Poik

So for the past few weeks we have been pulling 14-16 hour days at school trying to get our car prepared for this event. We had to leave on Thursday to get down there in time, and we got a LOT done but didn't quite make the car driveable. Anyways, it was a pretty kick *** time. On the left of our car was the Wrightspeed X1 (250hp, 0-60 in 3.07s) and on the right was the Tesla Roadster (0-60 in "under 4"). It was pretty cool getting to talk to the engineers of those cars. I also got to meet Buzz Algren. As the night went on it got a little crazier, a chick with no shirt on sat in our car, I still need to get those pictures from my friend.

Summary of our car:
WWU VRI's Viking 40.
Carbon fiber chassis and body
Honda D16Z6 with a smallish turbocharger (~275hp)
Mid engined, rear wheel drive
Curb weight 1100lbs
Estimated 50mpg, but haven't been able to test it yet. This is our prototype car, the next one will be hybrid electric and get 100mpg+ to compete in the X Prize automotive competition.








Here's me driving really fast:






Hopefully those pictures work

Poik

Power to weight ratio approaching Ryan K's car, nobody likey?

HitmanLSX

I'll take one! But only if it comes with the flux capacitor pictured hehe

What hybrid powertrain are you guys looking at for the next one?

I just saw Subaru's lil site announcing their hybrid plans and I can't wait to see one. I'm amazed how few diesel hybrids there are save for the high amount of usage the glow plugs would get in city.

Poik

We will be using the powertrain and controls from a Honda Insight. In the 1900lb Insight it gets 70mpg, so we're hoping that using it's setup and a few more tricks we'll be over 100mpg. We are also going to make the body of the next car out of fiberglass to save weight, and try to cut down on weight in a few other areas. That engine only has like 75hp, so it'll be "quick" but not fast by any means. We may turbocharge it, but we haven't decided yet.

HitmanLSX

any particular reason not to go with the Pruis powertrain? (besides being a larger car that it's coming out of so most likely larger powertrain)

Poik

The Insight seems to get better mileage, also we bought a wrecked Insight for parts .

HitmanLSX

That helps hehe. I think the main mileage difference is gonna be due to weight since the Prius is quite a bit larger than an insight. Imagine taking the 4WD-i hybrid V6 out of the toyota highlander and putting it in something that small