Electric Porsche 928 Sheds 400 Pounds and Three Gears to Make One Man Happy

Jeff McCabe owns a Porsche 928. However, he wanted an electric Porsche 928 in the vein of the Tesla Roadster that he can't afford. So here's what Jeff did: he removed "over 1,700 lbs" of dead weight by eliminating a bunch of useless stuff like the standard engine, transmission (actually just 1st, 4th, and 5th gears), and a bunch of electronics, pop-up headlights, and so on.

He also replaced the wheels and brakes with lighter units and made sure to ace that heavy glass. Once that 1,700 pounds was in the trash, he added 1,300 pounds in the form of 750 lithium iron-phosphate cells (he originally used lead acid batteries).

The result is a car that can go for 115+ miles before it needs a recharge (versus the ~45 from the lead acid units) and can hit 85 miles per hour (137km/h). Too bad it can't do 88. For some info straight from the owner of the car, check out the vid below. Anyone interested in providing him with a CVT?

By Phil Alex

Via: Autoblog Green

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Electric Porsche 928 Sheds 400 Pounds and Three Gears to Make One Man Happy

Jeff McCabe owns a Porsche 928. However, he wanted an electric Porsche 928 in the vein of the Tesla Roadster that he can't afford. So here's what Jeff did: he removed "over 1,700 lbs" of dead weight by eliminating a bunch of useless stuff like the standard engine, transmission (actually just 1st, 4th, and 5th gears), and a bunch of electronics, pop-up headlights, and so on.

He also replaced the wheels and brakes with lighter units and made sure to ace that heavy glass. Once that 1,700 pounds was in the trash, he added 1,300 pounds in the form of 750 lithium iron-phosphate cells (he originally used lead acid batteries).

The result is a car that can go for 115+ miles before it needs a recharge (versus the ~45 from the lead acid units) and can hit 85 miles per hour (137km/h). Too bad it can't do 88. For some info straight from the owner of the car, check out the vid below. Anyone interested in providing him with a CVT?

By Phil Alex

Via: Autoblog Green

_____________________________________________________________________

First Videos of MINI's Countryman WRC Testing in Portugal!

Thanks to a tip from Carscoop reader Rafael, we can now share with you the first video footage of MINI's new Countryman WRC prototype, which was caught testing earlier today (Tuesday) at Ponte de Lima in Portugal.

The Prodrive developed and built World Rallying Championship version of the Mini Countryman is powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport to comply with the new Super2000 regulations. Like the road-going model, it also gets four-wheel drive.

According to MINI, the Countryman WRC will be ready to compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) before completing the full series in 2012.

Hat tip to Rafael!

First Videos of MINI's Countryman WRC Testing in Portugal!

Thanks to a tip from Carscoop reader Rafael, we can now share with you the first video footage of MINI's new Countryman WRC prototype, which was caught testing earlier today (Tuesday) at Ponte de Lima in Portugal.

The Prodrive developed and built World Rallying Championship version of the Mini Countryman is powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport to comply with the new Super2000 regulations. Like the road-going model, it also gets four-wheel drive.

According to MINI, the Countryman WRC will be ready to compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) before completing the full series in 2012.

Hat tip to Rafael!

Insider: Ford to Reveal New Focus ST Paris Show Car this Week

According to Carscoop sources, we won't have to wait until the grand opening of the Paris Motor Show on September 30 to catch our first glimpse of the next generation Focus ST as Ford will release photos and preliminary specs on the hot hatch before the end of the week. The almost production-ready show car is based on the new five-door Focus (the three door version has not yet been revealed).

Now here's what else we found out about the hot hatch: the outgoing Focus ST's Volvo-sourced 225HP 2.5-liter turbocharged five is replaced by Ford's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost unit, which is already available on the refreshed S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs with 203HP, as well as on the facelifted Mondeo with 203HP and 240HP.

Our source told us that on the new Focus ST, the tweaked four-cylinder unit will produce around 250 ponies. The car will also feature upgraded suspension, steering and brake system components, as well as bigger wheels and a unique bodykit.

