Now tell me this thing doesn’t look like a futuristic Mini-van. Seriously, I could have totally seen Harrison Ford rocking this thing in the movie Blade Runner with a few child seats in the back. What we have here is a very interesting vehicle that has been designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to train Mr. Ed.

Based out of Istanbul, Turkey, Kurtsystems has developed this training car to remove the human element out of training horses… or camels for that matter. According to the Kurtsystems website the Kurtsystems Car can be used for: “on-track or off-track use suitable for racehorses, trotters, endurance and camel training fully adjustable and controlled speeds from walking pace to galloping at up to 16m/sec (60 km/h). Safe controlled training programs and performance evaluation. Confirm training intensity, with built-in hearth rate monitors. Allows trainers carry out regular fitness tests and comparisons.”

Ok, the wording may be a bit off but hey, they’re from Istanbul so cut them a break.

Now, I have no idea if this sucker is available to the U.S. market but if it is I can tell you that the Amish would be buying these bad boys by the boat load. Just picture little Ezekiel and Jebediah cruising along with Mom & Dad in the families’ standard open-air buggy. Then out of nowhere older brother Amos and his main squeeze Mildred come trotting down to the farm in their new Kurtsystems Car.

They’d obviously be sporting the Amish approved one-horsepower drive train complete with automated reigns and barn busting bumper guards. They’d be new trendsetters in the neighborhood and the talk of the Church.

At least that’s how I envision it anyway. Either way though this thing is pretty cool – hmm… I wonder if I could do a Mr. Angry Edition.

Looks almost stock!

Your neighbor’s candy apple red Tri-Five Chevy with a Corvette-derived smallblock might be a pretty sick way to update a tired, neglected jalopy, but not everyone wants to roll in such conspicuousness. And to be honest, as long as it’s a big-ass engine stuffed into an unlikely place, one really shouldn’t be picky. So if your tastes run more towards sleepers (or Q-ships, for you Bond aficionados), and especially if you have a thing for oil-burners, this Mercedes 190D might have your number. What it doesn’t have is it’s original mill, discarded by some mad-scientist types at Mercedes in favor of a modern OM651 diesel out of the current C-Class, good for 204 HP and 368 ft-lbs of torque. That’s torquier than a phalanx of tractors, so it’s no wonder it is swift. How swift? Make the jump to find out.

Cue mad scientist laughter!

Well, the raw number is 6.2 seconds from a standstill to 62 mph, which ain’t shabby, but we’d be fools not to note that this is a full 11.9 seconds quicker than stock for this ’92 190D. It also gets around 42 MPG, and as a diesel, there’s no doubt that with minimal tweaks you could saddle up to any Winchell’s Donuts in your area and load up on premium grade saturated grease, turning the means for the intense obesity of our nation into fuel for your ride! Alas, we don’t want to imply that you could head down to your local Mercedes mad scientist lab and pick one up, as we think this was purely an exercise in the particularly fruitful boredom of some amazingly precise Germans. In any event, we hope others take inspiration and consider cramming modern diesels under just about anything. A Cummins-powered Chrysler Imperial? Why, that’s a brilliant idea …

[Source: Autopia]

Using a supercharged BMW V12, the Lazareth quad makes a ferocious 500bhp on E-85 Ethanol. But even though it’s defined as a quad (having four wheels and all) it is shaped more like a trike, which is good news. It’s diminutive rear end keeps the preposterous amount of torque from flipping the vehicle, while the wide front track keeps all four wheels planted as you counter-steer around every corner.

Aesthetically the Lazareth is unquestionably menacing, with the twelve exposed headers purging environmentally friendly exhaust fumes from the pulsating engine. But before you assume the use of Ethanol was an environmentalist statement, think again. It’s more likely that Ethanol was used for its superior octane performance, since E-85 has an octane level between 100-105, compared to typical gasoline octane ratings of 85-93.

However, make no mistake, all this coolness will cost you a cool $283,000–meaning it’s more likely you’ll see it in the next Batman movie than in your garage.

For a gallery of the Lazareth, along with a video of the beast in action, follow the jump.

