track days (10-12 track days, about 2 years worth).

Lotus means that the customer who purchases these sports cars all will arrange to join Exos cars owner's club, the club will periodically hold an activity and help buyer to provide it to drive ability. But this lotus Exos T125 sports carses will create in British Norfolk, the head of England market 10 car types will consign a customer in spring 2011, the rest car type will continuously consign in summer 2011.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

The Japanese Cars company has created the Air concept, an alternative transportation solutions for those with a hyperactive lifestyle. The company's designers took inspiration from roller coasters and skydiving wind suits, the Honda Sport Cars Air Concept is powered by a compressed air and pneumatic regulator system.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

This system ‘utilizes turbo vacuums and external air-flow to regenerate tank pressure for extended range and increased boost for an estimated 100 miles’. to keep the car lightweight, all components are mounted directly to the chassis, eliminating unnecessary structures.

With a chassis composed of vegetable-based polymer panels, Honda Sport Cars Air Concept weighs a mere 800 pounds and its reserve tanks can be filled via a gas station tire filler or a common off-the-shelf air compressor.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

The Honda Sport Cars Air Concept’s cockpit and package is aimed at maximizing the open air experience. In order to save weight and increase performance, a hub-less wheel and drive system eliminates the use of heavy drive train components. Additional weight savings are achieved thanks to the glass reinforced seating panels, urethane tire composition and skeletal sub-frame components.

The main tanks and reserves can be filled quickly and safely using a simple generator / air compressor at home or a tire filler at the local filling station.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

At just under 800 lbs., the powerful anthem of pneumatic propulsion and a character unlike any zero-emission vehicle exemplifies Honda's concept of fun to drive. The pow[air] of dreams Honda Sport Cars Air Concept.

Overall design and look of Honda Sport Cars Air Concept paves way for futuristic cruiser cars that have the perfect combo of style, ride elation and most importantly zero-emission properties combined with ample power under the hood to set your heart beat racing.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Amphibious cars are not just the dreams of moviemakers, although an amphibious car was featured in the movie Pontiac Moon. The concept Gibbs aquada Sports Cars, now a very real version of an amphibious car has been released in the UK. The Gibbs aquada high-speed amphibian (HSA) is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160kmh) on land and 30mph (48kmh) over water, taking just six seconds to transform from road going sportscar to a jet powered marine vessel.

The Aquada, developed by Alan Gibbs, and marketed by Gibbs Technologies, represents state of the art amphibious car design. Since 1968, numerous prototype amphibious cars have been made, but none gained market traction. Advances in technology in numerous fields have helped Alan Gibbs' Aquada become perhaps the most commercially viable amphibious car since the Amphicar.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Gibbs is marketing the Aquada as the 'ultimate leisure vehicle,” and it might be just that. It's as fast as a conventional car on macadam and it can pull a skier on water. The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is sleek, and jet-propelled, recalling the Stalwart, but boasting 60 new patents for its design. Computer systems retract the Aquada's wheels in the water, eliminating their drag.

The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is powered by a 175hp, V6 engine with 4 speed automatic transmission that's linked to the fully-enclosed jet propulsion system when on the water. Getting into the water is as simple as driving down a boatramp or entering directly from shore and once the push-button transformation has taken place, the accelerator becomes the throttle and the jet propulsion takes over.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is designed to meet European road and marine safety standards and is fully-legal for both water and land use in the UK according to the Gibbs Technologies site. To meet its lofty speed goals, the Aquada uses a carefully shaped outer body supported inside by a metal space frame. In this is conceptually similar to integrating a NASCAR racer's rollcage into a load-distributing unibody structure as used in a typical sedan.

Propulsion in the ten Aquada prototypes currently testing in Michigan is from a 2.5-liter 160-horsepower engine. Gibb's press materials are careful not to specify precisely which engine this may be, but we assume a turbocharged four cylinder would provide the necessary combination of power and weight (a 175-horsepower V6 is used in the euro-spec Aquada).

