Step aside,
Tesla -- we've just spotted the hottest Earth-lovin' supercar since the
Lightning GT. Shown off to wide-mouthed onlookers at the LA Auto Show this month, the Capstone CMT-380 prototype is an automotive beast unlike anything we've ever seen. Rather than mixing batteries and a conventional engine, this whip combines the former with a diesel / biodiesel-powered microturbine, which is -- for all intents and purposes -- a jet engine. Reportedly, the car can reach 60MPH from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds, hit 150MPH before being cut off by the electronic limiter, cruise 80 miles on battery power alone and drive from Idaho Falls to Spokane on just a single tank of fuel. It's being bruited about that the company is considering flipping this bad boy into the production line, but with an estimated asking price north of $200,000, there's sufficient evidence to think that the volume here would remain relatively low. Hit up
Autoblog Green's gallery of shots from the show floor below, but only if you love peering at high-resolution images of stealthy, sexy things.
posted December 7th 2009 12:02PM
Someone has to say it: Batmobile
@(Unverified) : crapmobile.
@(Unverified)
Thank you.....
@(Unverified) That was what I was thinking....NANA NANA NANA NANA NA BATMAAAAAN!
ugly toy car is ugly.
@One Love stupid internet meme is stupid.
@One Love
Wow, u must be blind...or just have bad taste
Does it channel thrust out the back to propel it, like an F-15? No? Then it's not a "jet" engine.
@(Unverified)
It's the same type of engine used in virtually all jet-powered aircraft, and while technically inaccurate, using the word 'jet' helps the majority of the readership understand what it is better.
So basically, no need to be an elitist anal ass about it.
@(Unverified) Lighten up, Francis.
@(Unverified) When did asking for correct information become elitist?
@(Unverified)
"elitist anal ass"...
"actually, it's pronounced Analrapist"
"..Yeah, it's not the pronunciation I'm concerned about"
@(Unverified)
Based on some of the replies, I'd say engadget made the right call by dumbing down the explanation for those who don't know the difference between a "jet" engine and a turboshaft.
Matte black vehicles are awesome (save for the chrome wheels).
@(Unverified) Agreed. Matte black finish with time attack rims...murdered out bliss
Wouldn't a glossy paint job be more fuel efficient? Flat paint can't help with drag can it? I remember all the suggestions to wash and wax to improve mileage.
On the other hand, the flat black is awesome looking and if people really wanted to help the environment they would get a bicycle.
Yup. You are right. In this era of climate change the most green vehicle would indeed be cycle but pure electric cars would be more practical.
@RandomGuy According to MythBusters it should be covered in golf ball dimples.
@barry99705 Ahh yes, dimples can help. The entire car doesn't need to be covered, just places that will help disrupt the flow enough to prevent a vaccuum from forming at the rear of the car. The Meyer electric car has dimples on the backs of it's fenders and near the rear of the vehicle. The link shows a view where the dimples can be seen if you look close.
http://heckeranddecker.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/nmg_electric-car.jpg
I remember a study where they dimpled a baseball bat and hitters were able to hit 15% farther or something like that. But still, even the dimples should be glossy.
@RandomGuy
using a regular engine instead of a jet would be even more fuel efficient
@karthik
i'd say a bicycle would be more practical than a pure electric car
With the way this engine is being used (electric generator), a regular piston engine probably would not be more efficient.
WANT!
More sports cars need to be painted Matte black.
Looks like a Factory Five GTM
@brownc4
doh, they mention that on the Autoblog green post.
@brownc4
That is a Factory Five GTM kit car.
How is that diesel / biodiesel-powered micro turbine engine mean a jet engine ?
@karthik Same technology.
How can anybody fit in that thing, the hood looks so low.
@The Mad Mule
that's not where the driver goes...
If it didn't have those awful ricer rims it might be a decent looking car.
brownc4 you beat me to it...that's a Factory Five GTM kit car!
http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html
I wonder if this is based off that Hummer that was built about a year ago that used a turbine to charge capacitors which would then power the elec motor. The turbine only ran for very short periods of time at high RPM to do the charging and was claimed to be very efficient.
Interesting factoid:
Capstone is the descendant of Rosen Motors -- Rosen Motors was a tech start-up conceived by Ben and Harold Rosen in the mid '90s (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985185-1,00.html). The Rosen Brothers were responsible for some of the core invention of Hughes satellites.
At the time, they were showing off prototypes of their micro-turbine in luxury Lexus and Mercedes sedans(here is a Saturn prototype -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG66JQmdMv8) that promised insane MPG.
The company never got off the ground and the IP was moved to Capstone who proceeded to market MT-based generators and whatnot. I always wondered what would come of their designs. Nice to see they never completely disappeared.
Mechanically, it is akin to a jet engine. "For all intents and purposes," however, it's not. If the intent is to propel the car via exhausting hot gases, it doesn't do it. If the purpose is to directly propel the car, it doesn't do that either.
@(Unverified) So you're saying\ the Apache helicopter isn't jet powered? They don't use the thrust of the jet engine for forward propulsion.
@barry99705
That's exactly what he's saying... The Apache isn't jet powered. Turboprop planes use turbines with props, while not being "jets". Look up "turboshaft" !
Here, lemme help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboshaft
Who gets to define what a supercar is? Apparently, you only need to be able to hit 150mph to be a supercar now.
@nrb *only*
@nrb, Well, it also needs to cost more than you can reasonably afford.
I'd love to hear of a geek buying this car and removing the electronic governors from it. I mean hell if its an electric engine powered by a diesel turbine there is no reason why it shouldn't be able to break 150mph....your battery life will suck but hey ur goin fast
Hopefully the turbine's noise isnt shielded...my one major problem with electric cars is i like the sound of an engine
A really dark matte "army green" might be more appropriate for an Earth-loving ubercar. This has "I fight crime at night" all over it.
This has a lot more in common with a steam turbine power plant or a turbine helicopter than an actual "jet" engine. Instead of using compressed, superheated air to directly propel the car, the gases spin a turbine which turns a driveshaft, in this case attached to a generator. It should be pretty efficient, as turbine engine operate best at constant RPMs, which are required for a generator. Interesting concept.
cool!
But I bet that it won't travel back in time.
...Idaho Falls to Spokane...
Thank you for providing 2 points of reference no-one outside the Boise and SeaTac areas will understand.
That's about 513 miles for the rest of us.
@golfnz34me
Beat me to it, but I'll source you for adding emphasis and to feel special about myself.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=idaho%20falls%20to%20spokane
@golfnz34me
and 513 miles isn't that far for many cars.
@gingerninja
After 7 hours of driving, you could probably use a short break.
@golfnz34me
Hey. I get those points.. of course I live in Spokane
(pronounced spoke-ann, not spoke-aine, please.)
but it is nice to see my town mentioned. very rarely happens. this town hasn't been known for much since the worlds fair.
@rcappo
by "a short brake", do you mean a good night's sleep, while your batteries recharge?