Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Jaguar C-X75

Even though the C-X75 was released three years ago in Paris to celebrate 75 years of Jaguar, it should still be brought up. It is probably the best piece of art that Jaguar has made since the E-type, and for a very good reason.

The C-X75 is an amazing looking car to start. It looks very futuristic and almost like it is from a sic-fy movie. Its sci-fi look is thanks to a racing inspired design and also from the XJ220, which is what the C-X75 is based on. Carbon fiber is incorporated into the chassis to give it a lightweight and ridged design. Since the C-X75 is only 2,976 lbs a simple V8 would do right? Well not really. Instead they put a 195 hp electric motor at each wheel, which is a total of 780 hp. Since the electric motors would only get you 30 miles, Jaguar added two 94 hp gas micro turbines, which extend the rang to 559 mi. The four electric motors propel the C-X75 from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 second and a top speed of somewhere around 225 mph.

Thats all really cool, but there is something that really sets the C-X75 apart from other super cars, and that is emissions. Compared to most cars on the road today that can do an excess of 200 mph will have emissions of somewhere around 300 g/km of CO2 or 1.1 lbs/mi (it takes 22.2 trees to consume that CO2) whereas the C-X75 has a CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km or .4 lbs/mi (7.33 trees needed). To compare to a Prius' puts out 104 g/km of CO2. I can tell you which one I would take any day if I needed an efficient ride.

All this comes at a cost, a very large cost. That cost is that in 2012 there was still an economic struggle, so Jaguar cut the C-X75 project to never make it to production. Don't be shy, I was crying on my computer when I red the news also, but I won't get you a new computer. But like I have said many times before, all great things have to come to an end, just like the C-X75.













Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Lucra L148 Concept: Next American Supercar?

The founder of the company was told by his father that "you can't have a light car thats fast in the corners and a fast in the straights." So he went a built a car that is fast in the corners and fast in the straights called the LC470. Recently that came out with a new design for 2014 called the L148, and if its going to be any thing like the other car then it will be awesome.

First off, if its any thing like its older brother than it will be unbelievably light. The LC470 weighs just 2200 lbs and has either a Mercedes-AMG 6.3 liter V8 with 457 hp or an optional GM LS7 7.0 liter V8 with 505 hp. A 7.0 liter engine in a car that weighs less than 2500 lbs, thats crazy! There is not lot of info on the L148, but it will most likely have the same engine options probably mated to the same Mercedes 7 speed MCT (Multi Clutch Transmission) sequential gearbox that is found in the LC470. Also if the 0-60 mph times are any thing like the LC470, then we should expect them to be some where around 2.6 seconds and a quarter mile time of 10 seconds.

Second, it looks awesome. This is something that I know for sure about the L148 is that it is beautifully sculpted piece of machinery. Its aggressive and looks quick, which buys most people over right away. It also looks exotic, but you can still see that it is designed and built in the US by a muscle car like appearance to it.

Now there are tow problems with the L148: its price and and it is a concept. I want is now and not for  roughly $250K. But you get what you pay for, and the LC470, which cost $100K, did not have A/C. Maybe by mid of 2014 I will have saved enough pennies to buy it, because, if I could I would jump on it right away.

Big Brother
Little Brother



L148 Chassis 





Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Lykan Hypersport

The Lykan Hypersport is the coolest car I have ever seen, ever. It is also one of the most expensive production cars the world has ever seen, but its worth the money. It is also the first Arabian hypercar ever made. On July 28th, 2013 at International Qatar Motor Show, W Motors reviled the Lykan Hypersport which is the first of two cars that will come form W Motors in the not so distant future. The other car that is coming soon is the Lykan Supersport, but I will cover it when it comes out. So for now lets focus on this incredible piece of engineering.

Lets start with the lest amazing thing on the car, the engine, which says a lot about it. The Hypersport has a 3746 cc or 3.7 liter flat 6 boxer typer engine just in front of the rear wheels. Then they added two turbochargers giving the engine 750 hp at 7100 rpm and 960 Nm of torque, all of which is delivered to the back wheels via a Six Speed Sequential Gear or Seven Speed Dual Clutch PDK transmission. Thats a lot of horses for 3.7 liters, which helps the 3,042 lb coup reach a top speed of 240 mph. Thats also a lot of torque, which helps the Hypersport propel from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, and 0-125 mph in just 9.4 seconds, now thats quick.

Next is the interior.  It looks like it came straight from Tony Stark's basement with a holographic center counsel display and an advanced digital gauge cluster. Also the seats are not like any other set I have seen on a car, thats not sic-fi. Words can not describe the seats, so thats why I put pictures in the blog.

Lastly the exterior. Its what most people judge cars by and what caught my attention. Its a mix of everything good in a sports car. It has sharp chiseled lines but it is also flowing. It looks strong and ready to pounce, but nimble and forgiving. Its what every car company should use as inspiration when designing a car. It also has the coolest doors I have ever seen. Like almost every thing on the car they took what was normal for a sports car and through it out the window. So instead of the doors opening toward the front the car or even the roof, they open up and back. How cool is that!

If this car was out on the street today and cost a twelfth of what it cost, and I had the mont to by it, then I would go out and buy it in a heart beat. Unfortunately it does not cost a twelfth the price and is going to be sold in very limited numbers. However, down the road if I ever have a chance to by one I, will sell my house and all my possessions and live in this car because it is so awesome.