Ferrari designer unveils plans for luxury Japanese Cruise Train

Following the success of its Seven Stars Cruise Train, which launched late last year, Japanese railway company JR East has announced plans to create another luxury sleeper train. The exclusive hotel on the move will be designed by renowned Ferrari designer Ken Okuyama, who was behind the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5 designs.

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Set to start construction in 2016, the Cruise Train will cost approximately ¥5 billion (US$50 million) to complete and will accommodate a maximum of 34 passengers in its 10 carriages. The design features a series of private guest suites, glass-walled observation cars, up-market restaurant, lounge and bar carriages, all complete with high quality furniture and fittings so passengers can sit back and take in the changing landscape.

One of the Cruise Train's most notable draw cards is undoubtedly its lounge car situated at the rear of the train. Surrounded in floor-to-ceiling glass panels and stretching into the roof-line, the impressive carriage offers guests the chance to sit back and relax on a central island-style sofa while enjoying panoramic views.

Pricing details are yet to be released, but if the Cruise Train is anything like its sister the Seven Stars, guests will be looking at spending approximately US$1,500 per person for a two-day package. Able to run on both electric and non-electric rails, the Cruise Train is expected to hit the rails of a yet to be decided route in the Japanese spring of 2017.

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Liberty's electric van looks quirky, but promises to "Deliver"

With swooping curves, a bulbous windshield, and prominent pod-like headlights, the "Deliver" van built by Liberty Electric Cars is certainly a distinctive-looking vehicle. But with a carrying capacity of 700 kg (1,540 lb), a quoted range of more than 100 km (62 m), and a top speed claimed to be in the order of 100 km/h (62 mph), it seems like a practical one, too.

As part of that practicality, the Deliver also has a flexible ergonomic cabin that features the removal of the B-pillar on the curb side and the addition of a swivel seat, so that the driver can quickly and easily enter or exit the vehicle in a way that reduces both delivery times and operator stress. These features alone would make the Deliver a practicable postal or parcel electric van for urban deliveries.

Given that it also has a claimed minimum range of 100 km (62 m) the Deliver could be a possibility for intercity work as well; a round trip within the given range parameters would be easily accommodated between most large urban areas. And weighing in at 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) fully laden, the Deliver – even with a substantial battery pack – is similar in weight to other comparable commercial vehicles.

Power is provided via a fully electric drive train incorporating in-wheel motors with 2-speed transmissions and an 80-cell prismatic Li-NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery pack.

Initially started as a broad conceptual design study, the Deliver project began in November 2011 in co-operation with ten partner companies across Europe (Fiat, Volkswagen, Liberty, Michelin, Polis Network, SP - Technical Research Institute of Sweden, HPL Prototypes, CADEM and Mobit) and was funded by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Program. As nominated Chief Engineers of the design of the vehicle, Liberty Electric Cars also performed a key role in the development of the battery, the battery management system, and the incorporation of all the electrical systems in the developed vehicle.

Testing was carried out on the test tracks at the Aldenhoven Testing Center, RWTH Aachen University's new testing ground, enabling the project partners to analyze such things as energy efficiency, dynamic and static structural performance, active and passive safety, ergonomics and range.

The Deliver will premiere at the FISITA World Automotive Congress, 2 -6 June 2014 in Maastricht, Netherlands. No details on a release date or pricing are yet available.

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Road-legal Batmobile replica up for auction

Historics auction house in Surrey, UK, is listing a fully road-legal Batmobile for sale. It’s not an original – the car is a replica of the vehicle used by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 movies – but Historics lists the piece as an "extremely well conceived tribute."


The replica is no slouch, reaching 60 mph in under 5 secondsA fully road-legal Batmobile replicaThe vehicle is based on the one driven by Michael Keaton in the 1989 film BatmanThe car is a replica of the vehicle used by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 m...View all

"BLACK, low mileage, excellent condition, bespoke chassis, automatic transmission, fuel injected Jaguar 3.2 liter engine, remote ignition, hydraulic suspension, smoke release mechanism, flame thrower. US$145,000."



