Rossion Q1

America does not have a happy relationship with restyling European cars.

Look at the chunky bumpers inflicted on the Porsche 911 in the early 1970s or the weird front end dictated for the Jaguar XJS.

However, we have to tip our hat to 1G Racing, which now owns the rights to the Noble M400. Taking its cues from the Noble M15, the 1G has a meaner, more race car-like look.

1G has changed the Noble's name to the Rossion Q1 and upped the power of its twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 to 450bhp.

The extra oomph is welcome but doesn't alter performance as the Q1 is slightly heavier than the previous Noble M400.

The Rossion Q1 costs from $69,000, though you need to fit the engine yourself to get round American legislation. Or you can go for a complete car that just needs a bit of tweaking to get it working for $90,700.

With the pound looking so rosy against the dollar, this is one export we'll happily allow back into the country.

© Source: topgear
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2008 Lightning GT

(from Lightning Car Company Press Release) THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC LIGHTNING TECHNOLOGY

In 2006, The Lightning Car Company set out to develop electric technology for a luxury British sports car with a view to creating a super car with outstanding presence, power & performance.

Powered by NanoSafe™, the electric Lightning GT, features an impressive 700 bhp powerful acceleration and a top speed capability of more than 130mph. In short, the electric Lightning will be a difficult proposition to beat.

By combining classic, British sports car design with racing car technology and state of the art battery power & electric motor innovation, the Lightning has been designed and developed in the UK with exhilarating performance front of mind.

Whilst its head-turning looks will appeal to the most discerning of drivers, unlike other sports cars the Lightning is also easy on the conscience. With virtually no polluting emissions, this energy-efficient car will use clean technology for the ultimate green rating. Following production of several Lightning petrol prototypes, the electric Lightning GT, Sports and Extended Range versions are now available to pre-order.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTNING - TOP 10 FEATURES

√ Ultra smooth 100% electric power (700+bhp) immediately from zero rpm
√ 10 minute charge time for over 250 miles of motoring (GTSE model)
√ Uncompromising performance with 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds (GTS model)
√ State of the art NanoSafe™ battery system and Hi-Pa Drive™ electric motor technology
√ Full regenerative braking so the battery receives charge every time you slow down, travel downhill or simply coast
√ Commanding presence of carbon fibre/Kevlar hand-crafted bodywork
√ Clean technology means no congestion charge or road tax and the ultimate A grade green rating
√ Phenomenal economy up to 10 x cheaper to run than petrol
√ Safer with no large fuel tank, thermally stable batteries and a bodywork structure similar to that used in F1 to protect the driver
√ Luxury spec. interior – incorporating sat nav, ipod interface and virtual engine sound

MORE ABOUT ELECTRIC LIGHTNING TECHNOLOGY

NanoSafe™ from Altairnano Inc.
Until now, battery technology has hindered electric vehicle innovation. In 2000, US company Altairnano Inc. established a research programme to create an ultra safe, high power battery using cutting-edge Nanotechnology. The result of their hard work is the NanoSafe™ battery.

SAFER - NanoSafe™ batteries use nano titanate materials instead of graphite which makes them far more thermally stable - there are no toxics or heavy metals used in NanoSafe™ batteries.

LONGER-LASTING - NanoSafe™ batteries have a life expectancy of 12+ years, versus the 3-5 year life of other batteries. NanoSafe™ can retain up to 85% charge capacity after 15,000 charges.

FASTER CHARGE - NanoSafe™ batteries can be recharged in approximately 10 minutes, rather than the hours required by many other rechargeable batteries.

MORE POWERFUL - With instantaneous power even at extreme temperatures, NanoSafe™ batteries deliver power per unit weight and unit volume several times that of conventional Lithium-Ion batteries.

Hi-Pa Drive™ from PML Flightlink Ltd
Hi-Pa Drive™ is a real revolution in motor technology and it’s a British innovation to boot! With its integrated motor and drive electronics in one single unit it produces an ultra high power density - up to 20 times more than conventional systems.

The compact, energy-efficient, electric wheel motors produce unrivalled levels of torque with internal heavy-duty tapered roller bearings that can withstand heavy radial loads for robust use. Yet they achieve the power to weight ratio important for the performance sports car capability of the Lightning
Other features include total weather proofing, total energy transfer and several levels of redundancy, so any single failure will not prevent the vehicle from operating safely.

Carbon fibre/Kevlar® composite technology in association with Amber Composites and Technical Resin Bonders
The Lightning bodywork will incorporate aluminium honeycomb crushable impact cells. This composite monocoque structure uses the same technology that is used in Formula 1 motor racing to protect the driver. This material will be used in the front, rear and sides of the car s well as around the battery area

Regenerative braking
Upon braking, the car's kinetic energy is converted to heat through friction - throwing away the energy that was previously used to accelerate. In city driving, about 30 percent of a typical car's engine output is lost to braking.

When an electric vehicle is decelerating, it does not create friction and useless heat in order to slow down. Instead it reverses its electric motor turning it into an electric generator, creating electricity which is fed back into the battery and stored for future use. In fact any time an electric vehicle decelerates it causes the system to use the vehicle's momentum to generate electricity.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Ginetta's 50th birthday

Ginetta is celebrating its 50th birthday in the finest style possible by launching a new car and taking it racing.

The appropriately named G50 weighs just 800kg and will use a Ford-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine with 300bhp and a five-speed sequential gearbox.

The low-slung coupe will be offered as a road car, with a price of around £35,000, while the racing version will take part in its own race series.

The Ginetta G50 Cup Car series will consist of 10 rounds at circuits across the UK in 2008, and all of the cars will run with the same specification and tyres.

