2011 BMW 335is – First Drive

Here's something new: For once North America will be getting a special performance edition of a popular European model that the Europeans won't receive (at least for now). This performance edition shall be known as the 335is and it comes courtesy of our friends at BMW North America.
The is ("i" for injection, as in fuel, and "s" for sport, as in fun) follows a tradition of s-badged sport-enhanced models, including the 320is, 325es, 325is, 535is, and most recently, the X5 4.6is and 4.8is.

This 335is features a massaged version of the N54 turbocharged inline six and an array of M Sport accoutrements to put it on a tier above the current 335i.

In spite of the recent revelation of BMW's next-generation turbo six (the single-turbo N55), the 335is will employ the more familiar N54 twin-turbo. Precision fuel injection, Double-VANOS stepless valve timing, and an advanced Digital Motor Electronics (DME) control system collaborate to push peak power from 300 to 320 hp, and torque from 300 to 330 lb-ft. There's also an overboost function that briefly kicks the peak torque to a massive 370 lb-ft under hard acceleration in "certain circumstances."

Other engine upgrades are placed to compensate for the increased performance, like an additional radiator behind the left side bumper intake, an oil cooler behind the other intake, and stiffer engine mounts.

The 335is comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission, or, for the first time on a non-M car, the seven-speed DCT automated manual (which includes a launch control function) as an option.

While all 3 Series coupes and convertibles have received a midlife facelift for the coming model year-including massaged body panels and front and rear light clusters-M Sport styling cues vistually set the 335is apart from its more pedestrian siblings, including a front fascia and side skirts designed to move more air to critical locations, a rear fascia with diffuser, standard Shadowline window trim, gloss-black side mirrors, 335is badges on the front quarters, and standard 18-inch wheels (19s are optional). On the inside, the M Sport upgrades include the steering wheel, sport seats, an anthracite-colored headliner, stainless steel pedals, 335is branding on the dashboard and tachometer, and M-branded sill plates, dead pedal, and gearshift knob.

Built specifically for the club-racer enthusiast who isn't afraid to take his street car to the track, this should be regarded as the most dynamically capable 3 Series this side of an M3. You might even call it an M3 Lite. Putting the 5 Series around the bends at the Estoril circuit was fun; throwing this 3 Series around them was a total blast. Steering precision and road-holding abilities are what you'd expect from the already-sporty 335i; the is packages makes it that much sharper. And the torque delivery, at least on a wet track, could be described as superfluous-you know, if such a concept exists in the car-guy mind. Don't read that as a complaint. On the smooth, rain-slick tarmac at Estoril, the DTC light in the instrument cluster might have been on a strobe. Pure entertainment for sure.

The 335is will be offered in coupe and convertible form. The former will start at $50,525 including destination. The folding hard top version will set you back $59,075

2011 BMW 335is

Layout
Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine
3.0-liter I6, dohc, 24-valve, turbocharged

Transmission
Six-speed manual; optional seven-speed DCT automated manual

MSRP: $50,525

Performance
Peak Power: 320 hp @ 5900 rpm
Peak Torque: 332 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
0-62 mph: 5.0 sec. (DCT)
Top Speed: 155 mph (limited)

where are future cars?

Okay, cars are getting a lot smarter, as just observed by my colleague Larry Dignan, but why aren’t they capable of flying yet? Where are the flying cars? Where are the jetpacks?

Maybe it’s time to get over that 1960s-Jetsons-era vision and move on to more realistic, sustainable goals. Then again, maybe flying cars will still be part of a future in some form.

World Future Society spokesman Patrick Tucker tells CBS correspondent Tracy Smith why the future is “okay” without flying cars. Flying cars — long the idealistic vision of futurists past and present — may always be too impractical. And considering the way some people drive, it would be better if they weren’t whizzing around 1,000 feet in the air. “The regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles to a flying car system in a developed country like the United States are probably insurmountable,” Tucker says.
Don’t tell the folks at Terrafugia, Inc. about Tucker’s poo-pooing of flying cars. Terrafugia said last year that it successfully completed the flight testing program designed for its Transition Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. (Check out the video.)

Terrafugia calls its prototype The Flying Car, which completed its historic first flight on March 5, 2009 with 27 additional flights completed over the next several weeks. First delivery of a production model is expected in 2011, the company says.

