New City Transformer revealed at Frankfurt

The Cutest of All With the increasing number of people who inhabit cities throughout the world, it causes more and more complicated the problems related to the increasingly limited lands in urban areas. This encourages the world's automakers to create vehicles that are able to accommodate all the needs of urban communities as well as overcome the problem of increasingly narrow land.

The City Transformer CT-1 able to shrink to a width of only 1 meter, so it can solve the problem of a narrow parking lot, thanks to its Active Width Adjustment technology. (Picture from: Electrive)

One of the logical and quick ideas that can be taken as a solution to this problem is to create a small city car that is able to maneuver swiftly on the streets and in the same time can be parked in a relatively narrow area. Among the many similar city cars currently available, the vehicle made by City Transformer, an Haifa-based automotive startup company named City Transformer CT-1 in our opinion is very interesting, due to this tiny electric city car has unique capability, which is able to transform its width between 39.4 inches (1m) and 55.1 inches (1.4m).

The City Transformer CT-1 when parked in a narrow parking lot on the street Kfar Netter, near Tel Aviv, Israel, November 20, 2018. (Picture from: OtomotifTempo)

This Israeli automotive startup company was founded in 2014, and has been developing this CT-1 tiny car since 2018. The car measures 92.5 inches long, making it one foot shorter than the Smart ForTwo, at 60 inches high and 56.7 inches wide. It is specially designed for urban parking but unlike any Smart car or original Mini Hardtop, it has one great trick; it can fold down to just 39 inches to park in narrow spaces.

It can be four City Transformer CT-1 cars were parked in one parking lot at once. (Picture from: CarBuzz)

This can be done by this car, thanks to the Active Width Adjustment technology.  Furthermore  the company claims four CT-1s can fit into a parking space when folded. Besides that, the tiny electric-powered car is also claimed to be able to provide perfect agility on city streets and is said to be the safest car in its class based on data held by City Transformer shows that about 85 percent of the time people use a car to travel in the city at speeds up to 24 kph (15 mph).

 

With an all-electric range of 62 to 93 miles on a single charge and a top speed of 56 mph (28 mph in narrow mode), the CT-1 may shrink to around the size of a typical motorcycle but it can seat up to four passengers; two adults up front sitting in tandem and two children in the back. The cabin, unlike the wheelbase, does not change shape.

The City Transformer CT-1' production will initially be done by Germany's Roding Automobile, but serial production could also happen in China beginning next year. (Picture from: CarBuzz)

This tiny electric car has two drive modes. The first is City Mode for vertical parking so that there can be four cars in one parking lot. While the Performance Mode is used on the way for the car driving experience as usual.

This tiny City Transformer car is equipped with two electric motors capable of producing a combined power of 20 hp (15 kW / 20 PS). This allows the cuty to accelerate from rest to 50 kph (31 mph) in just 5 seconds before reachs a top speed of 90 kph (56 mph). Meanwhile, the cruising distance is also decent, where it can be driven as far as 120-180 km (75-112 miles) on the fast charged with only 30 minutes its battery reached 80 percent capacity.

Recently, the ability of a fully electric car made by the Israeli company was demonstrated at the 2021 IAA Mobility Show in Frankfurt, Germany. For those of you are interested to this electric car, the automaker has opened the pre-orders with an initial price of £12,500 (around Rp.211 million). The Prices will increase according to the fixed price of £16,000 (around Rp. 270 million). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOSU SOURCES | CITYTRANSFORMER | ELECTRIVE | CARBUZZ ]

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Here's the first race car driven by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of 1950

Rest in Peace Seeing the increasing number of new cars with the most advanced supporting technologies, does not make us abandon their predecessors. Indeed, when viewed in terms of technology they are no match for today's cars. But at least they have given the best pioneering through of their capable performance when they were still victorious in the past.

