Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

Porsche's hybrid supercar at Geneva 2010

Carrera GT replacement previewed by German firm’s stunning 918 Spyder concept

The supercar of tomorrow is here! This is Porsche’s 918 Spyder, a hybrid performance car built to give the best of both worlds, offering a near-200mph top speed, yet managing almost 100mpg.

The Spyder joins the new Cayenne hybrid in Geneva, and previews the replacement for the Porsche Carrera GT. But while that car featured a 5.7-litre V10, the concept car uses a mid-mounted 493bhp 3.4-litre V8 derived from the firm's Spyder racing car, and it revs to 9,200rpm.

But what makes this new car special is the addition of two hybrid motors, which add a further 160kW (215bhp). One drives the front axle through a fixed transmission, and the other is sandwiched between the conventional engine and a seven-speed PDK gearbox. The motors are powered by a lithium ion battery pack located behind the passenger cell.

The hybrid system has four modes, so depending on whether speed or economy is your priority, the car is always operating at its most efficient.

Around town, E-drive mode allows the car to travel up to 16 miles on electricity alone. Next is Hybrid mode, which uses both power sources in moderation, giving claimed economy figures of 94mpg and 70g/km of CO2.

Sport Hybrid mode offers more aggressive power delivery and a torque vectoring function for improved dynamics. The most aggressive mode is Race Hybrid, which gives the most power and features a push-to-pass function.

In this mode, Porsche claims that the 918 can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, hit 198mph and can lap the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife in under 7 minutes 30 seconds, making it faster than a Carrera GT.

The performance is helped in part by the comprehensive use of lightweight materials in the car’s construction. Carbon fibre reinforced plastics, magnesium and aluminium feature throughout, meaning the 918 Spyder tips the scales at 1,490kg.

Finally Porsche has confirmed that the concept’s look is not just a technological showcase. The interior of this car is set to dictate the look of the next generation of Porsches, beginning with the next 911 in 2012.

BMW i8

First official pictures of the BMW i8 Spyder concept have been released, ahead of the car's debut at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. 

Like the i8 coupe, the Spyder is a plug-in hybrid using a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 220bhp to power the rear wheels and a 129bhp electric motor to drive the fronts. Expect to see a 0-62mph time of around five seconds. 

Aside from the lack of a roof, the i8 Spyder does boast a few visual differences to the coupe concept, including solid metal doors and roll-over hoops. 

There are a few technical changes too, such as a shorter wheelbase and overall length than the coupe. The hard top's back seats have also been ditched. 

The LifeDrive construction – which consists of a carbon fibre body and mainly aluminium chassis – ensures weight is kept to around 1,600kgs, despite the heavy batteries on board. 

When it makes production in 2014, BMW claims the i8 Spyder will return fuel economy of 94mpg and will be able to travel for around 17 miles on electric power alone. Expect it to have a price tag of around RM450,000 (£90,000).

Other i8 Link:

http://pauhatsu.blogspot.com/2011/07/pauhauto-bmw-i3-and-i8.html

Can-Am Spyder Roadster

(Malay translation) SEJAK diperkenalkan ke pasaran Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Februari 2007, jentera itu terus menjadi topik hangat dalam dunia motosikal di peringkat global.

Popularitinya semakin meningkat apabila terpilih menjadi pelakon tambahan dalam banyak muzik video, rancangan televisyen, selain filem-filem blockbuster seperti G.I. Joe dan Transformers II.

Sebenarnya, jentera tiga roda keluaran firma yang berpangkalan di Valcourt, Québec, Kanada itu sudah berada di pasaran tempatan sejak tahun 2009. Namun kelibatnya jarang dilihat di atas jalan raya.

Kini, Can-Am Spyder Roadster mahu lebih dikenali di Malaysia. Tugas tersebut digalas oleh USF-HICOM, anak syarikat milik penuh DRB-HICOM yang telah mengambil inisiatif untuk mendapatkan hak pemasangan dan pengedaran Can-Am Spyder Roadster di sini.

Sebagai permulaan, USF-HICOM menawarkan dua varian Can-Am Spyder iaitu Roadster Sports dan Roadster Touring. Roadster Sports sesuai untuk mereka yang mahukan gaya tunggangan sporty. Sementara bagi penunggang yang gemar mengembara dalam jarak jauh, Roadster Touring memang kena dengan jiwa anda.

Sekali pandang, rekabentuk Can-Am Spyder tidak jauh beza dengan jentera salji (snowmobile) moden. Apa tidaknya, pengeluar kenderaan terbabit iaitu Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) sememangnya syarikat peneraju dalam penghasilan jentera salji, ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), bot dan pelbagai jentera bagi tujuan rekreasi.

Memiliki kepakaran selama 70 tahun, BRP mempunyai kemudahan kilang di Kanada, AS, Mexico, Finland dan Austria dengan tenaga kerja mencecah 6,000 orang. Produknya pula dipasarkan ke lebih 100 buah negara menerusi 3,500 pengedar di seluruh dunia.

