Spanish designer's Honda RA-X concept has us intrigued

 With the S2000 going, going, gone and sports car fans left to wait until the CR-Z arrives, some car designers have taken to creating Honda sports cars on their own. This effort is from Spaniard Xuacu Perez, who wanted to design a modern Honda that spoke to the company's Formula 1 cars from the sixties.



It's called the RA-X, the first two letters pulled from Honda's F1 nomenclature, with a direct tie being the exhaust outlets, which mimic those on the RA300 from 1967. Quite compact at just 13.3 feet long, 3.8 feet high, and 6.4 feet wide (4050 mm / 1163 mm / 1940 mm), theoretical power could be in excess of 350 hp from the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout.

The X in the name comes from the cross formed by the side's design elements. It's all kinds of edges and smooth bits all mixed together, with a rear end that reminds us of a slightly softer Zenvo ST1... which gets us to wondering what a small, nimble, Zenvo-by-Honda could be... And that's reason alone to justify the RA-X's existence. Hat tip to LoboSylva

Obama denied the hybrid presidential limo he wanted!
President Barack Obama declared (there were initially only some rumours about such a plan from the White House) today that he originally wanted his presidential limo to boast a hybrid drivetrain, sustaining the more efficient and less environmental hazardous approach to personal transport that the American Convergent wants.
So what happened to prevent this from happening? The men in black.  The Secret Service said that the  hybrid engine couldn’t produce the kind of power necessary to scoot the massive Cadillac away from danger in an emergency situation. That’s saying something, considering the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid boasts a V8 with enough power to have a 7,700-pound towing capacity.


Most probably, the Secret Service did not make public all reasons for the denial of a hybrid powertrain presidential limo for the Obama administration. Hybrid systems may be more easily interfered with electronically, and are yet to have resisted the test of time in secured, armoured or simply important vehicles.
Obama’s pining for a hybrid limo came to light during a speech about the government’s recent purchase of 5,000 of hybrid cars and trucks for federal use. No word on whether or not the executive branch got the General Motors employee discount.
There are no figures available on the actual mileage of the limousine, nor of the reduction a hybrid model would have one. Surely, in direct consequence the difference wouldn’t have been important compared to other presidential costs, but the example it would have stood as is something else.
source by abc new

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera The Lightest Lamborghini
The fastest Gallardo, Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4  Superleggera is officially presented to us  a night before the official disclosure.
LP570-4 Gallardo Superleggera takes very seriously the reputation that it bears and is the lightest road model that Lamborghini is offering at this time. Dropping 154 pounds  Superleggera LP570-4 weighs just 2954 lbs. The diet’s key factor was the use of carbon fiber at exterior and interior elements. The table is arranged under the 43/57 ratio being a prerequisite  of sportiness.


In addition, all the name reveals that it has 10 extra horsepower, 5.2-liter V10 engine developing 570 horsepower. Thus the  mass / power ratio is spectacular, being about 5 lbs per pound. Power is delivered to 30% on the front axle and 70% at the rear. It’s obvious that the performances are high,  Gallardo Superleggera can reach 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. The new generation is not only faster but also more efficient, say the Italians,  because it reduced consumption and emissions by 20% compared to previous Gallardo Superleggera.  The average consumption of the new Superleggera is 13.5 liters per 62 miles.
In terms of design, everything was done following the specific aerodynamic directives, but also contributed to the appearances. So the new Gallardo gets a very aggressive bumper and would provide more natural air flow . Aerodynamics is improved  in the rear to, by the prominent rear diffuser and the pronounced solid fin  (but not  standard,  only as optional).
The interior is a kind of  carbon fiber paradise, the center console, door panels and seats  being built of this noble material. Contrary to expectations interior isn’t austere and customers still have air conditioning, electric windows and  Alcantara leather, ie all “‘extra” facilities you need to enjoy a Lamborghini Gallardo.
source by mibz

First Pictures Of The Extreme Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV
Lamborghini will unveil at Geneva an extreme version of the Gallardo model, named LP570-4 SV, characterized by low weight and increased power.
Last days of 2009 were announcing an important premiere at Lamborghini stand at the Geneva Motor Show. Unofficial sources spoke of a performance version, named LP570-4 SV, of the Gallardo model. It seems that the rumors were true, Italians released today the first two pictures of the new version that will become the star of the Swiss auto salon in March.


Unfortunately for fans of sports brand, the images that appeared in the press today are not accompanied by  the information on power and performances that supercar will be capable of. Unofficial sources say the current 5.2-liter engine unit will provide 10 extra horsepower, power indicated by the name – Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV – the previous LP560 featuring 560 HP. The resources will be sent to both axles, which will benefit, among others, from a recalibrated suspension for extreme behavior.
 To control the 570 horsepower beast, the driver will have a new set of ceramic carbon brakes, custom made for this car. On the outside, the SV version will have a new aerodynamic package, which includes a new front bumper and a huge carbon fiber rear spoiler.
source by mibz