1950 Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S produced by Italian-born engineer named Amadeo Gordini as much as 20 unit based on the Simca 8 car models. (Picture from: QuirkyRides)

And when we saw the figure of the classic racing car named the Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S on the QuirkyRides's status in Twitter, we were immediately interested to know it better in detail. This great car is known to be produced by Amadeo Gordini, based on the Simca 8 (as we all know, the Simca is a French car manufacturer whose establishment in 1934 was initiated by the Italian automotive giant Fiat).

1950 Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S with racing livery no. 33 used by Juan Manuel Fangio on his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of 1950. (Picture from: MuseoFangio)

As quoted from AutosCroisees, Amadeo Gordini was an Italian-blood gentleman born in 1899 near Bologna who is known to have a great mechanical skills. Previously, Gordini started his career in the late 1920s as a Fiat racing driver with the cars prepared by himself. Throughout his racing career, he won the Bol d'Or in 1935 using the Fiat 508 S Ballila before retiring in the same car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of the same year.

1950 Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S with racing livery no. 33 has a special historical moment of being the first race car used by Juan Manuel Fangio at the La Sarthe circuit back in the 1950. (Picture from: Carburando)

The story of Gordini's mechanical adventures with Simca cars dates back to 1937, when he got the nickname of 'Le Sorcier,' after succeeded in presenting an extraordinary car capability compared to the initial performances of the engines by using the low-cost parts implemented. And later, he applied it onto the Simca 5 and Simca 8 to double their power, allowing these cars to compete with the much more luxurious and powerful models.

All of it thanks to light and resistant tubular chassis and satisfactory, albeit empirical, aerodynamics, the Simca-Gordini are at the top of their class in a number of competitions and sometimes even figure prominently in the general rankings in endurance races. due to good engine reliability. On the other hand, at Le Mans, there was no success and the abandonment was almost systematic.

1950 Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S with racing livery no. 33 of Juan Manuel Fangio sat on display at the Museo Juan Manuel Fangio in Balcarce, Argentina. (Picture from: Wikimedia)

After the war, all hopes were high and Gordini imagined creating his own cars without going through the transformation of Simca models. During the late 1940s, while using the mechanics of Simca, he produced competition cars that rivaled the best brands of the time. He even hired a young Argentinian racing driver named Juan-Manuel Fangio.

From several sources on the Internet is stated that the racing car is built by Gordini as many as 20 units, and still powered by the Simca 8's 1200 engine block which has increased to 1,220 cc then 1,430 cc. And one of them (with the racing livery No. 33) was driven by a legendary Argentinian racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio, on his debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1950 Simca Gordini Berlinetta 1500 20S with racing livery no. 33 is powered by the Simca 8's 1200 engine block which has increased to 1,220 cc then 1,430 cc. (Picture from: Carburando)

At the time, Fangio alternated with José Froilán González the driving of an experimental car that Amadeo Gordini prepared especially for the occasion, the 20S, a coupe as peculiar as its origin: true to his style, Gordini thought about it and built with previous prototype components, but also of street vehicles, which Simca sold at its dealerships. 

Unfortunately, in the race held at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Simca Gordini 20S racing car driven by Fangio and González could not finish the race and had to give up after completing 95 laps. This may be due to Gordini play too many board at once. Sometimes in Formula 1, then in Formula 2 or sometimes at the 24 hours of Le Mans, the mechanics are exhausted and the results in the race are affected, so that Simca ends up withdrawing its support. Gordini does not give up and, on the verge of ruin, he is forced to play the tightrope walk with his budget.

Unfortunately, in the race held at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Simca Gordini 20S racing car driven by Fangio and González could not finish the race and had to give up after completing 95 laps. (Picture from: Carburando)

Gordini maintained this until 1956 and in 1957, after the Naples Grand Prix, he threw in the towel, drawing a line on the sports team. He then crosses paths with Pierre Dreyfus, boss of Régie Renault, who offers him a collaboration. The result is a line of cars which begins with the Dauphine Gordini, then continues with the Renault 8 Gordini, then the Renault 12, Renault 17 ... He also collaborates with Jean Rédélé for Alpine in the development of cars participating in Le Mans, equipped with engines modified by "The Sorcerer".

