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Mercedes C220 C-Class

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The car that launched a website

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Lambo & Mini USB test

Useful stuff: Lambo & Mini USB test - we check out these miniatures for your laptop and fingers

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YW electric kiddy car race

Electric BMW & Mini - We hold our first electric kids car race - follow the race and tantrums!

Geneva Show 2011 – Porsche 918 RSR

On March 29, 2011, In Auto Shows, Cars, Events, Hybrid, Motor Racing, Motor Shows, Racing Cars, Supercars, by yellowwheels

2011 Geneva Motor Show - Porsche 918 RSR

Up close with Porsche 918 RSR Hybrid

A year ago Porsche’s 918 surprise at the Geneva Motor Show blew us away. Looking small and dainty but extraordinarily desirable it was pitched as a Carrera GT replacement. Yet it didn’t quite have the commanding presence of the GT, even if it’s spec and integration of hybrid technology made it worthy. If it’s 7:30min Nürburgring lap time is anything to go on, then it certainly qualified on speed and agility. Something about the folded paper look, lack of roof and delicate detailing of the show car made us want to put some horny rims on, install a loud exhaust and wake up the neighbours.

Geneva Motor Show 2011 - Porsche 918 RSR - embroidered seat and electro fill cap

Now exhibited in racing trim at the 2011 Geneva Show, that desire is mostly answered. the fixed roof, arch-filling racing slicks, additional carbon aerodynamic aids and orange “racing” decals vaguely recalling Gulf Oil sponsorship of the past, give it a butchness it was otherwise lacking. If Batman turned up in this beast, Gotham City would stand back and know what was coming. If Batman had turned up in the 918 “prototype”, he’d have Robin mince out slyly, while he conducted proceedings from his iPad3.

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Tagged with: 2011 • 918 RSR • flywheel • Geneva Motor Show • Hybrid • mechanical • Porsche

YW reflects on the luxury of silence that hybrids and electric cars promise

On November 3, 2010, In Eco cars, Hybrid, News, by yellowwheels

Hybrids contribute to the luxury of silence

Lexus CT200h and why we like hybrids

Hybrids, and particularly the Toyota Prius have had some vocal opponents in the media. Most have singled out it’s lack of dynamic abilities and questionable cradle to grave eco credentials. But have you ever stopped to consider the luxury of silence that a quiet car confers? Here are a few observations from the launch of Lexus’s latest hybrid, the CT200h, which would equally apply to electric cars.

Hybrids await at Lexus CT200h press launch near Paris

Picture the scene: a sumptuous hotel set in forested hills, pleasantly removed from the city bustle of Paris. A serene calmness accompanies this hilltop location belying it’s proximity to both Charles De Gaulle airport and the main autoroute to Lille. A semicircular arrangement of gleaming cars awaits journalists eager to sample Lexus’s latest mini-limousines. Above the twitter of birds you can hear the pleasant banter of scribes and their hosts exchanging technobabble worthy of a sub-atomic particle convention. But wait; there’s something missing. Where’s the coughing of combustion engines waking from their slumber? Where’s the thrum of jockeys blipping their mount’s throttles ready for the off? Where’s the distant scream of engines being let loose once released from the gaze of the PR’s and speed bumps of the hotel drive? Answer: these CT200h’s are hybrids, with electric motors to manoeuvre and assist departure and with them comes an intoxicating calm.

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Tagged with: CT200h • France • Hybrid • Lexus • Paris • Press Launch

Lexus CT200h – We drive this latest hybrid only model

On October 29, 2010, In Eco cars, Electric, Hot Hatch, Hybrid, Road Tests, Yellow, by yellowwheels

Lexus CT200h - We drive this latest hybrid

Lexus launch the CT200h as a hybrid only model

You are surfing the net for your next car: you need something small and efficient, environmentally proficient, yet sporty and luxurious to boot. Lexus claim to have filled this spot with their CT200h. Launched as a hybrid only, this mid-sized 5 door hatch wants to be a sports car too. Warm-hatch would be a more accurate description, but with many positive qualities. Our top tester Timtim left the virtual world to taste the little Lexus for us.

