Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The WildCat from Bulgaria


It is a thread about the current high-tech developments happening in Bulgaria and not a thread specifically about architecture. This was formerly a country expert in high technology, mainly in regard to microelectronics and computers. That means Bulgaria was once recognized as the 'Silicon Valley' of the East. Many Bulgarian scientists left the country while others could not be absorbed by newly forming private enterprises after the 1980s 'fall' of Communism. Therefore, they became taxi drivers. It is a fact and not a joke! So probably, it is true.

Bulgaria is at this time focused on creating an economic niche on the world stage by leveraging its high quality education system as some of you may have heard. In actual fact, you can just look up the International Math Olympics or other rankings to see that this small country creates an incredible number of talented people year after year. In fact, it is ranked as one of the top countries in the world in terms of mathematics and the physical sciences. So supposed, the issue is actually structuring the economy in such a way as to be able to efficiently absorb them through the effective utilization of the populace's skills, knowledge and core competencies and not the human resources.

Presently, there are two primary reasons why there is high-tech resurgence in the country:

1) The government has formed a new investment stimulation system whereby it lowers corporate taxes for corporations occupied in high technology. The government also helps these companies construct the necessary infrastructure requested by the corporations if they have projects that are above 20 million Euros in size.

2) Many Bulgarian scientists and engineers are now finding R&D jobs within the Bulgarian economy due to the steady growth of the economy, and positive developments in the business environment, such as the 10% corp. tax rate and technical red-tape reform. There is a new tendency of Bulgarians returning home to create new corporations that will influence the country's strategic position, EU membership and talent pool.

Certainly Bulgaria must become oriented around innovation for it to create a globally competitive economy. The science and technology community in the country is finding its savior in the form of endless possibilities offered by entrepreneurship after the disintegration of the last two decades. This is indeed for all of Eastern Europe as we have all suffered much sorrow and not for Bulgaria. However, we developed impenetrable hope in sorrow, and with hope we all hold the key to progress, peace and prosperity.

The Bulgarian based design group 12B Concept has now its third major project that is the Wild cat design concept. The Wildcat is created by a core team of three members and is purely a design study but could form the basis of a production version if the company receives financial backing. The Wildcat is designed to feature a turbocharged V8 engine developing 460hp positioned as a mid-ranged sports car. The Total weight of the car is expected to be less than 1200kg with around €150,000 as final pricing.

By the end of March next year, a scale model is scheduled to be completed ahead of planned wind tunnel testing. The developers are hoping that a working prototype can be ready for a string of motor shows where the car will be displayed all the way through until the end of 2008. It is actually the car is the vision of Ivan Ivanov, Branimir Dobrev, and Ivan "Sqwall" Stoyneshky The Wildcat is expected to feature a 460 horsepower V8. Currently, the Bulgarian I2B team is looking for investors or potential buyers.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Peugeot Supercars 908 V12 HDI


This supercar created by Peugeot uses 5.5 liter diesel V12 and turbochargers objective has more than 700hp. The selection of engine structural design has been based on a 100° twelve-cylinder V design, with a 5.5 litre cylinder power. It is the utmost cylinder capacity allowed by the regulations and was selected for its proficient operation at low speed. In the first instance, it also allows engine power to be imperfect yet also allows advance development.

Peugeot supercars has proclaimed its pronouncement to take up a new technological challenge: to win the Le Mans 24 Hours, one of the most prominent and most difficult motor races in the world, , with a vehicle powered by an HDi diesel engine, prepared with a diesel particulate filter system. With attracts more than 200.000 spectators every year, Peugeot will use this symbolic race as an opportunity to showcase their brand values: reliability, dynamic performance, style illustrated by the feline lines and, finally, innovation expressed, in the midst of other means, by the use of technology that is environmentally friendly.

The supercars Peugeot will be at Le Mans with a diesel engine because the PSA Peugeot Citroën group is now a world leader in diesel technology, which is a Common rail direct injection. In 2005, HDi technology can be found on more than 70% of vehicles sold by the brand in France and more than 60% in Europe. Peugeot established its commitment and strategic policy to lessen exhaust emissions in 2000, by fitting as standard equipment on the HDi engine in the 607 a diesel particulate filter system. And Peugeot renowned the production of the millionth vehicle fixed with a diesel particulate filter system in December 2005.

The HDi diesel particulate filter technology will be brought by the production car to the competition arena to show its qualities in tremendous conditions of endurance and performance while respecting the environment. On the one hand, the number of cylinders results from the desire to keep bore diameter extremely close to that of a production series engine. On the other hand, it could make best use of Peugeot’s diesel combustion knowledge to limit the stroke to a reasonable value. Well known for its good balance, the V12 architecture also diminishes vibration to a minimum.

