New Zealand Launches A Rocket. The $427,000 Hulme CanAm Supercar.

It's no Tramontana R Edition supercar but this is one fast Kiwi.

The Auckland based Supercar developer-manufacturer, Hulme Supercars, has launched an extremely limited production run of the eagerly-awaited 200+mph Hulme CanAm Supercar. Just 20 of sexy supercars are being offered, on a first-come, first-served basis.



The 20 cars are built-to-order and those who purchase the supercar also get two “Air New Zealand Business Premier” (Fully flat bed) tickets to Auckland, New Zealand, one-week luxury accommodations for their final fitting in the car, and experience further road and circuit driving before the car is shipped to their chosen destination.

The cars will be numbered and come with a 1/8 scale exact replica, finished in the same livery and specification, plus a full photographed dossier of the car’s build.



The only production road car to bear the name of a F1 World Champion (Denny Hulme), The Hulme CanAm is an ultra high-performance, mid-engined roadster. Created for both road and track use, the car blends the raw flavour and appeal of a Formula racing car with dramatic design, superb craftsmanship, exceptional performance and a thrilling and achievable driving experience.



An order for the CanAm will be secured by the deposit of £10,000 which, as Jock Freemantle, Hulme Managing Director, explains, is fully-refundable if the option is not converted to an order.

The 20 customer cars will be coach-built and equipped to customer order, with delivery commencing in the UK Autumn of 2011 and into 2012, the 20th anniversary of Denny Hulme’s death.



The concept car, in coupe form, was first revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2006. Such was the interest that Hulme Supercars conducted extensive research to assess demand, culminating in the decision to initially offer an open-top CanAm version, celebrating Hulme’s victories of the “Can Am Championship” in 1968 and 1970.




Some of the concept drawings:






Development of the ultra-sleek F1-inspired CanAm car continued, with a finished prototype extensively tested on both road and track before the decision was made to accept orders.



Designed and hand-built by the Hulme Supercars technology team in New Zealand - including members who were responsible for the nation’s America’s Cup triumphs - the road-legal “Hulme CanAm” features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork, and race-orientated chassis, suspension and braking.



To honour Denny’s “CanAm Championship” wins in McLaren CanAm cars powered by Chevrolet V8’s, the Hulme CanAm is powered by a 7-litre (427cu.in) Chevrolet LS7 V8 developing 600bhp and 600Nm torque, fed through a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA manual gearbox (Paddles or Sequential shift will be options available). As a consequence of its lightweight construction, the Hulme CanAm weighs in at less than 1,000kg. This combination promises a sub-three an a half second sprint to 100kph (62 mph), and top speed in excess of 200mph.



The purchase price of the Hulme CanAm will be fixed at $427,000. USD or £295,000. (plus local taxes) on receipt of an order, including delivery worldwide.

The following images are courtesy of the April 21010 issue of Classic Driver magazine with photos by Alan Dick:






To purchase one of only 20 options available please e-mail Jock Freemantle or write to Hulme Supercars Limited, P.O.Box 97853, Manukau City 2241, Manukau, New Zealand.


all info and images courtesy of Hulme. and Classic Driver

11 RCA Students Design The Future Of Bentley. The Aero-Ace Project Finalists.

The Mirage, design proposed by David Seesing.

I noticed a story on a student design project for Bentley at the UK's Royal College of Art called the Aero-Ace in the always fabulous Wallpaper magazine. Definitely worth sharing, and adding to as well. The text and images below are from their January, 2010 issue, plus I've added some video and additional images and sketches from the artists.

The challenge:
"Explore a new Aerodynamic lead design direction for Bentley, develop a digital design for a Bentley coupe that speaks to lean mid 21st century tastes, and that truly embraces aerodynamics to both reduce energy consumption and form part of a future Bentley design aesthetic."



Bentley's Aero-Ace project
Sam Livingstone, senior tutor in vehicle design at the Royal College of Art recently noted, ‘We are seeing a return to the prominence of aerodynamics, and the aerodynamic look, to both deliver and visually convey efficiency.”

This was the initiative behind Aero-Ace, a collaborative design project, just completed with Bentley - the objective being to explore a new aerodynamic design direction for the luxury marque. Second year RCA students were asked to identify a new vehicle direction for Bentley that would appeal to the ecologically conscious consumer.


above: design by Rui Guo

Aided by specialist EXA evaluation software PowerFlow, their two-dimensional design proposals for a conceptual coupé needed to embrace aerodynamics in order to both reduce energy consumption and form part of a future Bentley design aesthetic.

