SUNDAY 6th November marked the 15th running of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, bringing together some remarkably rare and advanced cars – for the 19th Century at least. But the day before, the second RAC Future Car Challenge took centre stage, starting in Brighton and finishing in central London. In an obvious parallel to the Veteran Run, the Future Car Challenge brought some of the world’s most advanced cars out on the roads, all with the aim of covering the 60 miles with the lowest energy consumption possible.
It may only have been the second running of this event, but the hardware and personnel on show demonstrated just how seriously the manufacturers were taking the competition. Leading the field from the start was F1 champion Damon Hill:
“I’m usually associated with high speed motorsport, but today was very different we went off at the start line at Brighton driving slowly trying to conserve as much fuel as possible. Today I was driving a Peugeot 508 for The Global Fuel Economy Initiative; it was a real eye opener and demonstrated what can be achieved with better driving style.”
Behind him were some vehicles yet to reach the general public: Volkswagen’s Golf Blue e-motion is still two years from reaching the UK but showcases an advanced electric motor system that allows it to achieve almost 100 miles of range, with further advances promised before reaching the market. The Delta E4 coupe took a different approach, with a sporty design and performance to match: TV presenter Kevin McCloud gave a hint of the 0-62mph time of only 6.5 seconds by powering quickly off the start line in Brighton, and the car went on to win the People’s Choice award at the event. Land Rover brought along a luxury interpretation of the electric car with its Range-e, proving that a frugal future doesn’t necessarily mean scrimping on prestige.
Taking the overall prize however was the T27, the brainchild of fabled Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray. Its unusual looks are a result of the pared-back design to give impressive results. The electric T27 managed to complete the course using only 64p worth of electricity, equivalent to 350mpg and emissions of just 34g/km over the whole route. Murray was understandably delighted with winning three prizes including the overall prize:
“It is the first time we have showcased the T.27 on the UK roads. This is the only event in the world that demonstrates real cars, in real conditions, that is measured independently and in the public eye. It’s a fantastic showcase for technology and The Royal Automobile Club should be proud of the event. Last year we won with our petrol car the T.25 entry and this year our electric car the T.27. Both of which clearly demonstrates that lightweight is the biggest tool we have for reducing emissions. To win this event is truly special and could not have been achieved without the 50% grant from the Technology Strategy Board and my team."
The overall message however was abundantly clear. Despite the motor car coming under pressure from all angles, manufacturers and visionary individuals alike are working day and night to find modern resolutions to the age-old problem of energy consumption. On the evidence of the Future Car Challenge, there is plenty to look forward to.
source:http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/news/futures-bright-rac-future-car-092500596.html
It may only have been the second running of this event, but the hardware and personnel on show demonstrated just how seriously the manufacturers were taking the competition. Leading the field from the start was F1 champion Damon Hill:
“I’m usually associated with high speed motorsport, but today was very different we went off at the start line at Brighton driving slowly trying to conserve as much fuel as possible. Today I was driving a Peugeot 508 for The Global Fuel Economy Initiative; it was a real eye opener and demonstrated what can be achieved with better driving style.”
Behind him were some vehicles yet to reach the general public: Volkswagen’s Golf Blue e-motion is still two years from reaching the UK but showcases an advanced electric motor system that allows it to achieve almost 100 miles of range, with further advances promised before reaching the market. The Delta E4 coupe took a different approach, with a sporty design and performance to match: TV presenter Kevin McCloud gave a hint of the 0-62mph time of only 6.5 seconds by powering quickly off the start line in Brighton, and the car went on to win the People’s Choice award at the event. Land Rover brought along a luxury interpretation of the electric car with its Range-e, proving that a frugal future doesn’t necessarily mean scrimping on prestige.
Taking the overall prize however was the T27, the brainchild of fabled Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray. Its unusual looks are a result of the pared-back design to give impressive results. The electric T27 managed to complete the course using only 64p worth of electricity, equivalent to 350mpg and emissions of just 34g/km over the whole route. Murray was understandably delighted with winning three prizes including the overall prize:
“It is the first time we have showcased the T.27 on the UK roads. This is the only event in the world that demonstrates real cars, in real conditions, that is measured independently and in the public eye. It’s a fantastic showcase for technology and The Royal Automobile Club should be proud of the event. Last year we won with our petrol car the T.25 entry and this year our electric car the T.27. Both of which clearly demonstrates that lightweight is the biggest tool we have for reducing emissions. To win this event is truly special and could not have been achieved without the 50% grant from the Technology Strategy Board and my team."
The overall message however was abundantly clear. Despite the motor car coming under pressure from all angles, manufacturers and visionary individuals alike are working day and night to find modern resolutions to the age-old problem of energy consumption. On the evidence of the Future Car Challenge, there is plenty to look forward to.
source:http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/news/futures-bright-rac-future-car-092500596.html
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