Having the 100° V angle, of the V12 architecture, The Peugeot supercars allows the height of the centre of gravity to be lowered without moving the torsional inflexibility of the engine. Two diesel particulate filters are installed at the end of each of the exhaust systems. They will give a guaranteed control of exhaust emissions under all operating conditions through technology which has come directly from production cars. The numbers 1.195.520 and 1.195.521 which are the numeric production numbers of the filters in the overall production total of all filters since the introduction on to Peugeot vehicles were the two diesel particulate filters built-in to the engine being presented.

The supercar is expected to perform more than 515kW (700 bhp) of power and a torque output greater than 1.200 Nm. The level of supercars performance is without example in a diesel engine and is a direct result of Peugeot’s present level of knowledge in diesel technology, connected to the mechanical characteristics of the V12. One of Peugeot supercars Sport’s essential partners on this project is Bosch, who makes an active contribution to the specification of the fuel injection components and to the engine management system. Peugeot Sport was re-organized at the end of the 2005 World Rally Championship With the arrival of this new challenge. Under the supervision of technical manager Bruno Famin, Claude Guillois was named as manager of the engine department gratitude to his experience of race engines, supercharged engines and knowledge of production engine design. The department is based at Peugeot Sport’s Vélizy facility that comprises three engine test beds including one for simulation.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Exotic Cars of the Future (Part 2)


Italdesign Giugiaro Quaranta Concept

The Italdesign Giugiaro will unveil the Quaranta concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. Inspired by the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta concept(top pic), the Quaranta housed a hybrid Toyota powertrain which combined 268 horsepower and 212 pound feet of torque, and reaches 38.8 miles in a gallon. It has a top speed of 0-62 mph in 4.05 seconds.

B.A.T. 11 Concept

Stile Bertone has announced that the Italian coachbuilder and design house will be presenting a new concept car at next month's Geneva Motor Show. He promises that it will unveil the new Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 11 concept car at Geneva next month. The concept car is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione high performance coupe. The B.A.T. 11 was named to reconnect to the famous B.A.T. 5, B.A.T. 7 and B.A.T. 9 concept cars of the sudio that were developed by Nuccio Bertone between 1953 and 1955.

Toyota FT-HS Concept

Toyota's Calty research and design centre in California has developed the Toyota's FT-HS hybrid sports. It is a two door sports coupe that is composed of a front mounted engine and RWD layout. It features an advanced 400hp hybrid powertrain with a combination of a 197hp electric motor and 292hp 3.5L petrol V6. The latest news Toyota hints that it could inspire next Supra.

Chevrolet Corvette Z03 Concept

Ugur Sahin Design independently created the Chevrolet Corvette Z03 Concept Chevrolet. It is based on the platform of the Z06 Corvette but with three different engine options that range from 500 to 750 horsepower. Its stylish body is formed from carbon fibre that is expected to result in a total weight saving of 50kgs over the standard Z06. it really features a very cool design!

MCE MC1 Supercar

The MCE MC1 is manufactured by MotorCity. It is adesign firm based in Germany and C2P Automotive. The MCE MC1 Supercaris Powered by a 600hp V10 engine and is shorter and narrower than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 but is 15mm higher. MotorCity calls it as a "production concept" which sites on 20-inches in the front and 21-in rear, carbon fiber, scissor doors and twin central exhausts. Since both companies need funding to get this baby on the road, there is no word whether the car will be produced.

Mazda Furai Concept

It seems a Batman Gadget but it is actually designed for racers! You can see this Mazda Furai Concept in the Detroit Auto Show 2008. This race car is based on the Courage C65 platform and power for the three-rotor engine that runs on E100 Ethanol, and 450 hp.

Porsche Carma Concept

The Porsche Carma Concept is a super slippery Porsche designed by a bunch of students from Institute Superieur de Design in Valenciennes, France using Alias Studio Tools, Maya, and Alias Showcase 3d software. It was designed as an extreme sport scar that is also suitable for daily use. The designers support that particular attention was paid to the aerodynamics of the vehicle that resulted in a detailed study of the body and underbody surfaces in order to achieve the necessary downforce.