The software simulates the aerodynamics of design at a digital model stage. The advantage being that it enables two-dimensional models to be accurately tested for their aerodynamic performance without having to make an actual real-life car.

The 11 participating students came up with very different proposals, with aero performance results ranging from CD 0.167 to 0.35. Livingstone notes: ‘There are no two that are thematically similar despite all being large Bentley coupés.’ The degree to which aerodynamics plays a role depends on the marque, although Livingston has noticed a growing trend in considering aero performance at the early stages of design.

Exacting customers now expect their cars to have unwavering stability in all conditions, offer refined driving and the sort of speeds that 20 or so years ago would have applied only to purist sports cars. ‘So aerodynamics in car design is unarguably more important than ever. However, some companies still consider aerodynamics only at the end of a programme where they merely tweak details,’ says Livingstone.

The winner will be announced on 4 February and will spend six months working at Bentley.


above: Shawn Deutchman, 26 from the US
Deutchman has proposed the Silhouette, an electric car that announces its power through a long bonnet and muscular rear stance. ‘Like a sprinter leaving the blocks, the vehicle has a forward momentum,’ he says.


above: Anand Krishnan, 29 from India
‘Bentley is associated with power and style, which I interpret as refined aggression,’ explains the designer. The second skin works as a layer to channel air away to the rear for improved aero performance.


above: Augustin Barbot, 26, from France
Barbot has created an aerodynamic sports car with very thin wheels, featuring four wind turbines integrated in the wheel arches to provide the batteries with electricity. The double curved roof minimises air resistance. ‘The two-part retractable roof allows the seats to move into three different configurations: the driving position of a speedster, a coupe and a roadster, all in one car,’ says the designer.


above: Dalibor Pantucek, 26, from the Czech Republic
The Spitfire was inspired by Bentley’s airplane engine-making heritage – the teardrop body shape taking direct cues from aviation. The hidden wheels work like aircraft wings helping with down force


above: David Seesing, 26 from Germany
The Mirage is a 2+2 seater electric concept car, aimed at a younger buyer. ‘With only two eyes, the Mirage shows its real identity when the blacked out headlights are switched on,’ says Seesing. ‘The vertical orientation of the lights takes inspiration from Bentley’s historic 8-litre car.’


above: Gabriel Tam, 27 from Australia
The Speed VI aims to revive and celebrate the sporting heritage of Bentley Motors. ‘Following in the footsteps of the original Speed 6, 4½ -litre, and more recently the Speed 8 Le Mans racer, the Speed VI is created for the discerning Bentley track day enthusiast,’ says Tam.


above: Jong Won Lee, 33 from South Korea
The N(Neo fire) has been inspired by the post-neoclassical period, says the designer who has covered the wheels for enhanced aerodynamic efficiency.



above: Miika Heikkinen, 26, from Finland
TEN11 is inspired by the number of feathers in the Bentley logo - 10 on the left, eleven on the right. Heikkinen designed the electric prototype with a professional kite boarder in mind. ‘The traditional long bonnet creates a possibility to have a big storage place under it - a feature demanded by a lot of Bentley customers,’ says the designer.


above: Niki Merriman, 24 from the UK
Insects were the inspiration behind Nodus, with its overlapping layers on the body panel. Merriman has covered the rear wheels to aid the aerodynamics. When stationary the side windows have the ability to change to the same colour as the body for security and privacy. When the vehicle is in use the colour bleeds away to a clear window.



above: Philipp Siebourg, 30 from Germany
‘My mid-engine vision is influenced by Bentley’s racing tradition,’ says Siebourg. The teardrop cabin guides airflow to the rear, the diffuser manages to reduce the lift of the vehicle in the back, plus the low bonnet cuts back on turbulence at the front of the vehicle.


above: Rui Guo, 22 from China
The Serenade GT is an electric sports car inspired by jewellery. The two channels between the hood and front wheels guide airflow through the body to the side, for reduced air drag. Guo explains: ‘The structure at the rear end naturally forms a two-layered diffuser, increasing the down-force from the airflow.’

