2013 Porsche Sports Cars 918 RSR Race Car

13-year-old WCF member and Porschephile, porschecarreragtmay6, has created some renderings of a Porsche 918 RSR race car. Based on the 918 Spyder concept, the pictures show a hardcore coupe, wearing some classic Porsche liveries, designed to compete in the GT1 class.

2013 Porsche Sports Cars 918 RSR Race Car

Although these renderings were created back in March, shortly after the 918 Spyder's surprise unveiling in Geneva, they provide a potential glimpse of a race spec 918 in the wake of recent reports that Porsche will field the 918 Spyder at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2011.

The 2013 Porsche 918 RSR Race Car comes with 2 electric motors and a 500hp V8 from the “RS Spyder” LMP-2 car. The 918 RSR Race Car will drop the electric motors, but will retain the KERs and 500 hp V8. Since GT1 regulated no more than 600 hp, Porsche may remove air-restrictors from the engine to boost the output to 600hp.

As a refresher, the 918 Spyder concept featured a 368 kW (500 PS / 493 hp) V8 engine and three electric motors with a total of 160 kW (218 PS / 215 hp). Packing a combined 528 kW (718 PS / 708 hp), the Spyder sent power through a PDK dual-clutch gearbox (with an electric boost function) to an electric all-wheel drive system.

The 918 RSR model will race the same competitions as the classical 917 race car. It will drop the electric motors, but will retain the KERS and the 500hp V8. Since the GT1 regulates no more than 600hp, Porsche may remove air-restrictors from the engine to boost the output to 600hp. The "918 RSR" will be able to hit a top speed of 200mph and will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in than 3.0 seconds.

It will feature a wider track, redesigned front and rear diffusers, as well as a fixed hard-top roof and a huge rear wing. The liveries on these images were created based off of the classic Porsche liveries and designed to compete in the GT1 class.

The Porsche 918 RSR Race Car will top in the 200mph range and will reach 62mph in less than 3.0 seconds, possibly 2.8 seconds. The weight will be around 1,240 kilos, 2,730 lbs.

The weight loss will comes from the loss of the batteries stripped interior and loss of amenities even more extensive use of carbon fiber and a reconstruction of body work.

Honda Accord Crosstour shows tiny problems in the IIHS rollover tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted rollover tests on several vehicles and the Honda Accord Crosstour was among those that didn’t do well.

Already, many observers expect this model to get an early refresh. The suggestions include a new face and a titanium-reinforced roof. In the latest tests, the IIHS didn’t exactly roll the vehicles. Rather, the IIHS pushed a metal plate against 1 corner of a roof at a constant speed. To get a good rating, a roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle’s weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. To get an acceptable rating, the minimum strength-to-weight ratio that’s needed is 3.25. A poor rating is given to those that have lower than 2.5. Vehicles that did remarkably well are the Grand Cherokee, Highlander, Liberty, and Venza, which all withstood forces of almost 5 times their weights. The Crosstour can withstand 2.8 times its weight while the Endeavor and Pilot can endure only 3 times its weight.

Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini made strong gains in European auto production in April

For the month of April, luxury carmakers (including Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz division, BMW brand, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Land Rover) made strong gains in European auto production.

The 2010 results are expected to come out favorably against the April 2009 period when sales dropped due to the global financial crisis and Europe’s incentive program that favored small cars. With the recovery in the global economy and the ending of government subsidies, the factories in Europe are boosting production to fill orders for high-end models. Notably, the April output for the Mercedes S class rose to 6,012 units from 675 in 2009. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport increased by 157% year on year. Production was also boosted for the all-new Rolls-Royce Ghost, according to estimates from J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting. Overall, European production rose by 8% in the month to 1,367,512 and 28% to 5,746,227 through April. It should also be noted that April was the first month when the year-on-year production growth rate was a single-digit percentage (instead of double digits).

The X-51A Waverider Scramjet cruises at six times the speed of sound

When Icarus first flew with the waxwings, none had have imagined that in future planes will cruise at six times the speed of sound. But with the advancing technology, anything and everything seems possible. Yes, this is the latest feat in the history.

When Icarus first flew with the waxwings, none had have imagined that in future planes will cruise at six times the speed of sound. But with the advancing technology, anything and everything seems possible. Yes, this is the latest feat in the history that Scramjet, an experimental aircraft, gave incredible view when flew over California at a speed which is six times more than that of sound’s. The experimental aircraft set a record for hypersonic flight through the air for more than three minutes at Mach 6, or more than 4,500 mph. The X-51A Waverider Scramjet was released from a B-52 bomber last week and it works while using oxygen rushing in through the engine at supersonic speeds to ignite hydrogen fuel. The air-breathing Scramjet engine is built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and engine accelerated the vehicle to Mach 6, and it flew autonomously for 200 seconds – breaking previous record of 12 seconds – before losing acceleration. At that point the test was terminated. The whole thing left me thinking about passenger planes flying at Mach 6 will cut the flight time from London to Sydney to little more than two hours.

Via: Dailymail

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/the-x-51a-waverider...

