If you could design your own car, what kinda car would it be? What kinda drivetrain would it have?

Here's mine:
It would look like a modified Lambo Countach with 5 seats instead of 2. It would be low and have low drag coefficient, and without the wing.

The drivetrain would be series-hybrid with in-wheel motors. About 200kW in each of the four wheels. It would have a 20kW turbine engine/generator set and a pack of Supercapacitors able to deliver 800kW of power for like 20 secs. The turbine aggregate would be able to run off most fuels like gasoline, diesel, ethanol, etc.

It would use the motors for breaking and not have any disk brakes at all exept maybe one brake for parking only.

It would have a power outlet for any kind of appliance, so you could use your car as a generator if your house lost power due to a blackout.

My dream car would be shaped like a triangular pyramid and moved in 3 dimensions, or it would be a hooked up mercedes. Either way, I'll never drive it.

http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/01/fcx00002.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/01/fcx00001.jpg



Making its North American debut at NAIAS after its unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show just four months ago, Autoblog's Erin Mays reports that the extreme cab-forward FCX hydrogen fuel cell concept is now set for production.

American Honda Motor announced at NAIAS Sunday that it will begin production in Japan of its next generation FCX hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in just three or four years. The production car is said to closely resemble the FCX concept vehicle shown above.

The design of the FCX makes the most of the packaging advantages of Honda's fuel cell powertrain, which allows designers a low floor, low center of gravity, and plenty of cabin space.

http://www.wallpaperez.net/wallpaper/car/Porsche-911-Turbo-Sportec-918.jpg

porsche 911

Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate Edition.
Beat that..

http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/15870/aston_martin_vanquish_S-L.jpg


Second, the Aston Martin Vanquish.

http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/aston-martin/aston-martin-v12-vanquish-09.jpg


Ferarri 575 Maranello as a good third.

http://members.fortunecity.com/freecarwallpapers/images/ferrari_575m_maranello_03.jpg

Introducing the MKIV

http://b.imagehost.org/0865/Exino.jpg

http://www.americanrail.com/images/Metis/metisext2003.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/11/27903.jpg

So far all the Hydrogen 7s that BMW has produced and distributed have been dual fuel vehicles that are capable of running on either hydrogen or gasoline. This is helpful since the H7 only has a range of about 100 miles from its tank of liquid hydrogen. BMW has now built a mono-fuel hydrogen only version of the H7 that has been optimized for running on the alternative fuel. By not having to compromise the engine to run on gasoline, BMW has been able to improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and extend the range. The mono-fuel H7 was recently tested at the Argonne National Lab which found out the exhaust gases were actually cleaner than the ambient air going into the engine. BMW will release more specifics about the mono-fuel H7 in two weeks at the SAE World Congress. For now, the mono-fuel H7 is just a tech demonstrator with no production plans.


http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/31/bmw-builds-a-hydrogen-only-version-of-the-hydrogen-7/

Ok I didn't design these, but I would love to own one of these.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3541/0704mufp01z1965mustangckg2.jpg

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/8964/corvette1xb8.jpg

:pp

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-jkl/Jaguar-XJ-220-Silver-Australia-1280x960.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/01/fcx00002.jpg



I find the shape of this car really ugly.

I find the shape of this car really ugly.

Yep, it looks like an Intrepid

Hydrogen sucks as a energy carrier. Why would anyone want it? It cost way more than gasoline, can run way shorter than lithium bartteries. And the fuel cells itself are much more costly than current hybrid technology. Don't let the car companies brainwash you and start demanding real series hybrids, not the mild hybrids the car companies tries to push on us.

Anyways why have noone responded with details of their own car design? I'm sure you have some ideas of a drivetrain of your own.

http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/RNEM734J.jpg

Last of the V8 Interceptors.

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/5best/20060703/12/3052279196-jaguar-xkr-convertible.jpg

But in sapphire blue. :cool:

But in sapphire blue. :cool:

Like this ? (color only)
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mustangtuning/01-sapphire-blue-mustang-gt.jpg


What about this one in sapphire blue ?

http://www.heritageclassics.com/astonmartin/04bluvanq/A1.jpg

Austin Martins are made just down the road from me so I see then all the time, great cars.

