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10 Techno-Cool Cars
mrv writes "The IEEE Spectrum picks their '10 Techno-Cool Cars'. The article picks vehicles from the 2003 or upcoming model years, that feature significant jumps in performance, convenience, or comfort, are technologically bold, and otherwise cool (for engineers, not just the 'motorhead' type)."
Poor Uncie Herb ;-)
--sex
Very popular slashdot journal for adul
"Refuel it at home with an optional $1000 (natural) gas station".
I wonder if that comes with an optional (taco) bell, instead of a horn.
Cool, I can't wait to abandon my clingy android son in the middle of the woods, his eyes tearing and hangs clinging feebily to the bumper, while driving away in my stylish Honda FCX. I can't wait for the future.
Doesn't speak well for American engineering. Mostly European and Japanese makes it looks like. Maybe when GM gets their fuel-cell cars in production, America will look a little more updated. Or maybe the Ford Model U.
Scott, Keeper of the Crystal Flame
The Honda Insight has a optional manual transmission, and it indeed does get higher gas mileage than the automatic.
There's 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
Glad to see that the BMW-Windows hybrid is NOT on the list....showing these guys are impressed by well thought out, practical solutions, not gimmicks and gadgets
I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
Ummm.....GM has done this before... in 1981 Cadillacs. The system got mixed reviews. Some people said it worked great, some said it was nothing but trouble (getting stuck in V8 mode was one problem, IIRC). They scrapped it after MY 1984, presumably in favor of 4 cylinders.
Man that just ticks me off that they are not putting the RX8 in there. I mean the Rotary engine is coming back and it is suppose to be pretty nice with the RX8. These engines are amazing....why not point that car out?
Almost half the cars on the list were cars running on alternate fuel sources/hybrids.. that's nice and all, but not what I would consider "Techno-cool".
I have an '89 750il, which for it's time was way high tech. Antilock, electric everything, fly by wire throttle. And of course, one of the most hated things about this vehicle is all the electronic doodads. When it works it's great. When it doesn't, rottsaruck. BMW is having some problems now with it's latest 7 series and their on board computers going wacko. There was a funny post about it, can't remember if it was here or not, some guy even video taped his car doing strange stuff (cell phone not working, stereo acting strange, car doesn't want to accelerate, etc).
I can see the mechanics repair books now:
Replace head gaskets 2hrs
Replace starter 2.5hrs
Debug car suddenly speaking in German 40 man hours
Funny thing about the last problem is that it is one that actually occurs!
Check it out
For some reason it's gotten almost no press, even though it's both amazing looking (like a car version of the Tron cycle) and uses impressive technology.
Because there is nothing technically interesting in high output high rev gasoline engines. That's just development, putting well established racing technology on the road unlike the cars in the article which have genuinely new technology, at least for cars.
Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.
Well as cool as the S2000 and Enzo are, they either are just very refined (S2000) or are priced in such a way that most people will never benefit from their hi tech (Enzo).
There really isn't anything all that groundbreaking tech wise with the S2000. Honda just paid a lot of attention to detail and applied what their extensive engine know-how to create a very highly tuned motor mated to a firm and responsive chassis. Hardly hitech, but definitely way cool from a gear head point of view.
Frankly, all this concept from an industry severely lacking it in, seems, well contrived. Yet, I am drawn to a couple of the designs, and the fuel mileage on some is outstanding.
The problem is the pump (or the adapter) if you will. What we need to do is insure that any pump can supply and type of fuel seamlessly.
Reminds me of the Universal Adapter ad from IBM. Where the engineer is spouting all the things that can be integrated, and yet when asked 'Does it work in Europe?', he replies, 'You need an adapter for that'.
We typically accept this type of stuff in new technology -- serial was good for a long time -- but USB was good too. It allowed for one cord for many devices. It was hub in nature. We need to get the same thinking into the universal fuel pump so that these cars have a chance.
The car alone is risky, the infrastructure is even more so, I mean how much dark fiber is buried around the US?
"This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
Actually, cars WILL benefit from technology on the high tech cars. Sequential gearboxes are starting to make their way onto more accessible (in terms of price) cars. Basically it's a trickle down effect in a way. Also, what allows the S2000 to be refined? Technology and engineering.
WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
"a card in the driver's wallet opens the car and lets him start it up by simply pushing a button."
"I can not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presents danger, the solution is ignorance" - Isaac Asimov
Actually, the Insight was first introduced with only a manual transmission. The automatic was introduced last year. My brother just bought a 2002 Insight (w/automatic) and it kinda cool. With the automatic he gets around 50mpg. From what I've seen the manual transmission gets around 70mpg. Even the automatic gets better gas mileage than my motorcycle (around 45mpg).
"Sometimes a man's gotta do what a woman wouldn't consider." - Red Green
So when the computer crashes, so do you? No thanks.
sulli
RTFJ.
The rotating headlights on the Volvo safety concept car are hardly a new feature - they were present on the far more attractive Citroen DS, amongst many other features before its time.
Tokyo
Breakfast said to his weeping daughter.
(please follow link and watch video)
Father: You failed every class except animation!
Daughter: So What?
Father: So what? If nigga no go to school, nigga no get a job, if nigga no get
a job, nigga no make no money, if nigga make no money, nigga can no afford BMW
seVUHN series nigga!
I know it sounds horrible, just watch the video if you've never seen it,
funny ass shit.
1.) Smokey Diesels.
Diesels do not have a history of being smokey. 1 diesel engine, the 70s GM diesel V-8. It was an America only engine. EU doesn't have a problem with diesels.
2.) 8/4 Cylinders.
Lets hope it fares better than GMs infamaous 8-6-4 of the 80s.
The masses are the crack whores of religion.
Unfortunately these cars don't have enough "muscles" as compared to the "more traditional" gas-only cars.
Check out the concept Honda Dualnote. Hybrid, 400 HP, and 40mpg gas mileage. Sweet! Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like it will ever make it to production.
Actually, cars WILL benefit from technology on the high tech cars.
Right, but if you notice the cars they chose are all geared toward the general consumer, vs 200 unit annual run more expensive than the average house (excepting Bay Area) type vehicles.
Also, what allows the S2000 to be refined? Technology and engineering.
Right, but nothing ground breaking. That's what makes the S2000 so damn cool. It doesn't rely on massive amounts of high tech "drivers aids" to get at its performance. It's just tried and true automobile engineering taken to a very high level.
because its (a) two years old and (b) just another gas-sucking penis-replacement.
Dude.. I dunno.. I don't think that car is fitting in my girlfriend.
slashdot!=valid HTML
The FCX is the first car for the U.S. market that is powered purely by fuel cells. It meets zero-emissions standards by exhaling water vapor--no noxious fumes and no greenhouse gases.
As far as I know, water vapor is a greenhouse gas. Others are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide. This was told to me by an Earth and Atmospheric Science professor in university, so the source is reputable.
If CVT stands for continously variable transmission, then the Prius (a Toyota hybrid) does have that.
Did you read the entire article? There is a manual backup braking system on this car.
Honda's hybrid Civic and Insight both have options for manual transmissions. The Civic does better with manual on highways, as does the Insight. The CVTs are much better than traditional automatics, especially in town. Note the tiny difference between highway and city on the Insight CVTs, and the fact that city mileage is better on the CVT civic than the manual civic. And, oddly, the Hybrid Civic CVT gets better mileage in the city than it does on the highway, much like the Toyota Prius. It is also important to note that yearly emissions are lower with the CVTs.
Insight:
61 city/68 hwy (manual) 3.50 tons/yr emissions
57/56 (CVT auto) 3.10 tons/yr emissions
Civic Hybrid:
46/51 (manual) 4.10 tons/yr emissions
48/47 (CVT auto) 4.00 tons/yr emissions
Also, the non-hybrid Civic HX can be ordered with a CVT (good for comparison, and isolation of CVT performance):
36/44 (manual) 4.90 tons/yr
35/40 (CVT auto) 5.20 tons/yr
Numbers are quoted from this site. I really wish they'd label the trim lines-- it's hard to pick one civic from another without them.
CVTs are Continuously Variable Transmissions. The gear ratio is smoothly variable in realtime-- no fixed "gears" like traditional manual and automatic transmissions. This allows the car to select the most efficient gear ratio all the time. It also makes my HX CVT accelerate much more like the manual. No "slip".
