Prototypes or prototypical instances combine the most representative attributes of a category. A prototype is the stage before the final design. They are the best examples among the members of a category and serve as benchmarks against which the surrounding "poorer" instances are categorized.
The new 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI saloon was officially unveiled at the 2010 New York Auto Show, but our spy photographer has captured the big-winged saloon testing at the Nürburgring.
At first impression, it seems the car is nothing more than the European version of the high-performance saloon. Upon closer inspection, however, there are some differences clearly suggesting that the STI seen here may very well be a prototype for a Spec C model. This is especially convincing since most white Japanese cars are usually special editions.
These differences include the matte black alloys, gold color brembo brake calipers,and the front lip spoiler, all of which were not shown on the show car, but are standout features on the JDM Impreza STI Spec C hatchback.
If it does turn out to be a Spec-C expect a power hike over the standard 305hp to around 350hp. There should also be a weight reduction from the use of a smaller battery, aluminum body panels, and a revised firmer suspension including a more track focused limited slip differential.
In September 1969 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), Mercedes displayed a futuristic study that was used to test Wankel engines, diesel engines, and turbochargers. There were only three versions built, with the third one C111-III being unveiled in 1977. It used a straight-5 turbo-Diesel engine that developed a total of 230 HP. The C111 hit 200 mph (322 km/h) at Nardò in 1978.
Do we need to continue or is the information we have provided sufficient enough to understood that this is a very rare car and some people will do anything to have it? If it is then we must move on to the crazy news we must reveal. A C111-III prototype being transported from the company’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, to its museum in Brooklands, England, was reportedly the target of a robbery attempt when criminals tried to hijack the truck in which it was contained. As if the near-stolen experience wasn’t enough, the vehicle suffered some damage to its front fender and gullwing doors.
This shows the idiocy involved in thievery. Where exactly did these thieves think they were going to go with such a rare car as the C111? Did they think no one would notice? Maybe that the robbery wouldn’t be splattered across all automotive outlets? Stay in school, guys. Stay in school.
A 2012 Mercedes ML-Class testing ended in tragedy: a man killed and more cars destroyed. The incident happened on the Autobahn A81 near Rottweil, Germany on April 23rd. A 52-year-old Daimler employee was testing a 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class prototype SUV when he killed a 26-year-old man exiting his vehicle.
It seems that the younger man was involved in a minor accident only minutes before when he collided with the guardrail after there was a small malfunction with his car. Two good samaritans had stopped to help him when all of a sudden, the Mercedes SUV came down the road traveling at a high speed and struck the 26-year-old’s vehicle and a third car at the scene. The SUV then proceeded to flip over on its hood and travel an additional 250 feet.
The young man was killed upon impact and the Daimler driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Neither of the good Samaritans were treated at the hospital for any injuries. Police are still investigating the accident to determine what the cause of it was and who was at fault.
Our thoughts are with the unfortunate victims involved in this accident as well as with their families.
After we have seen the Opel Ampera concept version in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show, this year Opel is taking a step forward with the unveiling of the first prototype of the production Ampera.
The first prototype has received its first charge of electricity and will be put of test on a long-distance drive from Rüsselsheim to Geneva. The Ampera extended-range electric vehicle will use the energy stored in its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery to drive the first stage of the 600 kilometers journey from Rüsselsheim, Germany, to the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, without emitting CO2.
You may be familiar with Radical Sportscars for their affordable line of open air track day toys capable of giving larger cars a serious run for their money while using a compact gas burning power plant. However with the new SRZero that was unveiled at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, the English race car builder is rolling out a very ambitious plan to take their electric prototype on a 16,000 mile endurance trip from Argentina to Alaska later on this year in order to become the world’s most focused, fun to drive alternative propulsion vehicle.
The Radical SRZero is powered by the latest in lithium iron phosphate battery technology, linked to a state of the art battery management and systems control unit. Making a total of 400 HP from its twin motors, the lightweight BEV sports car can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 120 MPH. Thanks to regenerative braking units built into the zero emissions race car, the SRZero has an extended range of over 300 miles and can be recharged by an ordinary household electric outlet.
