Newest Car Designs: 2010Newest Car Designs

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Smart Car plus GSXR equals “Smartuki,” a VERY Smart Car

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 6/8/2005

in Alternative thinking,Motorcycle Builders,Workshop & Tools

Smartuki - GSXR1000 powered Smart Car

Let me introduce, Peter Bee. Peter is a sensible English fellow who took a liking to the Smart Car as soon as it was introduced, so he bought one. He found the car so much to his liking that he kept on buying them, great second car, nice for running errands, quick scoots around town, all very sensible. Problem is, Pete spends his days around MHP, makers of high performance exhaust systems. When you constantly see high performance vehicles of various sorts and drive a Smart, you soon get the urge to tweak it a bit and Peter did just that. He managed to get the engine up to around 100hp which isn't a bad jump from the 60hp in the stocker, but Pete wanted more.

After seeing nothing else in the option list he looked further afield and started thinking GSXR1000. He talked to the fellows over at Z Cars, you know them, R1 powered Mini's and the like, and they said "Sure, we can do that." So Peter dropped off a brand new Smart Car and the fun began. He also talked to Phil Seton of Seton Racing who took a look at a GSXR1000 engine and found room for improvement. The result? Peter's own personal pleasure button, a way to send his bliss-o-meter straight into the red zone.

Smartuki GSXR1000 engine in frame Z Cars had to build a separate frame to house the engine along with a Cosworth differential and complete independent rear suspension. Phil Seton massaged the GSXR until it was putting out a reliable 180hp. Peter built up a full race MHP titanium exhaust system and then created a handmade wiring harness to integrate all of the Suzuki's engine controls along with the tach, the one that goes red around 13,000rpm. Spax made up a set of coil overs with full height and damping adjustments. Then, someone thought they might want to slow this beast down and they added full floating wavy rotors up front with 6 pot calipers and solid wavy rotors in the rear.

Smartuki and Evo They call the finished car the Smartuki. It's the only one in existence and Z Cars is planning to offer it as an option. Does it run? 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, 1/4 mile in 12.4 seconds and tops out at 132mph. Definitely not your average Smart! Peter says running up to the traffic lights at 13,500rpm is always amusing since other drivers move over when they hear what sounds like a bike coming up fast. Autosport Magazine tested it against a Mistubishi Evo FQ-330. It didn't win but fared better than the Subaru that tried a week earlier.

GSXR clocks in the Smartuki A few other features:

One off LED lights in the rear
A nice set of minilights
All braided hoses throughout
Brake bias with lock out for lighting the rear wheels
Electronic shifter with full power shift ability
Nice grill from Smarts R Us
Full alarm with remote start and roof open and close

Peter is very grateful for all of the assistance from the many who helped put this project together with special thanks to:
Phil Seton of Seton Racing
Mark at MHP
Jason at AME for the alarm system
Smarts R Us for the various bits and pieces
and above all, Peter thanks his wife for understanding when she looks in the checkbook!

UPDATE! The new rebuilt Smartuki
UPDATE 2: The new Smartuki is for sale!

The Kneeslider: Motorcycle engine powered cars
The Kneeslider: Smartuki Kits Now Available!

Hayabusa V8 engine

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 2/9/2005

in Engines,Motorcycle Builders,Motorcycle Racing,Workshop & Tools

Hayabusa V8 engine Radical Extreme Sports Cars started building race cars powered by superbike engines back in 1996. They began using Suzuki engines and it looks like they have been fairly successful. Their latest creation, the SR8, goes a step farther. Instead of just dropping in a complete engine, they built a V8 by grafting two Hayabusa engines together. So far the figures are 372hp and the ability to rev to over 10,000rpm, which is not unusual in a motorcycle but quite a spin in a car. The SR8, depending on gearing can top 200mph. It seems we are seeing more of this kind of complex engineering lately and it may be the result of the wide availability of computer CAD/CAM SR8 sports car software, enabling smaller shops to go places where only major firms used to go. The Motoczysz C1 comes to mind as another recent example of engine modifications by a small builder/designer. We may be seeing a lot more of this and I can't wait. This kind of inventive talent has always existed but now there are more opportunities for it to be realized.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

DISCOVERY 4 ARMOURED

Land Rover Discovery Picture

Land Rover Discovery Image

Land Rover Discovery Photo

Land Rover Discovery

Car Design Blog

Blog on the Design of cars, from Super cars to Concept cars and everything in between...