As second-hand car adverts go, it is a little out of the ordinary, although not entirely. The original 1992 Batmobile used by Keaton in Batman Returns was auctioned in 2010 and the first ever Batmobile, driven by Adam West in the 1960s TV series, went under the hammer in January and sold for a cool $4.2 million.
Despite being designed with Hollywood looks in mind, the original "Keaton-mobile" that was used in the movies had more than just curves in all the right places.The car was voice-controlled and featured two Browning submachine guns, a jet turbine engine that delivered 1,500 lb of thrust and 0-60 mph (100 km/h) acceleration in less than 3.7 seconds.

Although pared back somewhat, the replica is no slouch either, reaching 60 mph in under 5 seconds. "It is a smooth driving car, however there’s not a lot of all-round vision – it’s a bit like a fighter jet in that sense," Edward Bridger-Stille, from Historics is reported to have said. "This vehicle is believed to be one of the best after-production, fully road-legal models ever made."

Budding caped-crusaders can bid for the car on Saturday, November 30.

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Birò electric car's battery can be removed for charging indoors

Along with the ever-persistent problem of range anxiety, one of the things that keeps many people from taking electric cars seriously is the limited number of charging stations. What happens if your destination doesn't have one, or if you have to park your car out on the street when you're at home? In the case of some electric scooters and bicycles, users can remove the vehicle's battery and take it with them to charge indoors. Now, Italian automaker Estrima is offering that same feature in its Birò electric car.

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Although the Birò is unheard-of in much of the world, the tiny two-seater has been selling in Italy and other European countries for several years now. It has two brushless 48-volt in-wheel electric motors (in the rear) that take it to a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph), although its Boost feature allows it to temporarily go faster when needed.

Buyers have so far been able to choose between lead, lithium-ion and higher-capacity "Lithium Maxi" batteries, none of which were designed for quick removal. Now, however, Estrima has added the option of a lithium-ion Re-Move battery.

Like the car's already-available lithium battery, it provides approximately 40 km (25 miles) of driving range, and can be charged in four hours. Unlike that battery, however, the Re-Move has wheels and is mounted on a track, so it can be easily slid out through a hatch in the back of the vehicle once it's parked. No wires or plugs need to be detached.

Once it's out, the 26-lb (12-kg) battery's telescopic handle can be extended, allowing the user to pull it along like a suitcase. It can then be charged from a regular electrical outlet. That said, it's also possible to charge the battery while it's still in the car.

Besides making charging a simpler matter, the Re-Move system also lets users instantly swap in a freshly-charged battery for one that's depleted – something that could come in handy for rental or car-sharing applications. Additionally, a car with no battery is going to be pretty difficult to steal.

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Galpin reinvents the Ford GT with 1,000 horses and a $1 million price tag

It's been more than half a decade since Ford had a legitimate answer for theSRT Viper and Chevy Corvette, and some parties are getting antsy. Galpin Auto Sports made its own rendition of a 2013 Ford GT, adding a downright beastly 1,024-hp V8 engine. Galpin's GTR1 remains true to the original GT in many ways but soars right past Viper and Corvette territory and intoMcLaren / LeFerrari / Bugatti turf.

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A supercar builder born out of six decades worth of customizing and selling cars, Galpin Auto Sports presents its very first coach-built supercar. The GTR1 was designed to represent what the short-lived Ford GT, built between 2004 and 2006, might have become had it continued along an evolutionary production path.

The GTR1's body is five inches wider than the original GT, and its lines and curves evolved, but you can see the GT influence from nearly every angle – the broad, shoveled-out hood, the shape of the profile, the flat, angled rear-end, etc. This is a successor, not a replica, so there's an equal amount of change, including the overall body sculpting, refashioned headlamps and taillamps, and redesigned side intakes. We greatly prefer the lithe, muscular, track-like styling of the original, but in its absence, the GTR1 will provide an acceptable substitute.

Helping to foster acceptance among the GT-loving masses, the GTR1 packs nearly double the power of the original GT. Its mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 is reminiscent of the original power plant in displacement and cylinders, but its 1,024 horses and 739 lb-ft of torque add a whole lot of extra punch. Run it on 100 octane fuel and those numbers leap to 1,197 hp and 887 lb-ft.