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

A take-off from the transmission powers a carefully designed water jet for marine propulsion; Gibbs says the compact jet produces nearly a ton of thrust at half the size and a quarter of the expected weight. It's enough for the Aquada to have set a 32.8 mph record speed run, and sufficiently reliable for Sir Richard Branson to break the amphibian speed record across the English Channel by four hours. More prosaically, Gibbs demonstration video shows the Aquada pulling a water skier.

While we have not piloted an Aquada, it's clear that its driver-center, three-across seating, no doors and Bimini top will have practical considerations, or at least provide numerous conversation starters. On land we'd assume the Aquada would deliver more than acceptable road handling and middling performance given the moderate power and 3,225 lbs. weight.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

"Our plans for North America are ambitious, aggressive and achievable," Gibbs has said, stating, "Aquada could generate annual sales volumes of 100,000 or more within five years." Perhaps we should get our driving gloves and water skis ready now.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer – One more interesting feature is that the car can be molded to be powered by different alternative fuels or power sources such as hydrogen, solar and electric power.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Inspired by the nature, mainly marine animals and the way their efficient bodies cut through the water, designer Paul Hanna has come up with a vehicle concept cars named the “Energo Racer” to take the rider on a wonder ride.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna, is 22 feet long and 8 feet wide, the racer can be molded to run on a number of alternative fuels or power sources, including hydrogen, solar and electric, with ease.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna, featuring an aerodynamic body to minimize air resistance, the futuristic vehicle removes the engine for a free flowing form to set new records in speed.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

The Opel Icona Concept Cars is a design study of a futuristic amphibian electric vehicle with a sporty design and retracteable wheels. Keeping such scenario in mind, Swedish designer Juan Pablo Bernal P has designed a futuristic vehicle for the year 2050 that moves on both land and water with equal efficiency. Called the “OPEL ICONA,” the V-shaped commuter vehicle features an aerodynamic body to ensure minimal air resistance for better performance in all conditions. The V shaped dynamic design uses distinctive shapes, forms, patterns and proportions which are express the sporty and leisure-oriented character of the vehicle.

Running on natural sources of energy, the all-electric vehicle generates power from electric motors to allow a clean and green drive. The zero-emission car would not only allow a sustainable drive but also become a means of entertainment to create a special bond between the family members as well as society.

The Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept is a hybrid car that can traverse land and sea is nothing new despite being the stuff of dreams at least half a century ago, but this concept cars takes things to a whole new level. It can transport an adult and a child. The Opel Icona project was developed in collaboration with Opel by Juan Pablo Bernal at the Umea Institute of Design, Sweden.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept features two modes of operation Viz. Land mode and Water Mode to run on ground and water respectively. When the vehicle runs on the ground the sail remains wrapped in the storage area; however, as soon as the occupant puts the vehicle on the water mode the sail retracts and the wheel arms rotate inboard to reduce drag, thus enabling this vehicle to cruise on water with the same speed and elegance.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

About the Designer:

Juan Pablo Bernal is Colombian Designer with a Bachelor in Transportation Design from Instituto Europeo di Design (2003-2006) and a MA Degree in Transportation Design from Umea institute of Design in Sweden.

Among his working experiences are internship at the GM Europe Design and at Scania, Sweden.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

Brabus brings the girth with Mercedes SLS Widestar

What's more important, speed or girth? Brabus says can have your proverbial cake and eat it too with its new Widestar kit for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

Upgrading on their previous offering (and sounding like a minivan), the Widestar SLS benefits from a carbon fiber body kit with a 20mm wider rear track, encompassing Brabus Monoblock F Platinum Edition wheels available in a variety of colors and finishes and coated in either Pirelli or Yokohama low-profile rubber (275/30ZR-20 front and 295/25ZR-21 rear).