Then there are interesting innovations happening with hovercraft, which may turn into the first manifestations of mass-produced “flying cars” (even if they do only go a foot above the ground). Just the other day, in fact, President Obama convinced New York Times reporter Sheryl Stolberg to demo a small hovercraft at Industrial Support Inc., a manufacturing services company in Buffalo, N.Y.

Most predictions about the future do tend to miss the mark, but many things are coming to pass as well. Picture phones, for example, were always something that were somewhere off in the future, but are now an everyday reality, thanks to cellphone advances and Webcams. Flat-screen TVs, long anticipated, also are a daily reality. Another interesting twist, Tucker says — we may be viewing television within our heads.

We do have a space station, a la 2001: A Space Odyssey, albeit much more cramped and sparsely occupied than the grand orbiting hotel envisioned in the movie.

It seems the one area that most futurists of the past got it wrong was computing. Most views of future are a vision of huge, often menacing, Hal-like centralized supercomputers keeping all things connected. (Think 2001, and Colossus: The Forbin Project). I don’t think anybody foresaw saw the loose — and highly democratic — confederation of systems of all sizes that make up our emerging world of social networking and cloud services.

A car from future up for auction! Sounds incongruous, right? In the year 2054, some cars will be self-cleaning, some will drive in an accident free system, and some will change colors on command. At least that was the vision of the future in Steven Spielberg's film "Minority Report," starring Tom Cruise. He had cast the luxury auto brand Lexus as the car of the future in this movie. The inspiration behind the car was a vehicle that would fit the requirements of the year 2054, but beneath the futuristic design is a standard Chevy V6 and conventional manual gearbox. Fancy driving like Tom Cruise in Lexus? Yeah, this specific car was on sale on eBay for a price of $88,000. (Sad to say but it’s no more on the site). According to the seller, the 2054 model-year car, which is one of only three made by Lexus, is about the same size as a Chrysler 300 and has only 38 miles on it since it was built. Curiously, it boasts a six-cylinder Chevy engine--which is 47,000 miles old--and comes with a manual transmission. The ad suggested that the fiberglass and steel car is probably street legal, but advises potential buyers to check local regulations on open-wheel cars.

I guess somebody at Lexus really wanted to come up with a new bat-mobile. Maybe the car itself isn't that spiffy looking, but designer Jon RÃ¥dbrink thinks that cool designs must be complemented by "low weight and large presence" in order to make for a great premium car in the future.

While it might look like an exotic prototype, the Lexus design is actually a luxury car forst and foremost. According to Gizmodo, the driver would use a drive-by-wire steering pad and a completely customizable multi-point touch screen. Rådbrink even thinks that our hands are far more accurate for driving than our feet, so he didn’t bother integrating any pedals. Everything is controlled via the steering wheel. "Since the car is powered by electrical motors [found in each of the four wheels]," Rådbrink says, "there is no transmission and you break intuitively by pushing the steering wheel away from your body."


Lexus “Bat-Mobile”

Published by Bogdan Alex, on Aug 18 2008, in the categories: transportation



I guess somebody at Lexus really wanted to come up with a new bat-mobile. Maybe the car itself isn’t that spiffy looking, but designer Jon Rådbrink thinks that cool designs must be complemented by "low weight and large presence" in order to make for a great premium car in the future.



While it might look like an exotic prototype, the Lexus design is actually a luxury car forst and foremost. According to Gizmodo, the driver would use a drive-by-wire steering pad and a completely customizable multi-point touch screen. Rådbrink even thinks that our hands are far more accurate for driving than our feet, so he didn’t bother integrating any pedals. Everything is controlled via the steering wheel. "Since the car is powered by electrical motors [found in each of the four wheels]," Rådbrink says, "there is no transmission and you break intuitively by pushing the steering wheel away from your body."




The prototype measures in at around 14.5-ft. and the lightweight materials are obviously introduced for the sake of increasing mileage and efficiency, as it is an electric vehicle after all. How light is light? "I believe that this design paradox of low weight and large presence could be the way we’ll define premium in the future," Rådbrink said. It turn out that the prototype is only intended to carry 2 passengers.