Austin Martins are made just down the road from me so I see then all the time, great cars.

Wow.. you lucky bastard.. :)

http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/RNEM734J.jpg

Last of the V8 Interceptors.

Hmm did Mad Max drive this car?

Hmm did Mad Max drive this car?

Of course. In a time of gas shortage, it seems the logical choice, huh?

Of course. In a time of gas shortage, it seems the logical choice, huh?

Yeah I always thought that car was too cool. I can just imagine the ppls faces in my snouty neighbourhood if I drove down the street in that. :D

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/5best/20060703/12/3052279196-jaguar-xkr-convertible.jpg

But in sapphire blue. :cool:

I had an Aston Martin Vantage try to take me on from a stop light a couple of weeks ago while I was on my crotch rocket. I left him behind.

http://www.swift-hire.com/car_images/96/slk55ext.jpg

SLK's 5.5 Liter normally aspirated V8 boasts of an increase in power from the standard 360 Hp / 265 kW and 510 Nm (377 lb-ft) to an outstanding 550 Hp / 404 kW and 718 Nm (531 lb-ft). As a result, the Kleemann SLK 55K S8 is capable of achieving a 0-62 mph time of a mere 3.7 seconds, while top speed is limited to a well-rounded 185 mph.

1000 Horsepower, bitches!


http://www.carbuyersnotebook.com/Veyron.jpg

http://motorsport.com/photos/fia-gt/2005/mc/fiagt-2005-mc-fc-0230.jpg

Saleen S7, yes they make a street legal version too.

2000 HORSEPOWER!

Marca: WALLEY LARSON LE1 GROUNDFIGHTER

http://www.autosrapidos.com/superautos/w/walleylarson-le1groundfighter01.jpg

Año de fabricación: 2001
Motor: V8 turbo de 3950 cc y 32 válvulas en posición central
Potencia: 2000 HP
Torque (máximo): 2025 Nm
Transmisión: Tracción a las cuatro ruedas
Velocidad final: 490 km/h
Aceleración (0-100 km/h): 2.2"
Frenos: Discos ventilados a las cuatro ruedas
Peso: 1336 kg
Relación peso/potencia: 0.67 kg/HP
Distancia entre ejes: -
Neumáticos: Aros de 17"
Otros: Precio estimado en US$ 600000

The Tesla Roadster:

http://static.flickr.com/2304/2388538291_53698ffdb8.jpg

220 Mile Range (Electric Vehicle)
0 to 60 in under 4 seconds
Very silent!
Beautiful!

At 2 miles per gallon the choice is obvious: Bugatti Veyron.

The Tesla Roadster:

http://static.flickr.com/2304/2388538291_53698ffdb8.jpg

220 Mile Range (Electric Vehicle)
0 to 60 in under 4 seconds
Very silent!
Beautiful!

Actually, I want to change mine to that.

I love this car. It so cute, i want to eat it.

http://thehumansaredead.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/smart-car.jpg
http://thehumansaredead.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/smart-car.jpg

Ok I didn't design these, but I would love to own one of these.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3541/0704mufp01z1965mustangckg2.jpg

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/8964/corvette1xb8.jpg
Very nice.

http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/car-and-motorcycles-wallpapers-pictures/nissan-skyline-wallpaper.jpg

i think the curves on this are excellent, bet it handles like hot butter on toast aswell.

i think the curves on this are excellent, bet it handles like hot butter on toast aswell.

Not much traction then ? ;)

Not much traction then ? ;)

But i want it in CANARY YELLOW!!!

But i want it in CANARY YELLOW!!!

