This is the LiquidPiston X2 diesel rotary engine. It’s a compact unit that produces about 40 hp. The amazing thing about the X2 is that it achieves a thermal efficiency in the neighborhood of 75% which is unheard of for internal combustion engines. It achieves this with a constant volume slow burn of the air/fuel mixture. Head over to Gizmag to read more of the details on the X2. They were able to interview the President and CEO of LiquidPiston.
Jay Leno finishes his look at the Icon resto-mod product line by checking out the truck that started the brand, the Toyota FJ. Icon goes out and buys FJ’s for the frames and then puts aluminum bodies on them from Aqualu industries in Vancouver. Aqualu makes a lot of interesting variations on the FJ body including a pickup truck and this 4 door, 6 passenger “FJ-44” variant. A GM LSx resides under the hood and the entire thing sits on top of what looks to be Dynatrac axles and a custom suspension link setup.
Follow along with the Brammo Icon racing team as they wrap up this year’s TTXGP electric motorcycle racing series. The team has two riders, Eric Bostrom and defending champion Steve Atlas. This is the final race of the season at Daytona International Speedway.
Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer visit’s the Tesla factory to check out their first clean sheet designed car, the Model S. His interviews focus less on the details of the actual car and more on the innovative design philosophies that went into it. The interviewees talk about the reasons why Tesla chose to break certain conventions with the Model S.
You guys know that I really enjoy muscle cars that handle well. Check out Finnish drifter Mikko Viitala’s 1970 Z28 Drift Camaro. According to Speedhunters, it’s got a 505 horsepower LS3 under the hood, Corvette brakes and Bilstein shocks.