2010 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Price Range: $27,799 - $32,599
Body Style: Convertible
Performance & Efficiency: 3,828 cc 3.8 liters V 6 front engine with 95.0 mm bore, 90.0 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, overhead cam, variable.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2010/mitsubishi/eclipse_spyder/index.html#ixzz0rMGoRCeJ

'10 LEXUS HS 250H

According to Lexus, more than 60 percent of entry luxury car buyers would consider a hybrid if one would be available. With the Lexus HS 250h slated to go on sale late summer 2009, the company will deliver that vehicle. And this car is a dedicated all-hybrid with no other powertrain configuration available. Though EPA numbers have not yet been finalized, the company promises that the HS will be not only the most fuel efficient Lexus built, but that it will also offer the best combined fuel economy of any luxury car available in the United States. Equipped with a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle engine, it will also be the first ever four cylinder powered Lexus. Key features: # Exhaust-heat recovery system to aid in engine warm-up and help enhance fuel economy # Operates on lower cost 87-octane gasoline # Low 0.27 coefficient of drag for increased fuel economy # 30 percent of interior is made from plant-based eco plastic # AT-PZEV emissions rating

2010 Lexus IS-C

The ES gets updated front and rear styling, new wheels, and a handful of new colors. Inside we find updated trim, a new instrument panel and a bunch of new features, including memory for the power seat, mirrors and steering wheel, rear seat side airbags, rain-sensing wipers, a larger center console storage bin, and an updated navigation system. The premium sound system now comes with an iPod-compatible USB port, and the cassette deck has finally been eliminated.

“This post confirms my ownership of the site and that this site adheres to Google AdSense program policies and Terms and Conditions.”

MSRP Range: $22,615 - $29,970
Fuel Economy: 17 MPG city / 25 MPG highway
Seating capacity: 1
Basic Warranty:
Basic: 3 Years/36,000 Miles Drivetrain: 5 Years/100,000 Miles Corrosion: 6 Years/100,000 Miles Roadside Assistance: 5 Years/100,000 Miles

The Chevrolet Equinox has been completely redesigned for 2010. A new set of engines, completely new sheet metal and a much improved interior has made the new Equinox an exciting contender in the mid-size crossover segment.

The 2010 Equinox has the same platform as the GMC Terrain and shares a general aesthetic with both the Chevy Traverse and the newest Malibu. A set of new engines with direct injection are more efficient than ever. A 2.4L 4-cylinder makes an impressive 182 horsepower, and is standard on all trims. All trims except the LS can be fitted with the new 3.0L engine. This engine, also new for 2010, is capable of 264 horsepower, but is rated at 29 mpg on the highway. A new 6-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines. Front wheel-drive is the standard drivetrain, but all-wheel drive is available.

Standard equipment on all trims includes 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, StabiliTrak stability control, traction control, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, six air bags, an anti-theft system, an XM Satellite Radio-ready system, iPod and MP3 capability and 1 year of OnStar service. Power windows, door locks, remote keyless entry, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel as well as power mirrors and automatic headlamps around out the generous standards list.

Optional equipment on the LS trim includes Bluetooth, deep-tinted glass and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The LT trim allows a premium Pioneer 250-watt speaker system, power seats, steering-wheel audio controls, a remote starter system and a power sunroof as optional equipment.

The top-of-the-line LTZ trim includes chrome trim, projector headlamps and fog lamps, a power liftgate, deep-tint glass, Pioneer speaker system, an upgraded audio system, Bluetooth, leather heated seats and a rear parking assist system.

With all this standard equipment, the LTZ can also be outfitted with a rear entertainment system, navigation system, a power sunroof and 18 or 19-inch chrome wheels.

Honda CR-Z

The new Honda CR-Z will go on sale in the U.S. on August 24th, with a starting price of under $20,000 reports InsideLine. Unfortunately the car will not be eligible for a federal tax credit. Apparently the rules state that only 60,000 tax credits for hybrids are allowed per automaker and Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky told IL that Honda passed that mark several years ago. Honda is able to offer the car for so little because of the less-sophisticated nickle-metal hydride battery used (rather than a lithium-ion one).

At that price range Honda intents to target buyers aged 25-35, although initial reports from Japan suggest the car is a bigger hit with an older demographic.

Sadly, for performance enthusiasts who might be attracted to the CR-Z’s small size and styling, Honda says a higher performance Si or Type R model is not in the plans. John Mendel, Honda’s VP of sales wasn’t exactly forceful on the point, however, commenting that there’s “nothing official” in the product plans. There are also no plans for a pure electric model, with Honda holding the belief that for some applications EVs will work, but that for normal use in the U.S., Honda just doesn’t see an EV catching on – at least with the current range capabilities.

Honda’s new CR-Z makes 122-hp and 128 ft-lbs of torque from a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to an electric motor, using Honda’s Integrate Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. Fuel economy is expected to reach 31/37-mpg (city/highway) for the 6-speed manual and 35/39-mpg for the CVT automatic.