Galpin hasn't written all its figures in black pen just yet, but it does estimate that the car is "mechanically capable" of speeds surpassing 225 mph (362 km/h) and acceleration times of 3.1 seconds to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) and around 6.8 seconds to 100 mph (161 km/h). Helping the engine meet its potential will be the buyer's choice of aluminum or carbon fiber body, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires. Brembo calipers with specially designed full carbon rotors will rein it back to standstill.

The driver gets to interact with all that bullish hardware from within a rather distinctive cabin with a machined-aluminum instrument cluster, McIntosh sound system (a feature that was available on the original GT) and handcrafted leather trim from Scottish leather specialist Bridge of Weir. Thankfully, buyers will have options besides the Sateen Marine blue motif that Galpin showed at Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach, an electric blue-purple that looks like the passenger drank a little too much Blue Curacao before the driver dropped pedal to 225.

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OLEV-powered buses enter regular use in Korea

As of this Tuesday (August 6th) the South Korean city of Gumi’s transit system will see the addition of two electric buses that draw their power from the road. It’s the latest step in the development of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's (KAIST's) Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) system, in which electric cables embedded in the asphalt provide power to vehicles traveling on its surface.

The appeal of OLEV lies in the fact that electric vehicles using the system don’t have to be equipped with large, heavy batteries, they don’t have to stop to recharge, and messy overhead trolley lines aren’t required. Instead, the cables in the road produce magnetic fields, which receiving devices in the vehicles’ undersides pick up and convert into electricity. It can be a continuous process, or cables can be placed in separate locations along the road, providing ongoing top-ups to a relatively small battery within the vehicle. Typically, only about 5 to 15 percent of the road surface needs to be excavated for the embedding of the cables.

The buses will run a 24-km (15-mile) round trip route in Gumi’s inner city between the train station and the In-dong district. They will maintain a 17-cm (6.7-in) gap between their underbodies and the asphalt the whole time, receiving 20 kHz and 100 kW (136 horsepower) of electricity at a maximum power transmission efficiency of 85 percent.

EMF (electromagnetic field) levels within the buses are reportedly well within safe limits, plus the cables in the road only switch on when they detect the presence of one of the buses overhead – this should minimize pedestrians’ and other vehicles’ exposure to the magnetic fields, and will also save power.

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James Bond’s submersible Lotus Esprit going under the hammer

While the pursuit to develop flying cars and Star Warsian land-speeders rages on, the dilemma around developing a functioning underwater vehicle was solved decades ago … by the British Secret Service's Q Branch. In the film The Spy Who Loved Me, James Bond escapes from the obligatory hoard of bad guys by driving one very versatile white Lotus Esprit into the ocean. That fully submersible vehicle, is now set to go to auction this September.

Next to Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, the submersible Lotus is regarded as one of the most iconic vehicles of the series. One of six Esprit body shells used in the movie, the vehicle was known as “Wet Nellie” by the movie's crew and is the one and only fully-operational, self-propelled underwater Lotus developed and engineered by Perry Oceanographic of Florida for the film.

In the dive sequences, the wheels are shown to fold up into the wheel wells, giving the impression of a sealed vehicle. The wheels are then replaced by dive planes out the sides while tail rudders and propeller drive units magically appear out the back end. After out-maneuvering Karl Stromburg’s evil minions, the Lotus emerges from the water with no sign of the bulky power units or rudders to be seen.

While Roger Moore preened about on shore, retired U.S. Navy Seal Don Griffin handled the underwater drive sequences in the Bahamas, using the right-hand drive vehicle's directional propellers and levered steering devices. But unlike the sealed, moisture free cockpit shown in the movie, the submersible Lotus wasn't watertight, requiring Griffin to use oxygen and diving gear for the shoot.

At a cost of US$100,000 in 1970 dollars, the equivalent of around half a million dollars in today's money ... dependent on the level of Q-inspired optional extras, such as surface to air missiles, rear mounted oil jets, hair gel dispensers, etc.

