My Perfect Automobile » Racing

New Toyota Electric Racer for Pikes Peak

Larry Bell — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:32:09 +0000

Toyota Motorsport’s TMG EV P002

An upgraded Toyota Motorsport electric race car, the TMG EV P002, will attempt to better its 2012 record-setting performance at the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 30. The car, considered by many to be not only the fastest but also the best-engineered electric race car in the world, will be piloted by New Zealand’s Rod Millen in the grueling event.

Pikes Peak: Video

EV race fans will be fascinated by the above video clip, which features up-close looks at the Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) EV that will be competing in this year’s Pikes Peak race. This is the car that set the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record in 2011.

Pikes Peak Race

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is a 12.42-mile annual race to the top of the famous Colorado mountain. Motorcycles and cars compete in the event, which includes more than 150 turns and a total ascent of 4,720 feet. The overall grade averages 7 percent and the race is now run on a completely paved course. A typical race year sees 150 competitors in various vehicle classes. Held since 1916, the PPIHC is the second-oldest U.S. contest of its kind and an official FIA International Event.

In recent years, the PPIHC has become a proving ground of sorts for numerous varieties of alternative-fuel propulsion, including electric cars. Competitors are first entered into either the “car and truck” division or the “motorcycle and quad” section. Under each of those major segments are 13 different car/truck sub-divisions and 8 motorcycle/quad sub-divisions. The current record-holder in the electric car division is Japan’s Fumio Nutahara, who completed the racecourse in a smoking 10:15.380 during 2012’s event. Nutahara drove the legendary EV race car TMG EV P002.

For more information about Toyota Motorsport and the Pikes Peak event, see the websites below:
http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/en/
http://www.ppihc.com/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

EV Speed Record Attempt Gets Green Light

Larry Bell — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:48:24 +0000

EV Speed: The Buckeye Bullet

The third version of the world famous electric car, the Buckeye Bullet, will attempt to set an EV speed record within the next year. Ohio State University and Venturi are sponsoring a series of events in which numerous speed records are destined to fall. This newest iteration of the car, called the Venturi VBB-3, will try to break the 435-mph mark sometime next year. Before that, the team will shoot for 373 mph as a sort of warm up run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

EV Speed: Video

The Buckeye Bullet is known all over the world. In the short video clip above, it even features in a Japanese coffee advertisement. The ad offers up some spectacular footage of the car doing its thing, namely speeding down a track and looking sharp. What all that has to do with coffee no one knows, but Japanese advertising agencies have always been hard to figure out. Regardless, is you have never seen the Bullet in action, this is a compelling clip.

EV Speed

The Buckeye Bullet will take part is what is formally called the Venturi Global Challenges series. Ohio State University and Venture are working together, as they did back in 2009, in an effort to set a fresh world speed record for electric vehicles. When construction of the car is completed, its 3,000-horsepower engine will make it the most powerful EV in existence.

To learn more about the Buckeye Bullet, visit the website below. While there, you can view numerous videos of the car in action, check out the Bullet Blog, and see some awesome photos of one of the world’s fastest electric vehicles. There is also extensive background data about the history of the car, the team that drives it, and the races in which the Buckeye Bullet has taken part.
http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Larry Bell

Renault’s Mysterious Concept F1 EV

Larry Bell — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:44:37 +0000

The Twizy Renault Sport F1

An official Renault announcement early this week said the French automaker was working on a Formula One-inspired electric concept vehicle. In addition to the press release, Renault provided a not-so-clear photographic image that may or may not depict the prospective concept. The release did, however, state that the, “… prototype vehicle, which features muscular styling and impressive performance credentials, provides a bridge between the world of Formula One and that of electric vehicles. It’s a concept car that will make a lot of noise… but, in total silence.”

Renault: Video

Considering Renault’s recent dalliance with the idea of an F1-inspired electric car, the above video clip is instructive. It shows several of the company’s engineers testing an F1 engine. Historically, Renault has used racing and motorsport as a way to test various automotive components. After a bit of downsizing and reworking, numerous electronic systems have migrated from the racetrack to the consumer showroom. The French carmaker has built a global reputation as a pioneer in the use of F1 technology. The company’s sporting division is called Renault Sport F1. Under that name, the automaker competes in the FIA Formula One World Championship series. Now considered a leader in the world of Formula One, Renault has collected more than 150 victories, 11 Constructors’ World Titles, and 10 Drivers’ World Titles over the past 36 years.