Toyota 2000 SR Concept


Toyota 2000 SR Concept is a two-seater coupe that could replace the Toyota MR2. Created by Spanish studio SURE Design, this concept is a modern day incarnation of the Toyota 2000 GT supercar from 1967. A mid-front mounted 3.5-liter V6 engine, which is a bio-fueled, turbocharged, and develops 610 horsepower is expected to provide the proposed power for the Toyota 2000 SR by sending its power to the rear wheels. The power for the front wheels comes from an electric motor, which is capable of driving the front wheels independently where the power of the V6 is unnecessary. This concept is purely a styling exercise by PURE Design; however, a production run is unplanned.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Exotic Cars of the Future (Parts 1)


Because of the advanced modern technology, there are a great number of modern inventions of exotic cars. Actually, we already saw some of the exotic cars, hybrid cars, supercars, and other vehicle engineered for uniqueness, power, and stylish look. However, have you ever wander how the cars will look to the near future? If we are already amazed with the designs and power of the cars in the present, what else the future cars can do to us? Let us use our imagination upon the exotic future cars that are already under production or still in plan for production, or have the possibility to run on the road. Here are some of the exotic cars of the future:

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

The GINA Light Visionary Model is one of the exotic sports car concepts of BMW. It features a fabric body panels that can bend into different shapes! The GINA Light Visionary shares design, built on the discontinued BMW Z8 platform and completed with its 5.0-liter V8. Chris Bangle, BMW's design chief, is hoping that the car will be a showcase of what could be possible in 10 years' time, wherein at the touch of a button, drivers could choose a shape for their vehicle. In addition, the GINA Light Visionary Model shows features like a virtually seamless outer skin composed of a textile fabric that stretches across a moveable substructure. If and when functions are actually required, it is the only time that they are offered. The interesting thing in this car is that it looks very cool!

Scuderia Bizzarrini p538

One of most stunning designs from Stefan Schulze is the Scuderia Bizzarrini p538. it is powered by a mid-mounted 7.0 litre Chevrolet LS7 that provides 505 hp 6200 rpm and 475 lb-ft 4800 rpm. The P538 is a re-bodied Roadster version retaining essentially all of the original design but embracing the "open top" body concept with the style of the original 1966 P538 based on the Galmer Arbitrage GT chassis. At the Nardo Ring in May of 2008, the New P538 will be available for viewing.

Spada Codatronca Concept

Spada has teamed up with coachbuilder to build some 20 copies f the latest new Spada Codatronca Concept in the near future and priced somewhere north of £200,000. A supercharged LS7 V8, with over 600 hp, at top speed of 330 km/h and 0-100 km/h (62mph) time of 3.2 is expected to power the new concept car. It will feature a lighter-weight of 1380kg and more powerful performance of about 700hp. The TSV track version that features top speed of 355 km/h and a mind-boggling 2.7 second 0-100 km/h time will also be offered. The picture shows the finish of the car.

Super Tipper Truck Concept



This is an amazing truck design! The Super Tipper Truck Concept looks like a future truck in other planet that is inspired by the movement of quadruped animals. This concept truck was created by the Munich-based truck maker F.X. Meiller that has seen the future of construction hauling, and it is a sleek all-wheel drive tipper that can on all four directions. Haishan Deng, A Chinese transportation designer, made a series of concept drawings portraying what Meiller's vision about the new super tipper truck in action that won him a 2007 red dot award. Deng says the truck's six engines and battery system will be the priciest parts, although Meiller is not yet saying anything about the plan of building the tipper and how much will it cost. On May 17-20 in New York at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, a scaled-down prototype is scheduled to be on display.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

10 Fastest Cars On Earth

Among the parts of every car enthusiast’s fantasy are Supercars and high speed. These cars seem to be endangered species that are rare enough to keep attracting our attention over and over again and never let us get bored with them. But, there are always the fastest ones. The top speed is one of the constant measurements in classifying the performances of the supercars; however, many companies fail to provide such data with absolute certainty because it is hard to reach conditions for the maximum speed of the car to be measured. Acceleration of up to 100 or 200 km/h, time needed for one kilometer or a quarter of a mile drive, and the rest of driving methods are other important elements. The time needed for a car to accelerate from the standing start to 100 miles per hour (160km/h), and then to stop immediately is still the best speed test ever proven. This measurement enables an ideal ratio of necessary performance that characterizes a car as the fastest one. In connection with this, here are the ten fastest cars ever made:

10. Lamborghini Gallardo 13.65 secs

Lamborghini Gallardo is faster than its bigger and stronger brother by three hundredths of a second in the 0-100-0 mph race, primarily because of its lower weight. This supercar is powered by 5.0 liter V10 engine providing 520 hp that scorches it from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.