BYD F3DM

BYD’s F3DM (the DM stands for ‘Dual Mode’) went on sale in China on December 15, 2008, giving this vehicle the historical distinction of being the world’s first mass produced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to hit the market.

Specs

• Type: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
• Class: Compact sedan
• Manufacturer: BYD
• Propulsion system: 1-liter 371QA aluminum gas engine gas + 50 kW electric motor for 125 kw (168 hp) total output
• Top Speed: 105 mph (170 km/h)
• Zero-to-60: 10.5 seconds
• All-electric vehicle range: 68 miles (100 km)
• Fuel(s): Electricity, conventional gasoline
• Battery system: Lithium iron phosphate
• Tailpipe emissions: Yes
• Price: $21,200

• First introduced at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Chinese automaker BYD’s F3DM (the DM stands for ‘Dual Mode’) went on sale in China on December 15, 2008, giving this vehicle the historical distinction of being the world’s first mass produced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to hit the market. If the battle for this distinction resembled a horse race, BYD was bumped at the gate and forgotten as jockeys in Detroit and Tokyo hyped their horses, and not unlike Giacomo’s unlikely win at the 2005 Kentucky Derby, BYD galloped past them all to take the honor.

  However BYD has been in a good position to make this happen; they have a 30% share of the cell phone battery market, making them among the largest such producers in the world, they have the financial backing of Berkshire Hathaway, and they have an R&D team armed to the teeth with 3,000 employees.

Frazer-Nash Namir

Lacking independent verification, one can't say with certainty that the Namir is the "fastest and most ecological hybrid in the world" as her makers claim.

Specs:

• Type: Series hybrid
• Class: Sportscar
• Manufacturer: Frazer-Nash and Italdesign Giugiaro
• Propulsion system: 814cc endothermic rotary engine w/four electric motors with a combined power output of 370 hp
• Top Speed: 187 mph (300 km/h)
• Zero-to-62 mph: 3.5 seconds
• Zero-to-124 mph: 10.4 seconds
• Vehicle range: 1,200 miles
• Fuel(s): Electricity and gasoline
• Fuel efficiency: 91.7 mpg
• Battery system: 400V lithium polymer
• Time to full battery recharge: NA
• Tailpipe emissions: Yes
• Price: NA
• Availability: In concept only

In the Namir, British steel meets Italian aesthetic: England's historical motor manufacturer Frazer-Nash provided the hybrid systems and Torino's famed Italdesign Giugiaro saw to it that her body was hot.

The Namir has an 814cc endothermic rotary engine, with two electric motors in the front and another two in back, all hidden within a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and scissor doors… this bitch is ready to burn.

The Frazer-Nash Namir debuted at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in concept only, and it will likely remain that way.

• 
  

INGOCAR from Valentin

The Valentin Technologies INGOCAR is not so much a hybrid vehicle concept as it is a completely unique power train concept. It's a hybrid, but it's not electric and it uses hydrostatic braking.

Specs:

• Type: Hydraulic Hybrid
• Class: 5-Seat Wagon
• Developer: Valentin Technologies
• Propulsion system: Hydraulic Dynamics
• Top Speed: 93mph+
• Vehicle range: 300+ miles
• Fuel(s): Gasoline / Diesel / Bio fuels
• Price: Unannounced
• Availability: Design Prototype Only

The Valentin INGOCAR concept is really a drive train concept more than it is an alt-fuel vehicle concept. The car's body design is very interesting due to its aerodynamic properties, but the underlying chassis and powertrain are the real innovations with this vehicle.

Under development for over fifteen years, the first proof-of-concept models tested successfully in 1986 and 87 and have continued forward. The inventor and team lead, Ingo Valentin, is in Elm Grove, Wisconsin and has assembled a team of Wisconsinites along with a mechanical engineer from the Netherlands and a fluid power systems professor in Indiana to perfect the INGOCAR.

The concept is breathtakingly simple, eliminating most of what makes today's gasoline and diesel automobiles so expensive to manufacture: framing, relatively large displacement engines (compared to the vehicle's overall size/volume), and the huge losses of energy that occur between the engine, the power train, the wheels, and the braking.

Instead, the car is built on a simple I-shaped tubular frame in which compressed hydraulic fluids are interchanged to create motion in hydro-propelled motors in each wheel. The motors can be reversed (by reversing valves), turning them into braking systems that recuperate 70-85% of the forward motion energy back into storage for later use in the car.

