Gizmodo: sports car

Brunopasso: The Sports Car of Espresso Machines

Sean Fallon — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Inspired by high-end Italian sports cars, designer Tadahito Ishibashi came up with the Brunopasso PD-1—an espresso machine that looks like it should be hauling ass down the highway. Outside of its sleek curves, the illusion is enhanced with dashboard-style gauges and a beechwood lever. But that is not where the similarities end—much like a sports car, the Brunopasso does not come cheap at $850. With Ferrari putting their brand on everything from laptops to Segways these days, I'm sure they are kicking themselves for missing out on this one. [Brunopasso via Tuvie via DVICE]

Only 25 Tesla Roadsters Left On Sale For 2009

Elaine Chow — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Tesla Motors has finally begun deliveries of its awesome 100-percent electric Tesla Roadster, but eco-conscious sports car fanatics willing to plunk down the $109,000 need to reserve one quick. The company said it only has 25 production slots left for the second quarter of 2009. Locking in a reservation will cost a refundable $5000. An additional $55,000 will give you a set production slot and delivery time frame.

For your money, you'll be getting one of the fastest all electric vehicles around. The 2009MY can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, has a top speed of 125 mph, and can go 227 miles on a 3.5 hour charge. If you're especially opulent, you can add sweet extras like a painted carbon fiber top for $3,200 or a premium leather interior for $1,800.

Want to think a little more before you let this sweet lil' ride burn a hole through your bank account? Here's a couple of reviews to help you make your decision. Or if you're in California, scuttle over to their dealership in LA. [Tesla Motors]

Fisker Karma Hybrid Sports Car Gets Production Plans

Kit Eaton — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:16:00 EDT

Once we learned that the Fisker Karma hybrid sports car would produce fake engine sounds we knew plans to produce the beast had to be underway. And Fisker today has announced a letter of intent with producer Valmet Automotive to actually build the luxury hybrid sports car. First vehicle roll-off the production line will be in early 2009 and will become the "first ever plug-in hybrid 4 door sports sedan to hit the market," according to Fisker anyway. They're predicting big successes, since the annual production is predicted to reach 15,000. Press release below.

FISKER AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES A LETTER OF INTENT FOR
ASSEMBLY CONTRACT WITH VALMET AUTOMOTIVE

Valmet to Serve as Global Manufacturing Facility, Fisker Automotive
Strategy Sees Manufacturing Facility in the US for Future Models

IRVINE, CA. July 14, 2008: Fisker Automotive, Inc., a green American premium
car company, today announced that Valmet Automotive will manufacture its first
production car, the Fisker Karma. Known for producing high quality specialty cars
like the Porsche Boxster and Cayman for Porsche AG, the Finland-based contract
manufacturer brings to the Fisker Karma 40 years of experience of working with
OEM customers and their wide ranging engineering and production needs.

When the Fisker Karma begins rolling off the Valmet assembly line in the fourth
quarter of 2009, it will mark the first ever plug-in hybrid 4 door sports sedan to hit
the market. With 50 miles of electric range and more than 350 miles of total range,
the Fisker Karma with its proprietary Q-DRIVE powertrain developed by Quantum
Technologies, will have the potential for a fuel economy of over 100 miles per gallon
(MPG) on extended drives. Boasting a top speed of 125mph and 0-60 acceleration
in less than 6 seconds, the Fisker Karma is poised to be the world’s first true luxury
plug-in hybrid sports car.

“After an exhaustive global search, we are thrilled to have found the ideal
manufacturing partner in Valmet Automotive,” said Fisker Automotive CEO, Henrik
Fisker. “Valmet offers us the quality and speed necessary to meet our production
goals and given that more than half of Fisker Automotive’s sales are expected to be
outside of North America, Valmet represents an ideal international foothold. We do
have a strategic plan to utilize an American manufacturing site for future models of
the Fisker Karma."

“It is forecasted that the market of environmentally-friendly electric vehicles will
grow very fast and we are proud to be in the pole position in this growth”, says Ilpo
Korhonen, President of Valmet Automotive. “Fisker Automotive leads the way by
adapting the most innovative technologies to new, environmentally-friendly premium
cars. The strategic partnership with Fisker Automotive will open a new window for
Valmet Automotive. Our production process can be easily adapted to the production
of electric and hybrid cars and new body designs. In line with our renewed strategy,
engineering will have a strong role in the cooperation.”

“Our mission at Fisker Automotive is to develop beautiful, environmentally friendly
cars that make environmental sense without compromise – be it quality-wise or cost-
wise,” Fisker continued. “Valmet Automotive has the track-record, high quality
technology and has the dedicated resources to take us there, and their high tech
production line with eco-friendly automated paints agrees with our ideology.”

Initial domestic deliveries of Fisker Automotive’s first car, the Karma, will
commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 in North America with planned delivery to
Europe in 2010. Fisker Automotive’s annual production is projected to reach 15,000
cars, with more than half of sales expected to be overseas.

A Go-Kart That Makes KITT Look Like Crap

Sean Fallon — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:00:02 EDT

Well, it may not actually compare with KITT, but get a load of this go-kart-inspired concept from Florian Dobe. It sports tiny 10-inch rims and seats that can fold into the body to create a sculptural look when not in use. Given the fact that no performance specs exist, it appears that the main focus of the designer was aesthetics. Not that it matters though—there is little chance that this design will see the light of day as an actual product. And even if it did exist, where could you drive it? Seriously, a grocery cart rolling into the side of the vehicle in a parking lot could turn into a fatal accident. [Yanko Design]

Morgan Hydrogen Fuel-Cell LifeCar from Concept To Shiny Reality

Kit Eaton — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:18:30 EST

The guys over at Jalopnik had a chance to get up close and personal with the Morgan LifeCar hydrogen fuel-cell prototype at the Geneva Motorshow, and boy does it look like an awesome chunk of eco-sport goodness. You can see in the gallery just how close the real deal matches the design sketches.

Morgan is putting together the LifeCar to demonstrate that eco-friendly vehicles can still be fun to drive and desirable. To this end, that sleek art-deco chassis is designed to be ultra light, with sound eco-credentials without sacrificing performance. It even incorporates features like regenerative braking to claw back wasted energy, which helps shrink down the engine and fuel system and still retain a 200-mile range. Combine the performance and eco-friendliness with luxury details like hand-stitched leather and a wooden-rimmed steering wheel, and suddenly going green doesn't sound so Prius-y. Let's just hope we can save enough for the presumably enormous price. [Jalopnik]

Citroen C-Metisse Diesel Hybrid Sports Car: Fast and Furiously Responsible

Charlie White — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:17:43 EDT

Our hybrid fetish lives on, especially for the Citroen C-Metisse Diesel Hybrid Sports Car that'll be rolled out at this year's International Motor Show in Paris. This four-door rocket is powered by a 205hp diesel V-6 engine and two electric motors, one on each rear wheel. That combo delivers pretty good numbers, too: 0-to-62 mph in 6.2 seconds at a top speed of 155mph, all the while sipping the fuel at just 42 miles per gallon.

While we probably won't be seeing a car like this on these shores or anywhere else anytime soon—yeah, it's a concept car—these design exercises will likely bear fruit somewhere, somehow. Plus, we're really digging those four gull-wing doors, inviting a quartet of lucky riders to jump in and hit the triple miles-per-hour digits. Someday. But for today, check out more pics after the jump. – Charlie White

Citroen C-Metisse Diesel Hybrid Sports Car [treehugger]

Gawd, that's a purdy car!