But also on Vintage cars that are still a source of inspiration for many designers and auto enthusiasts

I hope you will enjoy the writings and af course the image as well!

Mercedes Benz Concept Cars overview

Monday, December 27, 2010

2011 Hyundai Sonata Officially Revealed: First High-Res Photos and Details

Who would have imagined a few years back that there would be so much interest in a new generation of the Hyundai Sonata that it would be totally justified for us to stay up until the early morning hours to write a post on the car... But times change, GM went in and out of bankruptcy protection, the Fiat Group acquired Chrysler and surprise, surprise, Hyundai overtook the Ford Group in the first half of the year to become the world's fourth largest automaker. So there you have it. But let's wind back back to the Sonata. After more leaks than a New Orleans levy, the Korean maker formally introduced the four-door sedan in its home market today.

"The Sonata will set a new standard for world class mid-size sedans with state-of-the-art technology, superior build quality and emotional design," said Euisun Chung, Hyundai's Vice Chairman at the launching ceremony for the car in Seoul. "The new Sonata will raise Hyundai's brand values."

It might not be an Alfa Romeo, but compared to its dull and unimaginative predecessors, we'd say that the sixth-generation Sonata makes a huge step (call that a leap) forward in terms of design. Some will even claim that it clearly adopts styling cues from the so-called four-door coupe segment such as the swooping roofline and the stubby rear end, and they're probably right.

The Sonata also boasts a fresh interior with a contemporary styling that's in line with the Korean firm's latest products such as the new Tucson / ix35 SUV that was revealed at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Size-wise the Sonata is 4,820mm long, 1,835mm wide and 1,470mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,795mm making it a little longer and wider but slightly lower than the outgoing model.

The Sonata, which may be sold under a different name in some regions (e.g. i40 in Europe), will be offered at launch in its home market with a 2.0-liter Theta II MPi gasoline engine with 165HP and an LPG version that makes 144HP. Both engines are paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai said that it plans to add 2.4 liter Theta II GDI gasoline engine to the range in January next year. This engine will be offered as standard on the U.S. market model.

All versions of the Sonata will be equipped with a standard Vehicle Dynamic Control with Hill-start Assist Control and Brake Assist System functions. Other highlights include an available three-piece panoramic sunroof and a new Parking Guide System (PGS) that allows the driver to avoid obstacles during parallel parking or when driving in reverse - or so the company claims.

Hyundai said that it began developing the new Sonata in 2005 under the codename YF with the project costing a total of 450 billion won (US$ 372 million) to go from concept to production.

The company plans to sell 60,000 units of the new Sonata in Korea this year. With the addition of production in its U.S. plant in Alabama plant in early 2010 and in China the following year, Hyundai expects that number to raise to 450,000 units annually worldwide from 2011.

In South Korea, the new Sonata's prices range from 21.3 million Won to 25.95 million Won (US$17,600 to US$21,450).

Hello Kitsch: Ferrari 360 Owner Takes 'Hello Kitty' Love to Nauseating Extremes

This is by far the most tasteless (...and blasphemous) attempt to personalize a Ferrari supercar we have ever laid on eyes on. And if you think that the 'Hello Kitty' decals and logos on the windows, mirror covers, engine-lid and license plate holder as well as the customized exhaust tips are revolting, just wait until you see what the owner of this Ferrari 360 Modena, which was spotted in Jakarta, Indonesia, did to the supercar's interior... Hit the jump and get ready to weep.