The internal combustion engine (ICE) that provides the power to compress the fluids for energy storage can run as needed (start-stop) at optimum RPMs at all times, thus being capable of up to 170mpg in the INGOCAR design. That 170mpg comes at no price for power, however, as the vehicle has a total of 670hp in potential with a 0-60mph speed of under 5 seconds.

Each wheel motor is smaller and lighter than its caliper brake counterpart (which it replaces) and considerably more efficient than nearly all motor/engine types they might be replacing on a similar car with total losses of only 30% - and the motors require no transmission, no electronic controller, no complex parts at all.

The I-shaped frame has a front latticework attached to cradle the ICE and a few other components (battery, etc.). Inside the tubes of the I-frame are bladders with one side filled with compressed nitrogen and the other side with hydraulic fluid. The bladder compresses and retracts according to the pressure given to the fluids, storing up to 1.8 microjoules (6,800 psi).

The tubular accumulators double as the framework for the car and because of that and their relatively high internal pressures, they are made of high-strength container walls made up of carbon fiber layers. They share a similar design with pressurized natural gas (PNG) and other high-pressure liquid/gas containers.

The 170mpg ICE the Valentin team prefers for this current rendition of the INGOCAR is a 2-stroke diesel using opposed free pistons, since no crankshaft or valve timing components are required, the engine is extremely simple, long-lasting, and efficient . The Valentin engineering team added a hydraulic-control mechanism to the engine to improve control and efficiency even further and allow for equal control over liquid as well as gaseous combustion fuels. Extremely low emissions are the result of all of this efficiency plus the addition of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.

The entire vehicle is all-wheel drive, requires very little fuel to travel long distances, and provides a stable, low-centered platform for the vehicle. The vehicle body could be interchanged almost at will, as the chassis is entirely self-contained.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be introduced by Porsche AG for production-based Gran Tourismo racing. It will feature the unusual hybrid flywheel energy recovery system known as KERS which was developed for Formula One racing by Williams Hybrid Power.

Specs:

• Type: Hybrid
• Class: GT Racing
• Manufacturer: Porsche
• Propulsion system: Hybrid-Electric
• Fuel(s): Gasoline / Electricity
• Battery system: KERS Flywheel
• Time to full battery recharge: Seconds
• Price: Not Listed
• Availability: 2011-12, Limited

XR3 Three-Wheel Hybrid

Vehicle designer Robert Riley first made his XR3 Personal Transit Vehicle available strictly by way of plans sold over the internet, requiring the buyer to undertake the ultimate vehicle DIY project in his garage. Now, Riley intends to turn the XR3 Hybrid into a production vehicle.

Specs:

• Type: 2-passenger PHEV
• Class: Motorcycle
• Manufacturer: XR3 Motors LLC
• Propulsion: 23hp Kubota D902 tractor engine; advanced DC 8-inch motor
• Top Speed: 80 mph (129 km/h)
• Vehicle range: 40 miles on battery; combined 440 miles
• Fuel(s): Diesel fuel, electricity
• Fuel efficiency: 125 MPG on diesel, 225 MPGe on diesel and electric
• Battery system: Optional
• Time to full battery recharge: Contingent on battery pack
• Tailpipe emissions: Yes
• Price: Plans cost $100-$200
• Production price: $10,000-$25,000
• Availability: Sure

Arcimoto Pulse electric 3-wheeler

The Arcimoto Pulse car is similar to several designs that have been put forward, including the ZAP Alias and the Aptera, but unlike those it has so far stayed on schedule for its intended limited production this fall.



Overview
The Arcimoto Pulse is a 3-wheeled (2 front, one rear) vehicle which technically classifies as a motorcycle in most jurisdictions. It seats two and is all-electric. It comes with most of the features you'd expect from a well-equipped small car including easy cargo access via a third door (hatchback). Many of the materials that go into the manufacture of the Pulse are recycled/reclaimed.

cage, crumple zones, safety belts, etc. Lighting is all LED to facilitate lower power usage and several options are also available including a security system, upgraded stereo, GPS, and more.

The Pulse is powered by an advanced DC motor (85ft-lb, 65hp) and comes standard with 12V lead-acid batteries which can be upgraded to lithium-ion. Top speed for the car is 65mph or better thanks to an independent 7.5:1 transmission (fixed). Charging time is 4-7 hours depending on battery option, at 110V. Its range is 40-50 miles (lead-acid) or up to 80 or 160 miles (li-ion, depending on size of pack).

