Mazda Takeri - Fuel Efficient Diesel Concept Car

Mazda Takeri

For many of us a car is that vital tool which takes us to work or to see our families, maybe on holiday. Its a necessity in the modern age, an extension of our legs and let's us speed up the pace of life, travelling distances which would be impossible on foot quickly and effortlessly. So does it matter what a car looks like? should it provoke an emotional response when we cast our eyes upon it or does it just need to get the job done?

Mazda's design inspiration for its 'next generation' cars is 'Kodo - soul of motion' and the idea behind it is to capture the essence of a living creature, like a Cheetah tensing in the moments before it is ready to spring forward, whether you care about the inspiration or not, most people will agree the Takeri is pleasant to behold. 

The Takeri uses something Mazda call 'SKYACTIV' technology, which includes Mazda's first regenerative braking system, converting kinetic energy to electricity during deceleration, storing it in capacitors and then using it to power the vehicle's electrical equipment, thus reducing the load on the engine and saving fuel. 


Combined with the new 'SKYACTIV-D' diesel engine, Mazda i-stop (stop/start system) , lightweight structure, advanced aerodynamics & regenerative braking should endow the Takeri with extremely good fuel economy together with decent performance.

No figures are available from Mazda or even details of when or if they are going to build it - they seem to have put a lot of detail on this car, and most of the technology is already available, so, on that evidence, it would seem more likely than not that it will be built.

      

VW Golf 6 TDI Bluemotion - Diesel Car

VW Golf 1.6TDI Bluemotion in motion

This 5 door 5 seat diesel hatchback is a little fuel-saving marvel, with stop-start technology (basically a beefed-up computer controlled starter motor!) which cuts the engine at traffic lights etc. and re-starts as soon as you depress the clutch ready to set off again, some aerodynamic tweaks and a 105ps, 185lbs/ft torque 1.6litre turbo diesel engine.

74.3 MPG

99 g/km CO2

With it's exceptionally miserly fuel consumption and a fairly large tank, the Golf Blue motion can go for almost 900 miles without re-fueling! Quiet, refined and practical too, it qualifies for zero road tax in the UK and costs from £18,500 new.  


video review


http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL803B72149F6CF6FD

Husqvarna (BMW) E-go - Electric Bike

The Husqvarna Ego Concept Bike

Among the many green offerings from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is a new bike from Husqvarna called the e-go, an electric bicycle that looks just like a motorcycle but gives the appearance of floating on air. The e-go weighs just 176 pounds and its frame, though tough and well-supported, is designed in such a way as to make the rear half look airy and light. Designed to appeal to a youthful audience with it's futuristic Supermotard look.

Motoczysz EP1 - Electric Racing Motorcycle

Motoczysz at the IOM TT Zero race

Motoczysz may not be a well known name, but in a short time they have re-written motorcycling history.

The Isle of Man TT races are a gruelling, demanding and extremely dangerous series of races held over a 37 and 3/4 mile course in the middle of the Irish Sea. The riders and machines travel at incomprehensible speeds through villages and country roads seeking the ultimate motorcycling challenge.

Motoczysz won the 1 lap TT Zero race with American Mark Miller in 2010, and repeated the feat with a one-two finish in 2011 for Michael Rutter and Mark Miller. This incredible electric bike has 125hp equivalent and weighs 238kg