Aston Martin’s New Concept Car – Volare
Developed by James Trim, who is furnishing his final year at Coventry University, Volare is the latest concept car added to the Aston Martin’s family. With the next decade facing serious challenges, Aston Martin was in a dilemma how to develop a supercar which is superior in performance and is environmentally friendly at the same time. Though the now present diesel and petrol engines provide the required power and turbo acceleration, they emit huge amounts of carbon particles which have adverse affect on environment. The only way one can achieve clean emission is with the help of hydrogen fuel cells and electric engines.
When you completely rely on electric engines, though you may have null emissions, there would be no performance as the technology is still under development for reaching the top speeds. Supercars are specified category which has highest performance than any other vehicle present. Aston martin’s Volare concept car runs on combination of both hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors. High power is delivered from the hydrogen fuel cell stack placed between the two front seats, the rear mounted battery pack and co-axial electric motor in the front. The weight distribution is carried in such a way that the hydrogen tanks are placed right above the rear axle for a uniform balance of the total weight. Read the rest of this entry »
New Porsche Concept Car
Who would have thought that you could have a mean looking, fast racing, good
looking 
sports car that also has impressive green credentials? Well, that’s exactly what Porsche are proposing with their latest concept car: the Porsche 918 Spyder. Let’s take a closer look.
Unveiled on the eve of the famous Geneva Auto Show, the Stuttgart based company, Porsche, lifted the lid on their new concept car which happens to be a mid engine, two seater sports cars with hybrid and electric drive technology. It certainly looks mean, but what are the stats like? Remarkably impressive when looked at. Nought to Sixty in less than 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198mph and it happens to be faster than the Carrera GT, as proven by successfully finishing the Nurburgring lap in less than 7 minutes 30 seconds.
So, how can a car have all this power and claim to be green? The 918 Spyder has electric motors at the front and rear axles. The drive to the front wheels is purely electric via a fixed ratio. The liquid cooled lithium ion battery pack sits behind the cockpit and can be ideally charged at home or by brake regeneration.
This sports car is a high revving V-8 related, 3.4 litre racing car. It produces more than 500 brake horse power with engine revs of up to 9200 rpm. Yet, it does an incredible 78mpg, driven the right way, plus the emissions level sit at just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
The chassis is made from CFP (Carbon fiber reinforced plastic), along with the use of a lot of magnesium and aluminium to keep the frame as light as possible. The stylish interior is designed to be driver orientated with touch screens and intuitive controls.
The Porsche 918 Spyder whilst still a concept car at this stage is a sports car that looks exactly how a sports car should look and drives exactly how a sports car should drive along with boosting very impressive green credentials. It promises to be a car of the future holding real production possibilities which could set a new standard for the next generation of sports cars.
BMW 1 – Series M Coupe 2011
With anticipation of enthusiasts around the world at fever pitch, BMW M GmbH unveiled the newest member of its 
intimate product family. For the first time, the coveted M badge has been granted to the popular BMW 1-Series in the form of the all-new BMW 1-Series M Coupe. The M badge was imparted after a two-year development process through which BMW M engineers and test drivers achieved the exceptional power delivery and the signature, near-perfect driving behavior of a BMW M car. The 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe will be available in limited quantities and with a limited range of options at Authorized BMW Centers in Spring, 2011.
“Eigenwillig,” a German word meaning “self-willed,” “individual,” and “determined to go its own way,” has been the proper word to describe the most unique and memorable M cars of the past three decades. With the original 1988 BMW M3 as its inspiration, the 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe combines the raw capabilities of a race car with the agility, versatility, and seating position of a compact BMW Coupe to create a pure Ultimate Driving Machine®. In doing so, the BMW 1-Series M Coupe continues the eigenwillig tradition of BMW M. With its latest two-door model, BMW M is illustrating its ability to build race car performance into a small car, capable of everyday use.
The new BMW 1-Series M Coupe has been developed for near-perfect balance and a large, square footprint. It is 71 
inches (1803mm) wide – 4.8 inches (122mm) wider than its 1988 M3 ancestor – yet only 1.3 inches (33mm) longer at 172.4 inches (4379mm) long. The new BMW 1-Series M Coupe weighs in at 1,495kg DIN (3,296 lbs, preliminary), and features a 104.7-inch (2659mm) wheelbase, three inches longer than the 1988 M3. Front and rear track widths are exactly the same on the BMW 1-Series M Coupe at 60.7 inches (1542mm) each. Compared to the 2011 BMW 135i Coupe, the BMW 1-Series M Coupe is 0.2 inches (5mm) longer, 2.1 inches (53mm) wider, 0.5 inches (13mm) taller, and rides on the same 104.7 inch (2659mm) wheelbase. It features a track 2.8 inches (71mm) wider up front and 1.8 inches (46mm) wider in the rear, and weighs 35kg DIN (77 lbs, preliminary) less.
The new BMW 1-Series M Coupe features a high-strength steel unibody, with unique, widened fenders and rear quarter panels to house the substantially widened track. It also features a metal roof panel which saves about 35 lbs (15kg) compared to BMW 1-Series models equipped with a moonroof. The 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe, constructed as one of BMW’s most performance-oriented vehicles in recent years, will not be offered with a moonroof. This weight savings – at the tallest point of the vehicle – provides a corresponding drop in the center of gravity, which contributes to improved driving dynamics. It also helps maximize head room (or helmet room, as the case may be). Read the rest of this entry »