KillaJoule Heads for Bonneville and the World of Speed

KillaJoule Heads for Bonneville and the World of Speed

KillaJoule Heads for Bonneville and the World of Speed

KillaJoule Heads for Bonneville and the World of Speed

KillaJoule Heads for Bonneville and the World of Speed

Although the KillaJoule streamliner is not yet complete, the team has prepared it for the Salt Flats and some practice runs.

On arriving today, Eva qualified for 125mph in the first of 4 qualifications.


In brief: Eva Hakansson and the KillaCycle Team are taking the new electric streamliner motorcycle, the KillaJoule, to Utah for the World of Speed at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: KillaJoule
Manufacturer: KillaCycle Team

Discussion on the next Ford Focus III rear design

Currently there is no reliable information available on the rear design of the next global Ford Focus. A recent photoshop, pictured below, shows an interpretation with horizontal rear lights, as opposed to the vertical units found in the current and first generation versions. This artist impression is probably influenced by the recent Iosis-MAX concept. This blog post discusses why the Focus should keep the vertical design of the rear light-cluster and other design features.

Ford should understand that they are on the verge of greatness with the next Ford Focus. If they play their cards right, in a couple of years the Focus can be the best-selling car in its class in the world. For two reasons: One is that the Focus still has progression space in the European market and can gain market share there. It can not be the best selling car in Europe for obvious reasons, related to the size of the German market and their natural patriotism. But considering that the Focus is currently ranking number two in its segment despite its age, and that the new and very kinetic Fiesta is storming the market, I would say that with the right design the Focus can gain some more market share in Europe. Second reason is that being a global car the new Focus will sell very well in the USA. And if the economy recovers we can expect another spike in oil prices that will renew the recent love of Americans for smaller cars. So in conclusion, if Ford applies its kinetic design in the right way the Focus III will become the best selling compact car in the world. And we know the design part is good… so good that in focus groups for the NA market the response was “out of the ordinary”.

But, then why the insistence with the vertical rear lights? Because, in my opinion, the next Focus can be more than a best-seller: it can become a new icon. At this point we should remember the formidable list of accomplishments by Ford of Europe with the Focus model. The first generation marked a huge gap against the previous Escort, added a distinctive and fresh design that aged very well, but its biggest achievement was the superior multilink rear suspension. It destroyed the competition in the handling department and forced the best concurrence to a radical inverse engineering process that included some aggressive head-hunting… The Focus II did not score so high in the design department, brought more maturity in the interiors but still kept some design features like the rear vertical light-cluster, the third window in the C-pillar while adding a bit more coupe-ish shape. The restyling brought a much needed kinetic design infusion but the most important accomplishment is very recent: the Focus RS. The best FWD car on the planet!

Keeping some of the major design elements, such as the rear shape and vertical rear lights, while adding the kinetic design and the distinctive trapezoidal grille will contribute to raise the Focus III to new heights. If the market responds accordingly Ford will have more than a best seller, Ford will have a new icon. That would be a good thing, because icons are more profitable.

EV Future: Segway P.U.M.A. concept

The image shows a preview of a future production version of the PUMA. Much better looking than the prototype. These things have to look like something from Apple, they can't look like glorified wheelchairs like the concept.

But a lot of rethinking has to go into cities in order to adopt a fleet of PUMAs. Maybe they could be viable in areas closed to cars. In such situation the PUMA or similar personal mobility vehicles could complement the public transport system.

EV future: Lotus electric city car

This is just a concept but the video presents an interesting discussion.

EV Future: Nissan Land Glider Concept

This is electric, of course. We are already well into the 21st century, it's time to start driving 21st century cars.

Volvo C30 (Electric) Crash Test

Crash test footage showing how the batteries are kept safe.

Future Cars

this blog will show and present the future cars only

First Chevy Volt Rolls off Assembly Line

The first 2011 Chevrolet Volt rolled off the assembly line in Hamtramck, Michigan, on Monday.

Earlier cars were made in limited numbers at other GM locations. Some have been seen at auto shows. One quarter of th cars have been used for crash tests so far, and the remaining ones have logged well over half a million collective miles of testing. VIDEO: Test Drive of the Volt (Wall Street Journal)

Ford Announces Electric Vehicle Strategy

Ford’s global electrification strategy includes plans to produce five full electric or hybrid vehicles in the compact, midsize and light commercial segments for the North American market by 2012 and European markets by 2013.

Specifically, Ford will launch two zero-emission all-electric vehicles including the Transit Connect Electric light commercial vehicle in North America in late 2010 and in Europe in 2011, followed by the Focus Electric in North America in 2011 and Europe in 2012. Three other yet-to-be-named vehicles – including two next-generation hybrid electric vehicles and a plug-in hybrid vehicle – will follow in North America in 2012 and Europe in 2013.

EV Future: Renault Fluence Z.E. concept car

A closer look at the electric fluence concept car. This one of the cars that Renault will actually put on sale. Although probably a bit toned down.

Toyota Begins Plug-in Hybrid Demo in 2010

The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle (PHV) made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December, 2009.

The vehicle expands Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology with the introduction of a first generation lithium-ion battery that enables all-electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than the conventional Prius hybrid. When fully charged, the vehicle is targeted to achieve a maximum electric-only range of approximately 13 miles and will be capable of achieving highway speeds up to 60 mph in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the Prius PHV reverts to “hybrid mode” and operates like a regular Prius.

A total of 350 vehicles will begin delivery in Japan and Europe in support of model programs with business and government partners aimed at raising societal awareness of, and preparedness for, this important new technology, with 150 vehicles in the US. Regional programs are currently slated for California, Washington D.C., New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each placement scenario will have a variety of ‘use cases’ or driving conditions to gain maximum input to vehicle performance and customer needs.

The battery powering the Prius PHV is the first lithium-ion drive-battery developed by Toyota and its joint venture battery production company, Panasonic Electric Vehicle Energy (PEVE).

All vehicles will be equipped with data retrieval devices which will monitor activities such as how often the vehicle is charged and when; whether the batteries are depleted or being topped off during charging; trip duration, all-EV driving range, combined mpg and so on.

Plug-in Hybrid Website

Mass Production of GM's Volt Battery Begins

Three years to the date after the Chevrolet Volt concept car was unveiled, the first Chevrolet Volt lithium-ion battery pack moved through the assembly line at GM’s new Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant in Michigan. GM announced that this is the beginning of the production of the Volt.

The raw lithium cells will be manufactured LG Chem’s plant in Korea, and LG Chem plans to build a lithium cell battery in Michigan later in 2010.











GM Volt Website

Jay Leno Test Drives a Volt

EV Future: BMW Active E

Some video footage of a new concept car by BMW. But a very important concept since BMW is serious about it and will sell a similar vehicle based on the next generation 1-series.