SOURCE: HellForLeatherMagazine

Based out of West Philadelphia high school, the West Philly Hybrid X Team is making headlines for their impressive engineering ability in the creation of the K-1 Attack hybrid supercar. Designed and produced entirely within the walls of West Philadelphia High School’s Automotive Academy, the student-built K-1 Attack is an impressive demonstration in alternatively-fueled performance.

Equally impressive is the group itself, founded in 1998 by physics and math teacher, Simon Hauger, and responsible for giving inner-city students a valuable opportunity they otherwise might not have been afforded. In addition to offering a chance for West Philly students to demonstrate a mental acumen far beyond their years, the Philly Hybrid X Team also provides a unique preparatory course for a career in the automotive industry. Charged (no pun intended) with designing and executing an 100-mpg automobile, the Philly Hybrid X Team is vying for the prestigious Progressive Automotive X Prize and, despite the odds, are considered a Top 10 contender.

Hit the jump to check out exclusive video footage of the Hybrid X team, and the K-1 Attack, in action.

Baard Eker, designer and 49 percent owner of Koenigsegg, spoke briefly about the future of the brand Born From Jets. “Saab has to refine their quality level, their soul and spirit and we believe that this is something we can help with. The most interesting thing is that GM thinks the same.” You think, GM? I guess the existing 10-year product life cycles just weren’t cutting the mustard. But what does the future hold?

Eker added, “There is not as much capital around these days, but there are also not as many interesting projects, and we have been told that this is a very interesting project to be a part of financially.” I agree wholeheartedly. With GM finally getting off its ass and throwing some new product in the direction of Saab, prospective investors are looking at a brand that will be 50% revamped for the 2010 model year. Both the new 9-5 and 9-4x are expected to make a big splash. As for further down the road, more than a few hardcore Saabies would like to see Saab as the “green” brand of choice.

Saab has a history of technical advancements in the way of fuel savings. The 99 Turbo is considered to have brought turbocharging to the masses, and the Biopower 9-5 has a rather high-profile following. According to Eker, “Obviously we have some ideas but it’s too early to talk about them, but environmental thinking is a very important thing in our view.”

Green motor oil. Green as in environmentally friendly. You knew this one was coming. It’s not a bad thing, really, and by that I mean it won’t be a bad thing when it’s well established and reliable. But for right now… Well, I’m not so sure I want to pour a few quarts in any of my vehicles.

Say goodbye to lubrication via pulverized tyranasaur and hello to lubrication via bovine fat.

Bay-Area company Green Earth Technologies has just released ‘G-Oil,’ a motor oil produced by converting saturated cow fat into high-value unsaturated oil that will work in any internal combustion application. Naturally aspirated, turbocharged, supercharged, diesel, you name it.

According Green Earth’s website, “These saturated fats, whose molecular single-bond carbon chains are similar to common petroleum oils, have no harsh effects on the environment, and drastically cut our dependence on foreign oil. Consider that it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but it only takes one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-OIL and thus will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” G-Oil is also completely biodegradable, as in you can poor that stuff down the drain – I mean, you shouldn’t, but you could. And since all us Git-R-Done Americans can’t stop shoving steaks and cheeseburgers down our corpulent maws the product is relatively sustainable.

It sounds fantastic. And the oil has been reviewed and approved by the American Petroleum institute. We should be stoked that something like this has hit the market. I am stoked. But I don’t think I’m going to switch over until Leno does.

via cnet

Which one would you rather see with a Turbo-Diesel powerplant?

am-biv-a-lence
-noun
1. Psychology. the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions.

Lamborghini is taking its own steps to save the environment through the kissing of environmentalist-ass!

Like most companies, the Italian manufacturer finds itself under pressure to make-nice and reduce C02 emissions and increase the fuel-efficiency of their cars. Though Lamborghini is technically exempt from the harshest wave of Emission Laws in the European Union per a clause pertaining to “manufacturers of ’specialty’ vehicles (with fewer than 10,000 new cars made per year) who run their own production facilities and design centres, even though they are part of a group of associated producers,” Lamborghini nonetheless is doing their part to at least look like they care.

In a new press release, Lamborghini details their plans to clean-up their factories by attaching solar panels to the roofs of their plants, really a smart move considering factories make up the portly midsection of those Pollution Pie Charts.

But their plans involve the possibility of Lamborghini Hybrids as well.

