All Entries in the "Wheels" Category
Futuria Sports + Spa Is A Motorhome With A Yacht-Like Roof Terrace
Love the open-air feeling of riding on a yacht, but have no patience for the sea? We’re guessing you’ll love hitting the open road on the Futuria Sports + Spa, a 36-foot motorhome with a yacht-inspired roof terrace.
Billed as a yacht on wheels, the roof panel features a full-size jacuzzi built into the wooden floors, letting you live it up under the sun, while the vehicle strolls along the open highway. It’s got plenty of vacant floor space on the roof too, allowing you to set up a roster of amenities as you need them, such as cooking grills or picnic tables.
Aside from the unique roof terrace, the Futuria Sports + Spa features a full luxury lounge, comfy sleeping bunks, a private bathroom and a sports car garage on the rear end. To grab attention during shows and exhibitions, Futuria loaded it with an extra-powerful sound system, an onboard fog [...]
Scubster, A Submersible That Drives Like A Bicycle
We’ve seen folks take a stab at pedal-powered submersibles before. The Scubster, however, has a real, working prototype that allows its driver to literally bike underwater.
Created by a team of French engineers, the Stephane Rousson design borrows a resemblance to the yellow submarine used in the classic James Bond flick, The Spy Who Loved Me. It can probably play perfect for spy work too, with the entirely human-powered mechanism running in stealthy silence.
The Scubster is an almost 14 feet long submersible vehicle, designed to sit a single individual inside the water-tight cabin. You operate it by working your leg muscles (or arm muscles, if you’re driving it while lying on your stomach), activating the pedal belt that’s connected to a twin-propeller system that pushes the craft forward. Depending on how well you can ride a bicycle, it can reach top speeds of up to 5 mph, along with a maximum [...]
Garia LSV, A Street-Legal Golf Cart
How do you make a luxury golf cart even better? Equip it for the road like the Garia LSV, a street-legal golf cart that can ferry two passengers, both on the pavement and on the green.
Manufactured at the same factory that builds the Porsche Boxster and the Cayman, the overachieving golf cart lets you leave home in the same vehicle you’re using in the course. That way, the only time you’ll ever need to leave your seat is when you’re going to hit a ball. Swank.
The Garia LSV is a 92 x 52 x 73 inch (l x w x h) cart with sleek, understated looks and an overload of features. A low-speed vehicle, it can do up to 25mph using a 4-horsepower three-phase AC motor, paired with six Trojan 8V batteries that give it a 40-mile maximum range. Designed as much for street use as it is for the [...]
Ténéré Expedition Tent Comes With A Motorcycle Garage
Even motorcycles deserve a roof over their…uhm… heads. Pitch yourself an instant garage with the Ténéré Expedition Tent, a temporary shelter for outdoor-campin’ motorcycle adventurers.
Created by Nomad, the hoop-style tent offers living space for up to two people, along with an area for parking a full-sized touring motorcycle with panniers. That way, both you and your beloved hog will be protected from the elements, relaxing in comfort while you save your strengths for another day.
The Ténéré Expedition Tent is a three-season camping shelter, with a floor area of 30 square feet and a motorcycle bay measuring 100 x 50 inches. Without the bike area, the tent would be classed as a five-person lodging space, so you can expect plenty of room for you, a companion and your on-the-road supplies, even with a large 1,200cc adventurer in tow.
Easy to use, it weighs just 13 lbs when packed and erects on only [...]
OSU Buckeye Bullet 2.5 EV Hits 291 Mph
Electric cars aren’t typically built for speed. Don’t tell that to the Buckeye Bullet 2.5, which just set a new speed record for battery-powered vehicles, clocking in at an average of 291 mph during back-to-back runs.
Created by a crew from Ohio State University with help from several industrial partners (such as Venturi and A123 Systems), the landspeed racer registered just shy of the 300.992 mph set by the original Bullet from last year. That one, however, ran on hydrogen fuel cells, while this year’s model was juiced completely from lithium-ion batteries.
A custom-built induction motor lies at the heart of the vehicle, pumping out 700 horsepower to deliver the blistering speed. Notable details include carbon fiber/aluminum construction and a full set of onboard diagnostics for driver feedback, along with an all-new inverter and control system.
The OSU Buckeye Bullet 2.5 made the record-setting run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah last [...]
Ryno Motors Unicycle Brings Aggressive One-Wheeled Styling
Based on how many unicycle designs we’ve seen since last year, it’s fair to say that the motorized single-wheeler just might really have a relevant place in our future. Ryno Motors’ Prototype II is the latest of the bunch and, to its credit, looks decidedly less circus-inspired than other unicycles currently searching for funding.