I’m in Chantilly, near Paris; capital of the horse according to the local tourist flyer I’ve stumbled on in my hotel room. Outside the Mont Royal Hotel a cluster of new Lexus’s await testers from around the globe. Without a moment’s hesitation I pick a golden yellow sample. Hey, don’t want to disappoint the YW office, although to be honest it looks most exciting in white! All the engine options are identical so there’s no squabble with my scribbling brethren for the horniest lump in the beast. In fact by the sound of it none of them come with engines at all! As journo’s hit the engine start button and saunter off on an exploratory loop there’s a barrage of, err nothing, discreetly interrupted by tyre on tarmac and a few tweeting birds (the real kind). Rather than contemplating the deafening silence (what a stupid, though familiar expression) I’m watching the instruments. I’ve hit the start button and am only convinced that I’m up and running by the “Lexus Hybrid Drive” welcome screen as the instruments light up. I grab the chrome faced, switch sized gear lever. There’s only R, N, D and the more mysterious B to choose from. D will do, B is for user selected regenerative braking, and release the anachronistic foot brake. Shouldn’t the “P” switch below gear lever just double up as an electric foot/handbrake?

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Tagged with: CT200h • Hybrid • Lexus • Paris • Road Tests

Porsche 918 Hybrid Spyder concept roof rendering

On March 15, 2010, In Art and Artists, Cars, Hybrid, Rendering, Roadsters, Sportscars, Supercars, by yellowwheels

Porsche 918 Hybrid Spyder render with roof and new seats and rims

Porsche 918 Hybrid Spyder at the 2010 Geneva Show

Porsche 918 Hybrid Spyder Concept at 2010 Geneva Show

Ever since seeing the gorgeous Porsche 918 concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

we couldn’t help wondering how the roof would fit and what it would look like. The Carrera GT it will replace has a detachable lid that stores in the front luggage compartment and we presume the 918 will too. Artist Jack Davies sent us a rendering of just this, a 918 with the roof panel in place, but also with some horny rims to replace the show wheels. Many people commented that the semi see through wheel plates were ugly so those have gone too. We asked Jack why he did this rendering

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Tagged with: 918 • hardtop • Hybrid • Porsche • render • roof • Spyder

Geneva Motor Show Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid Racer

On March 8, 2010, In Auto Shows, Cars, Events, Hybrid, Motor Shows, Racing Cars, by yellowwheels

Geneva Motor Show Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid Racer and kinetic drive

Not content to launch a new Cayenne in hybrid form and a stonking 918 hybrid concept at Geneva, Porsche showed a hybrid version of its new GT3R racing car. Set to race for real at the Nürburgring, this is no concept but a fully fledged 911 endurance racer. What sets it apart from the competition, particularly in the hybrid sense, is that it runs a flywheel type energy recovery, storage and power plant to supplement the 4 litre flat-six petrol engine engine in the tail rather than a battery pack.

Geneva Motor Show - Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid racer

Electrically spun, the flywheel stores kinetic energy and transfers it back to twin front electric drive motors, effectively giving 4 wheel drive on demand. Braking electrically respins the flywheel for a 6-8 second burst of extra power and traction. No word from Porsche as to whether there are any negative gyroscopic effects in the corners (or at all), but it should be more stable at high speed if the flywheel mass is sufficient. The system appears to rely on its high rotation speed rather than pure spinning weight. And anyway most cars have four spinning gyroscopes covered in rubber; one at each corner

So how would you feel about sitting next to what looks like a personal nuclear fusion reactor ? Should be fine really as it’s just a disc spinning at, err, 40,000rpm….but at least it has been developed by Williams Hybrid Power Ltd and Torotrak so does have some F1 technology built in.

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Tagged with: 2010 • Geneva Motor Show • GT3R • Hybrid • Porsche • racer

Geneva Motor Show Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe

On March 5, 2010, In Auto Shows, Cars, Coupés, Events, Hot Hatch, Hybrid, News, by yellowwheels

Geneva Motor Show - Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe front view

CR-Z Hybrid Coupe at the Geneva Auto Show

One of the cars we were eager to see in the flesh at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show was the Honda CR-Z. Would it look as sleek and purposeful as the Honda released press pics. Verdict: yes it’s refreshingly small and light looking. Many new cars have tended to bulk up their look, but this Honda flows, tilted from the back window forwards, with grill box low and lights pointing downwards arrow-like. The stance is that of a crouched animal, head down to minimise wind drag. The shape is uncontroversial and easily digested and should appeal immediately. We were drawn to a red CR-Z complete with purchaser spec-cable carbon front chin and door sill addons, and 10 spoke alloys – much more inviting than the standard spec cars. Inside there’s a “carbon” look dash that wouldn’t look out of place on a Klingon starship, especially with the instruments lit up. It’s the sort of car you just want to get in and drive; it’s got enthusiasts DNA written all over it. Just a quick reminder though: it’s a hybrid, but that’s not what’s on your mind when you see it unlike Honda’s old 4 door Civic Hybrid. But you’ll like the claimed 54mpg and low CO2.