Here you go:

http://www.modifiedstreetcars.com/car_images/dodge/Dodge-viper-938.jpg

;)

http://www.etraceway.com/FUNNY%20CARS/FUNNY%204.jpg

8000 horsepower!

http://www.dragcars.com/assets/images/ArfonsJetCar.jpg

20,000 horsepower

http://www.laffin-gas.com/images/car2.jpg

28.000 horsepower

http://www.gordon-glasgow.org/Images/thrustssc.jpg

50,000 horsepower+

The land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land, as opposed to one on water or in the air or on rails. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions. The current absolute (or unlimited) record holder is ThrustSSC, a twin turbofan jet-powered car which has achieved 763 mph (slightly under 1228 km/h) over one mile (1.6 km), breaking the sound barrier.

ROFL at the steadily increasing horsepower.

The land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land, as opposed to one on water or in the air or on rails. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions. The current absolute (or unlimited) record holder is ThrustSSC, a twin turbofan jet-powered car which has achieved 763 mph (slightly under 1228 km/h) over one mile (1.6 km), breaking the sound barrier.

That's an airplane :bugeye:

lol

That's an airplane :bugeye:

lol

Actually it cannot ever fly. It's design make it unflyable. Unless they add all sorts of stuff to the body all it can do is drive on the ground.:)

Actually it cannot ever fly. It's design make it unflyable. Unless they add all sorts of stuff to the body all it can do is drive on the ground.:)

I know, I was just kidding ;)
The did use fighter engines though.

I would like either the Tango electric car (this one belongs to George Clooney)

http://www.commutercars.com/images/gallery/customerCars/images/IMG_4335.JPG


Or a vintage Messerschmitt Kabinenroller (5 hp) (foreground)


http://www.columbia.edu/~fdc/frankfurt/messerschmitt.jpg

Sports:
*****************
Ferrari F50, Mclaren F1.

Car that I want to buy (and probably will in next 5 years):
********************************************
BMW 335xi Sedan
OR
Mercedes C350 Sport sedan


I own a Honda CRV 2007 right now and am happy with it (drove 27k miles in 1 year and 2 months :D ).

Rick

Like this ? (color only)
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mustangtuning/01-sapphire-blue-mustang-gt.jpg


What about this one in sapphire blue ?

http://www.heritageclassics.com/astonmartin/04bluvanq/A1.jpg

Yess!!

I would like either the Tango electric car (this one belongs to George Clooney)

http://www.commutercars.com/images/gallery/customerCars/images/IMG_4335.JPG


Awful looks like those "smart cars" can't stand those things.

It's 100% electric, and super fast. It has a full racing rollcage! It's no golf cart.

Problem is that most electric vehicles can't go very far without a recharge. Then the life of their batteries aren't that long either and they are very expensive to replace. Most electric vehicles don't have any air conditioning, heat or much of anything that is electricly powered. :(:shrug:

Awful looks like those "smart cars" can't stand those things.

Car of the future dear.. ;)

Car of the future dear.. ;)

The tango is prolly one of the most fun cars to drive today. Imagine you drive along a highway, then you aproach a 5 mile long traffic jam, you zoom past it while you're laughing your ass of at all the suckers stuck in their big gasoline guzzlers.

Currently it only has lead-acid batteries. But imagine them with Lithium batteries. You could probably get 300 mile range, and in the future you can upgrade to Eestor supercaps, and get 600 mile range, and 0-62 in 2.5sec :P

The tango is prolly one of the most fun cars to drive today. Imagine you drive along a highway, then you aproach a 5 mile long traffic jam, you zoom past it while you're laughing your ass of at all the suckers stuck in their big gasoline guzzlers.

Currently it only has lead-acid batteries. But imagine them with Lithium batteries. You could probably get 300 mile range, and in the future you can upgrade to Eestor supercaps, and get 600 mile range, and 0-62 in 2.5sec :P

Nice.. :)

I'm wondering why all the environmentally friendly cars have to look so dorky though.

Nice.. :)

I'm wondering why all the environmentally friendly cars have to look so dorky though.

They don't, but there is some kind of idea among the car companies that environmentally friendly cars have to look unique and minimalistic for them so sell. They are just about starting to come to their senses with designs like the Tesla Roadster, Fisker Karma, Chevy Volt and Volvo Recharge. If only they had come sooner. :)

Li-Ion batteries are available on the Tango for a 200 mile range.
http://www.commutercars.com/

Car of the future dear.. ;)

They look like a suicide machine. If you saw all the trucks on the highways here, and the amount of traffic and crazy drivers you would know what I am talking about.

