Greased Lightning: 100MPG biodiesel hybrid blasts from 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds

Tiny car company Lightning Hybrids showed it means business at the Denver Auto Show this week, rolling out the first prototype of the LH4, a 100MPG speedster with a hydraulic-biodiesel hybrid drivetrain that can zip the tight four-seater from 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds.

The ambitious Colorado company with a staff of 12 says the car will be ready for production in 2011, with a three-wheeled version rolling out even sooner, in 2010. The 100MPG cars are expected to sell for between $39,000 and $59,000, and are candidates for the Automotive X-Prize, with $10 million going to the winner of a stage race of 100MPG vehicles.

This is one wild-looking ride, with its split rear window and lift-up door hatch for easy entry. Its three-cylinder turbo biodiesel is augmented by a hydraulic pump/motor, whooshing an additional 150hp into the wheels of this pocket rocket. Amazing. Click Continue to take a look at the video.

Crazy looking Honda Zeppelin features swiveling front seats

Figure out which direction this thing drives yet? In the image above, the Honda Zeppelin would zip off to the left. At glance, you might be tempted to say that designer Myung Jin Jung's creation's most interesting quality is its asymmetrical design, but the real weird stuff is actually going on inside.

The front seats of the Zeppelin swivel 180° (when the vehicle isn't in motion, or that's the plan), so that the occupants can interact with one another as if they were in a living room instead.

Supposedly the glamor of air travel inspired both the curvy, crazy exterior and the more personal interior thus the Zeppelin. I don't want to sound like a downer, but when I think of flying on a plane lately, I don't think of having space to stretch my legs or wanting to talk to the folks around me. Still, pretty car.

Sultan Bin Tahnoun opens Saadiyat Art Cars Expo

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Tourism Development '&' Investment Company (TDIC), inaugurated yesterday the Art Cars exhibition held in the grounds of Manarat Al Saadiyat, the new 15,400 square metre dedicated artistic venue on Saadiyat Island - the cultural and tourism destination lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital.

Running until 30th November, Art Cars is open daily from 10am until 8pm and features an intriguing mix of European and American classic cars which have been given 'pop art' makeovers by local and international artists and a line-up of vintage models which trace the motoring development of Abu Dhabi through the 50s, 60s and 70s.

"Art Cars is a very timely initiative coming as it does in the run up to this weekend's 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," said Sheikh Sultan.

"It is part of the visitor enhancement programme undertaken by ADTA and when viewed alongside the Grand Prix demonstrates this emirate's love of all things automobile while serving to track the emirate's motoring history from the 1950s until the present day.

"Some of the vehicles have been kindly loaned to the exhibition by His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi's Rulers Representative in the Eastern Region and several of them were personally used by the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan during his many tours of the emirate's Eastern region.

"This remarkable fleet includes some iconic models which, combined, present a snapshot of motoring history and evolution." Visitors to the free-to-attend exhibition will see cars transformed into works of art by a gallery of local and visiting artists from France, China and Singapore. All designs have been inspired by the visual, mass pop art movement of the 50s and 60s, made famous by US artist Andy Warhol.

Manarat Al Saadiyat can be reached via the new Saadiyat Bridge accessible from Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed area, where visitors will follow a beautifully landscaped route to the centre. From Dubai, visitors can reach Manarat Al Saadiyat by taking the new Yas Island highway and following the road through to Saadiyat.

The fabulous fleet line-up of motoring masterpieces includes Cadillac LaSalle 1939, Ford T 1920, Chevrolet Independence 1931, BMW Z8 2000 , Mercedes 250SL 1968, Ford F-Series 1950, Chevrolet Bel Air 1956, MINI Cooper 1996, Aston Martin DBS 2009, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1976 and Chevrolet Impala 1959.

The exhibition artists include Abdul Qader Al Rais - UAE, Jalal Luqman - UAE, Li Jikai - China, Maisoon Al Saleh - UAE, Mohammed Al Mubarak - UAE, Noora Al Suwaidi - UAE, Vincent Leow- Singapore and Wasel Safwan - UAE.

Geely Sudah Siap Pesan

Meskipun baru akan mulai memproduksi mobil barunya pada Oktober mendatang,
pabrikan mobil asal China, Geely, nampaknya mendapatkan respon yang cukup baik di pasaran.

Hal tersebut terbukti di kota Paris Van Java, Bandung. Setelah melakukan soft launching dealer mereka di Bandung dan memperkenalkan merek ini ke masyarakat Jawa Barat, Geely pun ternyata sudah mendapat benyak pemesanan.

"Sejak di perkenalkan di Bandung, sekarang kami sudah menerima SPK (Surat Pemesanan Kendaraan) sampai puluhan unit lho," ungkap Presiden Direktur PT Geely Mobil Indonesia (GMI) A Budi Pramono ketika dihubungi detikOto, Kamis (17/9/2009).

SPK yang mencapai puluhan itu menurutnya sangat wajar. Terlebih harga yang ditawarkan Geely untuk Varian MK dan CK pun dianggap sangat menarik yakni
hanya Rp 99.999.999,- saja secara off the road.

Itu baru di Bandung, sebab pemesanan mobil-mobil Geely pun menurut Budi
ternyata tidak hanya datang dari ibukota Jawa Barat saja, namun juga di
kota-kota lain seperti Semarang dan Bali misalnya.

"Yang pasti, setiap kami lakukan soft launching di sebuah kota, sambutannya
cukup baik semua," papar Budi.