Ah, the 1950s. Automotive design in America was closely influenced by the jet age. Folks have been loopy concerning the new-fangled jet planes, however this was additionally an period the place nuclear power was taking strides. What would’ve occurred if nuclear affect made the identical sort of influence within the motoring world?
That’s what Ford was wanting into with the curious idea featured right here, referred to as the Nucleon. Photos of the idea and the unique Ford press launch from 1958 have been lately added to the ever-expanding Ford Heritage Vault. This was merely a design examine to see how future autos incorporating nuclear energy would possibly look. The spherical factor within the “bed” of the Nucleon is the ability capsule containing a nondescript atomic core.
Beyond that, the smooth design has retractible bumpers for higher aerodynamic effectivity. The passenger compartment has digital local weather management techniques. Per the discharge, Ford envisioned a spread of 5,000 miles earlier than the Nucleon wanted recharging.
Of course, this was all purely speculative. This design by no means progressed past a 3:8-scale design experiment, so at no level was there an idea cruising the streets of Detroit with a nuclear reactor within the again. If you’ve got ever been to the Motor City, you understand that is doubtless for the very best.
The press launch acknowledged the design assumed a future the place nuclear reactors have been sufficiently small to suit right into a automotive. In 2023 these reactors are nonetheless humongous as a result of they’re principally huge steam engines. Presumably, Ford noticed a future the place nuclear reactions have been producing energy straight, although we nonetheless marvel how one would recharge a decaying aspect.
Ford’s imaginative and prescient of the long run wasn’t fully off, nonetheless. The press launch talked about charging stations taking the place of gasoline stations, and that is taking place now as electrical automobile improvement expands. Ford additionally described the Nucleon as having digital gadgets entrance and rear to warn occupants of close by autos. Today, such driver-assist techniques are widespread in new autos, even serving as commonplace tools for some fashions.
And if you happen to’re experiencing some unusual familiarity with the Nucleon’s design, you simply may be a gamer. The Fallout sport franchise reportedly based mostly its retro-futuristic fusion-powered automobiles on the Nucleon idea. We pinged Ford to see if that is correct, as we see quite a lot of similarities between the Nucleon and the post-apocalyptic rides within the sport. For now, a minimum of, it stays unconfirmed. But we’ll replace the put up if we be taught one thing new.
Čezeta, the Czech scooter brand that emerged in the 1950s, is still on the lookout for a new buyer. Back in the day, Čezeta produced small-displacement scooters similar to Vespa, with their distinctive full metal body and elongated nose. These scooters became a practical and efficient means of transportation in post-war Europe.
However, unlike Vespa, Čezeta didn’t experience much growth over the next 50 years. The brand’s last attempt at resurgence was in 2018 and 2019 when Čezeta Motors s.r.o produced a limited run of an electrified version of the Type 506 scooter. Unfortunately, the project didn’t gain momentum, and now the brand has come to a halt.
In 2020, the CEO of Čezeta, Neil Eammonn Smith, announced that he was looking for a buyer for the brand. However, due to the global pandemic at the time, this news didn’t receive much attention. Fast forward three years, Čezeta is still searching for a new owner. The company is open to individuals or corporations interested in taking over the production of this iconic scooter.
In 2020, Smith stated, “I have worked hard for the past seven years to bring Čezeta back to life and restart the Czech motorcycle business. We have created one of the best light electric vehicles around with the assistance of our staff and crowdfunding investors. During the last year, however, it has become evident that we need fresh investment and partnership opportunities in order to realize the full potential of Čezeta’s scooter. Thus, I have made the difficult decision to sell the company.”
If someone takes ownership of Čezeta, they will be entering a rapidly growing electric motorbike market. The addition of an electric scooter with a focus on heritage would be welcomed in the lifestyle segment. With the right marketing, Čezeta’s rich history and unique designs could be leveraged to attract customers. Furthermore, acquiring the Čezeta brand would include EU trademarks for the Čezeta name and logo, as well as an extensive collection of Čezeta memorabilia.
The Triumph TR2, a classic sports car from the 1950s, is making a comeback in the form of a lightweight electric version called the TR25. The design of the steering wheel pays homage to the original spoked steering wheels of Triumph cars from the 1950s, with a single dial in its hub. The central binnacle features three additional dials that show speed, charge level, and range.
