Coober Pedy, South Australia — (Oct. 27, 2009) – Tesla Roadster owner Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas completed 313 miles (501 km) in a Tesla Roadster on a single charge – a distance that appears to set a new record for a production electric vehicle.

The previous world record was 244 miles on a single charge. This card uses Lithium Ion battery for its charge. The record will set a new challenge to the competitors around the globe and will create and awareness about adopting green cars. The card set 313 miles carrying 2 passengers: Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas.

About Tesla

Tesla Motors’ goal is to produce increasingly affordable cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla sells cars online and has delivered about 900 Roadsters to customers. Tesla operates galleries in California’s Silicon Valley and Los Angeles; New York; Seattle; Boulder, Colorado; London and Munich.

Tesla achieved overall corporate profitability in July, thanks to strong demand for the Roadster. The all-electric sports car is faster than Porsche 911 or Audi R8 yet is six times as efficient as conventional sports cars. Tesla services cars in its galleries and through “house calls” so owners can enjoy hassle-free service without leaving their home or office.

[Via AutoBlog]

The new vehicle is named as E6 which comes with a classic exterior and gives you a top speed of 160 km/h. The car has a capacity of 5 persons unlike the Tesla roadster and Tesla roadster sports car that only provide you with a little room.

Usually the car needs 7-8 hour to get charged by a domestic plug. But the BYD acclaims that they have developed a fast charging point that will charge the car in just one hour. E6 uses a ferrous battery. The Car gives you with 50% charging in just 10 minutes.

The green group WWF has just appointed the Chinese energy expert Dr Yang Fuqiang as its head of global solutions. He told BBC News that he would reserve judgment on BYD’s claims. He also said that “If they are true, this is an extraordinary step which will prove highly significant”. The car is environment friendly with zero pollution level and low noise. E6 will be sold for £30,000 and is aimed initially at the eco-conscious California market. When the price comes down with mass production, it’ll be rolled out properly in China.

The hybrid with twin-turbo diesel engine can do an electronically limited  top speed of 250 km/h by using 3.7 liters of diesel per 100 km. On one recharge/refill the car can drive for 50 km purely electric and upto 645 km with diesel. Option for recharging the lithium-polymer batteries from an outlet as well as with the internal combustion engine is available. The attention to car weight and aerodynamics has been kept to a maximum with a drag factor of just 0.22. The car gives a glimpse of whats to come in the future. One is looking at a fun to drive car that can muster up 356 hp.

Even with so many changes, the double kidney front grill has been retained and why not? as this has been the BMW trade mark style since the beginning. This sports car of the future has a 1.5 liter 3 cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine in the back and has an electric drives on both rear and front axle. With both diesel and electric drives in operation the car will accelerate a-la M3 with 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The 98 cell lithium-polymer battery has a capacity of 30 amp/hour/cell and can produce a continuous output of 600 Amps @ 3.7 V. The battery delivers a nominal 8.6 kW/h for driving the car. The doors are designed to open up like birds wings with pivots in front column. With standardized features like rain sensors, active cruise control, HUD (3-dimensional), electronic power steering and brake assist the stylish Vision EfficientDynamics is a must watch showpiece.

The car front has an aggressive look which meshes perfectly with its simple yet stylish side view. Focus has increased on engine cooling with the innovative addition of cooling ducts, one  on each side of the car. The drag coefficient factor and distribution of down force close to weight distribution definitely add up to improve fuel efficiency. At the top speed of 325 km/h the down force comes out to be approximately 365 kg. By the looks of it the 458 Italia has the potential to be an excellent successor to the F430. Ferrari has used the latest joining technologies to weld up aluminum alloys of different composition. The basic configuration, just for reminder are as follows:

• V8 90° 4.5 liter Direct Fuel Injection Engine
• 562 bhp
• Mid-Engined
• 0 – 62 mph in 3.4 sec
• Top Speed = 202 mph

Below you’ll find the latest studio and on road pictures along with video previews including the actual engine sounds.

Sounds

Images

Videos

via [FERRARI]

Even though the idea for this concept car, which was introduced in 2008 Paris Motor Show, faces quite a few hurdles, the company is seriously considering production. Even though Lamborghini is following Porsche’s 4 door trend, they have not fallen into the trap of overlooking the sporty look that other 2 door super cars possessed. The size is staggering and the looks are pretty attractive. The original version is to hold a V10 5.2 liter engine which might even come with a hybrid or a turbo-diesel alternative. The finished version shall be on display by late 2012 or early 2013.

The roof and back screen styling signatures with its “double bubble” design which in itself is a remarkable and expressive feature. Two aluminum arches run along the roof which add up with black roof and tinted rear screen to make up RCZ’s unique profile. The active rear spoiler can be deployed in 2 different positions for greater stability.

The 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show shall be the unveiling occasion for this new car. Three engines categories will be available for this 308 RCZ.