Hope that helps!!
The RX-8's Renesis engine was revving to 10,000 and making 270 HP out of a 1.3 L engine. But the production version was scaled back to 8,000 RPM and 250 HP. But still 1.3 L. That beats the 2000's engine.
Of course four strokes only use half of their displacement per revolution where the rotary uses it's entire displacement every time around. So to be fair you either multiply the displacement of the rotary by 2 or divide the boinger (piston engine) by 2.
I guess the petrolhead in me was hoping to see the Bugatti Veyron in there. Yeah, sure it wouldn't exactly make it in there for safety, but for engineering perfection it pretty much has it in the bag. The engine is a Volkswagen developed 16 cylinder, 8 litre, 64 valve quad turbo lump outputting 1001BHP..
:
c leid=1290
Acceleration on this machine must only be comparable to a ride in a jet plane.. 0-62MPH is estimated at just over 3 seconds, and do from 0-186MPH in little under 14 seconds. And the top speed is around 250MPH.
If you fancy Slashdotting someone, try this link for more information and pictures
http://www.gizmo.com.au/public/News/news.asp?arti
"Hey! Unless this is a nude love-in, get the hell off my property!!"
Tucker 1948
If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
I think you'll find it difficult to eliminate the cold start smoke directly, as it is due to cold fuel hitting cold cylinder walls, and so not burning properly. Inevitably when the engine is cold this will happen, unless you have a pre-warmed block (which is feasible, but wastes energy). Since it is only once per journey I don't think a great deal of effort is justified in getting rid of it.
The other black smoke you see when (typically trucks or tractors) hit the throttle hard is a calibration issue. There's no reason why the mixture has to be set that rich, except that it makes more power. The maximum demand stop on the fuel rack (sorry I don't know the proper name for it) can be wound in, which will reduce or eliminate the black smoke, but it will reduce the maximum power of the engine.
All of this smoke is solvable downstream by fitting particulate traps, but at present these are either messy or expensive.
Alternatively - drive in Eastern Europe.
All public transport in Eastern Europe as well as all taxis have been running on natural gas using a similar system (the french version which converts any carbeurator based design) for 15+ years now. There is a gas station every 10 km on major roads and every petrol station sells gas. Even Shell surrendered to the laws of economics and started selling natural gas.
While on the topic you will never see this honda in some other EU countries like Great Britain. The government income here depends so heavily on indirect taxation through fuel duty that such vehicles are outlawed. You can drive using the abomination calledl LPG. You cannot drive on natural gas.
Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
http://www.sigsegv.cx/
I don't want a car that's cool from a geek perspective. I want a car that's cool from a motorhead perspective.
Asking for a car that is cool from a geek perspective is like asking for a computer that's cool from a motor-head perspective.
I personally dislike all the electronic gadgets and doo-dads. I drive a Porsche 911, special ordered to have NO sunroof, NO power locks, NO heated seats, NO power windows, and yes folks... NO stereo. I absolutely love it. It is the best car in the world. Powerful, reliable, clean... And no wacky electronic gadgets standing between me, and the most ultimate driving experience available to a human.
Save the gadgets for your cubicle.
I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
I really want to buy the Civic GX. You get to use the HOV lane with 1 person (in California), and you get all the power of a "real" vehicle. Something the Honda Hybrid is missing. The Hybrid supposedly has a $2,000 federal tax deduction associated with it, but I talked to a dealer yesterday and he said the program was over. He might be lying.
The refueling station isn't available yet. The GX is however. In the short term, you can find CNG refuelling stations on Web sites all over.
This site lists sites in California and a couple other states.
These stations are open 24 hours a day and allow you to use a credit card or a fuel card (from PG&E) to do a "quick refuel." A quick refuel takes place in about the same time as a regular car does at a gas station. Phill, the Home Refueller from FuelMaker is supposed to be out in late 2003. This would allow you to refuel overnight and get a few more miles out of each "tank."
The price of CNG is a little less expensive on a mileage basis compared to gas (at least in California). It really depends on the price of unleaded.
One contributor said keeping a spare fuel tank around might be an option, but I think those tanks at gas stations are LPG (propane), not CNG (methane). Maybe not, but the GX's tank is certainly bigger than what you find at the gas station.
