Yes, you read that right. London-based scientists have revealed a one-of-a-kind creation earlier this month: a racecar made partly from plant fibers, and powered by a biofuel processed from chocolate waste and vegetable oil.

Scientists at the University of Warwick used a mix of vegetable oil and waste from chocolate factories to develop a new kind of biofuel, one that will enable the racecar to accelerate to over 145 miles per hour. The car’s makers are hopeful about the racecar’s capacities on the track.

Aside from running on chocolate, the racecar also has other quirky features. The car’s steering wheel is made of fibers from carrots and other root vegetables, while the car’s seat is built from flax fiber and soybean oil foam.

The car, named the “WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car,” will go on display at several races including the European Grand Prix and Britain’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

 Source: msnbc.com

When it comes to exclusivity, the 2009 Novitec TuLesto has even Aston Martin’s One-77 beat. Built for Novitec’s 20th anniversary as the foremost supercar tuner and also the tuner’s first proprietary car, the two-seater TuLesto is facing a production total of just eleven vehicles. How’s that for exclusive?

 The 2009 TuLesto has more than its limited-edition badge to brag about, too. The coupe’s exterior is made from carbon power and aluminum, giving the TuLesto a lightweight yet rigid body. The supercar’s smooth, sleek curves, which are computer-designed, improve its aerodynamic balance. The interior features carbon-fiber finishes and climate control and sound systems.

Under the TuLesto’s hood sits a 4-4-liter V8 engine, whose twin superchargers are capable of powering the vehicle from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 3.4 seconds. The TuLesto’s top speed is at a nimble 350 kilometers per hour. The engine, with its maximum power output of 777 horsepower, is installed behind the cockpit for ideal weight distribution.

As mentioned, Novitec plans to produce only eleven of these Ferrari-ish beauties. (Novitec is one of Ferrari’s long-time tuners.) And all eleven, according to Edmunds.com are earmarked and spoken for by Novitec’s long-term customers.

Tsk. Some people just have all the luck.

Source:  BusinessWeek, Australian Car Advice

Thanks to Raser Technologies, Inc., the aforementioned seems highly likely.

One year ago at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit, Raser Technologies, Inc. announced that the company’s plans of developing a powertrain for an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) were well underway. Once fully functional, the E-REV powertrain would allow a four-wheel drive SUV to achieve very low emission rates and a fuel efficiency of 100 miles per gallon.

And to demonstrate the E-REV powertrain’s capacities, Raser decided to put it in a notorious gas guzzler: the Hummer H3 SUV. Raser’s plug-in hybrid version of the Hummer H3 indeed achieves the 100 mpg goal, and can go for 40 miles on electricity alone. Once the electric power runs out, the battery can be charged using a 110 or 220-volt household outlet.

“We are excited to be able to demonstrate an electric powertrain for larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs,” said James Spellman, Vice President, of Transportation for Raser Technologies. “These are the best selling vehicles in America and can benefit the most from increased fuel economy and reduced emissions.”

The Raser Hummer H3 prototype will be making its debut at this year’s SAE World Congress, on April 20 - 23, 2009.

Sources: Automobile Mag, Raser Technologies, Inc., Jalopnik

 A dashboard instrument as attractive and savvy-looking as the Ford SmartGauge with EcoGuide practically forces a driver to pay attention to the numbers it displays - numbers that reflect various levels of information concerning the engine and its fuel efficiency.

Drivers of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid probably already know about the Ford SmartGauge with EcoGuide, one of Ford’s latest attempts to up driving awareness for hybrid vehicle owners. Jeff Greenberg, Ford senior technical leader, says that Ford “needed to create a system that better communicates with drivers and gives them the tools to maximize fuel efficiency.”

Once activated, this instrument cluster allows drivers to choose among four data screens: Inform, Enlighten, Engage, and Empower. Each screen displays different real-time information levels, which include fuel level, battery charge status, engine coolant temperature, and various trip data.

The Ford SmartGauge with EcoGuide also tracks long-term fuel efficiency. You can even choose the way you see the information: a no-frills chart, or a depiction of ‘growing leaves and vines’. The more fuel you save, the more leaves and vines you see displayed.

Through customer research, the folks at Ford made the instrument cluster extremely driver-friendly and road-safe. A tutorial mode built into the display helps first-time SmartGauge users get the hang of things. The instrument cluster’s display is designed to be non-distracting, allowing the vehicle to drive safely while consulting the SmartGauge.

Source: Jalopnik

So, how would the Benz Patent Motorwagen look if it was revamped to keep up with today’s auto-aesthetics trends?

Just feast your eyes on the following photos:

Interesting design, huh? Trainees at Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant were responsible for this creation. Tagged as the “Mercedes-Benz F-Cell Roadster”, the vehicle was a year-long project that involved collaboration among various fields like automotive mechatronics, product design, and model-building.

As a nod to the Benz Patent Motorwagen, the first automobile designed to be powered by a motor, the F-Cell Roadster features, large, hard-to-miss spoked wheels. The exterior’s front section is sculpted out of fiberglass. The vehicle’s interior is replete with modernistic touches, like carbon-fiber bucket seats and hand-stitched leather seat covers.

And just to make things more interesting, would-be drivers of the F-Cell Roadster will be controlling its movement with a joystick. No boring steering wheels for this Benz.