1.6 Litre THP (200 bhp) BVM6:

• Maximum Torque = 255 Nm @ 1700 rpm
• Maximum Power = 200 bhp @ 5800 rpm
• 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 sec
• 80 to 120 km/h in 6.5 sec in fifth gear
• Fuel Consumption = 7.1 litres / 100 km (in combined cycle)
• Twin Scroll Turbocharger
• VTi Technology

1.6 Litre THP (156 bhp) BMV6 or BVA6:

• Turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine
• Maximum Torque = 240 Nm @ 1400 rpm
• Maximum Power = 156 bhp @ 5800 rpm
• Fuel Consumption = 6.9 litres / 100 km

2.0 Litre HDi FAP (163 bhp) BMV6:

• Maximum Torque = 340 Nm @ 2000 rpm
• Maximum Power = 163 bhp @ 3750 rpm
• New generation ECCS combustion chamber
• Variable Geometry Low Inertia Turbocharger
• Fuel Consumption = 5.4 litres / 100 km (in combined cycle)

via [Peugeot]

The water cooled twin turbo chargers come equipped with VTG technology that basically adds variable guide vanes. The purpose of these guide vanes is to achieve a higher boost pressure even at low RPMs by controlling the gas flow from engine to the turbochargers turbine. Direct fuel injection has been introduced for the first time in 911 Turbo enhancing the efficiency through controlled fuel injection and internal cooling effect during air fuel mixture formation leading to a better compression ratio (9.8:1).

The official figures for reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 16% and 18% respectively. To enhance driving dynamics, Porsche Torque Vectoring system has been introduced that basically distributes the drive torque from inside to the outside wheel during steering leading to better control without adding any unwanted weight. The new model shall make its first public appearance in this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (15 – 27 September 2009) and the Coupé and Cabriolet will be available for sale from November 21, 2009.

via [Porsche]

Although the claims have not been officially proven, the numbers and power ratings mentioned below are hard to ignore.

Hennessy’s Proposed Specifications:

• Mid-Engine, rear drive,  two door car.
• Curb weight less than 2400 lbs.
• Hennessey’s V8 Engine.
• Available power up to 1200 hp.
• 6 Speed transmission.
• 0-60 mph in 2.4 sec.
• 0-100 mph in 5.3 sec.
• 0-150 mph in 8.9 sec.
• 0-200 mph in 14.3 sec.
• Top Speed of 272 mph (440 km/h)

via [HPE]

The engine is basically made up of two 4 liters V8s which have been joined together to make a 64 valve 8 liter W16 and on top of that the manufacturers gave it four turbochargers. With full throttle the fuel consumption is so massive that at 215 mph the Veyron takes 10000 gallons of air every minute. The speedster is fitted with a 100 liters fuel tank which at flat out empties in 12 minutes. Even though there are massive cooling ducts and the engine is without a cover, 10 radiators have been provided.

• 3 for cooling the Engine.
• 3 for the inter-coolers.
• 1 for cooling the transmission oil.
• 1 for cooling the differential oil.
• 1 for cooling the engine oil.
• 1 for cooling the hydraulic fluid that actuates the rear spoiler.

For such a high speed roadster aerodynamics and stability is of utmost importance. That is why engineers have designed the Veyron with three speed modes that stabilize this 7-gear all wheel drive monster. The illustration below (courtesy Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.) shows all three speed modes.

• Standard Mode: This mode is for speeds upto 136 mph in which the rear spoiler is completely retracted.
• Handling Mode: For speeds upto 233 mph, the front nose is pulled down and the rear spoiler is actuated.  The spoiler, in addition to car’s weight produces a downward force of 350 kg.
• Top Speed Mode: This mode is for speeds beyond 233 mph. The top speed mode has to be manually actuated using the top speed key . The under-body is made absolutely level and the spoiler retracted to reduce already significant downward force on rear tires.

courtesy Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

With high speeds the importance of efficient braking comes into play. For speeds greater than 125 mph the rear spoiler also acts as an air brake when the brake paddle is pushed. So along with normal deceleration value of 1.3 g, the rear spoiler shoots up at an angle of 55 degrees and adds additional 0.6 g to the braking power. That means that the car stops from 250 mph to a stand still in 10 sec. The Bugatti Veyron may not be the most affordable or economical car but this incredible machine might be the only one of its kind that one would see in a life time.

via [Bugatti courtesy Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.]

The 2012 murcielago will have an aluminum space frame replacing its current steel platform.  This will make the new car approximately 200 pounds lighter than the recently announce SV version. The new Murcielago is bound to have a new name which has not been made official yet. The all wheels drive new model shall support a 675 hp engine and a foot pound torque of 500. The 6 speed transmission shall be retained and an improved variable valve timing with direct fuel injection replacing the current indirect multi-port injection system will be introduced. The current “e-gear” transmission system shall be standard but it is unclear if the manual option will be available. The new model may include parent Audi’s magnetorheological fluid in its height adjustable shock absorbers with at least 2 to 3 selectable settings. New extras may also include rear-view camera, front windshield data display, obstacle detection system and for improved safety and ergonomic aspects the new Murcielago shall include side air bags and automatic temperature system as standard options. With so much hype about more power and speed the new Lamborghini Murcielago might even get closer to the famous Bugatti Veyron.

[via RTM]