In the mass of technicalities, there is one bit in that press release below we can really care about:

At this point, Research & Development activities will continue in the following directions:

– decreasing vehicle mass
– improving combustion
– reducing friction
– Start-and-Stop systems
– hybrid drive train solutions
– biofuels

Now, this is not a new concept. The ill-fated, and ill-received Estoque concept was rumored to make use of a diesel-powered V8 with high-performance TDI, and considering Lamborghini is owned by Audi, we could no doubt expect some technological “crossover” action from the Audi A1 Concept and the Audi Q7 V12 TDI respectively.

But the question remains as to how the market would respond to a hybrid Italian exotic.

We really really hate anything that reduces the giggle-inducing factor of a car, whether it be in the drivetrain or purely cosmetic. So we entertain the idea of a flex-fueled raging bull with anxiety, but hope that maybe Lamborghini will be the one to really do it, the car company that shows us how to be efficient without sacrificing the passion for driving with reckless abandon. Perhaps Lamborghini will give us the first truly lustworthy hybrid supercar.

But for now, we can only hope.

For those curious, concerned, or need to work on their English, here’s the official press release:

LAMBORGHINI ANNOUNCES NEW, AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING CO2

European Parliamentarian Guido Sacconi, President of the European Commission on Climate Change, recently paid a visit to Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata. At that time, he said that, “The commitment shown by Lamborghini with its efforts to reduce environmental impact and develop vehicles with less polluting technologies confirm the company’s goal of following the right path toward complying with the directives of the European Union. To safeguard the DNA, history and technology of niche car manufacturers on a European level, a series of exceptions have been passed for manufactures of ’specialty’ vehicles (with fewer than 10,000 new cars made per year) who run their own production facilities and design centres, even though they are part of a group of associated producers. This is the exact situation in which Lamborghini finds itself. We have been particularly satisfied with the actions it has taken thus far, because they illustrate this company’s desire to embrace a new industrial vision which combines competitiveness and performance with social responsibility.”

Source: Lamborghini via Jalopnik

Don't hold your breath.

Volvo has issued a press release laying vague claim to an upcoming series of plug-in diesel hybrids (PHEV “DRIVe” in Volvo’s “Bork Bork” corporate marketing lingo) that will maybe, sort of, probably be coming in 2012 (give or take a decade). We hear lots of elaborate claims by automakers about their upcoming products, and we’re not doubting that Volvo CAN make these hybrid cars … we’ll just believe it when we see it.

Kidding aside, the technology sounds promising. Volvo wants to use high-efficiency diesel engines, possibly running on synthetic diesel fuel (or maybe unicorn milk) combined with plug-in hybrid technology. It doesn’t sound like they’re considering an extended-range electric vehicle like the Chevy Volt, but we strongly suggest that they look into it. Diesel series-hybrids are very efficient. In any event, check out the press release below for more info.

Full press release is as follows:

Press Release: VOLVO CARS TO BE MARKET LEADER IN PLUG-IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

For short distances in city traffic, dedicated battery-powered cars may well be the next step. Volvo Cars is therefore researching into this area. There are still many challenges that have to be solved with battery cars and the company is working hard to find alternative ways of reducing battery cost, increasing their performance and ensuring that Volvo’s high safety requirements are met at all times. At present, there are no battery-powered cars in Volvo’s product plans, but the possibility of introducing new green technology is under constant review.

[Source: Volvo via Jalopnik]

If you fancy a lift, bring coal and lithium-ion batteries!

You’ve seen steampunk laptops, steampunk guitars, steampunk iPods, pretty much everything under the sun. But how many steampunk vehicles have you seen outside of Howl’s Moving Castle? Slap on your goggles, work up a head of steam, and take a gander at these 10 steampunk vehicles, ranging from modestly altered to completely bespoke.

1. Tom Sepe’s Whirlygig Emoto

Boiler is aft of the seat.

First up is Tom Sepe’s “Whirligig Emoto.” Crafted out of ‘67 Tote-Gote scooter and packing a 15kW electric motor, a steam generator, and an unknown quantity of brass applique, this two-wheeler fits the bill for anyone looking to recreate an Akira-style biker gang with steampunk bikes.

No caption could possibly describe what's going on here.

This one gets our Anachronistic Seal of Approval for being electric, producing superfluous steam, and sliding around in the video below in true steampunk-hoon style. And for more on the build, see Mr. Sepe’s website.