Ginetta has not yet announced full specifications for the road or race cars, but it says production of the first 30 G50s is well under way and the road-going version will be on sale before the end of 2007.

© Source: topgear
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Silverline Power Tool Drag Race

Powertools. Scary enough when they're standing still, but what sort of carnage would be wreaked if they were propelled at 50mph through a throng of spectators?

Well, if you're of a mechanical bent and not too emotionally attached to your extremities, you could find out this August at the Silverline Power Tool Drag Race.

Yes, that's right: angle grinders and circular saws turned into miniature drag racers and fired down a 75ft track. The competition is open to all-comers, so if you're a dab hand with a powerdrill and suture needle, this could be your chance for fame, fortune or very cheap surgery.

Apparently this is all part of an international power tool drag racing craze - one that's sadly failed to register on our radars until now. Presumably because most seasoned participants struggle a bit in the typing/writing department. Or, in fact, anything that requires fingers.

Anyhow, it's at the Haynes International Motor Museum on August 5; a date that the emergency services have circled in thick red pen.

More importantly, is power tool drag racing the most dangerous sport imaginable? It's right up there with nude piranha fishing and the rhino ironing world championships. However, we reckon it'd be a round of tiddlywinks in comparison to 12 rounds of no-holds-barred Stig wrestling.

© Source: topgear
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Ronart Lightning car

You may remember Richard Hammond being smitten by a 1950s Grand Prix racer-alike on the programme a while back.

Well, the same people who built that Vanwall replica are also responsible for this: the Ronart Lightning.

Built around a tubular spaceframe, the Lightning has a composite body to keep weight down, with power coming from a Ford Mustang 4.6-litre V8.

This unit produces 300bhp in standard trim, but Ronart also offers upgrades to 440bhp.

There are 18in alloy wheels to transmit the power, brakes from AP Racing and suspension sorted by renowned specialists Harvey Bailey Engineering.

In standard tune, the rear-wheel-drive Lightning is reckoned to be good for 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds and 160mph.

As well as performance, the Lightning serves up a leather 'n' luxury interior for two people and a removable targa roof panel.

Prices for this particular flash of Lightning start at £50,000.

© Source: topgear
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445-HP Roush Nitemare Menaces Main Street

Perhaps the scariest bit of information about the new 2007 Roush Nitemare F-150 is that the Ford tuner only plans to make 100 units of the customized pickup truck. The Roush Nitemare will make its debut at Roush-authorized Ford dealers in June, starting at $41,750.

A ROUSHcharger boosts the 5.4-liter engine to 445 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque. Other performance components include intake manifolds, intercooler, radiator and an air induction system. The Nitemare gets a Ford limited-slip 3.73 rear axle, while the electronically controlled speed limiter has been increased to 105 mph.

On the outside, the Nitemare uses a Roush front chin spoiler and black aluminum billet grille. The cabin is decked out in custom leather seats, billet aluminum pedals and an instrument cluster with red lighting. Options include a rear wing, hood scoop, locking lug nuts and GPS. An optional sport suspension system lowers the truck 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the rear.

The trim level is limited to a regular cab 4x2 Styleside model. As you might expect, each truck gets a serial number badge.

© Source: insideline
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Triketec X2 Arrow

Triketec is a relatively new trike brand in Germany, making luxurious three-wheeler motorcycles since 2001. This latest offering, the X2 Arrow, is a crossover — but not in the usual sense.

Take some bits from a rundown Smart roadster, add a safety cage and some motorcycle bits at the front, and voilà! Basically, that's what the German Triketec company has done. The prototype of the X2 Arrow was shown at a local motorcycle show last year, and the positive reaction prompted the company to offer a production version.The first X2 Arrow features a three-cylinder, 82-horsepower turbocharged engine from the Smart Roadster, but there are cheaper variants with a 61-hp non-turbo engine or even a 41-hp diesel. Other Smart bits include the complete rear and the steering wheel. The two-seater X2 Arrow has a luggage compartment of 14.1 cubic feet, letting drivers consider adding a longer road trip on the to-do list.The highly visible cage is one important safety feature; electronic aids including ABS and brake assist are also on offer.Prices start at the equivalent of $37,800.

© Source: insideline
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2007 Grabercars La Bala

(from Grabercars Press Release) The car is for sale in both turnkey-minus and self-assembly format. Pricing for the self-assembly model starts at $25,000 and is a complete package minus drivetrain and paint.

The key features of this car are its light weight (for a full-bodied car) of only 1,500Lbs, and the capability for the purchaser to utilize virtually any FWD drivetrain they desire. This is due to the modular construction of the engine bay. Of course the lighter the engine package the better balanced the car becomes, and with a turbocharged 1.6L Toyota powerplant (in the current car) making 170Hp, the car does 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and has a F/R weight bias of 35/65. This is a street legal track car that is similar in size to a Lotus Elise. The photos I am sending show the car in full track trim. Length 124", wheelbase 98", track 57", width 67".

Grabercars is based out of Phoenix, Arizona and is only moments from Sky Harbor International Airport. We welcome prospective customers.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Grand old Duke

He may have been just one of the good ol' boys, never doin' no harm, but now John Schneider is richer than even Boss Hogg's wildest dreams.

Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard, has just sold his very own General Lee Dodge Charger that was used in the telly series.

Auctioned on eBay, the reserve was set at $1 million and from there it jumped like one of the Duke brothers' stunts to $9.9 million (£4.95 million) when bidding closed.

Just before Schneider sold the car, he took one final drive to give a charity ride to a child with cancer.

The winning bid is yet to be confirmed, but if it's genuine it makes the General Lee the second most expensive car ever sold by auction, just behind a Bugatti Royale that reached $11 million (£5.5 million) in 1987.

© Source: topgear
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