Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Marcos Mantis XP


The 1968 Marcos Mantis XP looked quite out-of-place at its debut during the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium.  Flanked by the curvy Fords, Porsches and Ferraris of the late 60s, this odd and angular beast represented the hopes of a British boutique manufacturer who was fighting for footing in the performance car market.  The Mantis XP failed the Spa race due to electrical problems, and has been shelved since then until its recent resurrection by a careful restoration in California.  The 1968 Marcos Mantis XP is truly one-of-a-kind, and its strange styling makes it one of the most visually striking automobiles we’ve seen in 2010 

The late 1960s represented a special time in the world of automobiles.  This was the time of Ford GT40, the time of the Speed Racer saga, when a dual focus on futurism and muscle were prevalent in performance vehicles.  The Marcos Mantis XP fit this formula well, as its future-forward design and muscle-heavy heartbeat earned it a debut on the world championship racing circuit.  It was powered by a mid-mounted BRM-Repco V8 Formula 1 engine, whose cylinders rose into the clear-covered engine compartment in the rear of the vehicle.  This powertrain was enough to compete with the world’s top race cars, despite the electrical problems which sidelined it at the Spa 1000km. 





For 1968, the design of the Marcos Mantis XP was breathtaking, if not unconventional, and it remains so today.  Its plexiglass cabin and engine compartment are its signature feature, a design trait that give the Mantis its futuristic appeal.  The vertical plexiglass doors swing upward and a small window slides forward for a bit of fresh air.  The front and rear ends also open upward, giving it a look that this Mantis is shedding a layer of skin.  The body design is at once angular and curvy, with a chopped rear end and curvy front fenders that give it an aggressive appearance.




While the Marcos car brand is no longer in business, the Marcos Mantis XP is seeing new life on the vintage exhibition circuit.  It has been restored to its original glory and looks as stunning today as it did in 1968.  While the vehicle itself may represent a dream that never saw fulfillment, its re-birth today may provide a second chance for its legacy just 40 years late… 




Monday, October 19, 2015

Royal Enfield WD/RE(Flying Flea)

Manufacturer                                  Royal Enfield
Also called                                 Flying Flea
Production                                 1939–1941
Predecessor                                 DKW RT100
Successor                                 RE125
Class                                         Military
Engine                                        126 cc air-cooled two strokesingle
Top speed                                45 mph
Power                                        3.5 hp @ 4,500
Transmission                                four-speed, chain final drive
Suspension                                fixed
Brakes                                       drum
Dimensions                               L: 75 in
                                                      W: 26 in
Weight                                       130 lb (59 kg)



The best known Royal Enfield produced for the Second World War was the WD/RE 125 cc which was known as the Flying Flea and designed to be dropped by parachute with airborne troops.
After the German authorities stopped the Dutch franchisee of the DKW RT100 motorcycle from receiving any more supplies in 1938, preferring a non-Jewish company, Royal Enfield was contacted by the displaced importer about producing a similar motorcycle.  Royal Enfield's version of the bike was produced by Ted Pardoe, who expanded the engine. Two prototypes under the name 'Royal Baby' were shown at Rotterdam in April 1939.Using a less sophisticated but increased-capacity two-stroke engine in the same frame, a few of these RE motorcycles were made before the outbreak of the Second World War.
As with other British motorcycle manufacturers, the Royal Enfield factory production was turned over to the war effort. Military motorcycles included the Royal Enfield WD/C 350 cc sidevalve, the Royal Enfield WD/D 250 cc sidevalve and the Royal Enfield WD/L 570 cc.
In early 1942, the War Office ordered twenty WD/RE motorcycles from Royal Enfield for testing. Based on their 1939 civilian pre-war design, the prototype had a right hand brake and was fitted with an Amal carburettor and had a low-mounted toolbox. The trials went well and led to some modifications, including fitting a twin-box exhaust system to help silence the noisy two stroke engine, a Villiers carburettor (indicated by a 'V' on the engine), raising the toolbox and fitting a folding kick-start, footrests and even folding handlebars, so that it could be packed into the smallest possible space. A Miller lighting system was added, together with a sealed vent on the fuel filler to prevent spillage when the motorcycle was packed in a drop carrier. The foot brake was also relocated to the left side.
Seen a REAL one in Jaipur Rajasthan India


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Lamborghini Egoista

The Lamborghini Egoista is a one-of-a-kind concept car... really. There's only one in the entire world.

The car was unveiled for Lamborghini's 50th anniversary and its name—Egoista—literally translates to "selfish."

This one-seater has a cockpit that's modeled after a modern fighter jet, and that steering wheel? It needs to be removed every time you enter and exit the vehicle.

It's all made of carbon fiber, aluminum, and aeronautical-spec anti-radar material.

Design chief Walter De Silva says, "It represents hedonism taken to the extreme. It is a car without compromises.”

It costs in the millions to produce...

But you'll never get to feel the adrenaline of driving this one-of-a-kind vehicle.

It's currently housed in the Lamborghini Museum in Italy.

Though if you do visit the museum to see the Egoista, you may just get a whiff of this 600 hp car. That alone may satisfy the motorhead in you!


Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) are technologies designed to enhance vehicle safety and driving comfort by automating, adapting, a...