The final production version of Ford's spicy hatch will be unwrapped next year and go on sale in Europe towards the end of 2011 or in early 2012. We still don't know when or if the ST will be offered in North America.

*All photos are of the standard 2011 Ford Focus undergoing high altitude testing in Europe

Insider: Ford to Reveal New Focus ST Paris Show Car this Week

According to Carscoop sources, we won't have to wait until the grand opening of the Paris Motor Show on September 30 to catch our first glimpse of the next generation Focus ST as Ford will release photos and preliminary specs on the hot hatch before the end of the week. The almost production-ready show car is based on the new five-door Focus (the three door version has not yet been revealed).

Now here's what else we found out about the hot hatch: the outgoing Focus ST's Volvo-sourced 225HP 2.5-liter turbocharged five is replaced by Ford's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost unit, which is already available on the refreshed S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs with 203HP, as well as on the facelifted Mondeo with 203HP and 240HP.

Our source told us that on the new Focus ST, the tweaked four-cylinder unit will produce around 250 ponies. The car will also feature upgraded suspension, steering and brake system components, as well as bigger wheels and a unique bodykit.

The final production version of Ford's spicy hatch will be unwrapped next year and go on sale in Europe towards the end of 2011 or in early 2012. We still don't know when or if the ST will be offered in North America.

*All photos are of the standard 2011 Ford Focus undergoing high altitude testing in Europe

2011 Jeep Patriot gets Tweaked, Proves it's all in the Details

Jeep has released images of its freshened-up Jeep Patriot, and it looks like...the Jeep Patriot. Although front and rear fascias have been facelifted, the differences are only noticeable upon very close inspection.

Outside, the Patriot gets a new body-colored grille, standard fog lamps, new 17-inch wheels, lower rear bumper, and a total of four new colors. On the off-road side of things, the 4X4 models receives a one inch increase in ride height.

Underneath, the suspension system has been modified for more comfort with increased damping/rebound rates and a new rear sway bar. Steering was also tweaked.

Like the recently-teased Chrysler 200 sedan that replaces the Sebring, more soft-touch materials will be found within, as well as a new, thicker-rimmed steering wheel with integrated audio / trip controls. The Uconnect Voice Command system will be available across the board, and top-range Latitude X models will get standard automatic climate control.

Jeep President and CEO Mike Manley says, "For 2011, Jeep Patriot is even more appealing to consumers, thanks to rugged new exterior styling, interior enhancements and refinements to the suspension and steering systems."

The 2011 Jeep Patriot will be built at Chrysler's Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, and consumers will begin to see it populating dealer lots in the fourth quarter of 2010 (aka starting next month). Even though it's only been tweaked a little here and there, the Patriot seems to be shaping up as an interesting compact offering from Jeep.

By Phil Alex

2011 Jeep Patriot gets Tweaked, Proves it's all in the Details

Jeep has released images of its freshened-up Jeep Patriot, and it looks like...the Jeep Patriot. Although front and rear fascias have been facelifted, the differences are only noticeable upon very close inspection.

Outside, the Patriot gets a new body-colored grille, standard fog lamps, new 17-inch wheels, lower rear bumper, and a total of four new colors. On the off-road side of things, the 4X4 models receives a one inch increase in ride height.

Underneath, the suspension system has been modified for more comfort with increased damping/rebound rates and a new rear sway bar. Steering was also tweaked.

Like the recently-teased Chrysler 200 sedan that replaces the Sebring, more soft-touch materials will be found within, as well as a new, thicker-rimmed steering wheel with integrated audio / trip controls. The Uconnect Voice Command system will be available across the board, and top-range Latitude X models will get standard automatic climate control.

Jeep President and CEO Mike Manley says, "For 2011, Jeep Patriot is even more appealing to consumers, thanks to rugged new exterior styling, interior enhancements and refinements to the suspension and steering systems."

The 2011 Jeep Patriot will be built at Chrysler's Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, and consumers will begin to see it populating dealer lots in the fourth quarter of 2010 (aka starting next month). Even though it's only been tweaked a little here and there, the Patriot seems to be shaping up as an interesting compact offering from Jeep.

By Phil Alex