Brabus is also offering an electronically adjustable suspension with Bilstein shocks and Ride Control system, a titanium exhaust with quadruple tips that squeezes out an extra 10 horses, while the interior can be outfitted with a number of extras you can read all about in the press release


[Source: Brabus]

World Debut at the ESSEN MOTOR SHOW 2010
Custom-Tailored Designer Suit: The BRABUS WIDESTAR Wide Version for the Mercedes SLS

Lending an exclusive automobile an even more dominant presence is the domain of BRABUS. The new BRABUS WIDESTAR wide version represents a custom-tailored designer suit for the Mercedes SLS AMG. In addition to the extravagant high-tech carbon-fiber body program for the gullwing the tuner also offers ultralight forged wheels, an electronically adjustable Ride Control smooth-ride suspension, a titanium high-performance exhaust system with electronically controlled sound management and custom BRABUS interiors.

To give the SLS an even more muscular appearance the BRABUS designers have developed custom-tailored BRABUS WIDESTAR components for the rear axle. Like all other body components they are made from extremely light yet very strong carbon fibers identical to the ones used in Formula 1 racing. The add-on parts for the rear fenders and the rear fascia create an even more spectacular look and make room for special wheels that widen the rear track by 20 millimeters for even further improved driving dynamics.

The suspension engineers developed custom-tailored versions of the ultralight BRABUS Monoblock F PLATINUM EDITION forged wheels in sizes 9.5Jx20 in front and 11Jx21 on the rear axle for the wide version of the SLS. These wheels are available with a brushed-design or ceramics-polished surface and can also be painted in any desired color. The staggered wheels with 20- and 21-inch diameters on front and rear axles further emphasize the wedge-shaped look of the sports car.

Despite the wheels' bigger size they deliver a weight reduction of up to 12 percent compared to the SLS production wheels. The reduced unsprung weight further results in even more agile handling. BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA supply the optimal high-performance tires in sizes 275/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 21.

The wide version is rounded out by aerodynamic-enhancement components developed in the wind tunnel. All BRABUS aerodynamic-enhancement components are made from carbon fibers and are available with a matte or glossy clear-coated finish for a true racing look. Optionally these components can be painted in body or contrasting color.

To further reduce lift on front and rear axle BRABUS equips the SLS with a front spoiler for the production front fascia, a rear spoiler and a rear diffuser. Together these components create an even better aerodynamic balance. Two BRABUS covers for the upper air dams of the bumper and side air outlets for the rear fascia are further visual details of the BRABUS WIDESTAR version.

The work of the BRABUS designers also gives the sides of the gullwing more profile and further improved aerodynamic efficiency. The rocker panels were sculpted to optimize the airflow between front and rear axle and to create a perfect transition to the WIDESTAR components on the rear axle. Integrated entrance lights ensure safe entering and exiting of the vehicle in the dark.

The BRABUS air outlets for the front fenders add more of sporty touches. At night they draw attention with their integrated blue-illuminated BRABUS logos that are activated via the keyless fob or by pulling on a door handle.

The ride-height lowering by up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) also plays an important role in the striking appearance of the BRABUS-modified SLS. The BRABUS suspension is height-adjustable and was developed in cooperation with technology partner BILSTEIN. At the push of a button its integrated Ride Control function also offers a smoother ride than the production car. From the cockpit the driver can at any time - even while driving - switch between damper settings that offer a more comfortable or a sportier ride than the production car.
For sporty-minded SLS owners BRABUS offers stiffer sway bars for front and rear axle that reduce body roll for even more precise handling.

The BRABUS high-performance exhaust system with four slanted exhaust tips with diameters of 84 millimeters (3.3 inches) is somewhat atypical for traditional tuning. Its sound management, controlled by the driver and activated by a pneumatic flap, includes a 'coming home' setting that is quieter than the production exhaust. In 'sport' mode the 6.3-liter eight-cylinder engine produces an even more powerful exhaust note than with the production exhaust. The BRABUS exhaust system is manufactured from extremely lightweight titanium and weighs 12 kilograms (26 lbs.) or 40 percent less than the production exhaust. Another welcome by-product of this exhaust is an increase in power output by 10 hp / 7.4 kW.

