Week In Pictures : Electric Dreams

The electric car is a bit of a strange concept to me. The prevailing image is one of sensible commuter cars that eliminate the need for gasoline and help save the environment, but on the other hand you have extravagant electric machines like the Rimac Concept_One out of Croatia – a so-called electric hypercar.

An electric hypercar, you ask? With four electric motors making a combined 1,088 horsepower, I’d say the term is justified.

The ambitious Concept_One will make its UK debut at September’s Salon Privé held in London. There are just 88 of them scheduled to be built and the going price will be a cool million bucks. I wonder if California buyers will be able to use HOV stickers on them?

This weekend at the Silverstone Classic, over 70 Ferrari F40s are scheduled to take to the track in what should certainly be a world record. It might not be quite as many as the 767 Jaguar E-Types that were on track last year, but this photo gives an idea of what it might look like (just replace the Jags with F40s of course).

Those of you who live in markets where SEAT sells cars might be interested to see that SEAT has unveiled the new third generation Leon. The car is built on the VW Audi Group’s new MQB platform, and will be available with a variety of powerplants.

The top dog engine for the new Leon will be a 2.0 TDI that makes an impressive 181 horsepower and an even more impressive 280 ft lbs of torque.

Meanwhile in the US of A, Vaughn Gittin Jr. released this clip showing the new and improved 2013 edition of the RTR Mustang. Do want.

In Japan, Nissan showed off the latest version of its popular Note compact car, which features what Nissan calls the “Squash Line” on the side of the body.

The line takes some getting used to, but it does hint at the styling direction that will be taken by other upcoming Nissan vehicles.

One thing I quite like about most JDM offerings like the new Note is the variety of interior color schemes available. To me these add quite a bit of character over the standard gray, tan, and black jobs we get here in the states.

Not that we ever really need an excuse to post pictures of cool cars with jet fighter planes, but Nissan recently brought out the GT-R for a bit of idea exchange with the pilots and crew of the US Navy’s Blue Angels.

In-car video these days just keeps getting better and better. Here’s a lap at Spa, shot quite literally through the eyes of a Formula One driver.

After selling out on its first official run in the UK, Audi is doing a second series of its RS3 Sportback.

If you live in the UK and would like to get your hands on one of these 340ps hatchbacks, you’d better act fast as only 250 additional models are scheduled to be built.

There’s never a bad time for a rally photo is there? This shot was released by ŠKODA ahead of this weekend’s Sibiu Rally Romania.

Ugly weather didn’t stop drivers from all over Europe from competing in the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation’s event held over the weekend in the UK.

The overall winner of the event was this 1978 Porsche 911 C driven by the father-son combo of Michael and Simon Baker. You don’t even need your own car to compete in these events, as the rally itself offers up a variety of classic machines for hire. Future Speedhunters adventure anyone?

Development of the new SRT Viper GTS-R continues, with the race car set to make its debut at the ALMS Mid-Ohio race during the first weekend of August.

Ken Block has been hooning around in his Ford Fiesta for a few years now, but now Ford has some production vehicles with some performance to match the tricks done by Mr. Block. The new Focus ST was seen alongside the Gymkhana 5 team while it was shooting in San Francisco.

A hot Focus may be old news to those of you in other other countries, but us Yanks are quite happy to finally have another Focus with some enthusiast cred to it.

I’m going to be completely honest here. I’d never heard of the Facel Vega until I saw this photo of the people’s choice winner at last weekend’s “Simply French” event at the Beaulieu Museum in the UK.

The same goes for this Panhard that took the runner-up award. I suppose I need to brush up on my knowledge of vintage French vehicles?

Just to make sure the supercar quota is filled for this post, here’s a great shot of McLaren’s 12C carving up a beautiful mountain road somewhere.

McLaren also released this short film showing the open top 12C in action. As with most exotic cars, it’s worth it for the sound alone.

Don’t forget your desktops below.

-Mike

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1

Hope you guys are planning a full post on that French car show. 

2

The McLaren spider makes me want to own one more however i still don't find the overall car that physically attractive.

3

"I suppose I need to brush up on my knowledge of vintage French vehicles?"
Yes, you do. Car culture, you know? :)
Why? Becouse in Europe car has been invented, in Europe you find most of the marques and in Europe you'll find all the history you'll ever need to know.
Sure you'll find great Japanese car from '70's and some cool cars from US of A from '50's. But Europe is really what you need.

4

Thank you for the F1 joyride!!! I didn't realize I was smiling while watching it 'til a co-worker pointed it out to me. Ha! Anyone knows how many G's that was maximum? My heart is pumping like crazy right now!

5

Thank you for the F1 joyride!!! I didn't realize I was smiling while watching it 'til a co-worker pointed it out to me. Ha! Anyone knows how many G's that was maximum? My heart is pumping like crazy right now!
P.S. Is that Panhard the same model Patrick Jane drives from the TV series, The Mentalist? I think I've seen it on a different show/movie a few years back as well and remember admiring how unique the styling is.

6
ToyotaSupraMan

 @KenshinG Not a lot of G's there, seeing as it was wet and the driver went very careful (on a dry qualifying lap Eau-Rouge would be taken at almost twice the speed of the video).