It has a full racing rollcage.

Good cuz it looks like a strong wind could blow it over on it's side.

The bottom of it is full of batteries, that gives it incredible stability.

They look like a suicide machine. If you saw all the trucks on the highways here, and the amount of traffic and crazy drivers you would know what I am talking about.

It's much safer than an SUV, or a motorcycle for that matter. It has a real roll cage designed for crashes at 200mph, and three point racing seatbelts.

Last yr I saw the funniest thing. I was crossing a street in our neighbourhood and this smart car was coming so I waited to cross. Then this car goes whizzing by with a little asian man in it wearing a bicycle helmet, beeping the horn which sounded like a bike horn. OMG me and my 6 yr old at the time were almost in tears laughing.

Last yr I saw the funniest thing. I was crossing a street in our neighbourhood and this smart car was coming so I waited to cross. Then this car goes whizzing by with a little asian man in it wearing a bicycle helmet, beeping the horn which sounded like a bike horn. OMG me and my 6 yr old at the time were almost in tears laughing.

He'll be the laughing one at the gas station, believe me ;)

It wouldn't have been so damn funny if he wasn't wearing a kids bicycle helmet...HAHA I can still see the whole thing in my mind.

It wouldn't have been so damn funny if he wasn't wearing a kids bicycle helmet...HAHA I can still see the whole thing in my mind.

Heh Asians are just nuts.. they can't help it.

Anything with a jet engine is just not legitimate!

On the other hand, drive your 50,000 horse power land speed record breaker to the next party, and lets see how many women want to go for a ride? Good idea.

Bad idea: Next they'll be wondering whats in your wallet. Answer: A 1000 horse power king sized bed. (yes, in your wallet)

Anything with a jet engine is just not legitimate!

But it is classified as a car when it was breaking the land speed record for cars.

Chevrolet Corvette ZO6: The best dollar value supercar killer in the world. $70,000 gets you:
LS7 small block V8: 7.0L displacement, 505bhp, 475lb-ft. of torque.
Hydroformed aluminum body, aluminum chassis, magnesium engine cradle, carbon fiber body panels.
Curb weight: 3132lb, perfect 50/50 weight distribution
0-60: 3.7 sec
0-100: 7.7 sec
Top speed: 198 mph
1/4 mile: 11.5 sec @ 133 mph
Nurburgring time: 7:40.99

It will roast a $200,000 Lamborghini Gallardo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWBAYYVVobU&feature=related
It will walk a $190,000 Ferrari F430: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAyx3gwqXn0
It will humble a $150,000 Porsche 911 Turbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLyNVAvXw88&NR=1
Even Jeremy Clarkson likes it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiA7vVydWaQ

The thing I love most about the ZO6 is that its designers remained true to the Corvette's legacy as an icon of American automotive heritage. Take a light, balanced chassis, stuff a big, powerful V8 under its hood, add only enough amenities to complement the driving experience, and let the customer enjoy the result. Yeah, it has leaf springs. Carbon fiber leaf springs, which double as sway bars. Sure, its engine is still a single cam, 16 valve, pushrod V8, a design that has remained basically unchanged since the early 1950s. Except that this one is hand built by GM engineers out of titanium and forged chromoly steel, has a dry sump oiling system, is smaller than the Ferrari's 4.3L DOHC V8 (and weighs less), and makes the ZO6 is the only car you can buy in the US that is over 500 horsepower yet is so fuel efficient that it avoids the gas guzzler tax.

Here's mine (a friend at the helm):

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7260/dsc05959bg8.jpg

If you're like me, and the stock drivetrain isn't powerful enough to make you shit yourself, you can do what I did and twin turbo the engine (http://www.airpowersystems.com/corvette/z06.htm) for another few hundred horsepower. This car is a weekend/track car, so I don't drive it daily. I bought it used with a couple thousand miles on it to replace my previous track car, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution#Evolution_IX), which was retired due to a tendency to blow headgaskets under high boost and a desire to try something new.