The Pulse is one of several 3-wheeled designs right now, most of which are not yet available for general sale. Arcimoto is taking pre-orders ($500 deposit) right now with expected production beginning later this year. The $17,500 price tag is before any federal or state incentives and is for the base model.

Currently, the Arcimoto is gearing up for a "Test Drive Tour" throughout California and the West Coast through Oregon and Washington.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren $457,250

A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 207 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds from stand still point. It is featuring 626 horsepower with 6500rpm which will make it to reach 60mpl in 3.8sec. It is a very luxurious car making it very comfortable and fashionable.

Koenigsegg CCX $545,568

Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is currently the 3rd fastest car in the world with a top speed of 250 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg has announced that they will not give up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. The manufacturer’s engineers have managed nicely to maintain and brought it to the level of Bio Fuel Powered CCXR - environmentally friendly 1200 with even more spectacular performance than the standard CCX. The use of bio ethanol fuel will make it the most eco friendly supersport car in the world.

LeBlanc Mirabeau $645,084

This looks like a racing car. You can officially drive it to your local supermarket and buy groceries. It has a top speed of 229 mph+ and although it was intentionally made for racing.

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the most expensive car of the world, endowed with W16 engine-16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders fed by four turbochargers, a dual-clutch DSG computer-controlled manual transmission, the Veyron has a length is 4462 mm (175.8 in) a wide of 1998 mm (78.7 in) and high of 1206 mm (47.5 in). The car has a power to weight ratio of 529 bhp/tonne. The speed reaches 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is the second fastest car with the maximum limit 253.2 miles per hour (407.5 km/h). Well shouldn’t consider this but still I have to say it consumes 40.4 L/100 km. A model drove by super star Tom Cruise Bugatti Veyron at least of 1 000 000 dollars.

SSC Ultimate Aero

The American-built SSC Aero TT is a supercar built by Shelby Super Cars (SSC) in order to rival the new Bugatti Veyron with speeds of over 250 mph (400 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.78 seconds (for the Ultimate Aero TT version). The company and vehicle are the brainchilds of Jerod Shelby, who spent over seven years designing the Aero. The car is the world’s fastest production car at 255.83 mph (411.707 km/h), a speed reportedly achieved on September 13, 2007 in West Richland, WA. The results of this test, if verified by Guiness World Records, will give the SSC Aero the world’s fastest production car title.

The Aero’s styling includes the use of flip doors similar to the ones found on the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, and the Ferrari Enzo, to name a few. It uses carbon fiber and titanium extensively throughout the car, keeping the weight down to 1233 kg (for the standard Aero). For the Ultimate Aero, weight is further reduced to 1179 kg by marking the navigation system, 10-speaker audio/CD/DVD system, video/DVD screen, and back-up camera as optional equipment; and removing air-conditioning and any trunk space altogether.

price=$654,400

Pagani Zonda

The Pagani Zonda is a supercar produced by Pagani in Italy. It debuted in 1999 and continues through the present, with production proceeding at roughly 25 cars per year. As of December, 2005, 60 Zondas had been built. It is a mid-engined 2-seat coupe and convertible. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber. The Zonda Roadster F debuted at the 2006 Geneva show. It is similar to the coupe, but with a removable carbon fibre roof and canvas side curtains weighing just 11 lb (5 kg). Production of the Roadster F is suggested at 25 units. The Roadster F is able to maintain chassis rigidity without any gain in curb weight by eschewing conventional thinking by not strengthening the sills – a process which would have needed more than 35 kg of reinforcement.

Pagani instead uses racecar thinking, materials and construction techniques, strengthening the firewall structure of the chassis tub together with billet alloy braces that connect the points where the roof rails would have joined. The windscreen is also strengthened for safety reasons. These techniques enable the Roadster to have virtually the same weight as the coupe – 1230 kg (2712 lb).

Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA is a two-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F. Three concept versions have been shown, each debuting at the North American International Auto Show with the LF-A designation as part of the LF Series concept line. The first LF-A concept premiered in 2005, followed in 2007 by a second LF-A with a more completely furnished interior and exterior. The third version of the LF-A, a roadster model, premiered in 2008. The production model, trademarked LFA was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009. The production Lexus LFA features a new V10 engine and a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) body. CFRP materials account for 65 percent of the LFA's body composition by mass.The LFA is scheduled to go into production in late 2010, with a projected run of 500 vehicles at tHe base price of US$375,000.A circuit-tuned variant is scheduled for 2012.