An emission-free fuel cell system powers this Roadster, with the batteries located at the vehicle’s rear. Driving this Benz, you can reach a top speed of 25 kilometers per hour.

Not bad, considering that you have to use a joystick to “steer”.

Source: Jalopnik

Not one to be left out of the hybrid automotive trend, Asian auto make Hyundai also has a green (environment-friendly) vehicle in the works.

Dubbed as the Blue-Will, Hyundai’s latest offering is set to debut at next month’s Seoul Motor Show. The concept vehicle’s 134-hp electric motor will be powered by a lithium ion polymer battery pack mounted under the rear seats. Dye-sensitized solar cells on the Blue-Will’s roof provide energy for the battery pack. The Blue-Will will be equipped with a gas-powered, direct-injection 1.6-liter engine.

To show that Hyundai cares for the environment, some parts of the Blue-Will’s body are fashioned from biodegradable and recycled materials. The headlight bezels are made out of the same plastic used to make soda bottles. Bio-degradable bio-plastics from plant extracts are used in the vehicle’s  interior.

That’s all we know for now, though. We’ll have to wait until the Seoul Motor Show on April 2 to know more about the Hyundai Blue-Will.

The vehicle sure doesn’t look bad, though. That fascia’s definitely gonna make a few heads turn.

Source: AutomobileMag

I’m betting that you wouldn’t mind driving this beauty down the road. I don’t think anyone would, actually.

But if you can’t shell out for the 2009 Aston Martin One-77’s cool $1.9 million pricetag, your chances of ever getting behind this beauty’s wheel are slim. And if you do have the big bucks, your chances aren’t looking to improve either - there are very believable rumors floating around that all 77 hand-assembled One-77’s are spoken for. (Yes, the One-77 is so named because Aston Martin plans to produce only 77 units of this luxury supercar.) Plus, details on this vehicle’s release date in the US are still a little unclear.

It’s a shame, really. With a body that’s all-aluminum and an engine capable of boosting the vehicle from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds, the 2009 Aston Martin is definitely a superb feat for Aston Martin’s designers and engineers. Sleek, shiny curves on the exterior and powerful acceleration under the hood - this supercar makes many a driver’s dreams come true.

If only Aston Martin would relent and produce more One-77’s..

Looking at the picture above makes you wonder whether this new four-door coupe from Audi is gearing to transform into a giant robot and decimate us all. But since we haven’t reached that level of technological advancement yet (that’s what we’re thinking here), it’s safe to say that it’s simply the car’s way of tucking back its roof.

But seriously, the new Audi A7 looks like it has the potential to become a hit among car enthusiasts. Aside from relying on a lightweight aluminum platform, the new coupe will also be sporting the following engine specifications, depending on the model chosen. You can have a 2.8-liter V6 FSI engine, a 3.0-liter V6 engine or a 5.0-liter twin turbo V-10 engine (only available for RS7 versions). Plus, how can you not love the way its roof folds into its back? Really.

Set to be released next year, the new Audi A7 is positioned to compete with other luxury cars coming from the likes of Mercedes, Jaguar and Volkswagen. With the specs it has, it’s definitely going to give its competitors a run for their money.

Source: TopSpeed

If you were able to watch the first Star Wars movie, you’re sure to remember the hovercraft being driven by the young Luke Skywalker in Tatooine. During the time the movie (and the hovercraft) was first seen, you may have been one of those people who wondered what it would be like to own one of those things. Well, American Daniel Deutsch was one of those who were wondering the same thing. Since he wanted to get a feel of driving one, he simply decided to make himself one.

That’s right, the X-34 Landspeeder you’re seeing pictured above is actually a real-life operational model created by this 20-year old (who obviously is very smart and has a lot of spare time on his hands). It may not hover above ground like the movie version did but it can definitely get you around town, albeit at a much slower pace. While the original Landspeeder in the movie could give any modern day sports car a run for its money, this version however, may not even outrun your neighbor’s pooch since it can only go up to 25 mph and can only reach a few miles.

So if you’re thinking of trying to outrun the law, your dog or your parents, you may just want to consider using your legs instead. But yes, despite its shortcomings, even I have to admit that Deutsch’s version of the X-34 Landspeeder still looks really cool.

Sources: TopGear, Daniel Deutsch

If you thought that the Audi R8 Robert Downey Jr. was driving in Iron Man was cool, then take a load of this version of the R8. Based on what I’m seeing, this R8 will practically lay the smack down on its original version.

This new version of the Audi R8 has been dubbed the GT3 R8. It gets its name from the fact that it’s set to compete in next year’s FIA GT3 championship. So what does this car have in store for us? Well, according to Audi, the GT3 R8 will be sporting a 4.2-liter V8 engine that’s capable of giving out more than 500 horsepower. It’s also coupled with a six-speed sequential gearbox that can be found in its rear wheels only. This was done since GT3 rules prohibit the use of four-wheel drive vehicles.

Now the question that’s probably in your mind right now is whether this GT3 version of the R8 will be commercially released. Well, lucky for us, Audi does have plans to release this car commercially. As a matter of fact, they’re planning to have it delivered by next autumn.

I guess this is where we start counting the days till next autumn, huh?

Source: TopGear