Automobile Today

 Again we continue to prove that being eco-friendly does not mean the car has to be slow and ugly, as proven by one of Saab’s most amazing cars yet to be created, the Saab Aero X. This amazing Concept car was revealed in the 2006 Salon International de L’Auto. The Aero X is clearly a car inspired to fit the 21st century. The entire car from inside out was inspired by modern day fighting jets and is a 2 seats sports car. The car’s body is made out of carbon fiber making it lighter and stronger. The Aero X offers a unique one of a kind “door”. These are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. To get in the car the entire roof, along with the wind shield and “door” section opens up, just like in a jet. As you enter the car you come upon an entirely new world. The instrumentation are displayed in a mind blowing 3-D image. The 3-D image covers the entire area were you would usually have the air condition and radio instrumentation as well as were your performance information is usually at hand. The Aero X also hosts great comfort with 2 leather covered seats which further submerge you in its new world. However, another utterly amazing and unique characteristic is its windshield. This new windshield offers a complete 180 degree look, improving visibility and aerodynamics.  This, and all the other futuristic concepts gives the car an amazing new environment. Nonetheless, the design of the car is not the only exceptional characteristic. The Aero X is an amazing eco-friendly machine. At the core of this is an state of the art V6 twin turbo BioPower engine producing 400 hp with a four-wheel drive. Because the Aero X uses 100% bioethanol it produces ZERO CO2 emissions. On top of being an eco-friendly engine, it propels the Aero X from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The Aero X also poses advanced 380 mm ventilated disks to keep it as safe as possible and enjoyable to drive. A very innovative aspect is that the wheels are designed to cool the brakes, so in terms act the blades in a jet turbine. Finally, if the car is well received by the public it may go into to production making it a must have for anyone interested in having one of the most modern cars. Again we can see that combining eco-friendly technology with unique extravagant designs is no problem for today’s people and technologies.   Information thanks to Saab.com and Wikipedia.    

   Today, we reach a time were the technology is so advanced that if it is widely used we could reduce our footprint in the planet by over 90 percent. One of these technologies is the incredible Opel Eco Speedster. This car is an amazing concept car first shown in the 2002 Paris Motor Show and is to mark a new standard for all diesel engines.    The Eco Speedster uses an ECOTEC 1.3 CDTI engine which uses multiple jet common rail fuel injection, four valves per cylinder and a turbocharger to produce 112hp. This amazing engine combined with state of the art aerodynamics, reduced car weight (thanks to carbon fiber bodywork)  broke 17 world records and accelerated the car to a top speed of 155 mph. However, the 17 world records and the 155 mph top speed is not what gives this car the “Eco” but, that it got 113 miles per gallon while doing all these. With cars these efficient you could easily surpass 1000 miles per tank.  However, electric engineering has also achieved much in the automobile industry. A concept car named T Zero could very well be the first step for an electric generation. The T Zero is an electric sports car produced by a company named AC Propulsion. The T Zero is powered with 6,800 lightweight lithium ion cells which accelerate the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, faster than a Lamborgini Gallardo. Because of the electric engine the T Zero can immediately achieve max torque and RPM, having a larger advantage over conventional cars.  The T Zero also has a range of 300 miles which, is exceptional from the time electric technology was introduced in cars. If it only took a short amount of time to progress this much, imagine what the technology will reach in 30 years.      Another testimony to the power of electric engines was proven by a group of Ohio State students and one professor from Ohio State University. They created the fastest electric car in the world the Buckeye Bullet. This extraordinary machine proves without a doubt the potential in electric power. The car uses a 500+hp three phase AC induction motor powered by 400 nickel hydride rechargeable batteries. The Buckeye Bullet discharges all 400 in 90 seconds, producing massive amounts of power. This engineering took the Buckeye Bullet to 324 mph (517 km/h), well beyond the Bugatti Veyron! To create a real practical and unique car you can’t have just speed, you also require one of the most important aspects, luxury. Here is were a Japanese creation, the Eliica  comes into play. This electric lithium ion battery car with eight wheel drive defines performance and luxury. Its eight 100 hp engines (one on each wheel) produces an overall 800 hp, propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds and reaching a top speed of 370 km/h. The 8 wheels provide extreme traction, control, and stability. As already proven, electric cars and technology show extreme potential, hosting performance, extreme luxury, and most importantly, environmentally friendly.                What we consider the future of cars may be already at our doorstep, waiting for what you may consider to be unrealistic to                                                                                    accept it as possible and make it a reality.           (Information thanks to Wikipedia and the Discovery Channel: Future Car).  T ZeroBuckeye Bullet Eliica  Opel Eco Speedster