So, yeah, it's sort of a "commuter-only" car. I wouldn't be able to take this up to the mountains. Though if you look at the CA map, you'll find a number of stations that could allow you to get pretty far around California anyway.
The problem I think about is that I'm not going to be "saving" much in terms of fuel costs. The Hybrid might save you some more money per year, or at least trips to the gas station. The CNG car does pollute even less than a hybrid does. Another plus is that a CNG vehicle operates more like a "real" car than a hybrid.
Speaking of batteries, is the process for making the batteries more pollution causing? What about disposal?
TTFN
It just makes me laugh when people talk about 'penis envy' or 'penis replacement' when someone has a sports car/high horsepower car. Get over yourselves and your own shortcomings.
Building or owning a high-performance/high-horsepower car is for most people, a fun and rewarding hobby. You own something a small percentage of the population 'gets' or understands. Dropping the hammer on a 500hp Camaro or Mustang is an adrenaline-pumping experience. So is being the passenger, for that matter!
Let me put in geek speak: Do you really need a GeForce4 4600Ti for your video games? Really? And an overclocked Pentium 4 2.4 GHz? 1GB of RAM? No, you really don't. You may step in here and tell me about 'frame rate' and 'playability', etc., etc., but I'll put it this way. If you want more and more framerates, that's your power/speed addiction. Yeah, a freakin' VW Bug will get you there, but a Corvette will get you there in style and with some fun along the way.
Most of us don't drive our high-performance/high-horsepower cars daily - they're too expensive, and we don't want the speeding tickets and wear & tear.
Talking about a car as a penile replacement is stupid. Yeah, I've seen the Corvette/BMW/Mercedes owners that think they're God's gift, but most people just like a cool car that they find fun/sexy/exciting/good looking.
"If there's hope, it lies in the proles..."
The Honda CBR600F4 and Yamaha R6 both produce
120hp at the crank, for 200hp per liter. They are
both normally aspirated, water cooled engines, which
rev to 14500 and 15000 rpm respectively. They both
do the 1/4 mile in around 10.80.
Yes, I know this article was about cars, but your
'more horsepower per liter then [sic] any other
naturally [sic] aspirated engine in production'
needed refutation.
--=:: Wings and tail and snout and scales of blackest night
What I'd like to see is a list of the ten lowest tech cars...easy to fix, cheap to run and repair, something i could get seriously dirty and take a hose to the inside. Why does just about every car these days come pre-yuppie-fied? I'd prefer to ditch things like ABS, any sort of airbag, auto-door locks, auto-trans, auto-dome lights...you get the idea. This is all shit that has done nothing more than add to the price of a new car, and a good deal of it is totally unnecessary. Just give me four wheels, a reliable engine with adequate power, a body that won't rust out in less than a decade, canvas seats, and a decent manual transmission. Do any cars like these exist at all, or am I condemned to fork out extra for power windows and heated seats on even the lowest end econobox?
The two things I mention that are safety related, namely ABS and airbags, can be replaced by a far more effective five point harness and good driver trtaining. Ever see a race car with either ABS or airbags?
Car size is very much related to gas prices. That's why GM, being the money grubbing scum-fucks that they are, tried to get away with putting those horrendous Diesels in their full sized cars in the early 80's, engines that were basically 350 gas motors with cheap Diesel heads on them. Didn't work worth a damn, and Diesel in North America still suffers from the bad image that these engines produced.
...Will Los Angeles have a humidity problem?
While not on the level of CO2, water vapor is a greenhouse gas. I also wonder if it might affect local climates.
I don't know how much water vapor fuel cell cars emit, or the environmental impact of refining hydrogen for them to use, but nothing comes for free.
(yes, yes, fuel cells are a vast improvement over burning gasoline.)
How many balding executives have you seen in Corvettes (or whatever) trying to impress the ladies?
;-) Smiley here for the humour impired moderator.
As a balding man (not quite there yet, but you should see my father and grandfather... ouch) I take offense in your implication that we need a Corvette to impress the ladies.
All women know that a shiny head is a sign of high testosterone, and of course high sexual performance!
So if we ever wanted to impress the ladies, we will just take off our hats/head rugs.
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