9. Porsche 911 Turbo 12.5 secs

The new Porsche 911‘turbo’ successfully transfers its 480 hp to the ground and proves that power is not the most important because of its sophisticated integral drive which limits wheel sliding.

8. Caterham CSR260 11.95 secs

British Caterham always has the reputation of being one of the fastest cars in the world (0-60 mph in 3 seconds). It is not surprising because its mass and power ratio wouldn't put super sports motorcycle to shame. CSR 260 uses a 2.3 liter engine that provides 250 hp and weighs 555 kilograms that is approximately 0.5 hp per kilogram.

7. Pagani Zonda 11.8 secs

One of the most extravagant supercars of a mass production is an Italian with a German heart. It is powered by a Mercedes AMG 7.3 liter V12 engine that provides 555 hp, which is sufficient to accelerate from standing start to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and develop maximum speed of 220 mph.

6. Porsche Carrera GT 11.6 secs

One of the technologically most advanced GT cars ever made is the strongest mass production Porsche of all times with the centrally positioned 5.7 liter V10 engine. This Porsche supercar is almost completely crafted out of carbon fibers and composite materials. It became one of the most successful super cars of all times after 1,270 cars were soled recently.

5. McLaren F1 LM 11.5 secs

McLaren is created for the only goal of being the fastest car among others. Such title is provided to it by the uncompromising creation process for ten years during which it remained unbeatable by the competition. It is powered by a BMW gold-plated V12 engine that provides 627 horsepower. 240 mph is the maximum measured speed of this car.

4. Ferrari Enzo 10.9 secs

Ferrari Enzo is the fastest Ferrari of all times, which was named after the founder of a legendary Italian manufacturer. The legendary McLaren F1has beat the fastest car in the world in all categories from acceleration to maximum speed until recently. There are only 400 unit of Ferrari Enzo made.

3. Ariel Atom 10.88 secs

You can buy a dozen of Ariel Atom for the price of one Carrera GT. A small British company from Somerset with only about ten employees manufactured the Atom. It is powered by a Honda engine that is taken over from Civic Type-R and is supplemented by mechanical supercharger providing 300 hp. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds is not surprising because Atom weighs only 456 kilograms.

2. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 9.9 secs

Bugatti Veyron redefined the terms used to describe supercars. Veyron provides comfort and enjoyment to two passengers, characteristic of the most luxurious limousines while its competitors have narrow, noisy and too heated interiors. It is the heaviest car on the 10 fastest cars list because it weighs almost two tons. Despite its weight, it still provides 0-100-0 mph a time of less than 10 seconds with 253 mph as its maximum speed. This is why it was the fastest car in the world until recently. It is all made possible by its sophisticated integral drive and unique W16 engine that provides 1001 horsepower.

1. Ultima GTR 9.4 secs

A small British car company represented its version of ultimate race car, Less than two months ago, for the road drive based on Chevrolet V8 engine that provides 730 hp and entered the Guinness Book of World Records for beating the Veyron’s time by five hundredths of a second. in 2.6 seconds, 720 GTR scorches from 0 to 60 mph, in 5.3 seconds, from 0 to 100 mph, and brakes to 0 in 3.6 seconds without the reaction time of the driver. The GTR did this without using sny traction control devices or ABS braking aids.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Inspiration: The British Steam Car Record Attempt!


The fastest vehicle on the planet in the year 1907 was powered by steam. Currently, steam vehicles are known for being slow, inefficient and generally rubbish, I don’t know if it’s true or not. However, that may not be the way it has to be. The British Steam Car Challenge team is making a new steam powered car, with four boilers and a very high tech chassis indeed, with the goal of breaking the 200mph (321kph) barrier that has stymied other attempts in the past. A technology with ‘legs’ is a technological achievement that would help to establish that steam.

The team interestingly cite raising the popularity of steam as a vehicle propulsion method once again, adding that almost any fuel can be used to generate steam, whether it’s mined, grown, or even captured from the sun. The steam car will be using LPG for their attempt and you can read more about it on the official site or on the Steam Car Club site page also. The BBRC Radio4 also has a radio program about this car. That’s a nice publicity! More power to them if that means that I can have my own steam car few years from now. Wow! How exciting! That would be the best creation of British gentlemen if never.

This steam-powered racer is appropriately named Inspiration, poised to break a 101-year-old speed record of127.659 mph that was set by a Stanley Steamer on the sands of Daytona Beach. The Inspiration's pedigree speaks for itself if the car's slick looks aren't enough to silence doubters. This British steam car is built by the team that created the twin-jet-engined ThrustSSC – the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier.