Designed for short-range transport (similar to a Segway), the single-seat vehicle is electric-powered, with a small onboard battery feeding it juice for up to 30 miles on a 1.5-hour charge. Like we said, it features notably more aggressive styling, making it perfect for biker clowns and men who can’t bear the idea of driving around on a vehicle that’s less manly than Malibu Barbie’s Mustang.
Ryno Motors doesn’t even have an official name for the bike yet (it’s just Prototype II), so you can imagine just how far away this is from even nearing production. Of all the [...]
The International Bike Disassembles Quickly, Fits Into A Bag
You think your folding bike is portable? Pfft. We doubt it can stand up to the International Bike, a brilliantly-designed pedal pusher that can be disassembled and packed into a custom bag for hand-carry during air travel.
Handcrafted by Kinfolk’s Shuichi Kusaka, the frames use S&S couplers that allow it to break apart into compact bodies that can be squeezed into a handsome satchel. From the sound of it, disassembling the bike won’t be that fast, so forget about riding one to work and picking the thing apart while you’re waiting for the elevator. If you do need to bring a bike during flights, however, this should work like a charm.
The International Bike comes in two variants – one with a 54 cm frame and the other with a 58 cm body. Both feature Brooks saddles, 650c wheels and a paint job from Coat. The bespoke leather bag, specifically made for [...]
Cricket Trailer, A Camper For Compact Travelers
Want a trailer that looks weird without even trying? Try the Cricket Trailer, an unusually-styled camper with some serious character to spare.
Designed to be a compact outdoor companion, the trailer measures 15 feet long, 7 feet tall and 6.6 feet wide, all while managing to cram a decent range of creature comforts. With the basic configuration, it weighs a light 1,300 lbs, allowing it to be towed by most 4–cylinder cars and practically any type of 6–cylinder vehicles.
The Cricket Trailer is available in three trims: barebones, basic and everything. Barebones just gets you the shell and wheels, allowing you to deck it on your own if you’re so inclined. Basic starts you off with some amenities, including a kitchen cabinet with a hinged countertop, a stainless steel sink, a water heater, a couch that can unfold into a two-person bed, a three-way refrigerator and an adjustable table. The last option [...]
Seabreacher X, A Submersible Designed To Look Like A Shark
Next time you think you see a shark jumping out of the water, take a closer look. Why? It just might be the Seabreacher X, a high-speed submersible that’s been intentionally made to look like a great white shark, complete with dorsal fins, gill arches and rows of meat-tearing sharp teeth.
Created by Innespace, the recreational vehicle follows in the tradition of the pair’s previous projects, which include a submarine that looks like a dolphin. This time, though, they shed the nice-guy dolphin attitude in favor of an ultra-aggressive Shark-style body. And at 16.5 feet long, it’s about as big as one too.
The Seabreacher X is a high-speed watercraft, powered by a 260hp supercharged engine. It can travel at a pace of 50 mph on the surface, sustain dives at 25 mph, roll to the sides at a 90-degree angle (yep, it rolls like a fish) and jump out of the [...]
Boys, Don’t Hide Behind The School Bus…Or It’s Gonna Torch You
If Otto Mann ever had enough cash to rig Springfield Elementary’s school bus, we imagine it will look something like this: The School Time Jet-Powered School Bus. Except instead of flames painted on the side, he’d have a giant 80s-era Metallica photo (you know, right before they became douchebags) plastered all over. Gnarly.
Built by Paul Stender and his team from Indy Boys Inc, the 35-foot long bus was actually overhauled to the point that it only contains 5% of its original parts. According to Paul, a regular bus like the ones used in schools all over America wouldn’t have been able to withstand the demonic hardware he crammed into the thing. As a result, his custom-made replacements used metals more commonly employed in aircrafts to keep the fire from swallowing it after a single drive around the corner.
And what demonic concoction lies within School Time? A 42,000-horsepower J-79 jet engine [...]
PG-Bikes BlackTrail, The World’s Fastest, Lightest Electric Bicycle
Superlatives are often abused in marketing products. When applied to the PG-Bikes BlackTrail , however, all the extreme adjectives being thrown around might really be appropriate.
They’re calling it the “lightest, most powerful, fastest and most technologically-advanced” electric bicycle known to man. From what we can gather out of the specs sheet, they might be right.
Designed by Christian Zanzotti, the BlackTrail is a limited-production e-bike borne from a collaboration between PG-Bikes and UBC, with the latter providing their engineering expertise. With an unusually blocky frame and parts that use carbon fiber, high-alloy aluminum, titanium and magnesium, it boasts ultra-durable construction, all while weighing a light 43.6 lbs.