Chevrolet Corvette ZO6: The best dollar value supercar killer in the world. $70,000 gets you:
LS7 small block V8: 7.0L displacement, 505bhp, 475lb-ft. of torque.
Hydroformed aluminum body, aluminum chassis, magnesium engine cradle, carbon fiber body panels.
Curb weight: 3132lb, perfect 50/50 weight distribution
0-60: 3.7 sec
0-100: 7.7 sec
Top speed: 198 mph
1/4 mile: 11.5 sec @ 133 mph
Nurburgring time: 7:40.99

It will roast a $200,000 Lamborghini Gallardo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWBAYYVVobU&feature=related
It will walk a $190,000 Ferrari F430: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAyx3gwqXn0
It will humble a $150,000 Porsche 911 Turbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLyNVAvXw88&NR=1
Even Jeremy Clarkson likes it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiA7vVydWaQ

The thing I love most about the ZO6 is that its designers remained true to the Corvette's legacy as an icon of American automotive heritage. Take a light, balanced chassis, stuff a big, powerful V8 under its hood, add only enough amenities to complement the driving experience, and let the customer enjoy the result. Yeah, it has leaf springs. Carbon fiber leaf springs, which double as sway bars. Sure, its engine is still a single cam, 16 valve, pushrod V8, a design that has remained basically unchanged since the early 1950s. Except that this one is hand built by GM engineers out of titanium and forged chromoly steel, has a dry sump oiling system, is smaller than the Ferrari's 4.3L DOHC V8 (and weighs less), and makes the ZO6 is the only car you can buy in the US that is over 500 horsepower yet is so fuel efficient that it avoids the gas guzzler tax.

Here's mine (a friend at the helm):

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7260/dsc05959bg8.jpg

If you're like me, and the stock drivetrain isn't powerful enough to make you shit yourself, you can do what I did and twin turbo the engine (http://www.airpowersystems.com/corvette/z06.htm) for another few hundred horsepower. This car is a weekend/track car, so I don't drive it daily. I bought it used with a couple thousand miles on it to replace my previous track car, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution#Evolution_IX), which was retired due to a tendency to blow headgaskets under high boost and a desire to try something new.


http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=sb4xJRMrAwA

=

?

I'm a classic car lover myself - I'd go for a 1969 Jensen FF MkII

The first production car in the world to have anti-lock brakes and traction control - and the first non off road car to utilise 4WD.
It also came with air-con, electric windows and all those other little refinements we take for granted today, but were pretty exceptional in the late 60's - particularly to find them all in one car as standard.
The engineering was British (back at a time when we were good at it), the styling was Italian, and the engine was a 6.8 Litre V8 Chrysler brute.

What a a car!

http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/eyes-wide-open-a-look-at-the-20th-annual-eyeson-design-show/6464078+w600+cr1+re0+ar1/1969-jensen-ff-mk-ii.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/408739883_dbe6650726.jpg?v=1178355209

Check out the Tesla:
http://es.motorfull.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/Tesla-Roadster.jpg

100% electric, 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, 220 mile range, less than 2 cents a mile, and only $100,000.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=229378

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=sb4xJRMrAwA

=

?
Hardly fair test conditions. They're launching on a cold tarmac with cold rubber, who knows what kind of tires they're even using, and the driver can't shift to save his life. The fact that he's all "LOL it has leaf springs!" makes me confident of driver error since he doesn't seem to know the car very well. Give me a stock ZO6 with set of drag radials, and a dragstrip with a tree. I'll post <3.7 second 0-60 times all day, and with better fuel economy.

