Oh - right! I forgot.

Prob because back in the 70's in St. Louis it wasn't an electra, it was a "Deuce and a Quarter".

 

Ha! Nice!

 

Yep, an attractive wrapper doesn't change how I feel about hybrid super cars even though the Porsche uses a pretty neat hybrid system with a flywheel to store energy (that saves alot fo weight over a battery pack).

I'd rather Ford spend the effort on trying to out do the Nissan GT-R in creating the most video game like experience on the planet instead of building a car than serves no other purpose than to placate people ashamed of the money they've made from poisoning the air and water.

 

if hybrid tech is used, i think it's not to make people feel better about not polluting the world... it still will pollute i am sure... but to get it from point a to point b as fast as possible.

 

I have yet to meet a single non-car-enthusiast who is even aware of the Nissan GT-R. Ford building a monster TT V6 sports car is a waste of time, placating the magazine arm chair racers and forum arguers. A Ford hybrid supercar competing in prestigious European and American race series against the likes of Porsche would make headlines that average people would notice.

 

how about the "pluginasocketpoweredbycoal"

 

Nothing hoping to compete with gas powered cars in a race that's more than a half hour long should have a plug, at least with current technology. Batteries (let alone flywheels) can't hold nearly as much energy as you can put in a gas tank. While that's okay for a car that's only going to work and back on a regular basis and where you appreciate the gas-free driving, it won't make for a competitive race car. The race car should use a lower energy (ie smaller) battery pack that'll supplement the engine's power and recapture braking energy, allowing fewer refuelling stops. If they make a street version that's for sale, that's where a plug-in version could fit in.

By the way, not only is a coal fired power plant generating electricity out of a domestic fossil fuel, it's also a lot more efficient at turning that fuel into energy than a gas engine, even when you take into account the losses in transferring that energy to a plug in car at your home. Not to mention that coal only accounts for 50% of the US power mix, and that number is only going to decrease in the coming years.

 

If it's gonna have hybrid tech in it, how about basing it on the GT90 concept instead of the GT40. This car still looks like it came from the future, even though it's, what, 15 or 17 years old.

 

Average people wont notice, nor will they care, if Ford wanted to build a supercar the general public would sit up and notice, it would either be suv or minivan that knocked down economy numbers like a prius and run like a Veyron.

As for noteriety due to a prestigous rac e, Audi has thier diesel racecars and again ask the average person if they knew that and you'll get a blank stare.

I stand by my remark that this is essentially a fad - hybrid supercars are the new coke of thier time.

 

There you go!

 

If they figured out how to make coal oil a hundred+ years ago, why haven't they figured out how to refine it into a gasoline substitute? With the US' vast coal reserves they should be working double time on efficient conversion. (Or are they at special labs? )

 

Considering that Porsche nearly won the 24 hours Nurburgring race with the GT3 Hybrid on its first attempt at an endurance race, I'd say there's some serious performance potential to extract from this technology. If hybrid cars start winning all the races, I don't see why hybrid super cars would be far behind, especially given CAFE-style regulations. And I'm sorry, but regen braking, coupled with a big red "BOOST" button just appeals to my inner SNES playing child - watch the Porsche video I linked up above if you don't get it.

 

Regenerative braking is okay for city driving. But here's a technology could really revolutionize hybrid cars in general in highway driving circumstances, as well as hybrid sports cars and hybrid race cars.

On the Rebound: Scientists invent regenerative shocks

Think about how many times shocks absorb minor bumps from expansion joints, potholes, and the like? This tech could be a game changer, if it can be taken from the lab to the production line (and the race shop).

 

IIRC, the technology has been around for awhile. In WWII, the Germans were already creating synthetic fuels using coal as the base product. Drawback? Very expensive.

If that pans out, hope it doesn't result in excuses for your area's bumpier, pot hole-filled roads - you know, "to help save more gas".

 

Nice mix n' match...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...as_hybrid.html

 

Wow I really like that. I could totally be down on something like that.

 

wow! haha. i like the triple Exhaust. very interesting!

 

the grille could use some refinements but I like that too. Very unique

 

I wouldn't get too excited about that pic, AE's legendary 'shoppers just mated a Ford GT and Shleby GR-1

 

Thank you Captain Obvious
but it's a cool idea none the less