BRABUS offers a multitude of exclusive custom interior options for the two-seater car as well. Carbon-fiber inlays in any desired color and matte anodized aluminum pedals and foot rest add sporty highlights.

The ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel is made from a combination of leather and Alcantara and provides especially good grip for further improved road feedback. The speedometer with 400-km/h scale (250 mph) already hints at the car's future performance with BRABUS engine tuning.

The BRABUS upholstery shop offers a sheer endless multitude of colors and designs for the masterfully crafted SLS interiors made from the finest leathers and Alcantara. These interiors can be custom-tailored to suit each SLS owner's personal taste down to the last detail.

Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year voting jury has just announced its pair of winners for 2011, and top honors go to both the Cadillac CTS-V and Jeep Grand Cherokee. For 2011, the CTS-V is offered in a trio of body styles, all of which boast a 556-horsepower supercharged V8 and seriously good driving dynamics. Likewise, the 2011 Grand Cherokee remains one of the best off-road vehicles in its class, and points the way forward for the "new Chrysler."

In addition to the vehicles picked by the Internet Car and Truck of the Year jurors, the motoring public was able to cast its vote for the "Average Joe" awards. Unlike the professional jury, the public voters named the 2011 Ford Mustang GT as Car of the Year, its new 5.0-liter V8 and reworked suspension geometry making it more of a true sports car than a stereotypical muscle car. However, both the "Internet Pros" and "Average Joes" saw eye to eye on the Truck of the Year award, with the Grand Cherokee taking the cake from both segments of voters.



Vehicles aside, the ICTOY jury also honored recently deceased and legendary automotive journalist Jerry Flint with the 2010 Journalist of the Year award. Flint, who died on August 7th of this year, covered the automotive beat for over 50 years, and was once named one of the 100 most prominent business reporters of the 20th century.

[Source: Internet Car and Truck of the Year]

INTERNET PROS AND AVERAGE JOES PICK THEIR FAVORITE NEW CARS AND TRUCKS

Jerry Flint Posthumously Honored as Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year

Boston (Dec. 1, 2010) - The Internet Car and Truck of the Year website has announced the winners from the Internet Pros and Average Joes votes for their favorite new cars and trucks. Domestic brands swept all four categories.

The winners, announced from the New England International Auto Show today, are:

Internet Pros:
Car of the Year: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V
Truck of the Year: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Average Joes:
Car of the Year: 2011 Ford Mustang GT
Truck of the Year: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Internet Pros are comprised of a select team of 15 online writers from some of the leading automotive Internet sites, while the Average Joes consisted of thousands of votes from the motoring public. Complete biographies of the jury members are available at www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com.

So while the Internet Pros and Average Joes agree on the Truck of the Year (for the second year in a row) they have slightly differing opinions when it comes to their favorite car. The Pros like their speed in the form of a luxury sports car with the Cadillac CTS-V while the Average Joes voted for classic American muscle with the Ford Mustang GT (with only a 1 percent margin of victory over the Cadillac CTS-V). However, both groups demonstrated their respect for the vastly improved Jeep Grand Cherokee by wide margins.

Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year

The Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year award was given to Jerry Flint for his long body of work in automotive journalism, most recently as a columnist for Forbes – both in print and online. It will be presented to his widow, automotive journalist Kate McLeod, at the Dec. 9 International Motor Press Association meeting in New York City.

A prolific award winner, including the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism in 2003, for his Forbes "Backseat Driver column," Flint was not afraid to point out when the Emperor was wearing no clothing. That insight, and his grasp of the automotive industry, earned accolades that included his naming by Business News Reporter as one of the 100 most prominent business reporters of the 20th Century.

The 2010 Automotive Journalist of the Year was John Neff, editor of Autoblog.

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year awards were created by Keith Griffin, the Guide to Used Cars for About.com, a writer for TorqueNews.com, and the National Hyundai Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a print automotive journalist and vice president of the New England Motor Press Association.