That said, the GT2 is a faster car, generally speaking, but there's a funny story behind how it got there. ZO6 pissed off a goodly number of movers and shakers in the supercar market upon its release due to its unbeatable price/performance ratio. Rich execs who spend over $200,000 on an exotic supercar from lands afar don't like being lapped by knuckle-dragging ingrates like me, who spent far less than half that to walk the dog for them on weekend track days. Like the Shelby Cobra and Ford GT of old, the ZO6 did what only the best of Maranello and Zuffenhausen could do, but for less than half the money. After the ZO6 posted better Nurburgring times than any of its contemporary rivals (by design, not cost) it set the foreign automakers to work. Two years later, the folks at Porsche produced the GT2. While it does perform either equal to or slightly better than the ZO6 in most conditions, it still costs more than twice what a new 'vette would.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 (http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-corvette-zr1.html) will destroy the ZO6 in many benchmarks, as well as cars that are even faster like the GT2, Ferrari 599, and Lamborghini Murcielago. While only slightly heavier than its predecessor, it comes with a 620bhp 6.2L V8 that breathes with the help of a roots-type supercharger. It has better brakes than a Ferrari Enzo (carbon fiber rotors from a F1 car, only trimmed to fit inside its wheels), a superior power/weight ratio than just about anything else on the road save the vaunted untouchables (e.g. Bugatti Veyron), and the MSRP is still only $100,000 (though dealer markups will take this higher due to a short supply of vehicles). Anyway, my point is that there are always going to be faster cars out there, and with price as no factor, all bets are off. I love the ZO6 for its value and its ability to piss off rich Ferrari owners. I'm still not sure which is better.

Chevrolet Corvette ZO6: The best dollar value supercar killer in the world. $70,000 gets you:
LS7 small block V8: 7.0L displacement, 505bhp, 475lb-ft. of torque.
Hydroformed aluminum body, aluminum chassis, magnesium engine cradle, carbon fiber body panels.
Curb weight: 3132lb, perfect 50/50 weight distribution
0-60: 3.7 sec
0-100: 7.7 sec
Top speed: 198 mph
1/4 mile: 11.5 sec @ 133 mph
Nurburgring time: 7:40.99


My Friend has Chevrolet Corvette ZO6m, Red, we went to a Renfest, and he let me drive, that was the most awesome experience I have ever had, including my chance to fly a F-4-J.

We took some of the back roads, and I was impressed by the handling and the smooth power across the range, there wasn't nothing on the road that it couldn't smoke, Mazda want to claim Zoom Zoom........Chevrolet Corvette ZO6m is,

Zooom Zooom!!!!!!!!!!

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=sb4xJRMrAwA

=

?

The guy driving the vette doesnt know how to run a quarter mile. I say that this because he gets the revs up too high before dropping the clutch. All that does is spin the wheels, which you can hear by sound the camera picks up. You get the revs up just a litle then graudally increase to maximum with out spinning wheels.

I raced quarter mile all the time when i was younger.

I paid 2k for a 1978 Trans Am 6.6L


6.6L V8 - balanced and blue printed (not6 sure what that meant exactly)

Added this stuff:
Holly 750CFM
Edelbrock manifold
Crane Cam
Straight pipes - from headers
Hearst shifter with line lock
Other stuff

I could get the front wheels off the ground too:D. Did 10s in quarter mile.

your's may be faster - mine's prettier :p

Hardly fair test conditions. They're launching on a cold tarmac with cold rubber, who knows what kind of tires they're even using, and the driver can't shift to save his life. The fact that he's all "LOL it has leaf springs!" makes me confident of driver error since he doesn't seem to know the car very well. Give me a stock ZO6 with set of drag radials, and a dragstrip with a tree. I'll post <3.7 second 0-60 times all day, and with better fuel economy.

