Events and Gossips: Design

Honda RS125-powered streamliner with 41bhp has just achieved a mile stone of being fastest in its category. Yes, the feat was achieved by Scott Kolb who rode the bike to get a two-way average speed of 146.77mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, thus breaking a 27 year old record of 136.1mph. For this purpose, Scoot custom framed the racer and equipped it with radically altered geometry and a 98-inch wheelbase that allows the rider and engine to fit between the tiny wheels.

The custom built bike has the center of gravity barely higher than the axles, which is helped by hub-center steered front end. Other alteration to prepare for the attempt include reducing the Martin Eurosports-built 1996 Honda RS125’s power from 41bhp to 36bhp, stretching it 40inches, fitting it with a radically streamlined fairing and water-to-water chillers replaced the un-aerodynamic radiator, which allowed the frontal area to be reduced by one square foot.

Within the showroom in Los Angeles every year a competition of visual concept Car Design Challenge. At this competition represent projects of big companies, how they see the development of cars in the relatively near future. Special conditions Design Challenge is that the weight of these vehicles should not exceed 1000 pounds, 453 pounds. Here are the concepts submitted to the contest this year
1. Cadillac AeraGeneral Motors Company introduced a concept car Cadillac Aera. This electric car, on the idea of its creators, must pass up to 1600 kilometers without refueling batteries.

2. Honda AirAppearance of the car is inspired by the Honda Air wagons for a roller coaster and a suit-wing to extreme jumps. This car is expected to have a pneumatic motor that is moving through the air. And fill it should be, accordingly, not gasoline and other petroleum products, namely air. Why? It will be very cheap to travel!

3. MAYBACH DRSAnd the company introduced the Maybach concept elektrorishki. And even the prefix DRS in the title in the name means «Den-Riki-Sha» that is "Rickshaw, driven by electricity." Balance this unusual car can hold thanks to a system similar to the analogous system in Segway

4. MAZDA MX-0Housing made of cheap, easy, eco-friendly composites, lightweight motor with high torque, that's what MAZDA MX-0. Without any special frills, but quite feasible in the next decade.

5. Mercedes-Benz BiomeThe company Mercedes-Benz presented a car that will "eat rainbows and poo butterflies." That is, work from sunlight, and the motion to produce pure oxygen. And his body, created from a special biovolokon at end of life will turn into compost.

6. Nissan iVBut the body of the car Nissan iV should generally be grown in the garden of genetically modified ivy. His flat bio-batteries allow the car to drive without a precharge nearly 2000 kilometers. And its concentric wheels will include elements of the steering system and suspension.

7. Smart 454 WWTSmart companies also like the idea of a self-proclaimed body. Only his will, literally, knit from the carbon fiber special robots. Not a machine, and a wool sock or mitten!

8. Toyota NORIAnd any fan of sushi can easily tell from what will be created body of the car Toyota NORI. Of course, seaweed, fortified for the strength of carbon fiber. But otherwise, everything as usual: the electric motor, solar panels, the unity of body and chassis.

9. Volvo Air MotionVolvo Air Motion, as well as Honda Air, will move through the air motor. Only Volvo Air Motion - it's a real sports car. Moreover, calculated on three passengers!