Porsche Cayman is for sure a car every one has hard about, and many have the chance to drive it. But how many of you know about its predecessor, the Porsche 916? However the car never made it to production, and there were only 11 prototypes produced.
The 916 was to be priced at $14,000 - the most expensive Porsche at that time. That was considerably more than the highest priced 911 which cost around $10,000 and with sales declining, Porsche dropped the idea of building it. The Porsche 916 was intended as a competitor for the Ferrari 246 Dino.
The 916 takes over the raw body from the 914/6. The roof is permanently welded to the body. The fenders must be widened to make enough room for the 7-inch wide light alloy wheels. The 916 is also fitted with the brakes and 2.4 litre motor from the 911 S.
Do you have an extra $275,000 in your pocket? If you do, Cooper Classics in New York has a ultra rare proposition for you: the sixth "first Porsche" is for sale. We are talking about a rare Porsche 356 prototype built in 1948 - the pre-production version of the later factory 356 cars.
It features an are one-off aluminum body and Metallic Green exterior paint with a Tan Interior.
It carries a unique provenance with ownership history including some of the major players in early Porsche history including M. Debrunner, president of VW AG Switzerland, and Ruprecht von Senger. Von Senger financed and established the early Porsche dealership network in Europe much like Max Hoffman would do later in the U.S. in 1953. The car was last registered in Switzerland in 1959. It was put into storage for some 20 years and eventually sold to Michael Rizzuto, a restoration specialist in the United States . Mr. Rizzuto sold the car in unrestored condition to film producer Monty Montgomery in 1988. Mr. Montgomery commissioned a full restoration and upon completion in 1992 it was exhibited at Pebble Beach.
The German automaker Audi has just revealed details about an aluminum prototype lightweight A5 Coupe that uses the same space frame architecture that is used in the Audi R8 super car and TT sports coupe. Audi’s goal is to improve the overall performance of the midsize coupe by reducing its curb weight, by 242 lbs to be exact. When Audi’s engineers reduce the mass of the A5 coupe, they allow the engine to to breathe easier, the brakes to work less and the suspension to be tuned more precisely; making the four ringed luxury car a better all around performance machine.
The prototype Audi A5 is based on the steel bodied production car, replacing the bulkier design with the bespoke aluminum Audi Space Frame that reduces the weight of the prototype from 3,130 lbs to 2,888 lbs. While it’s currently powered by a 2.0 Liter TFSI four cylinder that makes 211 HP, in the interest of weight and economy, the lightweight chassis would make a great candidate for the foundation of a very nice future super car from the 100 year old four ringed automaker.
With all the current talk of Audi RS5s in America in the near future, it looks like this prototype is a test mule for a 450 HP V8 powered 2011 RS5. Not only would the lightweight construction make the future RS5 an even better handling machine, but hopefully Audi’s power train engineers have sorted out the new A5’s transaxle layout so that the engine can sit a bit further back in the body. Just imagining an aluminum Audi RS5 with its blistered fenders and gills in the front bumper only hint subtly at the beast that would lie beneath. Another interesting fact about an aluminum bodied FSI V8 sports car would have over twice the horsepower, so an aluminum B segment RennSport would have twice asa much potential to push around all that weight.
Back in May Fornasari announced their plans to build the Racing Buggy concept. Even if everyone expected never to hear another word about the outlandish concept, the Italian automaker has announced that the 610 HP version will go into limited production for a price of around 80,000 euro, but they did not revealed the exact date of the launch.
Fornasari’s most powerful version will be motivated by a Chevrolet sourced 7.0 Liter V8 that makes 610 HP and can make the Buggy sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in under 3.8 seconds.
The quirky Italian automobile manufacturer Fornasari has just come up with another unique creation. Useful in any situation and in any weather condition, the Racing Buggy is the company’s latest offering with a more affordable entry-level model as well as high performance version.
The buggy is made with the classic Fornasari architecture, a tubular chassis, triangulated suspensions and a Chevrolet power plant. The Racing Buggy combines a youthful look with a very aggressive attitude.
The most powerful version will get a 7.0 Liter V8 that makes 610 HP that will make the Buggy sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in under 3.8 seconds. VW Manx’s beware.