[Source: TomSepe.com, Steampunkworkshop]

2. Chicara Nagata’s Motorcycles

No boiler but we approve nonetheless.

Our own Vito dug this amazing find up not too long ago, and we simply couldn’t leave them out. While many in the steampunk world like making things on their own, Mr. Chicara takes the craftsperson angle to a whole ‘nother level. The “1939″ Chicara above, for example, uses an authentic ‘39 Harley-Davidson U-motor, along with other period parts, combined in a unique and beautiful way.

The 1966 moped. Hipsters, start saving up.

Of course, the price reflects that – each of Chicara’s unique creations sells for a cool million USD. Still, if you have that kind of dough to throw around, we’re sure you could work with the artist to produce a steam-powered model out of oak.

[Images: Chicara Art]

3. Leyat Helica

It sure LOOKS steampunk!

Steampunk objects are usually a fusion of something modern, and something old. The Helica is just plain old – it was steampunk before you even needed to mix-n-match temporal categories. Both technologically advanced and also strangely carriage-looking, the Helica seems to have sprung from an alternate reality where having a whirling propeller motivate your vehicle seemed like a good idea.

Almost looks like it could float, too.

That being said, you have to give Msr. Marcel Leyat some credit despite his bad timing. Had he lived long enough to see Burning Man, he might have sold these as desert runabouts to the sunburned masses.

[Source: roadabletimes]

4. Il Tempo Gigante

This is a full-size replica of Il Tempo Gigante, the star of the completely nonsensical film Flåklypa Grand Prix. It was built to promote the movie, which apparently became the most successful Norwegian film of all time (in Norway), playing in theaters for 28 years. Not exactly an Oscar contender. Il Tempo Gigante (The Big Time?) was an enormous brass car with two engines of appropriately indeterminate make. At nearly 22 feet long and covered with all sorts of piping and nonfunctional flair, this would be welcomed to any steampunk art show or peyote-eating session in the world.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, no useful details about the real life vehicle exist. Perhaps that’s for the best, as the creators of this insane but decidedly steampunk-esque vehicle were likely eating some psychotropic herring at the time.

[Source: Some crazy Norwegians.]

5. Legway: The Steampunk Segway

The future of personal transportation from yesterday!

This made its way around the Internet a while back but it’s worth including on our list today because, well, it never fails to make us laugh. Both brilliant and almost completely impractical, it also oozes with steampunk style. Just look at the thing! Impossible to turn, slower and more difficult than walking, and though it’s very existence a biting piece of social commentary. Good work sir, good work.

Instant steampunk cred.

Plus, as its creator says, it’s actually “green” – no pollutants for all you eco-conscious steampunkers out there. Unless you count the inevitable blood on the pavement as a pollutant. Check out the video below as its creator miraculously doesn’t fall flat on his face immediately.

[Source: Indestructibles and Buildlog]

6. The Neverwas Haul

Holy pith helmets, Batman!

Completely insane. It’s a Victorian house on wheels. Clearly the product of altered mind states, or simply lots of wood and Red Bull, this creation of The Berkeley Academy of Unnatural Sciences could only have been created for one purpose: to be the best Burning Man vehicle of all time. Fair to say, it’s succeeded.

Words cannot describe the insanity.

No word on how many rooms there are, what they contain, or how on earth the entire thing holds itself together, but we’re guessing magic is involved. Steam-based magic. Power (or should we say lack thereof) is provided by an anemic 10 HP 1 cylinder diesel motor, but the Neverwas Haul has been spotted being, ahem, hauled by vintage steam-driven tractors.

Plus you can rent it for weddings or haunted houses! How cool is that? Just bring goggles and a sense of whimsy!

[Source: Flickr, Neverwas Times]

7. Neverwas Haul’s Steam Runabout

It slices, it dices, it steams your hotdogs!

As sweet as the Neverwas Haul is, their runabout is just as cool. Born in ‘06, this little beast runs on propane firing a Lamont-type boiler to produce steam at about 100PSI. We assume the steam whistle is so that pedestrians using their wooden iPhones or wrought-iron Blackberries don’t get crushed under those unforgiving carriage wheels. No word on top speed, and the tricycle undercarriage likely produces pretty poor skidpad numbers, but it’s a cruiser, not a driver. See it in action at the video below:

Plus, it’ll make you a mean hotdog! Note that the preferred nomenclature here is “Steam Bohemian,” not steampunk. Treat them nice and they may make you one.