That said, the GT2 is a faster car, generally speaking, but there's a funny story behind how it got there. ZO6 pissed off a goodly number of movers and shakers in the supercar market upon its release due to its unbeatable price/performance ratio. Rich execs who spend over $200,000 on an exotic supercar from lands afar don't like being lapped by knuckle-dragging ingrates like me, who spent far less than half that to walk the dog for them on weekend track days. Like the Shelby Cobra and Ford GT of old, the ZO6 did what only the best of Maranello and Zuffenhausen could do, but for less than half the money. After the ZO6 posted better Nurburgring times than any of its contemporary rivals (by design, not cost) it set the foreign automakers to work. Two years later, the folks at Porsche produced the GT2. While it does perform either equal to or slightly better than the ZO6 in most conditions, it still costs more than twice what a new 'vette would.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 (http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-corvette-zr1.html) will destroy the ZO6 in many benchmarks, as well as cars that are even faster like the GT2, Ferrari 599, and Lamborghini Murcielago. While only slightly heavier than its predecessor, it comes with a 620bhp 6.2L V8 that breathes with the help of a roots-type supercharger. It has better brakes than a Ferrari Enzo (carbon fiber rotors from a F1 car, only trimmed to fit inside its wheels), a superior power/weight ratio than just about anything else on the road save the vaunted untouchables (e.g. Bugatti Veyron), and the MSRP is still only $100,000 (though dealer markups will take this higher due to a short supply of vehicles). Anyway, my point is that there are always going to be faster cars out there, and with price as no factor, all bets are off. I love the ZO6 for its value and its ability to piss off rich Ferrari owners. I'm still not sure which is better.

fair enough.was just curious,i really dont know much about cars at all.

My Friend has Chevrolet Corvette ZO6m, Red, we went to a Renfest, and he let me drive, that was the most awesome experience I have ever had, including my chance to fly a F-4-J.
Nice. I've driven a fair amount of high performance vehicles, and this car fits my driving style better than anything else I've driven.


6.6L V8 - balanced and blue printed (not6 sure what that meant exactly)
The way an engine design looks on paper is never what ends up coming out the end of the assembly line. In mass production, there is always a certain amount of variance from the original design that is an artifact of the assembly process, and not easily preventable. There will be a specified tolerance, and parts that fall outside of it will be culled from the line, but invariably, engines end up being individually different.

Blueprinting means someone has taken the engine apart and measured all of its internals against what the blueprint says they should be, and re-machined them as necessary to hit the measurements the engineers who designed the engine intended spot-on. Balancing means that, in addition to measuring everything and altering it to spec, rotating assemblies (namely the crank and balance shafts) have been spun on a lathe with a can measure how well balanced they are. To balance a part, you use a special tool in the tailstock to hold one end. That tool registers how much the part tries to wobble rather than spin, and then tells you where extra mass can be removed to get all the moments equal and let it spin without any eccentricity. The net result of proper blueprinting is cooler running, increased torque, reduced blowby and oil fouling, reduced oil consumption, etc. The net result of proper balancing is smoother running and the ability to rev to a higher RPM without damaging parts from inertial loading.

Before I put the twin turbo kit in my car, I pulled the original engine and sold it. I replaced it with a crate motor from Katech. Everything in the Katech block was balanced and blueprinted when they put it together - just like the original engine was (remember the LS7 is hand built). The new block was also built for forced induction, so it used a forged crank, forged connecting rods, and forged pistons. Coupled with new heads with a slightly larger combustion chamber size, that dropped the static compression ratio to 9.4:1 so I can run a fair amount of boost out of the turbos without worrying about it grenading. Generally, I'll run 16lbs of boost on 100 octane racing fuel, which makes just over 670 horsepower at the rear wheels (not brake horsepower). For comparison, the stock ZO6 makes about 450whp.

Nice. I've driven a fair amount of high performance vehicles, and this car fits my driving style better than anything else I've driven.


The way an engine design looks on paper is never what ends up coming out the end of the assembly line. In mass production, there is always a certain amount of variance from the original design that is an artifact of the assembly process, and not easily preventable. There will be a specified tolerance, and parts that fall outside of it will be culled from the line, but invariably, engines end up being individually different.

Blueprinting means someone has taken the engine apart and measured all of its internals against what the blueprint says they should be, and re-machined them as necessary to hit the measurements the engineers who designed the engine intended spot-on. Balancing means that, in addition to measuring everything and altering it to spec, rotating assemblies (namely the crank and balance shafts) have been spun on a lathe with a can measure how well balanced they are. To balance a part, you use a special tool in the tailstock to hold one end. That tool registers how much the part tries to wobble rather than spin, and then tells you where extra mass can be removed to get all the moments equal and let it spin without any eccentricity. The net result of proper blueprinting is cooler running, increased torque, reduced blowby and oil fouling, reduced oil consumption, etc. The net result of proper balancing is smoother running and the ability to rev to a higher RPM without damaging parts from inertial loading.