The TR25 boasts impressive specifications, including an estimated weight of 1095kg, which is 200kg lighter than the i3 S. It also has a projected acceleration time of 5.2 seconds for the 0-62mph sprint and a top speed of 115mph. The lighter weight of the TR25 contributes to an estimated touring range of 190 miles.
The original TR2 broke records in its time, achieving a speed of 124.889mph, surpassing its rival, the Sunbeam Alpine, which had set a mark of 120mph. The TR2 is now on display at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, after being purchased for £250,000 with funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund in 2020.
While the TR25 may signify a revival for Triumph cars, it is unlikely to enter mass production. Instead, it is expected to help Ani and Makkina, the builders of the TR25, progress their business into a new phase. Nevertheless, the TR25 achieves its creators’ goal of creating a small, desirable EV roadster reminiscent of classic roadsters.
The Type 091, also known as the Han class, was developed during China’s Chairman Mao’s rule in the late 1950s. However, it took over two decades for the first submarine to be launched. The goal was to create a nuclear attack submarine that could rival those of the Soviet Union and the West during the Cold War. However, at that time, there were doubts about its technological capabilities, particularly in terms of meeting thermal performance and sound reduction standards, which are crucial for a submarine’s security as sonar detection is a significant threat.
On paper, the Type 091 was impressive, measuring 98 meters in length, 10 meters in diameter, and capable of reaching a top speed of 25 knots. Its pressurized water reactor was a technological triumph for China during that era, and advanced sonar, reconnaissance, and sound detection equipment were developed without any assistance from the West. For Chairman Mao, it must have been a significant achievement and a demonstration of China’s emerging global power.
A total of five Type 091 submarines were built, with three still in active service. These submarines have the capability to launch various torpedoes, including NATO variants, as China adopted standard calibers. They are also equipped with surface-launched anti-ship cruise missiles, which have a range of 42 kilometers and can reach a top speed of Mach 0.9. Despite undergoing upgrades, these submarines have been reported to experience radiation leakage and continue to have significant noise levels, according to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.
[Featured image via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public domain]
Motocross had been exclusive territory to 2-stroke motorcycles much before the 1950s. In 1952, an individual European Championship that allowed the use of 500cc engine displacements was set up by the FIM and would, later on, be upgraded to World Championship status in 1957. However, in 1963, a significant moment in motocross history occurred that allowed 250cc 2-stroke moto-crossers to compete in the 500cc category fielded with 4-strokers.
Fast-forward to the early nineties in a competition of changing rules, the AMA, relaxed its rules that allowed 450cc 4-strokes to compete in the same class as the 250cc 2-strokes. Yamaha took advantage of the rule and developed the Yamaha YZ400F specifically for the category giving it a 5-valve head, liquid cooling, and a 12.5:1 compression ratio. In 1997, with the introduction of the YZ400M, Doug Henry rode it to victory at the Las Vegas Supercross, a first for a 4-stroker in an AMA event, and Yamaha has not looked back since then. With the introduction of the Yamaha YZ450F in 2003, and in its 13th generation, the Yamahahas clinched just about every major FIM Motocross and US Supercross title there is to win with 2-stroke and 4-stroke technology, ever since they won their first World Motocross Championship 50 years ago. Having put all their focus on the new 2023 Yamaha YZ450F, Yamaha has developed a motocross machine that is not only lighter, faster, and easier to ride but has been designed to live up to its heritage.
A left hand-side view of the Yamaha’s YZ450F’s engine
Yamaha has redesigned the YZ450F’s engine which has remained unchanged since the introduction of the original reversed-head layout in 2010. With the usual head layout reversed instead of exhaust cams facing the engine forward, Yamaha’s tricks-in-the-bag has enabled them to keep the bulk of the YZS450F’s air-box, fuel tank, exhaust, and the slanting rear cylinder towards the bike’s center of mass. With a lighter and more durable engine designed to linearly deliver more output with better drivability, the Yamaha YZ450F is easy to ride throughout the rev range.
9Redesigned Piston And Crankshaft
Yamaha
A Yamaha YZ450F’s piston and crankshaft.
