A while back I described the use of the monocoque to produce a very strong but heavy chassis that probably 90% of the world's mass produced cars use. As a follow on, I’ll talk about the space frame chassis that really took off after World War 2, however like many technologies had it’s birth closer to the start of the industry. A space frame is a truss – multi interconnecting … [Read more...]
Geely Buys Majority Stake in Lotus
Geely, the Chinese automaker has announced it will buy a 51% stake in Lotus from the Malaysia based Proton Holdings and it will also become a stakeholder of that company too. Geely means "auspicious" in Mandarin Chinese and we all hope that they will live up to their name and provide Lotus with some much needed funding. Lotus has had a rough time over the years bouncing … [Read more...]
Cosworth
When you talk 1970s single seater or prototype sports car racing the one constant is Cosworth. Whereas Ferrari, Renault and Porsche built their own engines, many prototype and single seater manufacturers opted for a customer engine namely something out of the Cosworth range. Cosworth’s true competitors included Hart, Judd and Ilmor, but it is Cosworth that has survived albeit … [Read more...]
H Block Engines
H formation engines are rarer than hens teeth – they are called H because they are designed like stacked flat engines. Most engines called H such as Subaru or SAAB engines are not really H formation, rather horizontal or straight. The Saab engine known as H was a replacement for their B engine and Subaru’s engine is more like a boxer engine. H engines have been seen in … [Read more...]
Lotus Safe And Sound
Back in 2008 when I was starting out podcasting I commented on some new (for that time) technology from Lotus. They had figured out that electric and hybrid cars could be too quiet for pedestrians and accidents may occur because people wouldn't hear the vehicle. Lotus called their technology "Safe and Sound" and now 7 years later, I wondered what had happened to the … [Read more...]