TechRules Turbine EV Racecar Shows Its Glowing Heart

Some interesting news from TechRules today — a closer look at the mini-turbine that will recharge future EVs on the go.  This is a series hybrid like an Abrams tank or certain military ships, where the power created from the gas turbines is directly applied to the electric motors which do the actual propulsion. What makes this new design so fascinating and potentially game-changing is the micro nature of the turbine that TechRules has created. A new air-bearing appears to solve a frequent wear-out item in turbines and should make the system an interesting long-term/long-range electric. One that you can …

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2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid Adds Black and Red LeMans Liveries in 917K Salute

Porsche is extremely eager to show how fast and reliable its 2015 919 Hybrid is in the marquee endurance race of the year: LeMans. Just 18 days from now, a trio of Porsche 919s will battle a mad pack of Audi R19 racecars, the secretive 2015 Toyota LMP1 update, and an all-new contender: the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. This front-drive Nissan is a real wildcard in the tech blueprint adopted by the other big three: rear-mid-engine with electric front-axle AWD. The Porsche 919 Hybrid looks extremely similar to last year’s car, but features dramatic updates under the skin. The core …

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2015 vs 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid - LMP1 Racers Compared 5

2015 vs 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid – LMP1 Racers Compared

Porsche just rolled out its 2015 model-year LeMans P1 car for initial track testing at Yas Marina today, and we see a continuation on most aspects of the 2014 racer. Porsche is characteristically tight-lipped about what has changed since last year, but has confirmed that the turbo V4 powertrain will continue, along with three electric boosters. But while the 2015 car looks very similar to the 2014 contender, you can be sure that there have been extensive studies and engineering under the skin. It takes more than a quick look to find any clear changes outside, but we have identified …

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2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 Racecar in 100-Plus Real-Life Photos + Tech Specs

Full disclosure: this is the 919 design and aero prototype on loan from the Porsche Museum in Germany, and not one of the team’s actual Le Mans 2014 competitors. Even so, being touchably close to any racecar is enought to get the heart beating faster. In fact, even cropping these photos has made a big thump-thump in my neck! The closer my eye comes to the quad-beam lighting setup, the more exciting the car seems — even a static model.   Despite much respect for the Audi Motorsport team, the Porsche 919 Hybrid was the favorite on this sofa during …

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In-House Racing Expert Chris May Asks — Are Established Tracks Safe For Today’s Race Pace?

By: Special Contributor Chris May Established Race Tracks:  Are they Safe Anymore? It’s a loaded question that I have been wrestling with over the past couple of weeks.  So you might ask, ‘Why is this on your mind, bit of a random thought?’ Well, the genesis of the thought process started last year when the racing community lost Allan Simonsen tragically at Le Mans.         I, just like many other racing fans, was glued to the TV as we watched the historical event unfold and the tragic cloud that fell upon the race with 23 hours left …

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2014 LeMans LMP1 – Toyota TS040 Hybrid – A Dark Horse in Audi vs. Porsche Battle

The TS040 Hybrid is looking mighty rapid this year, with a huge increase in stamina and budget for the Toyota Motorsports Group based in Cologne, Germany. Training with past winners and local talent can only be considered a huge new asset in the Toyota WEC racing ambition for its LMP1 cars. TS040 Hybrid running from ToyotaGB on Vimeo. So, is the TS040 fast and powerful enough to outwit the Porsche 919 Hybrid and Audi R18 trio? Fast enough remains to be seen, but the Toyota effort in LMP1 has garnered five race victories since 2012, which is certainly nothing to …

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Audi LeMans R18: Laser Light = Smoke and Mirrors? 2014 e-tron quattro Actually Hiding Big Changes in Back

Guess who really likes winning Le Mans? Everyone! Every single person who has ever competed there cherishes a single win with the passion of an Oscar winner. But guess who has really, really developed a taste for winning Le Mans, after more than a decade as the front-runner? The serious gentlemen over at Audi Motorsport. Is this an odd introduction for an article about new laser lighting shown at CES this week? The new “laser” lighting joins a long list of other Audi names for its headlights, including Matrix and Swarm. AUTO LIGHTING TECH – 2014 and Beyond But why …

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