At 75, he decided to retire but kept a workshop in the Paris region which allowed him to satisfy his passion. He's passed away a few weeks before his 80th birthday, leaving behind an epic that can only leave admiration when one is a car enthusiast. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | QUIRKYRIDES | MUSEOFANGIO | AUTOCROISEES | CARBURANDO | CARLOOK.NET ]

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The story of the forgotten Porsche folded-roof 911 HLS

Weird ONES This time we're going to talk about the story of the forgotten Porsche 911 HLS. Maybe you will ask, how can this happened to one of the Porsche 911 models? As we all knew the 911s are widely known to the world's automotive enthutiats to be one of the most successful models ever made by the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer.

The unique bright green colored Porsche 911 HLS futuristic racing coupe with folding roof (due to lighting conditions the car looks yellow in this picture) is designed by the students of the automotive engineering department of Aachen University. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Before we start talking about it, we will ask you, 'Have you ever heard about the Porsche 911 HLS?' We'll be sure you've never heard about this Porsche sports car before. That's okay, considering a big manufacturer like Porsche, over the years had built a lot of concept cars, most of which are beautiful and very cool.

The most intriguing design characteristic of the Porsche 911 HLS was the hinged cockpit canopy looks integrating perfectly into the body just like it truly belonged there. (Picture from: Rennlist)

And it's a natural thing that there are some of the concepts considered as the fail ones, then over the time forgotten and lost to history. And the Porsche 911 HLS is one of those considered fail concept cars, that's why now the model considered as one of the forgotten Porsche models. Perhaps the most interesting (and odd as well) about the Porsche 911 HLS is the fact that the Stuttgart-based automaker didn't build it by themselves.

The Porsche 911 HLS bodywork made out of aluminum, which even includes the rear louvers and Targa bar. (Picture from: Rennlist)

According to the Rennlist, the car started its life as an ordinary Porsche 911  (some say it was the model of the 1964), which was then sent to the automotive engineering department at Aachen University by Porsche in 1966. So that the students of the Aachen University could made it as the futuristic racing coupe with folding roof. The concept car seems to take some inspiration from the legendary Porsche 904 racing car and its rear engine cover, which could be seen as a kind of retractable roof.

The Porsche 911 HLS left rotten outside the body shop for over 40 years, after got no blessing of the Porsche top brasses for further development stages. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

At the first, the students came up with a series of design sketches on paper before mocking up a mini model of the car. After that they started making a new body for the 911 out of aluminum, which even includes the rear louvers and Targa bar. As you can see here, the most intriguing design characteristic of the HLS was the hinged cockpit canopy looks integrating perfectly into the body just like it truly belonged there.

This forgotten and left outside for four decades, the Porsche 911 HLS concept car was almost lost to history. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Since the Porsche has the true racing blood in its veins, it could be seen from the arrangement of the instruments on the dashboard were pinned on the right (while the steering wheel on the left). Once all bodywork is completed, the the car sent to the Hans-Leo Senden (HLS) coachbuilder in Würselen, Germany which also explains the model name came from. Here its bodywork was refined and given the bright green color and the lettering of 'Porsche HLS' in black letters on both sides.

The Porsche 911 HLS wreckage while on display at the 2015 Techno Classic in Essen, Germany with the plans to restore it to its original condition. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Unfortunately, the slightly eccentric styled racing coupe as the result of the students' hardwork failed to get the Porsche top brasses approval in the Zuffenhausen headquarters.😭 Since then the concept car was simply parked outside the bodyshop, left there for over 40 years until Manfred Hering, the 911 expert was asked whether he could restore the long-forgotten Porsche concept to its original condition. At that time, Hering did not accept the request for the concept car restoration, instead wanted to buy it in such a condition. In short short, finally the unique 911 HLS concept car wreckage has become his.