Revealed! Renault F1 EV Concept is a Twizy

After all the buildup, Renault unveiled the new concept late this week at its Twizy plant in Spain. The official name of the hot-looking new EV is the Twizy Renault Sport F1. The little EV has a respectable top speed of 68 mph, and can reach 62 mph in just 6 seconds. A Tesla Roadster it is not, but the new concept has indeed borrowed key technology from the F1 family.

For more about the Renault international family of vehicles, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.renault.com/en/pages/home.aspx

Larry Bell

Shell Eco-Marathon Winner: 3,587 MPG

Larry Bell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:01:28 +0000

Shell Eco-Marathon winner Universite Laval

Universite Laval captured first place in the seventh annual Shell Eco-Marathon Americas fuel-efficiency contest. The Quebec team won with their gasoline-powered car that achieved an astounding 3,587 mpg at the Houston, Tex., venue. The Canadian students have dominated the Americas contest for most of the past half-decade. In fact, the 2012 winner, Indiana’s Mater Dei High School team, came in second in this year’s event. The 2013 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas saw 131 teams and vehicles competing, representing the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala.

Shell Eco-Marathon: Video

For an inside look at the event and to see how some of the competitors prepare for it, watch the video clip above. One of the marathon’s organizers noted that each passing year sees more sophisticated and reliable vehicles. Student teams work on their entries for an entire academic year in some cases, hoping to win the grand prize. Though the lengthy, strict regulations about car specs apply to all entrants equally, somehow the vehicles look as though they are unrelated, so diverse is the lineup. Many past winners and competitors in the Shell Eco-Marathon have gone on to success as auto engineers and designers.

Shell Eco-Marathon

Students must design, build and drive their own cars in the event, each competitor hoping to have the most energy-efficient vehicle. The marathon is conducted in three separate locations around the world. Numerous entrants have built cars that are able to travel more than 1,500 miles on one liter of fuel. Participants can use any type of fuel, with a typical year’s field boasting cars that run on solar energy, diesel, gasoline and electricity. The worldwide event is open to high school and college students. Besides the Americas contest, Shell Eco-Marathon takes place in Asia and Europe.

For more information about the Shell Eco-Marathon, see the event’s official website:
http://www.shell.com/ecomarathon

Larry Bell

World’s Fastest Hybrid is a VW

Larry Bell — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:41:05 +0000

World’s Fastest Hybrid (pictured; a non-modified Volkswagen Jetta)

The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) will hold its 2013 Speed Week at the Bonneville Speedway in Utah from Aug. 10 through Aug. 16. At last year’s event, the world’s fastest hybrid car, a modified 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, posted a top speed of 187.147 mph for the final mile of the run. While technically a production vehicle, the Jetta that set the record was altered for the attempt. Volkswagen engineers set the car’s horsepower at 300, put special tires and wheels on the Jetta, lowered the suspension, and packed the inside with extra safety equipment.

World’s Fastest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL3yLf6CF2E

For the whole story about the Jetta hybrid speed record, see the video clip above. Running at just over 10 minutes in length, the film goes into detail concerning the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid that was modified to make its run during Bonneville Speed Week. Volkswagen is not the only automaker to use racing vehicles and modified test cars like this one for serious research. Several Asian and other manufacturers run hybrid and electric race cars on official competitive circuits throughout the year. While great fun for the spectators and team members, the sponsoring corporations look at these events as valuable laboratory experiments. Data taken from Toyota and Nissan hybrid racing vehicles, for example, contributes important scientific background for those carmakers to upgrade and modernize their production hybrid cars.