James Bond's Original '007' Aston Martin DB5 to go under the hammer

A 1964 Silver Aston Martin that was once driven by Sean Connery in the James Bond movies and is dubbed the most famous car buy RM auctions is to go under the hammer in London on 27 Oct. This car was one of the two original Aston Martin that featured..

A 1964 Silver Aston Martin that was once driven by Sean Connery in the James Bond movies and is dubbed the most famous car buy RM auctions is to go under the hammer in London on 27 Oct. This car was one of the two original Aston Martin that featured on screen with Sean Connery behind the wheel in ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Thunderball’ is expected to fetch as much as $ 10 million.

This silver car is complete with ‘Q Branch’ gadgets that include machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, smoke screen, electronic tracking and oil slick. All the gadgets of the car are fully functioning, although the machine guns do not fire for safety reasons.

To tell you more is this car is owned by a Philadelphia radio DJ Jerry Lee, who convinced the Aston Martin Lagonda factory to sell it for $12,000 forty years ago and Lee plans to use the funds for the development of ‘The Jerry Lee Foundation’ – a philanthropy organization devoted to reducing crime.

Bond’s car has a FMP 7B number plate, is still capable of 145mph and 0-60mph sprint is achieved in 7.1 seconds. And no need to worry about if you can drive it on the road or not, it is street legal.

Image courtesy: Bbcicecream

Via: Telegraph

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/james-bonds-origina...

Cuda AAR-10 concept from Racer X Design excels 1970s Plymouth Barracuda

The ‘Cuda AAR-10 from the Racer X Design, a Malta-based company, is based on top of a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, and keeps the basic lines that made the Barracuda one of the most sought after muscle cars of the 70s. Designed by Reuben Zammit of Racer.

The ‘Cuda AAR-10 from the Racer X Design, a Malta-based company, is based on top of a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, and keeps the basic lines that made the Barracuda one of the most sought after muscle cars of the 70s. Designed by Reuben Zammit of Racer X Design with the help of David J Meyer, Cuda AAR-10 is just an art work but the idea was to use a viper V10 as it is the most powerful Mopar unit available and is relatively light at the same time. Hence, the design is a modern muscle car.

Cheers Racer X Design Team

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/cuda-aar-10-concept...

Light Weight Concept’s rear wheels represent two detachable Segways to rid of city congestion

With the increasing congestion in the cities, our future transport will surely be helped by the resizing or transformable vehicles. Recently we introduced you with two bikes that together make an awesome sports car and this time we are introducing...

With the increasing congestion in the cities, our future transport will surely be helped by the resizing or transformable vehicles. Recently we introduced you with two bikes that together make an awesome sports car and this time we are introducing you with Bobin Keel’s, Korean designer, version of transformable vehicle. The rear wheels of this concept represent two Segways that can easily be detached from the machine, allowing the driver and passengers to overcome congestion and continue their journey on the flexibility and economy transportation. Vehicle’s power body structure consists of two parallel side panels and attaching them to cross and blending with advanced plastics will ensure high rigidity for minimum weight. And the most stylistic features of the draft include multilayer system, interlocking surfaces, double Silhouette that varies depending on the lighting system.

Via: Cardesign

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/light-weight-concep...

Jambo 747-200 – From skies to a latest luxury hotel

Did you ever think what happens to planes once their flying days are over? Well, some of them are dismantled, some are left to rust, some find place in museums in miniature forms but Oscar Dios had something different in mind when converted this...

Did you ever think what happens to planes once their flying days are over? Well, some of them are dismantled, some are left to rust, some find place in museums in miniature forms but Oscar Dios had something different in mind when converted this Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 747-200 into a 25 room hostel with the top suit in the cockpit. Once left to rust, Jumbo Stay is now a luxury hostel and a night in the plane’s nerve center starts at $500. The plane’s dorm rooms cost $52 per night and features bunk beds and overhead luggage compartments. On the top of this, the plane is grounded at airport and it’ll rid you of the tension to find a shelter in case your flight is late of there are other reasons for you to wait for indefinite time.

Via: Heraldsun

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/jambo-747-200-from-...

UniCab may be NYC’s Taxi of tomorrow

New York is a modern city, but its taxis are exactly the opposite. In order to get away with the old taxis and to add something new reflecting the modern essence of the city, New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) created a website for...

New York is a modern city, but its taxis are exactly the opposite. In order to get away with the old taxis and to add something new reflecting the modern essence of the city, New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) created a website for creative minds to submit their unique designs to replace the existing taxis with something unique and more interesting that better fits in the present scenario. And in the last couple of years, the site received many designs but the LIC’s hunt for modern Taxi may end with what comes out to be a unique blend of style, comfort, amenities and modern looks: UniCab.

With the seating capacity for four passengers, UniCab features an automated ramp for those with disabilities, an infotainment center, showing intended routes and attractions along the way. The outward sight lines also give the passengers a great view of the glorious city of New York. Apart from these, the modern taxi meets the highest safety standards, provides more comfort and amenities that add more to the passage experience, it emits less and has improved fuel economy and has a more usable interior. The UniCab is an iconic design that has everything that will identify the new taxi with New York City.

Image Courtesy: Thetaxioftomorrow

Via: Autoblog

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/unicab-may-be-nyc-s...