And the concept car wrekcage had displayed at the 2015 Techno Classic in Essen, Germany with the plans to restore it to its original condition. At least as close as possible, because the main problem is the scarcity of spare parts for the only-one-of-a-kind model such this Porsche 911 HLS concept car so not easy to find ones which is certainly very different with existed today.🙏

Today, after almost 6 years, we haven't heard any words about the 911 HLS, but we hope that Hering has remained consistence with his plan to bring this interesting and unique part of Porsche's history back to life. And if we has any luck, the car could be seen again by us someday, looking just like it did the day those proud students finished its construction. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | POPULARMECHANICS | ROADANDTRACK | RENNLIST | AUTOMANIA.LIFE ]

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The future Vespa La Speciale concept capable to be transformed into a segway

Sempre Una Vespa It's been a long time, we don't write the content that talks about the scooters. And now it feels like it's time for us to re-present something about today's scooter designs (although only in terms of ideas and concepts) related to current trends. The following is one of the scooter concepts (here's no. 3 of 3 concepts) that we have prepared where the whole design are inspired by the Italian scooter legend, Piaggio Vespa.

The Vespa La Speciale Concept is complied as a disertation of three Italian students of the Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) in Turin. (Picture from: Behance.net)

Did you know that apart from those who know how to earn a trust like the designers who officially work for the company, there are literally thousands of others struggling to stand out? And often the latter is much better than the former. For example in the case of the following three Italian students who do their job far beyond what is called a "professional" after You seen their designed scooter as follow;

Here are the three Italian students of the Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD), namely Federico Bernardi, Mattia La Coppola and Andrea Ortile. (Picture from: Behance.net)

As quoted from ScooterNet, it is said that there are three Italian students, namely Federico Bernardi, Mattia La Coppola and Andrea Ortile, who are studying in the major of the industrial design at the Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD), a Turin-based private university of design. And when they were about to finish their studies, they then compiled a dissertation on the future Vespa scooter design called Vespa La Speciale for its 70th birthday (meaning 5 years ago, because today, in 2021 Vespa celebrates the 75th anniversary).

The Vespa La Speciale Concept is created by combining past traditions and future innovations without forgetting the values of originallity as well as reinterpretated of globally thinking without time limit. (Picture from: Behance.net)

After first they putting the idea on a piece of paper, and immediately set up the parameters that would characterize of the scooter design, such as usability, Italian, social, youth, traditional, smart, simple, cool, fashionable, etc.

The Vespa La Speciale Concept was developed as an electric-powered vehicle to support the needs of the new generation. (Picture from: Behance.net)

As excerpted from BehanceNet, this future Vespa scooter design is created by combining past traditions and future innovations without forgetting the values of originallity as well as reinterpretated of globally thinking without time limit. Vespa La Speciale is a two-wheeled vehicle designed to target young people. That is why this scooter concept was developed as an electric-powered vehicle to support the needs of the new generation.

The Vespa La Speciale Concept is electric powered, and therefore the engine size can be reduced, followed by under-saddle storage space. (Picture from: Behance.net)

According to the designers, the concept was formally created after having finished observing carefully what the Vespa was in the past, a true legend of the Italian two-wheeler. And finally, they decided to take inspiration from the Vespa 50 Special, a small, compact and versatile vehicle powered by a tiny 50 cc engine. Furthermore, it was also mentioned that this two-wheeler concept combines two sides that have always been faithful to the Vespa brand, namely the scooter's fashions and accessories.

The Vespa La Speciale Concept is is a two-wheeled vehicle designed to target young people. (Picture from: Behance.net)

After the scooter design sketches were completed, the color composition began to fall and at the same time the ideas based on the latest technology also emerged, such as the rear wheel (when the scooter stops) can be detached from the scooter body which can be functioned as a one-wheelers such the Segway. Dodgy, isn't! 

The Vespa La Speciale Concept's 'killing details', take a look at the 'shell wreath' of the cut projector. (Picture from: Behance.net)

Also, because the scooter is electric powered, and therefore the engine size can be reduced, followed by under-saddle storage space, that's the next brilliant design ideas of them. Not to mention, if you want to talk about the 'killing details', take a look at the 'shell wreath' of the cut projector. Top proposals we've never seen before.