World’s Fastest Hybrid

The Bonneville Speedway hosts numerous world record attempts and has grown in popularity since it first opened in 1912. Speed Week takes place each August as dozens of drivers work to set world records in diverse categories. During the same month, BUB holds its motorcycle speed trials. Not within the boundaries of any city or town, the speedway is part of the larger Bonneville Salt Flats. The nearest city is Wendover, Utah.

For more about all of Volkswagen’s vehicles, see the German automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.vw.com

Larry Bell

Toyota Prius Plug-In Takes Monte Carlo Event

Larry Bell — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:01:53 +0000

Toyota Prius Plug-In at Monte Carlo Rallye

At last week’s Rallye Monte Carlo des Energies Nouvelles, Canada’s entry, a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, placed fifth overall and was named the most fuel-efficient hybrid car of the entire event. The four-day rally takes place on roads in Monaco, Italy and France. This year’s competition was host to 113 vehicles. The primary goal for each car was to post low fuel consumption throughout the rally.

Toyota Prius Plug-In: Video

See the short video clip above for a closer look at the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, which was recently on display at the Canadian International Auto Show. With the exception of a few minor exterior styling elements, the car looks no different from the standard Prius models.

Toyota Prius Plug-In

The mid-size plug-in from Toyota made its first public appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011. Based on the third-generation Prius, the plug-in version uses a lithium battery pack that was jointly created with Panasonic. With the ability to recharge from a 240-volt outlet in just 90 minutes, the plug-in hybrid can travel more than 11 miles in electric mode at a top speed of 62 mph. From a conventional, 120-volt connection the Prius plug-in charges in three hours. As far back as 2009, Toyota began a pilot project, which put 600 test cars on the roads of seven different nations. Based upon data collected from that research, the company fine-tuned the vehicle to optimize its energy distribution system.

U.S. models of the car feature Toyota’s proprietary Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS), which warns pedestrians of the vehicle’s approach. Many plug-in hybrids emit such a low noise level that their engines are virtually silent at city speeds.

For more about the Prius plug-in hybrid from Toyota, see the Japanese automaker’s official site for the vehicle:
http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/prius-plug-in/
For more about Toyota’s other products see the main corporate site:
http://www.toyota.com

Larry Bell

TORQ Roadster from Epic Electric is a Game Changer

Larry Bell — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:33:31 +0000

Electric power: The Torq Roadster EV

Epic EV, a Calif.-based company, announced this week that it would release its TORQ roadster electric car in April. The car is said to be the quickest three-wheeled EV in the world, boasting a zero-to-60 mph time of just four seconds, 400 horsepower, and extremely smooth acceleration. Carbon fiber panels make for a low curb weight and longer battery range. Epic EV spokespersons indicate that orders will outpace supply once production begins. The TORQ is expected to carry a sticker price of $65,000.

TORQ Roadster: Video

What begins with a philosophical statement about electric vehicles ends with some astonishing footage of the TORQ roadster in action on city streets. Set to a possibly recognizable tune, the short film clip above is a varied introduction to the freshest face in electrified transportation.

TORQ Roadster

The world of three-wheeled electric racing vehicles is a small one. Only a handful of companies currently produce such cars, many of which are low-powered battery vehicles set on a unique frame. The TORQ is unique in the amount of power it delivers and the fact that its specs are anything but ordinary. The company that makes the electric roadster has vast experience in design and construction of battery-powered vehicles of all kinds, including boats. TORQ is being released in a year when fan interest in electric racing is increasing exponentially.

For more about the TORQ EV roadster, see the company’s special page for the vehicle:
http://torqev.com/
For more about Epic EV, see the official website, where you can learn about their other products. Epic makes an off-road EV, the AMP, that is as powerful and attractive as the TORQ. In addition, the company builds and sells one of the world’s only hybrid-electric boats. Epic is dedicated to building the best zero emission vehicles for land and sea.
http://www.evepic.com/

Larry Bell

Muscle Cars for Sale, at the U.S. Postal Service

Larry Bell — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:15:05 +0000

Muscle Cars for Sale

Now, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service, muscle cars for sale! At first, it almost sounds nonsensical, but the venerable USPS is selling its latest line of commemorative stamps, called “Muscle Cars Forever,” which features vehicles from a generation when a gallon of gas cost less than a modern day postage stamp. If you search online classified ads for “muscle cars for sale” listings, you will love the first five stamps of the series, which depict the 1970 Chevelle SS, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, the iconic 1967 Shelby GT-500, Pontiac’s song-inspiring 1966 GTO, and Plymouth’s 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda. The way the price of postage has been going, it might be cheaper to collect the actual cars than the stamps.