Power is delivered by a 1.2kW CM48 V hybrid engine, which is paired with a 17 Ah CM48 lithium ion battery (150 minutes full charging time and 124 miles maximum range). Three driving modes are available: manual, cruising (18.5 to 31 mph) and maximum (up [...]
Blink Level 2 Can Charge Your EVs On Schedule, Can Be Controlled Remotely
The GE Wattstation isn’t the only charging point design aiming to claim a piece of the future EV pie. At this week’s Plug-In 2010 Conference, ECOtality showed off its new Blink Level 2 EV Chargers.
Developed in partnership with Frog Design, the stylish EV charging station offers equally eye-catching looks as GE’s previously-announced system. Of course, actual utility and charging speed should prove to be the real meat-and-potatoes of this whole race, with appearance likely playing a minor part in terms of actual consumer adoption.
The Blink EV Charger will be offered in two variants: an in-home, wall-mounted unit and a standalone system for commercial use. Both will be connected to 240V AC circuits and can deliver a full charge in an impressive two to six hours (most likely, the latter). Even better, the system can be programmed so that it charges the car when electricity rates are lowest, which it determines [...]
Bio-Bug, The VW Beetle That Runs On Sewage Waste
Using biogas to power a modified car isn’t anything new. The Bio-Bug, however, deserves special note for running on a special kind of bio-fuel – the kind that’s been harvested from human waste.
Before you get any ideas, you’re not supposed to trade the toilet for your gas tank. That’s just gross. Not that watching you “fill it up” wouldn’t make for a funny YouTube video, but it’s not gonna work.
The Bio-Bug is a converted Volkswagen Beetle that runs on methane gas, a common byproduct of sewage processing. Waste recycling company GENeco took charge of the project, using special equipment to refine the biogas to a point that it wouldn’t adversely affect vehicle performance. Oh yeah, the dung-sourced gas won’t make your car smell like fart either, which should allay your biggest concern.
According to GENeco, the car can be powered for an entire year (approximate mileage of 10,000 miles) using sludge [...]
TST-14J BonusJet Sailplane Self-Launches Using A Retractable Jet
Self-launching glider aircrafts aren’t new. However, most of them either use a small piston engine or an electric motor. Desert Aerospace, on the other hand, dispenses with those pedestrian solutions, outfitting their high-performance glider, the TST-14J BonusJet, with a retractable jet engine.
Granted, this isn’t the first time somebody used a jet on a glider. So far, though, it’s all been hobby builds, with the small New Mexico company being the first to indicate their intent to distribute one commercially.
The TST-14J BonusJet prototype is a lightweight sailplane intended for cross country soaring and cruising flight. Helping it launch by itself is a PBS TJ-100, a relatively simple jet engine that weighs a light 45lbs and produces 240 lbs of thrust. As the name suggests, the aircraft uses a modified TST-14J glider body, with a fuselage installed behind the two-seater cockpit where the engine has been placed. Once the sailplane successfully lifts [...]
Dragonfly, A Personal Helicopter Powered By Rockets
A personal helicopter powered by rockets. That sounds awesome, right? I mean, that’s like the same level as predator robots created by aliens who happen to be zombies dreaming a dream within a dream. The Dragonfly’s description, of course, sounds much more menacing than it actually is – not that it isn’t a pretty special rotorcraft all on its own.
Measuring a mere 8 inches long and weighing 1.5 pounds apiece, the dual-rocket engine setup is far from intimidating. But they do get the job done, pumping out 104 horsepower each to give the 230lb aircraft the necessary boost to fly you to high altitudes.
The Dragonfly uses a two-bladed propeller, each one carrying a rocket right on its tip. When the rockets speed forward, the thrust pushes the rotor to spin at up to 750RPM, whizzing about its business like any conventional whirlybird. It uses commercial-grade hydrogen peroxide solution (diluted to [...]
Icon Sheene, The World’s Most Expensive Motorcycle You Can Buy
How do you justify being the world’s most expensive motorcycle? I have my own ideas, you know, like an invisible force field while you’re riding and headlights that double as laser guns. Well, the Icon Sheene has none of those, but it does run very fast and looks really sexy. And, yes, it’s the most expensive bike in the world.
Retailing for $160,000, the crotch rocket takes boutique motorcycles to new heights, giving itself a unique semi-retro styling, while packing in the power to appease even the most discriminating speed freaks. Icon is making it as a tribute to legendary rider Barry Sheene, one of the UK’s most successful motorcycle racers.
The Icon Sheene is powered by a hand-built Suzuki 1400cc turbocharged Hayabusa engine with Carrillo rods and Wiseco pistons, pumping out 250hp and 133 lb/ft of torque. It boasts carbon-fiber bodywork and wheels, along with numerous handmade components, such as the [...]