When it's finished, few see their work, few know about it and never been glimpsed by any scooter manufacturers.😭 But what is certain this design concept has spoken along with the increasing number of modern scooters passing by on the streets.

The Vespa La Speciale Concept's rear wheel (when the scooter stops) can be detached from the scooter body which can be functioned as a one-wheelers such the Segway. (Picture from: Behance.net)

Right now, don't be surprised if you see the ideas of three Italian youngster might be seen on the current production version scooters. Why can this happen? Because this is usually done, with the excuse of 'un-officially design', thus giving the brand owner 'more rights' to implement it arbitrarily. Is it true like that? The answer entirely is up to you. 🙏 Keep in mind, We are not in a judgmental capacity.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BEHANCENET | SCOOTERNET.GR]

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The only four-wheeled Stalker

Real Stalker If we look at the figure of the following car, of course, initially it isn't easy to guess. Besides it was rare to shown to public, the car also having an unusual appearance if traced to general sports cars. Yes, at first glance it looks like a Lamborghini, while at the front it has a grille similar to a BMW, but if we seen to the back similar to a Corvette.

The unique shaped car named 'Stalker' is built by Jim Michaud based on the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. (Picture from: RCNMag)

And with an appearance like that, if it was a work of art, then the car can be said such as Pablo Picasso's work of art whose known for his use of 'found art' in creating sculptures out of ordinary objects. So what car is this actually? 

Jim Michaud's Stalker applied the position of the steering wheel is in the middle (like the McLaren F1 has), so the the car driver will be flanked by 2 passenger seats on the left and right sides. (Picture from: Fiero.nl)

Well, as quoted of the RCNMag, this unique looking mid-engined car is the one-off model made by an American car modifier named Jim Michaud of Phoenix, Arizona. He employed a similar technique on this menacing one-off design called the Stalker.

The 'S' emblems is pinned in front hood of the Jim Michaud's Stalker. (Picture from: RCNMag)

In the first You may imagined that the car was built on the Lamborghini Diablo chassis, given its appearance which is said to be similar to the car made by the Italian raging bull manufacturer. But who would have thought that the unique car was actually built on the 1986 Pontiac Fiero's chassis is extended nearly a foot in lenghth, and then converted to a center-steering setup.

Jim Michaud's Stalker's bodywork resembled as a Diablo replica, but modified in such a way on the back by combined with a 2002 Corvette rear section and coupled with the Toyota Celica GT headlights on the front. (Picture from: RCNMag)

As previously mentioned, the car made by Jim Michaud has the bodywork resembled as a Diablo replica, but modified in such a way on the back by combined with a 2002 Corvette rear section and coupled with the Toyota Celica GT headlights on the front.

Uniquely, inside the cabin also used cut-down truck footrests on the passanger's sides might be for convenience purpose. (Picture from: RCNMag)

Due to the position of the steering wheel is in the middle (like the McLaren F1 has), so the the car driver will be flanked by 2 passenger seats on the left and right sides. Uniquely, inside the cabin also used cut-down truck footrests on the passanger's sides might be for convenience purpose. The custom air cleaner for the 350 Chevy is fabricated from two-inch exhaust tubing.

It seems that the Jim Michaud's Stalker is still powered by the Pontiac Fiero engine, which is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Iron Duke engine only poked out 92 horsepower. (Picture from: RCNMag)

Your eyes might deceive you in another way: Even though the photos seem to show several versions of a customized exotic, each with a different color of paint, it’s actually the same vehicle in each shot. Depending on where you stand and how the sun is shining, it can appear to be copper, violet or indigo. So it’s not only a shape-shifter, but a chameleon as well.

Jim Michaud's Stalker has a unique chameleon color that able to make the car color as copper, violet or indigo. (Picture from: RCNMag)

But unfortunately there is no information about the engine, from the pictures it seems that the car is still powered by the Pontiac Fiero engine, which is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Iron Duke engine only poked out 92 horsepower (sorry if wrong).🙏 Or maybe some of you know the engine used by this car and willing to write it in the comments column below.👍 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RCNMAG | EXOTICCARCOLLECTION ]

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