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Nissan unveils the world's fastest electric racer at Le Mans

Le Mans in France, home to one of the world’s most prestigious 24-hour races, was Nissan’s site of choice to unveil its prototype electric speed racer. Touted as the fastest electric race car in the world, the oddly named ZEOD RC is being charged up and made ready to make its racing debut at the infamous track in 2014.

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Nissan’s awkwardly-named Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car (ZEOD RC) is premised off the same platform as the stylistically contentious DeltaWing. Unlike its gas powered DeltaWing brethren that use a traditional 1.6 liter engine with turbocharger, the ZEOD RC uses an electric-only system similar to Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC. But where the Leaf Nismo RC only delivered 107 hp and a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph), the ZEOD RC is expected to be capable of speeds exceeding 300 km/h (186 mph).

This will not only make the ZEOD RC the fastest electric racer in the world, but also help it to put chase to petrol-powered racers thanks to its lightweight architecture and advanced aerodynamics. However Nissan admits this is a test bed vehicle and as such drivetrain details were unavailable.

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Terrafugia announces its plans for a VTOL "flying car"

Although countless small companies have tried to commercially developflying cars over the past several decades, we’re still not seeing Blade Runner-esque vehicles cruising over our rooftops ... yet. Terrafugia is one of the groups currently trying to change that situation – a fully-functioning prototype of its Transition fixed-wing “roadable airplane” is currently undergoing flight tests, and was recently cleared for civilian use by the US Federal Aviation Authority. It still requires a runway for take-off and landing, though, which kind of clashes with many peoples’ flying car fantasies. Well, today Terrafugia announced its plans for a hybrid-drive vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) vehicle, known as the TF-X.

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Like the Transition, plans call for the 4-passenger TF-X to feature wings that fold into its sides, allowing it to fit on roads and in garages when in fully-electric ground mode. When it’s time to take off, however, those wings will extend into their flight position, and retractible propellers will open out of two 600-hp electric motor pods – one on each wing tip. Each pod will contain 16 separate motors, to keep everything in the air should one or more of them malfunction.

Initially, those props will be pointing upwards, allowing them to pull the TF-X up off the ground. Once the vehicle is sufficiently airborne, however, the propellers will rotate forward, allowing it to move ahead. Once the TF-X has gained enough forward momentum, the two wing-mounted propellers (butnot the wings!) can once again be retracted, with a 300-hp internal combustion engine powering a single large rear-mounted ducted prop while cruising. The wing props will be re-engaged as the landing site approaches.

The engine will charge the batteries used by the electric motors, although they can also be charged simply by plugging into an electric vehicle charger when parked.

Before you start picturing yourself flying a TF-X off of your driveway, however, Terrafugia does state that the vehicle will require a clearing at least 100 feet (30.5 meters) in diameter for takeoff. This means that users will most likely drive their vehicle to and from designated landing sites similar to those used by helicopters, and fly between those sites.
That said, unlike the case with a helicopter, the designers believe that it should only take about five hours to learn how to fly the TF-X. This is largely because users will have the option of flying it in automatic mode, in which they just input the location of their destination landing site (along with some back-up secondary choices), then leave the navigation to the vehicle.
It will subsequently travel at a cruising speed of 200 mph (322 km/h), going up to 500 miles (805 km) without needing to refuel or recharge. While cruising in automatic mode, it will be able to automatically avoid other air traffic, along with inclement weather, restricted airspace and tower-controlled airspace (which pilots would require additional training to fly in). It will also automatically land itself at the destination (if weather allows), although the pilot will be able to override that function if they notice any hazards at the chosen landing site.

Should the TF-X just crap out completely in mid-air, the pilot can activate a parachute system to keep it from crashing to the ground. Likewise, if the onboard control system detects that the vehicle is being piloted in an unsafe manner, it will automatically declare an emergency and contact the relevant authorities. Should the pilot be unresponsive to prompts by the system, it will automatically land the vehicle at the closest airport.