The YZ450F gets a newly designed piston and an optimized combustion chamber thanks to the reversed-head layout, as well as a lighter cylinder block that changes its power characteristics in the powerband to an extra 500 revs. The new engine is also equipped with a low-friction camshaft chain, re-designed crank and connecting rod assembly, lighter plain bearings, and a new balancer weight and hollow balancer shaft that negates out any engine vibrations
8Improved Air-Intake And Routing With Vortex Airbox
The YZ450F has a newly routed air-intake path between the fuel tank, frame, seat, and side panels that prevent the ingression of water, dust, and mud from entering the air-box. For 2023, YZ450F also gets a newly designed airbox that separates incoming dust centrifugally before reaching a new round three-dimensional air filter.
With the YZ450F’s power up 5%, the transmission has had to be redesigned to compensate for this increase. The distance between the new transmission’s drive shafts has been widened, while each gear’s diameter has been increased to reduce weight and increase the overall strength of the 5-speed gear-box.
The clutch previously a two-piece steel aluminum component (coil spring) is now replaced with a light-weight one-piece steel clutch with disc springs. The 450F’s new clutch is 0.75 kg lighter, and slimmer providing a more direct feel and lighter pull at the clutch.
6Redesigned Aluminum Frame
Yamaha
A right hand-side view of the Yamaha YZ450F frame.
The 2023 Yamaha YZ450F’s aluminum beam frame has been improved to feel lighter while providing agility and stability at the same time. Yamaha’s engineers have relocated the joint between the tank rails and head pipe, which is now 15mm lower than its predecessor while the downtube, cross tube, and swingarm pivot area have been stiffened ensuring a high level of stability and precise cornering. The YZ450F’s chassis which originally had an 8mm aluminum front engine mount utilizing three through bolts, now gets a 4mm thick steel mount with one bolt.
5Next Generation Bodywork
Yamaha
A right hand-side view of a Yamaha YZ450F.
Every exterior panel of the Yamaha YZ450F has been redesigned to provide a slimmer body, making it more compact and sleek while allowing the rider to rapidly shift body weight. Because of the elimination of the front air-ducts, thanks to the newly routed air supply path, this has allowed more compact shrouds with a width reduction of 50mm to be fitted, as well as a narrower new fuel tank that makes the center section of the YZ450F slimmer. The YZ450F also gets a compact fender with a shorter rear fender to match, making the YZ’s overall length appear shorter.
4Improved Ergonomics
Yamaha
A view of the Yamaha YZ450F’s ergonomics.
The Yamaha YZ450F’s riding ergonomics, i.e., the connection between the seat, handlebars, and foot-rests has been revised to accommodate varying physiques. The seat height has been increased by 5mm while making the seat surface flatter and the rounded profiles of the left and right seat edges have been contoured better making lateral movement easier and more comfortable. The footrests are 5mm lower giving 10mm of more legroom (taking the seat changes into account) for taller riders while a 4-position adjustable rubber-mounted handlebar can be moved according to the size of the rider to provide a more neutral riding position.
The Yamaha YZ450F’s KYB suspension valving has been upgraded to absorb high and low-speed bumps by simply hand-tweaking the adjustable compression damping adjuster which in turn has helped with the 450F’s cornering precision and straight-line stability. For more information on suspension setup, the rider can also access information and recommendations on suspension settings via the Power Tuner app on his or her smartphone.
2An advanced Launch Control System
Yamaha
Launch Control button on the Yamaha YZ450F.
The YZ450F now has the ability to gain the holeshot at full throttle, thanks to a new Rev Limit feature in the Launch Control System that can set a maximum rpm between 6000 and 11,000 rpm in 500rpm increments. The Rev Limit feature automatically disengages once the LCS recognizes that the start has been completed and the bike has reached 3rd gear.
1Power Tuner App
Yamaha
A rider making engine adjustments via the Power Tuner app.
The Power Tuner app has been updated in an intuitive way that makes it easier to understand and use while selecting different levels of power, traction, and launch control just by scrolling a slider horizontally from Smooth through Aggressive – of course, this is only possible once the rider has downloaded the app and paired his phone to the YZ450F. Additional functions also include RPM, fuel consumption, a lap timer, speed, battery voltage, and a host of other data. An FAQ section also provides a guide on how to maximize the suspension setup. The Power Tuner app can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple Store, depending on the rider’s smartphone’s operating system.
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
