Gizmodo: formula 1

Code-X Yacht Will Have Two Kinds of Power: Super Clean and Oh So Dirty

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:00:00 EDT

There's a real company promoting a not-so-real poweryacht called the Code-X. The differentiator—or "thing that's supposed to land a billionaire customer"—is that the boat will have two Formula 1 engines and two solar-powered electric ones.

It's not abundantly clear when you'd use the as-yet-unannounced electric engines, or exactly how efficiently the onboard solar panels will collect sunlight and charge the as-yet-unannounced batteries.

Let's be honest: You probably won't use them all that often. The point is to have them, and to tell your rich-ass friends that you are, in Code-X's words, "a pioneer and frontrunner on the path to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly future." The point is to be saying this while gunning your twin F1 Limor 710HP smogmasters to drown out the riffraff circling you in those environmentally unfriendly Jet Skis.

The most sinister thing about the whole operation is the length that Code-X went to render a completely non-existent boat into so many real-life scenes, almost as if James Cameron was the company's marketing consultant. [Code-X via Josh Spear via DVice]

Formula 1 Cars Getting Electric Hyperspeed Jumps

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:59:59 EST

Apart from being one of the most amazing 3D animations I've seen in a while, this Formula 1 2009 video shows how the new KERS works, a kinetic-to-electric-energy system that allows for speed jumps.

KERS is short for Kinetic Energy Recovery System, an ingenious mechanical device that recovers wasted kinetic energy generated while braking. It converts that energy into electric power, which gets stored in a battery in the car's front. And then the really cool part comes: Once every lap, the battery reaches its full capacity and the F1 car driver can click a button to obtain a 6.5 seconds turbo boost, adding an extra 82 horsepower to the nominal capacity of the engine. Turbo boost, KITT, turbo boost!

Next, Mario Kart-style power boosters floating on the road. [Thanks Sergio]

$5,700 Formula One Seiko Sportura Ultimate Kinetic Chrono

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:35:36 EDT

F1 racers are lucky sons o' guns. They make more than baseball players, get first pick of the hottest Euro models, drive really really fast without fear of the highway patrol, and get cool special edition crap. Seiko just unveiled this year's Honda special edition Sportura Ultimate Kinetic Chrono, and announced that in addition to the drivers and crew, you can get your hands on one if you've got $5,700 and, presumably, some good Seiko connections. Only 750 will be made, and every one will ship in the packaging you can see in the gallery, complete with an actual gear from a Honda F1 car. Hopefully, it's not a part that one of the drivers will need. – Wilson Rothman

$36,000 Formula 1 Chess Set

Gizloco — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:54:00 EDT

Formula 1 auto racing may not be as popular here in the U.S. as, say, Nascar, but that shouldn't exclude us from enjoying this attractive chess set made of old Renault parts. Priced at a reasonable $36,511, this chess set uses every part of the car, just how we were taught that Native Americans used every part of the animals they killed. The chess board itself is made of the same carbon fiber that the F1 cars are made out of and the chess pieces are made from assorted cars parts hailing from the wings, cockpit and even the suspension. Materials include titanium, stainless steel and leather.

Just combine this with the IDF Chess Set that we mentioned some weeks back, and you've got the makings of a world class chess set collection. It's available now and really does cost $36,511. Sell the house; you don't need it. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Paage [Renault F1 Team Collection via Jalopnik]