All of this is still at least 8 to 12 years away, though, as that’s how long Terrafugia figures it will take to develop a commercially viable product. The only estimate on price is that it could be “on-par with very high-end luxury cars of today.”

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Austria's highest cable car unveiled atop the Pitztal Glacier

Perched atop of the Pitzal Glacier at an altitude of 3440 meters (11,286 ft.), the spectacular Wildspitzbahn became Austria's highest coffee destination when it opened its doors late last year. The visitor center designed by Austrian architectural firm Baumschlager Hutter features a free-suspension outdoor terrace to make the most of the breathtaking views across the surrounding Alps and is accessible by a new 61-gondola mono-cable ropeway.

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Building atop of one of Europe’s most impressive alpine landscapes is always going to be challenging. Approximately €20 million (US$26.75 million) went into the 18 month-long project that saw workers facing icy and unpredictable weather conditions. Heavy steel and construction materials transporting had to be helicoptered to a base site before being brought to the summit via a cable pulley.

The 61 working gondolas transport a staggering 2185 visitors per hour over a distance of 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) and altitude of 600 meters (1968 ft) in only five minutes and 40 seconds. The 8-person gondolas also feature heated seating and enough space for users to carry their skis and snowboards with them, making getting in and out significantly easier.

During the long winter season which extends from September to May, the Pitztal Glacier offers a total of 68 kilometers (42.25 miles) of impressive natural snow slopes, ranging between altitudes from 1,700 meters (5,577ft) to 3,440 meters (11,286ft).
The Wildspitzbahn cable car and complex is open all year round. Be sure to head to the gallary check out the impressive facility and building process of the cable car.

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Slovenia's supercar: The Tushek Renovatio T500

In the future, every nation on the globe may just have its own home-brewed supercar. We're getting closer every year, one country at a time. We've seen a 1,100-hp electric supercar from Croatia. Brazil and Poland have chimed in with their thoughts on supercar design. The Netherlands and Denmark have represented. Now, Slovenia has a little something to say.

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Truth be told, establishing a unique country of origin may be the most difficult part about building a "supercar" these days. While some supercar start-ups really wow us, the concept of supercar has been watered down to a predictable formula of dropping a derivatively styled composite body atop a lightweight chassis, throwing in a (possibly tweaked) V-8 engine from a more established automaker, and jotting down a ~3.5 second acceleration time and ~200 mph (322 km/h) top speed to round things out. Whammo! Your country just made it to the great world atlas of supercar manufacturing.

The Tushek Renovatio T500 follows the script pretty closely. It derives a 2,500-lb (1133-kg ) curb weight from a combination of tubular chassis and carbon fiber/composite body. The low weight means that Tushek didn't have to get too fancy when shopping around for engines. The 4.2-liter Audi V-8's 450-hp output is downright measly when compared to some of the Renovatio's supercar contemporaries, but it still empowers 3.7-second 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) and 193 mph (311 km/h) claims. Eventually, we'll have a proper designation for exotic-but-not-that-exotic cars like this one, but for now, Tushek is obliged to call it a supercar.

When it comes to styling, the Renovatio T500's main claim to intrigue is that it's a removable hard-top convertible in a world where supercars tend debut as hard-headed coupes, with convertibles following sometime thereafter. It also has a pair of scissor doors, a feature that always manages to catch the eye. Other than that, it has a typical mid-engine stance, and its front reminds us of a Camaro – nothing all that unique or memorable.

The car should impress its drivers a little more. The Renovatio T500 is the brainchild of Tushek founder and race car driver Aljosa Tushek. Tushek's first effort is designed to be driver-focused and race-inspired, a car that is both effortless and fun to push to the limits. Far from the barren, utilitarian race car cockpits of some supercars, the interior is trimmed in suede and includes comforts like air conditioning and an audio system with Bluetooth.

“As a race driver I have long dreamed that I would be able to drive a road car that provided the response, the turn in, traction and tactility that we expect from a race car but that could be usable every day," Tushek explains on his website. "Our car is full of emotions and emotion enhancing technology, much of it focused around lightness creating one of the best handling, lightest and fastest supercars on the circuit with uniquely good looks for the road."

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