LAPCAT A2, the Next Concorde?

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The LAPCAT A2 project is a European design project to come up with a next generation aircraft. LAPCAT stands for Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies, it’s aim is to design a aircraft traveling at Mach 5 that can get from Europe to Australia in 2 to 4 hours. Reaction Engines Limited is the team behind the A2 and they are really changing the way we think about aircraft design, The hypersonic aircraft long shape is twice as long as a 747 yet due heat issues will not contain any windows. A new type of engine running on liquid hydrogen known as the Scimitar Engine developed from Space launch technology would also need to be used. At 143m length the A2 could accommodate 300 passengers, the design brief is to make the costs of travel around the cost of a business class fare but don’t save up for your ticket just yet as this is just a design study and it could be more than twenty years that anything resembling the A2 makes it to the production lines if at all.

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The Daewoo Royale

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As part of our series featuring old car ads we thought we thought a look at a car you may not know but looks all too familiar. The Daewoo Royale was based on the European Opel Rekord that was also produced in England as the Vauxhall Carlton. Australian’s will also note the uncanny resemblance to the Holden Commodore as it too was based on the Rekord design. Many people don’t realize that Daewoo has had a long relationship through a joint venture with General Motors dating back to the early 70’s. In 2001 GM and its partners bought 66% of Daewoo’s assets, today most of Daewoo’s exports are badged engineered as another GM brand like Holden or Chevy.  The Royale was produced from 1975 untill 1991 when it was replaced by another Opel derived car the Daewoo Prince.  

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Hongqi Century Star

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The Hongqi Century Star is a popular car with China’s government and officials. Based on the old Audi 100 of the early 1990s, the Hongqi is made by China’s First Auto Works or FAW. 80% of the Hongqi car is locally produced; it still has a very Audi look about despite a new grill treatment.
Hongqi means “red flag” and the Hongqi century star is China’s own luxury car, with stretch and convertible versions also being produced. FAW also make new VWs and Audi’s locally in China for VW. Volkswagen have other partnerships in China producing various VW and Audi products mainly for the local market. Recently some VW products made in China are being exported to other countries around the world including the Polo small car.

Zastava 101

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The Zastava 101 is a car built by Serbian car maker Zastava Automobili sometimes better known as Yugo. The 101 was based on the Fiat 128 that first hit the roads in 1969 with the Zastava version going into production in 1971 and also spinning off a hatchback variety not found on its Fiat cousin. While many people pointed out the more popular Fiat 128 was a bit long in the tooth when it was finally retired in 1985 the Zastava 101 is still produced today as the Skala 5 door hatch with a 55-horsepower, 1.1-liter engine on its one trim level. The Skala is available for around 4000 euro’s and is popular in its home country of Serbia and a few other eastern European countries. These cars were once exported across Europe and along with its bigger brother the 45 but the Balkan war put trade sanctions on the company with NATO later blowing up part of their factory. 

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BMW Welt opens in Munich

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The much anticipated new BMW museum the BMW Welt has just opened in Munich and is one of the world’s most amazing archetectual spaces as our You Tube video will show you. The Welt is more than a museum it is also a distribution point where you can pick up your spanking new BMW.  Designed by Coop Himmelb the facility took nearly four years to construct using some amazing construction techniques. The huge roof is home to over 3600 solar panels and many other substainable items are used in the structure. The facility includes the premium lounge for new car owners, a public gallery, conference suite and children’s center. The huge Double Cone will act as a media dome for exhibitions and events accommodating up to 450 people. BMW anticipates over 800,000 visitors per year. 

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The Taylor Aerocar

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The Taylor Aerocar is one of the most famous flying cars ever built. First designed by Moulton Taylor in 1949 it was a time when popular science magazine was predicting that everyone would own a flying car by the year 2000. Although six prototypes of the Aerocar car were built it never entered mass production but it did gain a bit of interest from Ford at the time making it one of the few aeroplane car combos to even come close to being produced. The idea behind the Aerocar was that once you reach the airport you could fold up the wings and drive it back to your own garage. Amazingly all six prototypes survive today with an Aerocar 1 on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Golden Wings Museum at Blane, Minnesota and at the Kissimmee Air Museum. Florida. An Aerocar 3 (pictured) is on display at Seattle’s Museum of Flight. The Aerocar located in Florida is flying today was once owned by actor Bob Cummings and was used in his 1960s TV program. Taylor went on to design an amphibious aircraft in 1969 known as the Coot that still is being constructed by home builders across the world.

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Elvis’ Tank

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Elvis Presley the king of rock and roll spent some time in the US army during the 1950’s and was stationed in Germany for a while. During that time he worked with a M59 armoured personnel carrier which is today on display at the Sinsheim Auto & Technic museum in Sinsheim Germany. The amphibious tank was made from 1954 to 1960 and about 6300 units were produced. The tank was built out of armour plating which was in places 25 mm thick and was powered by two GMC model 302 six cylinder petrol engines which could do 146hp at 3600 rpm. The fuel consumption wasn’t too good with only a capability of 190 km from its 511 litre fuel tank. It could do about 50 kph on the road and just under 7 k per hour on water. The machine was designed and manufactured by the Food machinery and chemical corporation in the USA.

2009 Ford Fiesta

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Drawing styling from the flash ‘Verve’ concept which has been doing the recent motor show rounds the new Ford Fiesta is a stylish and exciting little package. Designed using Ford’s kinetic design cues the car will go on sale in the Autumn of 2008 in Europe and will also commence manufacture in other sites across the globe in the following year including Asia and America. The car has the same underpinnings as the recently released Mazda 2 and is lighter, safer and stronger than the current model Fiesta, and includes some clever safety systems including driver knee airbags and E-Pas power assisted steering. The car promises to be more environmentally friendly than its predecessor both in terms of fuel usage and emissions. The Fiesta ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 model will deliver less than 100g/km emissions. Some other innovative inclusions will include new technology highlights include keyless vehicle technology, ‘Ford Power’ engine start button, Ford Easyfuel capless refuelling, USB connectivity and ambient interior lighting.