Neverwas Steam Cooked Hot Dogs from Scott Beale on Vimeo.

[Source: Youtube via Laughing Squid]

8. The Brass Lion

Need to bike in a charity event but have a bad back and need a steampunk aesthetic? We might have the bike for you! It has everything a discerning anachronistic biker would need in a recumbent cycle – elk-hide wrapped controls, working kerosene coach lamps, and a trunk (an actual trunk) for your long-distance jaunts.

The coachlamps are ignited! Ready for the foggy London night.

Steuben’s Wheelmen (Eric and Alan) are the creators of this awesome beast, and it gets points for looking very cool but also maintaining a high degree of functionality. Maybe sweet trikes like this will replace those asinine fixie-style machines so popular these days.

[Source: Steampunkworkshop]

9. The Hubbard Steamcycle

Built as a one-off from a ‘56 Maico and converted to steam power (yes, steam power) by one Bud Hubbard of Connecticut in the early 70s, this is almost ur-steampunk in both construction and cool factor. The best part is, despite the late build date, Mr. Hubbard was using plans dating back from 1918!!!

All the mechanicals were hand-made by Bud himself, and he thankfully used a lot of brass rather than a less showy metal. It makes about 6 HP, runs at nearly 700 PSI of superheated steam, and is able to run for around 2 hours with the condenser installed.

[Source: CAMA]

10. Jake von Slatt’s Victorian Bus

The bus' Grande Salon.

Mr. von Slatt is one resourceful dude. After scrounging up this ‘89 Thomas Saf-t-Liner retired school bus for around $2000, he gutted it and turned it into a Victorian-themed motorhome. It gets the steampunk nod for several reasons: first, it’s a Victorian RV! Secondly, Mr. von Slatt’s website led me to a lot of these finds, so credit where credit’s due.

Woodwork and ironplating to come?

Certainly his ride might have the most wrought-iron-clad-cojones here, with a 10.4 liter CAT diesel making around 400 ft-lbs of torque. While it won’t win any drag races, when the boiler goes out or your dirigible needs a tow, this bus might be the one to call.

He got nearly everything inside from the dump.

[Source: Steampunkworkshop]

We hope you’ve enjoyed this mad exploration of the fanciful vehicles of the steampunk genere. Subscribe to RideLust for quicker access to all our amazing content.

The Mosler MT900 GTR XX Twin Turbo by IAD. Got that?

A company that lives up to its moniker, Intense Auto Design has crafted a frighteningly purposeful version of the MT900 GTR XX to attack the production top speed record currently held by the SSC Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo. Some of you might remember Mosler as evil genius who created the Consulier, a car so ugly that the ugly stick would cross the street rather than beat its offensive sheetmetal.

Laugh now. It could probably take you down on the track.

But ugly isn’t mutually exclusive with “insanely fast,” and the Consulier’s 2.2L Chrysler turbo was quick. But we’re not talking about the Consulier, we’re talking about the silver beast below.

Where is the parachute?

Where to begin? IAD has shaved off 550 lbs from the already featherweight MT900 GTR XX; plumbed in a crazy multi-fuel system utilizing ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, and gasoline; and what appears to be a Chevy LS7 engine with two turbochargers bolted on. The grand total? 2,500 horsepower. Let me spell that out: Two thousand, five hundred horsepower.

Laid to rest in style. RIP.

IAD claims this will allow a sub-2.5 second 0-60 run, and a 0-150-0 of 8.7 seconds. That is nutso aircraft carrier catapult territory. They’ve nicknamed it “the Land Shark.” We’ve nicknamed it the “2500 Horsepower Coffin.”

UPDATE: did we mention it supposedly has all-wheel-drive and a 90 lb. chassis, and IAD claims it can be registered as a hybrid in California? Our willing suspension of disbelief is being challenged, but we’re entertained nonetheless. Carry on, IAD!

[Source and image: World Car Fans] ]]> http://www.ridelust.com/mosler-mt900-gtr-xx-twin-turbo-by-iad-has-2500-hp/feed/ 2