Mirai - the world's lowest roadworthy car

Mirai - the world's lowest roadworthy car

The lowest roadworthy car measures 45.2 cm (17.79 in) from the ground to highest part of the car and is called "Mirai".

It was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course of Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, on 15 November 2010.

"Mirai" means 'future' in Japanese. The car runs on six main batteries.

The driving unit (motors and controlling components, including batteries) are from "Q-car", produced by CQ motors (Japan). Switching console is from a motorbike.

The chassis (steel), body (ERP), suspension, steering system, lights (LED), seat and all other parts were made at the High School.



Previous projects on the course have included building an amphibious car and a huge glider plane.

Okayama Sanyo High School's record and many, many more feature in the new Guinness World Records 2013 edition - is out now worldwide from all good retailers.

World’s First 3D-printed Car Actually Works

Don’t want to go to the auto dealership to purchase a new car? 

Perhaps in the future we’ll just be able to select a design online and 

print our own. An engineering company out there has come up with 

the world’s first 3D-printed car, Urbee. The two-seater vehicle has 

all its body parts made from 3D printers, including the glass panels. 

The car obviously isn’t available for mass consumption just yet, but 

perhaps in the future it will be put on out on the production line and

 contribute to the environment too by including hybrid technology 

into the design. Currently this printed vehicle runs on gasoline and 

ethanol, getting up to 200 miles to the gallon. Looks pretty cool, 

and the line “I printed my own car this morning” never gets old.

Costliest Bike

Costliest Bike

1. $3.6 million
2. The Ecosse Spirit ES1 serial #1 at $3.6 million would cost a mind-boggling Rs.30 crore in India (including duties). 

Do you crave speed?  Does two wheel and a motor mean fine art to you?  Do you have plenty of money to burn?  If so the new Ecosse Spirit ES1 is just for you.  With the collaboration of one American, Don Atchison, and two Brits, Richard Glover and Andy Le Fleming a revolutionary motorcycle was conceived.

The Ecosse Spirit ES1 is unlike any motorcycle on the market.  The super bike of super bikes, if you will.  Don became a dirt bike enthusiast in his youth, prompting him to leave the corporate world and focus on his passion for motorcycles.  Richard and Andy are two of the top engineers and designers for Formula 1 racing.  With the same principals used in building F1 cars, the team created the fastest, lightest bike available.  Its speed comes from the ultra light aerodynamic design and powerful engine.  It is made with a frameless chassis covered in carbon fiber and a luxe leather seat.  The driver sits in a position that allows the knees to be close to the body for greater ergonomics and control.  Also it uses a different suspension system for both front and rear suspension, along with handlebars mounted to the front fork for superior front tire control.  It weighs about 265 lbs, and can go around 230 miles per hour.  This is a motorcycle that truly performs like a F1 car.

The Ecosse team knows that the true motorcycle coinsure wants to be involved with their bike.  To meet these needs any perspective buyer will first meet with the design team to specifically build the bike to fit their needs.  Simple things like color and finish, as well as more complex details such as engine power and speed are decided by both the buyer and the team.  Next, Ecosse will set up a minimum of a two week training period with a championship racer for the buyer to truly learn what to expect from their new superbike.  And perhaps the most alluring aspect of the new Ecosse Spirit ES1 Titanium Series is that there will only be ten of these bike manufactured.

So, if you want to be one of these lucky ten owners, get in line.  But make sure you bring your check book, because this limited edition super bike has a starting price of $3.6 million.

General information
Model:	Ecosse Spirit ES1
Year:	2010
Category:	Prototype / concept model
Rating:	57.8 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement:	1000.00 ccm (61.02 cubic inches)
Engine type:	V4, four-stroke
Power:	200.00 HP (146.0 kW))
Torque:	189.84 Nm (19.4 kgf-m or 140.0 ft.lbs)
Top speed:	370.1 km/h (230.0 mph)
Bore x stroke:	108.0 x 108.0 mm (4.3 x 4.3 inches)
Gearbox:	6-speed
Transmission type, final drive:	Chain
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type:	Frameless design with carbon fiber front and rear suspension. Torsion bar springs and F1 spec dampers.
Front tyre:	120/70-ZR17
Rear tyre:	190/70-ZR17
Front brakes:	Double disc
Rear brakes:	Single disc
Physical measures and capacities
Dry weight:	120.2 kg (265.0 pounds)
Power/weight ratio:	1.6639 HP/kg
Wheelbase:	1,420 mm (55.9 inches)
Other specifications
Starter:	Electric
Color options:	Orange
Comments:	IL4 race engine. 10 ES1 prototypes available worldwide. Price not decided.

Mercedes-Benz F 015

Mercedes-Benz F 015

Self Driving Car

The Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion research car and its immersive user experience is an innovative perspective into the future of mobility.

Forget the futuristic, lozenge-like shape of the carbonfibre and aluminium F 015 - this car is all about reinterpreting modern luxury for the connected world.

A luxury lounge providing maximum comfort.

Sensual, flowing transitions and warm, organic materials such as open-pore walnut wood, which has been shaped to a three-dimensional veneer, and extremely soft ice-white nappa leather contrast with clearly-defined metal and glass surfaces with a cool and technical feel. The transitions between organic, metal and synthetic materials have been designed using matrix graphics; and the flowing transitions deliver a new, unparalleled feeling of bounteous space. The light-coloured fine wood used for the floor, for example, flows almost imperceptibly into the cool Plexiglass of the side panels thanks to their unusual surface matrix.

The interior as a digital living space.