Muscle Cars for Sale: Video

Watch, and hold your breath if you must, as an electric dragster faces off against a muscle car in a quarter-mile challenge at Infineon Raceway. Just over a minute long, the short clip is packed with power and, well, electricity. Even non-racing enthusiasts will enjoy the power blast of competition between the old world and the new. Instead of John Henry facing a steam drill, this bout features a silent dragster against a noisy one.

Muscle Cars for Sale

No muscle cars for sale at the site below, but for those who enjoy racing and electric cars, the National Electric Drag Racing Association’s website is the place to be. NEDRA works to increase awareness of the fast-growing sport, but also educates the public about a wide range of electric vehicle issues. The organization hopes to encourage advances in the science of electric transportation through competitions and public shows. NEDRA is dedicated to putting on some of the best drag race events in the world, all in a safe, fun environment. Visit the site for a detailed listing of the organization’s many racing events. To become a member or sponsor, sign up on the site. Students can take advantage of a special educational membership at a very low cost.

http://www.nedra.com/

Larry Bell

Volar-e: The 1000-HP Electric Speedster

Larry Bell — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:07:04 +0000

The Volar-e

Spanish engineering and design firm Applus+IDIADA has created a 1000-horsepower electric super-car that goes from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and shows a mechanically limited top speed of 186 mph. Its 38 kWh lithium pack requires only 15 minutes for recharging. The European Commission funded half the cost of the car’s development in an effort to spur designers to come up with zero-emission prototypes.

Volar-e: Video

With power to spare, Volar-e flies around the track like a miniature rocket, white-hot and 100 percent supersonic. Elite firm Applus+IDIADA engineered the all-electric high-performance sports car. It features the very latest in safety and communication capabilities. By every relevant parameter, the Volar-e outshines conventional vehicles. The video follows the car on a test run, from start to finish. Minus a noisy combustion engine, there is still plenty of sound to indicate just how fast the driver is cruising along the track. Volar-e is obviously one of the more muscular electric vehicles in the pipeline. It will be a welcome addition to the international auto show circuit.

Volar-e

The number of ‘super’ EVs is growing at an exponential rate, thanks to a burgeoning electric auto racing community that hosts national and international competitions on a regular basis. Many of the world’s largest automakers have developed electric or hybrid-electric race cars in order to showcase their engineering talent on the world stage.

For more about Applus+IDIADA, the design, testing and engineering firm based in Spain, see the company’s English language website below. Besides playing a significant role in the development of the Volar-e, the professional firm specializes in providing its services to the global automotive industry. Offering the talents of more than 1,500 technicians and engineers, Applus+IDIADA has offices in 20 nations, and runs some of the top testing and lab facilities in existence.
http://www.applusidiada.com/en/

Larry Bell

Nissan EV Race Car Ready for Le Mans

Larry Bell — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:48:36 +0000

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Nissan Motor Company’s President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, announced this week that the Japanese automaker would enter an electric race car in the 2014 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans event. Ghosn pointed out that the Nissan entry will, “… act as a high-speed test bed in the harshest of environments for both our road car and race car electric vehicle technology.”

Nissan EV: Video

Nissan is not the only game in town when it comes to the super-charged world of electric racing. The Drayson 850 horsepower electric Formula E race car recently did live testing at the Rockingham track in the UK. In the short clip below, which begins with a highly informative chat with Lord Drayson himself, we see the B12/69 Hyper EV doing some test runs on the circuit. For anyone who ever doubted that electric cars possessed the power to compete at the top levels of the sport, this film clip will silence those claims. The point about wireless charging is the most astounding of all, because if the process becomes efficient enough, then the race cars would not even have to leave the track to replenish batteries. As EV racing fans are fond of saying, “This is the future of the sport.”