Before I put the twin turbo kit in my car, I pulled the original engine and sold it. I replaced it with a crate motor from Katech. Everything in the Katech block was balanced and blueprinted when they put it together - just like the original engine was (remember the LS7 is hand built). The new block was also built for forced induction, so it used a forged crank, forged connecting rods, and forged pistons. Coupled with new heads with a slightly larger combustion chamber size, that dropped the static compression ratio to 9.4:1 so I can run a fair amount of boost out of the turbos without worrying about it grenading. Generally, I'll run 16lbs of boost on 100 octane racing fuel, which makes just over 670 horsepower at the rear wheels (not brake horsepower). For comparison, the stock ZO6 makes about 450whp.

Drooling over the spec's, awesome.

The hottest thing I ever owned was a 1967 Camaro, High Performance, it was the racing pre-production to the Z-28, Balanced and Blue Printed, they released it as the Z-28, to get it into the Stock Class.

A Lotus (Elise?). I don't know my cars that well, but I saw one of these lil' guys up close once and immediately fell in love :D

http://www.wallpaperez.net/wallpaper/car/Lotus-Nice-car-wallpaper-923.jpg

Ultima GTR for mad missions on the road.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/UltimaGTR1.JPG/800px-UltimaGTR1.JPG

They are built in the town where I grew up.

Those are real nice ^ ^^.

Thanks for the detailed description on balancing and blue printing.

A Lotus (Elise?). I don't know my cars that well, but I saw one of these lil' guys up close once and immediately fell in love :D
A car buddy of mine has an Exige S, which is the hardtop version of the Elise with a supercharged engine (a 1.8L Toyota four banger also used in the Celica and Scion Tc). Despite having barely 210 horsepower at the wheels, that thing freaking MOVES. With a curb weight just over 2,000lb it doesn't need a very powerful engine to have a good power/weight ratio. Furthermore the chassis is extremely stiff and the coilover suspension has adjustable dampers, so it handles like a go kart, being very responsive while also telegraphing road surface conditions and its own limits of adhesion to the driver very clearly. It is a very fun car.

I know, the first thing I thought was "it's like a go-kart but sexier"!

Who knows, one day "when I'm rich-n-famous" I'll buy one. :D They don't even seem that expensive as far as higher-end sports cars go.

http://i.a.cnn.net/money/galleries/2007/autos/0704/gallery.2007_green_concepts/images/toyota_fc_hs_concept.jpg

Toyota FT-HS
With tottal horsepower output of about 400 and a projected zero-to-60 time of about four seconds, the FT-HS is a performance car that relies on gas/electric hybrid technology.
The FT-HS is powered by a 3.5- liter V6 engine with an advanced performance-tuned hybrid system.

The wheels are made of lightweight carbon fiber. A retractable rear wing extends at high speeds to provide additional stability.

A hard-top convertible, the concept is designed to seat fourwith the top up or two with the top down

http://i.a.cnn.net/money/galleries/2007/autos/0704/gallery.2007_green_concepts/images/toyota_fc_hs_concept.jpg

Toyota FT-HS
With tottal horsepower output of about 400 and a projected zero-to-60 time of about four seconds, the FT-HS is a performance car that relies on gas/electric hybrid technology.
The FT-HS is powered by a 3.5- liter V6 engine with an advanced performance-tuned hybrid system.

The wheels are made of lightweight carbon fiber. A retractable rear wing extends at high speeds to provide additional stability.

A hard-top convertible, the concept is designed to seat fourwith the top up or two with the top down

Nice !
I don't like the white though.

Aston Martin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKY1SpSjnc

I dont even have the game though.

Aston Martin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKY1SpSjnc

I dont even have the game though.

*Drool*