7

The 12C looks much better in spider form than the original fixed roof design IMO. The lines seem to fit better to me.

8

Once again, nice post.  All except the "Green" Electric douchebag shit.  Seriously, you guys need to stop this crap.  Your undermining car culture (REAL car culture that) and pretty soon your blog with be as shitty as Jalopnik.

9

True that. Down with electric cars. Burn them all.

10

True that. Down with electric cars. Burn them all.

11

True that. Down with electric cars. Burn them all.

12

To be precise, the Facel-Vega is a HK500E sporting a 360hp Chrysler V8. Stirling Moss' car of choice.
The Panhard is a CT, with a air-cooled flat-twin, pumping 50hp.

13

To be precise, the Facel-Vega is a HK500E sporting a 360hp Chrysler V8. Stirling Moss' car of choice.
The Panhard is a CT, with a air-cooled flat-twin, pumping 50hp.

14

To be precise, the Facel-Vega is a HK500E sporting a 360hp Chrysler V8. Stirling Moss' car of choice.
The Panhard is a CT, with a air-cooled flat-twin, pumping 50hp.

15

 @Hondafan Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

16

 @Hondafan Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

17

 @Hondafan Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

18

Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

19

Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

20

Yeah. You guys just keep driving your gas guzzlers and keep destroying the planet with your pollution. I'm not saying I drive an electric car, or am a huge fan of, but you guys are ignorant. If we want a planet to keep driving our gasoline powered cars, we're going to have to change our ways and be accepting of electric cars. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years gasoline powered cars will be banned from certain countries.

21
EricSeanDelaney

I'll be at the Mid Ohio next weekend for ALMS. Maybe you would like some Viper pictures?

22
EricSeanDelaney

I'll be at the Mid Ohio next weekend for ALMS. Maybe you would like some Viper pictures?

23
EricSeanDelaney

I'll be at the Mid Ohio next weekend for ALMS. Maybe you would like some Viper pictures?

Author24

Not sure what's to hate about a 1,000hp electric car myself....

Author25

Not sure what's to hate about a 1,000hp electric car myself....

Author26

Not sure what's to hate about a 1,000hp electric car myself....

27

 @ToyotaSupraMan Very nice! I've never really followed F1 but after this, that will surely change. Thank you bro!

28

 @Mike Garrett I'll second that...

29

The RS3, wish we got them in the States. Have one in all black and it would be the perfect sleeper.

30

 @Dekro Oh boo hoo. So our crappy planet doesn't last 10 years more than you'd like. I'd take my push bike over any ugly ass electric crap any day. 

31

 @KenshinG  @Mike Garrett For a start, it's ugly as hell, and wouldn't you miss the noise of what sort of beast belongs in a high performance car?

32

@Hondafan Right. I forgot your so JDM that electric cars aren't cool. I like your 'new driver' avatar btw. Looks cute. You just live up the typical Honda fan boy standards.

33

 @Hondafan  @Mike Garrett  Honestly I don't consider that sound "noise" and about your question, you can always listen to your own. Having more electric cars on the roads for me is a good thing (as long as THEY DON'T BAN gasoline engines). I'm sure that as the technology moves along e-cars will be cheaper and more accessible to the masses.  In turn giving all of us Petrolheads all sorts of "perks" like cheaper gas prices as the demand would not be as great and of course the pride (or "swagger" if you will) that comes with driving a gasoline-fed beast in a sea of electrics.

34

 @Hondafan  @Mike Garrett  Honestly I don't consider that sound "noise" and about your question, you can always listen to your own. Having more electric cars on the roads for me is a good thing (as long as THEY DON'T BAN gasoline engines). I'm sure that as the technology moves along e-cars will be cheaper and more accessible to the masses.  In turn giving all of us Petrolheads all sorts of "perks" like cheaper gas prices as the demand would not be as great and of course the pride (or "swagger" if you will) that comes with driving a gasoline-fed beast in a sea of electrics.

35
JohnnyConQueso

Jay Leno (a REAL car culture enthusiast, i dont think thats even up for discussion) said it best IMO -  he said something along the lines of just like the car liberated the horse from its transportation by means of horse and buggy duties, the electric car will liberate gasoline cars from its transportation duties. Just as horses are still raced til this day, still have their shows and do their tricks or what have you, gasoline cars will still be around for the enthusiasts.

36
CharlieJohnstone

 @Dekro  @Hondafan I certainly would not call the sound of an accelerating series wound 11" motor pulling 1200 Amps noise! I built an electric 914, and it is one of the most fun cars Ive ever driven. the motor is so forgiving and has a totally flat 200 ft-lbs from 0 rpm. I cant wait for big tuning houses to start building insane one off electric race cars  http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh313/godzillus/1971%20VoltsPorsche%20914/015-1.jpg

37

@CharlieJohnstone sick! You have videos of it running?

38

 @Dekro  @Hondafan Just because I love Honda doesn't mean I conform to the typical "fan boy" standards. In fact I don't even diss American Domestics. All I'm saying is, I'd much rather drive a B20 Swapped EK9 Civic, Or a Nova SS, Or ANYTHING that isn't electric.

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