Now, some additional images of the work not found in Wallpaper, courtesy of the artists:

Sketches of the Bentley Aero Ace project by designer Dalibor Pantucek who was inspired by Bentley's airplane heritage:



Sketches from Round II of the Bentley Aero Ace Project by designer Miika Heikkinen:


Kketches of the Bentley Aero-Ace project by Augustin Barbot:


Additional designs for the project by Philipp Siebourg:



Additional designs for the project by Gabriel Tam:



And a video of 27 year old designer Gabriel Tam's Bentley Aero Ace - Speed IV Concept Car

Inspired by the original Speed 6 driven to victory by the Bentley Boys of the 20s'at Le Mans, the Speed IV concept is an overtly sporting vehicle with the raw aggression of a pure blood racer, whist retaining the refined elegance of past Bentleys. -Gabriel Tam:


Many of these same talented students were noted in Dezeen's 2008 article on design concepts for the EuroK- Car


Bentley Fan?
Then check out these Bentley Art pieces by their own design team.

Your Own Motorized Steampunk Tank- The JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser!

OMG! A product that Jules Verne would die for (again).
This is a real motorized product that you can actually purchase from Amazon. It's not new, but it's the first time I've seen it available for purchase. The JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser is nicknamed "The Donk" and the friggen thing even throws fire.



To look at it, one might think it to be a hovercraft, but in fact it runs on four off-road wheels, concealed by a unique industrial-strength rubberized flexible skirt that shields and protects the wheels to within an inch of the ground, while still allowing for enough flex to give clearance over bumpy and uneven terrain.



The roof of the Donk features a guard rail and durable rubber matting, making it the ideal place to carry up to 3 friends or several hundred pounds of cargo:



Slide open the roof hatch and you'll find the interior fully carped and cozy, with accent lighting, glove box, controls and room to seat up to 4 people, or 2 comfortably:



The Donk was designed to be as versatile as possible, and that includes the ability of the craft to be piloted from either a seated position within the armored shell, or from an exposed, standing position out the hatch, thanks to a pivoting control stick and special one-way armored windows.



The control stick is topped by the throttle handle, and steers the Donk left to right. But it also pivots up and down- up for when the driver is standing, down for when he's seated inside.



Above: The armored windows consist of stainless steel with a fine mesh of holes that allows occupants to see out without outsiders seeing in, and still protects the occupants from flying debris without risk of shattering.



The exterior of the vehicle is light-armor steel with a rust patina- providing plenty of protection against paintballs, pneumatic cannons, and flamethrowers.






Specs
Drive power comes from an air-cooled, 6hp Tecumseh gasoline engine, with centrifugal clutch, giving the Donk a top speed of 40 mph unladen. Total weight is 900 pounds. Wheelbase is 72", total length is 108", height 54", and width 53". This width is slightly narrower than a standard golf cart, which allows the Donk to fit through many narrow spaces and pylons that would restrict a full size vehicle.

Electrical
The sound system consists of a 1000 watt amplifier and 4 channels, each with a speaker mounted behind a window to project sound primarily outward from the Donk, but of course into the cabin as well. Exterior lighting consists of rope lighting, underbody lighting, custom sequenced 12-channel window strobes, head and tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights.

Power for all these electronics comes from a high-capacity 12V deep-cycle battery array that is charged either from a wall outlet or by the engine and alternator, and has the capacity to supply power for a full day's worth of driving, music, and lights. Lights, power, stereo, battery monitoring, charging, and ignition are all controlled from a single switchboard to the left of the driver, accessible from both the seated and standing positions.




The Donk was designed and built in 2002 by NAO Design of Palo Alto, CA. It was originally conceived as something which was at once both malevolent and benevolent, being battle-ready and armored, yet cozy on the inside and irresistible to people with its lights and sounds.

In the years since it's invention, the Donk has appeared in the desert of Nevada for the yearly Burning Man festival. And now you can own one of your own.

In the dark, with lights and fire spouting capabilities, the Donk transforms into party-mode. The Donk has also been featured in several television and film features, including MTV's Wildboyz and Discovery Channel's Monster Garage.





Designed by NAO Design, the awesome looking JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank will ship in 3 to 5 weeks directly from NAO design if ordered through Amazon, although you are advised to contact NAO first as there are many options that can affect total cost. Engine, chassis, interior, and lighting, and other elements can vary, and as such Donks are built on an individual basis. Be advised also that this vehicle is not street legal in most areas, and may be a tempting but ill-advised replacement for your regular car . . . and it'll set you back $19,999.00 USD (without shipping).