Last month we learned that Honda had canceled plans to build a new V10-powered replacement replacement for its departed NSX sports car. Now, AutoCar is reporting that several other vehicle programs at Honda have fallen victim to the new economic and environmental reality. In addition to the NSX, Acura was due to get a new rear wheel drive platform and V8 engine for its sedans so they could better compete with products from BMW and Mercedes as well as Infiniti and Lexus. The new architecture and engine are now on ice.
Read the full article

Popularity: 1% [?]

 For the engineering crew at Lotus, building transportation devices that are not sports cars is nothing new. Back in the early 90s they put their knowledge of lightweight materials and aerodynamics together to create a race bicycle that tore up the velodrome at the Olympics, not to mention wild soap box racers. The latest project is a three ski snow speeder that will be used in an Antarctic expedition next November to raise awareness of climate change. The Concept Ice Vehicle (CIV) is powered by a two cylinder BMW bike engine converted to E85 operation and turning a propeller that pushes the vehicle across the ice and snow at up to 84 mph. The CIV will be used to scout for crevasses in the ice. When the voids are found the GPS coordinates will be sent back to the rest of the team to warn them before anyone falls in.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Even though the Continental GTC has only been around since 2006, Bentley thought that it was time to perform a light facelift to its luxury four-seater convertible. While they were at it, the Brits also added a range-topping Speed model bringing the GTC in line with its GT coupe sibling. The Continental GTC Speed benefits from a twin-turbocharged W12 engine producing 600-horspeower (610PS) and 750 Nm (553lb ft) of torque, and it’s matted to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

This endows the GTC Speed with a top speed of 200mph (322 km/h) with the roof-up or 195 mph (312 km/h) with the top down, and a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.8”). It also accelerates from 0-100 mph in just 10.6 seconds (0-160 km/h in 10.5”).

Read the full article

Popularity: 1% [?]

Despite the Apple logos, the iMo is an independent study for a future robotic car that was created by Anthony Jannarelly, a French designer with an MA in automotive design at Britain’s Coventry University. The extremely compact 2+1 seater with the bubbly design borrows several styling cues from various Apple products. It is fully automated and according to is designer, it’s intelligent enough to drive and park all by itself - where’s the fun in that?

Read the full article

Popularity: 1% [?]

India’s most famous electric car maker, Reva, is now giving prospective buyers in Europe the opportunity of turning their new REVAi into a REVA L-ion by offering a lithium-ion power source for the 2+2 city car. The modern battery gives the little EV increased performance while reducing charging time and maintenance. Numbers-wise, that means a 75-mile range with a 50 mph top speed. Acceleration times haven’t been released but we expect that just the reduced weight of the cars power source alone will go a little way towards adding some pick-me-up. Equipped with a proprietary battery management system (BMS), the lithium ions should offer owners a substantially longer battery-pack lifetime and will come with a three-year warranty.
Read the full article

Popularity: 1% [?]

Spanish busmaker Castrosúa has unveiled its first hybrid bus. Named Tempus, the new electric-diesel-powered bus will be ready this summer. Developed with a company called Mormendi, the Tempus is the child of a young industrial engineer called Jaime Moreno. Tempus has already won the “Spanish Bus of the Year” award for 2009 - that was fast - and Madrid and Barcelona are among the cities that will get some units for testing. The Tempus has two electric motors that power the rear wheels. The motors get their juice from chloride-sodium batteries placed inside the vehicle’s roof. The electric powertrain is mated to Iveco’s smallest diesel engine and the bus uses just 80 liters to go 300 km, a 50 percent reduction compared to similar units. The Tempus is designed for very tight routes; it measures 9.5 meters long and 2.55 meters wide, perfect for old city centers.

Read the full article

Popularity: 1% [?]