Tag: racecar

Official: Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Technology, Nissan, UK, Electric, Racing

Nissan ZEOD RC Electric Race Car Assembly

Nissan is working away on its ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) which is still on pace for a Le Mans arrival in 2014. As of right now, the DeltaWing-shaped car’s carbon-fiber tub and chassis have been completed. The next step will be installing the twin electric motors and fitting the seat of driver and GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez. If the current schedule sticks, the zero-emissions racer will hit a UK track for test laps in September.

But while those initial shakedown laps will be under full electric power, it’s unclear whether the setup fielded in the UK will survive until Le Mans. Nissan itself says that it will be testing a number of “electrified” drivetrains ahead of the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is a significant departure from race car design – usually, the teams know what’s powering their car before they start building it.

“Just developing a single powertrain option in only 12 months would be a mammoth task but we’re looking to carefully examine a number of options to ascertain which will be best suited for Le Mans,” said Darren Cox, Nissan’s global motorsport director. Take a look below for a video and press release from Nissan documenting the ZEOD RC’s build process.

Continue reading Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video]

Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Technology, Nissan, UK, Electric, Racing

Nissan ZEOD RC Electric Race Car Assembly

Nissan is working away on its ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) which is still on pace for a Le Mans arrival in 2014. As of right now, the DeltaWing-shaped car’s carbon-fiber tub and chassis have been completed. The next step will be installing the twin electric motors and fitting the seat of driver and GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez. If the current schedule sticks, the zero-emissions racer will hit a UK track for test laps in September.

But while those initial shakedown laps will be under full electric power, it’s unclear whether the setup fielded in the UK will survive until Le Mans. Nissan itself says that it will be testing a number of “electrified” drivetrains ahead of the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is a significant departure from race car design – usually, the teams know what’s powering their car before they start building it.

“Just developing a single powertrain option in only 12 months would be a mammoth task but we’re looking to carefully examine a number of options to ascertain which will be best suited for Le Mans,” said Darren Cox, Nissan’s global motorsport director. Take a look below for a video and press release from Nissan documenting the ZEOD RC’s build process.

Continue reading Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video]

Nissan’s Le Mans-bound ZEOD RC electric racecar nearing completion [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teased: Porsche releases new images of LMP1 racecar

Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche, Racing

Porsche LMP1 car

Porsche has released another batch of images of its LMP1 competitor preparing for its debut season in 2014. This isn’t the first we’ve seen of the new car, as June saw four images of the new racer undergoing testing. Where those images looked merely like someone taking pics during the test, the 11 new images seen above have all the hallmarks of highly polished PR shots.

That aside, the camo-covered cars still provide another look at what the new LMP1 car will look like when it arrives next season. The taillights follow the example set by Audi, by vertically mounting ultra-thin LEDs on the tips of the rear wing, while the LED headlights sport the four-prong look that Porsche has been pushing of late. Besides those two items, its difficult to make out many details due to the amount of camo.

Porsche’s LMP1 effort will be focused on the FIA World Endurance Championship, which will see the revered brand return to the top flights of the 24 Hours Of Le Mans with F1 ace Mark Webber behind the wheel. As we’ve mentioned before, the German brand has set up a dedicated microsite that will cover its newest racer’s progress.

Porsche releases new images of LMP1 racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctions: Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept to be auctioned in Monterey

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Racing

2010 Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept - front three-quarter view

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro GS Racecar Concept, built for the SEMA show back in 2008 by Riley Technologies with assistance from GM’s High Performance Vehicle Operations, will be offered for sale at the Mecum Auctions during Monterey Car Week next month.

The prototype motorsports Camaro was painted to resemble Mark Donohue’s 1969 Camaro Trans-Am racecar, and it had a few performance modifications done to make it eligible to compete in Grand Am’s Koni Challenge GS class. The production Camaro body-in-white was seam welded, the fenders, doors, hood and trunk were replaced with carbon-fiber pieces, a three-inch exhaust system with aftermarket mufflers was swapped in and engine, transmission and differential oil coolers were added. The stock Chevrolet LS3 V8 was dropped onto solid engine mounts and paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox, with upgraded brakes completing the package.

Mecum Auctions estimates this track-oriented prototype will bring in between $110,000 and $200,000 at the auction block.

Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept to be auctioned in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe racecar go testing in Episode 4

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Cadillac, GM

cadillac cts-v coupe scca race car

Cadillac goes back to racing with the CTS-V Coupe – Click above to watch video after the jump

Cadillac has put together a series of clips that document its return to racing. The automaker will run a pair of CTS-V Coupe SCCA race cars in the World Challenge series, which kicks off March 25th, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ahead of the green flag, Cadillac has released the fourth and final clip in its mini documentary.

Titled Ready to Race, the last installment of the series has the team eagerly looking forward to its first official event. Cadillac will face serious competition in the SCCA World Challenge but it’s also got an excellent car on its hands. Click past the jump to watch the final episode.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Watch the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe racecar go testing in Episode 4

Video: Watch the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe racecar go testing in Episode 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Humor, Racing

red bull rb7 comes to life

How to build a Red Bull RB7 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar is a screaming, rubber-footed example of why paying attention in math and science class can lead to a fun career. It’s a carbon-fiber and aluminum rocketship propelled by a Renault V8 that’s limited to 18,000 rpm. Designing and building the RB7 is a complicated matter, and the crew at Red Bull has prepared a film that explains the process.

Instead of taking the overly technical route, the Red Bull boys have gone a bit “old-tyme.” Their film manages to be entertaining and interesting, which is usually a hard task to accomplish with something like this. Click past the jump to watch a Red Bull RB7 come to life using the technology of tomorrow… today!

[Source: Red Bull Racing via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar

Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 reveals virtual X1 prototype racecar to warp minds and stretch imagination [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Specialty

Gran Turismo 5 X1 Prototype teaser

Gran Turismo 5 X1 Prototype – Click above to watch video after the jump

At some point in the future, Gran Turismo 5 will be available for purchase. And yes, it’s taken too damn long. But making the wait that much more painful is news fresh out of Tokyo that a special vehicle will be available for thumb-thrashing fun.

It’s not some uber-exotic that you pine for while staring longingly at photos on the web, nor is it some championship racecar from today or a bygone era. It’s nothing you’ve seen or heard about before – its called the X1 Prototype.

Digital Polyphony has teamed up with Adrian Newey from Red Bull Racing to ask: What would happen if a top-tier racecar was freed from any and all technical regulations? What speeds could it achieve, what would it look like and what automotive records could it devour? The answer to those questions, and possibly many others, could be found with the X1 (virtual) prototype vehicle.

The team who produces Gran Turismo is known for their attention to detail and the realistic tracks, while cars and driving dynamics are a major part of the popularity behind this series. So it’s safe to assume that the drivable concept sticks to the laws of physics while pushing technology to the limit. Think of it as a return to the turbocharged 80s-era F1 cars, with some Group B rally monsters thrown in along with a heaping helping of cutting edge technology.

Our interest in the return of GT5 has been waning after the dozens of delays, but the X1 has our interest seriously piqued, and the crew from Joystiq has snagged video of it in action. We also have a trailer video which shows off lots of the cool (real) cars, the amazing tracks and the dynamic weather we can look forward to. Take a look at both clips after the jump.

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 reveals virtual X1 prototype racecar to warp minds and stretch imagination [w/video]

Gran Turismo 5 reveals virtual X1 prototype racecar to warp minds and stretch imagination [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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