Water flows into a liquid-propane steam generator within this single-seater's carbon-fiber-and-aluminum body, where it's pressurized to 500 psi and superheated to 725 degrees Fahrenheit. From there it spins a two-stage Curtis turbine to more than 12,000 rpm that results to at least 300 horsepower that should be adequate to slingshot the Inspiration past 200 mph when, if development goes well, it reaches Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats next year

Early next year an all-British team, which is complete with lady driver, will make an attempt on a world land speed record that has remained steady for 100 years. Jesse Crosse reports their condition in facing up to the pressures. The team will decamp to the Verneuk Pan, a lake bed in South Africa's Northern Cape in the spring of next year with their equipments that will include the usual paraphernalia such as toolkits, laptop computers, timing gear, safety equipment and, of course, the car, with a sleek missile on wheels finished in British Racing Green.

A healthy sense of humor prevails despite err and pressures. The science behind the on-board computer systems is explained by a senior engineer, and then proved the point with a hefty and unscientific kick aimed at the main control unit. There was a move to a white board covered in scientific formulae. The car could reach a terminal velocity of 180mph if pushed from a cliff top and it was factually proven by the scribbles. The engineer confided that it is mathematically correct, however, the drivers aren't impressed for some reason.

The team has two drivers for the steam car. Burnett is one of the two drivers. He has raced dragsters and powerboats. Annette Getty is the other driver. She is the general manager of PDS, the family firm that manufactured the tubular steel chassis of the Inspiration. She has no previous experience but is making up for that by her campaign for a Mitsubishi Evo VIII in local rallies.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Ale! The Three-Wheeled Sports Car


George Parker, the President of Fuel Vapor Technologies, is closer now than ever to seeing his dream come to fruition After 15 years of research and labor. Parker is sharing a first glimpse of the Fuel Vapor ale to the public with patents pending on his engine technology. The output of the ultra-light auto is more astonishing than the design of the 3-wheeled vehicle. The turbo charged 1500cc Honda engine the Fuel Vapor ale puts out 180-hp and achieves a zero-to-sixty time of 5 seconds and a quarter mile time of 12.9 seconds with a high mileage. Those results are actually acquired while still getting 92 miles-per-gallon.

The Fuel Vapor technology system developed by Parker feeds a modified mixture of fuel and air compared to the typical combustion engine. After taking the fuel from liquid form into a gaseous form and Parker then it is mixed with the air into the cylinder at an unthinkable ratio. The typical combustion engine has an air fed a fuel mix of 14.7 parts of air to every one part of fuel (14.7:1). On the other hand, the Fuel Vapor ale increases the ratio to 20:1.

Essentially, less fuel is used by the ale to produce a better performing and efficient engine. And there are fewer particles of fuel that fail to burn because the fuel is fed in a vapor form. Thus the Fuel Vapor ale produces 75% fewer carbon emissions on regular fuel even without a catalytic converter installed compared to any hybrid car and far less than any gasoline engine on the planet.

Right now, the Fuel Vapor Technologies Company is waiting on investors to help them along and waiting on their patent to be processed. To make the Fuel Vapor ale a production car, which is a requirement to be considered for the Automotive X-Prize competition is the prime intension of the company. $10million is the prize money put up for the first car to reach 100-mpg; however, the car is ready and able to be produced in adequate numbers and it is the contingency on winning the prize.

For some, the car may be too small or look like a shovel while for others that is fine. The Fuel Vapor ale is certainly a large step toward proving that engine technologies do exist to allow better fuel economy. No one ever asked the Wright Brothers to build a Lear jet after their first flight along the beach in North Carolina, while a 1500cc engine may not drive a Suburban down the road.

A fast new car, which runs on fuel-vapor, is making hybrids seem like gas guzzlers, giving off 75% less CO2 emissions than the average hybrid. The new car is really wonderful because it handles a lot more like a sports car than people would expect from such an eco-friendly vehicle, and anyone can drive it as fast as 140mph, assuming that there are no cops around.

This car is called “ale.” It represents a new breed of futuristic, faster, and more environmentally friendly car. A Honda engine and suspension, and a Porsche steering mechanisms are used by its creators to achieve an extraordinary performance.. 10 gallons of regular gas is the only amount of fuel that can hold by its fuel tank, however the 10 gallons last for amazing distance.
A top speed of 225kmh and the ability to perform 1.7g turns performance is in high end sports car territory with a zero to 100kmh time of five seconds. However, it does this while using only 2.45L/100km and producing far less emissions than the most economical hybrids without using a catalytic converter that makes this car amazing.