One core theme of the innovative interior concept is a continuous exchange of information between vehicle, passengers and the outside world. Six displays are installed to this end all around, tastefully mounted in the instrument panel and the rear and side walls, making the interior of the F 015Luxury in Motion a digital living space – a perfect symbiosis of the virtual and the real world. Passengers are able to interact intuitively with the connected vehicle by means of gestures or by touching the high-resolution screens.

Visual and acoustic signals for greater safety.

The F 015 Luxury in Motion communicates with its surroundings both visually and acoustically. Large LED displays at the front and rear as well as a laser projection system directed toward the front are responsible for the visual part, while the acoustic communication repertoire includes both sounds and specific spoken instructions.

Can-Am Spyder F3

2015 Can-Am Spyder F3

2015 Can-Am Spyder F3 Key Features:

• Rotax 1330 Ace High Torque Engine

• 6-Speed Transmission With Reverse

• Vehicle Stability System

• Dynamic Power Steering

• Fox Podium Shocks

• High-Performance Brembo Braking System

• Cruising Riding Position

• Ufit System

• 6.5 Gallons (24.4 L) of Storage

• ECO Mode Smart Assist

• Anti-Theft System

• Multi-Function LCD / Analogue Gauge

• Standard Passenger Seat

• Muscular Styling

• 6-Spoke Metallic Silver Wheels

Performance And Handling:

Power and Control

The new Spyder F3 delivers an exhilarating experience whether you’re carving up the backroads or just cruising Main Street. Its brawny triple has great torque for acceleration. And you hug the road with the lower, more stretched out riding position.

Torquey, Powerful and Efficient

The Rotax 1330 ACE engine is an in-line triple-cylinder configuration for maximum torque delivery in every gear. It delivers excellent roll-on acceleration and response, and it has a unique sound with lots of character. It’s also efficient, making it possible to ride up to 252 miles (406 km) on a single tank*. Plus, it’s extremely low maintenance. *Tested at constant speed. Fuel mileage may vary depending personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition, vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary.

Makes For an Incredibly Smooth Ride

This 6-speed transmission offers the perfect balance of comfort and fuel economy thanks to a sophisticated hydraulic clutch system. Cruise comfortably at low RPMs with your choice of manual or semi-automatic transmission. Both include, reverse. The semi-automatic version uses left thumb and index finger paddle shifting.

Designed For Optimal Control

Developed in partnership with BOSCH and inspired by automotive technologies, the Vehicle Stability System integrates anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control for confidence taking on the open road.

Easy to Maneuver

The electronically controlled power steering system provides a varying amount of assistance, depending on the speed of the vehicle. So it’s always easy to maneuver and steer.

Performance, Comfort and Control

Gas-charged front shocks with an anodized-aluminum body and threaded preload adjustments for sport-tuned handling.

Precision Control

Higher-performance brakes specifically designed for Can-Am Spyder from the world leader in braking technology ensure excellent stopping power and consistent performance every time.

 Price and Specifications

year: 2015

price: $ 19499

Engine: Rotax 1330 ACE in-line 3 cylinders, liquid-cooled

Transmission: 6-speed

Horsepower @ RPM: 115

Torque @ RPM: 96

Energy: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)

Top Speed: 127 mph (Est.)

FIRST LOOK OF THE RENAULT LODGY

FIRST LOOK 

OF THE 

RENAULT LODGY

Renault's last big ticket launch in India was the Duster and though it was a compact SUV; so it could seat only 5 people, the car did extremely well. So well, in fact, that it carved a niche segment and forced market leaders likeMaruti Suzukiand Hyundaito think about bringing cars into this segment.

Demands poured in from customers to make the Duster a seven-seater but Renault couldn't give the Duster the extra two seats. Frankly, it didn't make sense, and so to cater to that audience the company is now coming out with an MPV. It's called the Lodgy and according to Renault, this car will combine the performance and comfort of a sedan with the space of and convenience of an MPV.

The cars that were a benchmark for the Lodgy included theToyota Innova, Honda Mobilio and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Having said that, let's dive into where the Lodgy stands when compared to these cars.

The Lodgy looks a bit boxy and maybe giving it that look makes it seem massive in size. The MPV looks a little old school but the chrome strips on the nose and the big 'lozenge' logo adds a bit of character to the car but the soft-looking headlamps make it look like a friendly rhino. I'll explain why I call it a rhino later but like the beast, it too is massive.

The model that has been showcased in India is the Stepway variant, which comes with skid protectors and body to bestow the MPV with a rugged look.


The Renault Lodgy for India, as the images of the India-spec model here reveal, gets a slightly different front grille, black plastic cladding on the underlip (for lower variants) and a silver skid guard for the flagship variant. The car also gets a new design for the alloy wheels.

Specs

Mechanically, Lodgy is likely to receive the Duster‘s configuration, which means it would get the K9K turbo diesel and the 1.6 liter petrol. Duster in India offers K9K turbo diesel in 84bhp and 109bhp form. As the Lodgy is a three-row-seating vehicle the more power engine should give it the requisite muscle. The109bhp version gets the snappier variable geometry turbo charging with inter-cooler delivering 248 Nm of maximum torque. The more premium Stepaway variant will be offered only with the 109bhp motor. On the performance side, the Lodgy edges out its fiercest rival of the segment; the tried, tested and much adoredToyota Innova which delivers 100.6 bhp and 200 Nm torque.

Measuring 4.5m in length, it is similar to the Innova but slightly longer than the Ertiga and the new Honda Mobilio.

Engine Capacity: 1461cc, 4 cylinders, SOHC, Turbo VGT

Power: 108.5bhp@4000rpm

Torque: 245Nm@1750rpm

Transmission: 6-speed Manual

Capacity: 7 people

Wheelbase: 2810mm

Expected Price Range:Rs. 11-15 lakhs