Nissan EV Race Car

Nissan Motorsports suffered a setback in the 2012 Le Mans event when its car was forced off the track in a disappointing conclusion to its racing season. How Nissan will supply electric power for a race car over a 24-hour period is anyone’s guess, as it has not been done before. Some speculate that the team will use wireless charging or a modified battery-swapping system.

For more about Nissan vehicles, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.nissanusa.com

For racing enthusiasts, Nissan has created a separate site for Nissan Motorsports, which includes a complete list of upcoming races, a direct link Nissan’s official You Tube channel, and a fascinating look at the history of Nissan Motorsports.

www.nissanusa.com/performance/

Larry Bell

Future Car Challenge Race has Surprise Winner

Larry Bell — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:31:20 +0000

Future Car Challenge: Vauxhall Ampera

The 2012 winner of the Royal Auto Club’s Future Car Challenge (FCC) is Renault. Its Zoe electric car completed the course using less energy than any other competitor in the ‘small car‘ category. This year’s lineup included cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, General Motors, and others. Entrants must be production cars. Only last March did Renault unveil its Zoe EV, at the Geneva Motor Show. The car can travel 130 miles between charges. This was the third year that the race has been held. Organizers call the FCC a “real-world test of current and future vehicle technology.”

Future Car Challenge: Video

Watch a few celebrity appearances and short interviews in the clip below, which features this year’s pre-event festivities and media announcements for the Future Car Challenge. With lots of local British celebrities on hand, as well as a few famous racing stars, the competition is taken seriously by the drivers, but is obviously lots of fun for the thousands of spectators who line the route. As in many green racing events, the goal is not speed but efficiency, and the vehicle with the lowest power consumption between Brighton and London is crowned winner.

Future Car Challenge

The Royal Automobile Club of Pall Mall, London, operates the nation’s longest-running driving event, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Now, the club sponsors the RAC Future Car Challenge each year. The FCC occurs each November, and is open to electric, hybrid, low-emission, hydrogen, and standard combustion vehicles. The goal is to use the least amount of energy on the 63-mile route. While the Renault Zoe won in the “Most Energy Efficient Small Car” category, Vauxhall’s Ampera (cousin of the Chevy Volt) won “Most Efficient Regular Car.”

For more information about the Royal Automobile Club’s Future Car Challenge competition, a list of entries, and past results, see the event’s official website:
http://www.futurecarchallenge.com

Larry Bell

Corvette Diesel Car Turns Heads

Larry Bell — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:52:04 +0000

Corvette diesel racer

A Corvette known as the Corvegge, and which can run on vegetable oil, is one of the odder entries to compete in the 24 Hours of LeMons racing series. The events feature vehicles which cost no more than $500 and includes some of the strangest, most creative designs in all of racing. The Corvegge boasts 77 horsepower from an Olds 350 diesel engine that has been adapted and reworked for endurance, the name of the game in the LeMons series.

Highlights from 24 Hours of LeMons

Just what kind of driver can sustain the rigorous challenges that the road presents during the spectacular 24 Hours of LeMons races? For an answer to that question, watch the highlights of some dangerous encounters in the short film below. The LeMons event, unlike LeMans, is based on low budgets, raw nerves, and truly questionable vehicles. Follow the driving teams during a race from 2010 and, thanks to dash-mounted cameras, you will feel like you were there. And then, you will be glad you weren’t. This is the only race in the world where some of the cars actually look better after they crash. You be the judge.

Corvette Diesel

The LeMons racing series is restricted to cars that are track-prepped for less than $500, and at least once per year the LeMons circuit hosts a 24-hour endurance contest. Thankfully, series organizers have exempted the cost of safety equipment, brakes, wheels, and tires from the $500 total.

To find out more about the race, or if you want to fill out an entry for your team (!), visit the official website of the 24 Hours of LeMons racing series. Once there, you can also browse the gallery of past and present competitive vehicles.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

For more about the legendary Chevrolet Corvette, the standard kind, see Chevy’s dedicated website for the car:
www.chevrolet.com/Corvette

Larry Bell