Harus tahu bahawa Can-Am Spyder Roadster bukan motosikal tiga roda konvensional. Sebaliknya ia mengaplikasikan kerangka berbentuk Y. Maksudnya, dua roda di hadapan dan satu roda bersaiz lebar di belakang. Menggabungkan teknologi motosikal dan ATV, Can-Am Spyder mengaplikasikan rekabentuk A-arm berkembar dengan penyerap hentak tunggal pada roda belakang.

Kenderaan itu menggunakan kerangka Surrounding Spar Technology binaan BRP. Kerangka tersebut menyokong rekabentuk Y dan memastikan titik graviti Can-Am Spyder Roadster kekal rendah dengan memasang enjin di bahagian belakang roda hadapan.

Tidak seperti motosikal tiga roda lain misalnya Piaggio MP3, Can-Am Spyder Roadster tidak membenarkan anda membuat corner baring. Jadi, kalau laju macam mana sekali pun di selekoh, lutut tidak akan mencecah jalan raya.

Kestabilannya juga banyak bergantung kepada Sistem Kestabilan Kenderaan (Vehicle Stability System, VSS) yang sofistikated. Dibangunkan bersama Bosch, VSS turut merangkumi teknologi-teknologi seperti brek antikunci (ABS) serta sistem kawalan cengkaman dan kestabilan. Sementara stereng kuasa pula memastikan Can-Am Spyder Roadster dapat dikendalikan dengan mudah di atas jalan raya.

Semua ciri yang dinyatakan tadi adalah demi memastikan jentera itu terus melekat di atas jalan raya, walaupun ketika mengambil selekoh pada kelajuan tinggi. Dengan segala sistem keselamatan itu, maka tidak hairanlah jika ia disifatkan sebagai antara motosikal paling selamat di dunia.

Tidak mengujakan? Enjin V-Twin bersesaran 998cc itu mungkin boleh mengubah persepsi anda. Enjin dengan sistem penyejukan cecair itu dibina oleh Rotax yang beribu pejabat di Austria, juga anak syarikat BRP.

ENJIN Rotax bersesaran 998cc membuatkan aktiviti meluncur di atas jalan raya cukup menyeronokkan.

Macam pernah dengar? Memang betul, enjin Rotax banyak digunakan pada go-kart, motosikal dan pesawat ringan. Rotax juga menghasilkan enjin untuk kegunaan jenama motosikal lain termasuklah BMW, BMW, Aprilia dan Buell.

Enjin yang dipadankan dengan kotak gear lima kelajuan itu berupaya menghasilkan kuasa sehingga 106hp @ 8,600rpm dan tork maksimum 104Nm @ 6,250rpm. Jadi, tugas menggerakkan tubuhnya yang lebar itu di atas jalan raya bukanlah satu masalah besar. Anda juga boleh memilih sama ada kotak gear manual atau semi automatik. Kedua-duanya hadir sama dengan gear mengundur.

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) mengklasifikasikan Can-Am Spyder Roadster sebagai superbike. Cukai jalannya berdasarkan motosikal bersesaran 1,000cc dengan insurans bermula pada takat RM2,900 sehingga RM4,500 mengikut varian.

Berkaitan pembayaran tol di lebuh raya, pihak USF-HICOM menyatakan setakat ini mereka yang menunggang Can-Am Spyder Roadster tidak dikenakan tol, walaupun perlu melalui laluan kereta atau lori yang paling kiri. Namun, isu pembayaran tol mungkin berbeza di antara pengendali lebuh raya memandangkan mereka mempunyai polisi berbeza.

Harganya di Malaysia, Can-Am Spyder Roadster ditawarkan pada harga di antara RM103,860 sehingga RM159,350 seunit, bergantung kepada varian.

Audi E-Tron Spyder

The e-tron Spyder is a glimpse into Audi’s future – we already know the firm is planning a mid-engined sports car to sit below the R8, and this concept gives us the best idea of how it will look. We got an insight into how it might handle, too, as we took the wheel for an exclusive drive.

The car was first displayed at last year’s Paris Motor Show, and its wheelbase is a full 220mm shorter than the R8’s. It’s only 4.06 metres long and 1.11 metres high, but a purposeful-looking 1.81 metres wide. Audi has clearly gone to a lot of trouble to make the e-tron Spyder stand out, and it’s one of the best-looking sports cars we’ve seen; the wheels for example are each made from 66 individual parts.

Climb aboard and the cabin design is simpler, but just as stylish. There’s a set of one-piece carbon fibre seats, complete with electronic adjustment, and they’re very comfortable. Hi-tech touches include ventilation controls that blend seamlessly into the dash and can be opened or closed at the swipe of a finger.

Driving the rear wheels is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine, while a pair of plug-in electric motors turn the front wheels individually. Together, they produce a total of 383bhp and a huge 1,002Nm of torque.

Not only does that mean the Spyder is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, but it can also run on electric power alone for around 30 miles. On our first run we were limited to the electric-only mode, and as we pulled away, the e-tron whined and hummed. But there’s a slight disappointment as you realise the car isn’t quite as quick as its looks suggest, too.

That changed when the diesel was fired into life for our second run. The twin-turbo V6 hurled the e-tron forward and, because it uses a CVT gearbox, engineers have done without the artificial gear ‘steps’ of a production car. It just revs up to the point where the most torque is and stays there while the car picks up speed.