Tag Archives: experiment

This Is Yamaha’s First-Ever Hydrogen Concept Vehicle

We’ve recognized that Yamaha is eager to experiment with hydrogen as a substitute gasoline for a number of years. In January 2022, Team Blue announced plans to work with Kawasaki on hydrogen engine improvement. Then, a month later, we discovered of plans to work on a 5-liter V8 hydrogen engine with Toyota.

By July 2023, Yamaha president Yoshihiro Hidaka reiterated the company’s commitment to exploring hydrogen development as a viable different gasoline supply. And in fact, with the 2024 Dakar Rally very not too long ago within the historical past books, we won’t neglect about the HySE experimental rally vehicle that Yamaha (together with Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Toyota) had a component in constructing.

Fast-forward to January 25, 2024, and Yamaha has now formally launched its first-ever hydrogen-powered idea automobile. At the 2024 Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Show in Florida, the agency confirmed off the Drive H2 idea.

It makes use of two high-pressure hydrogen tanks to run, which maintain 25 liters of gasoline every. The most seen tank is positioned on the rear of the automobile, whereas the opposite tank sits beneath the driving force’s seat. It’s primarily based on the already-existing Drive2 Concierge 4 private golf automotive, which is bought by the Yamaha Motor Corporation subsidiary, Yamaha Golf-Car Company. 

Of course, any hydrogen automobile improvement in any area will depend upon having the out there infrastructure to help it. That’s one thing that folks concerned about electrical autos of any form have additionally skilled lately. 

What About Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycles?

While Yamaha has expressed curiosity in exploring the chances of hydrogen energy for extra autos than simply low-speed golf vehicles (or golf carts), to date, evidently Kawasaki and Suzuki are the one two corporations to have launched hydrogen-powered two-wheeled ideas to date.

Bear in thoughts that it is solely January, although. There are nonetheless 11 extra months left to go within the yr, and an entire lot can change in comparatively little time. As and when extra details about future automobile developments turns into clear, we’ll make sure to preserve you up to date.

Do You Remember Oldsmobile’s Strange Luxury Minivan, The Silhouette?

The Oldsmobile Silhouette was an experiment that in the end did not pay out for General Motors, so it ended manufacturing of the first-generation mannequin in 1996. The second-generation Silhouette arrived in 1997 and fully deserted its predecessor’s futuristic search for one thing way more restrained and inoffensive.

It was a a lot better and safer automobile in each approach, however it had a generic look, nearly like a Japanese automotive from the entrance. It additionally seemed extra just like the profitable minivans Chrysler was manufacturing, displaying that GM was nonetheless making an attempt to mimic its rival’s success.

GM made it a bit narrower and smaller total for the second era, making it a greater match for roads exterior North America. The first era noticed some gross sales success in Europe (because the Pontiac Trans Sport), and GM hoped that the second-generation mannequin’s extra standard styling would assist it discover extra European consumers, too.

The second-generation Silhouette has no likelihood of changing into a future basic exactly as a result of it appears to be like like each different automotive. However, a well-looked-after first-generation instance would possibly develop into a prized basic sooner or later due to its daring Dustbuster design.

Remembering An Unadulterated Modern Muscle Car From The 2000s

Summary

  • The original Pontiac GTO was a successful experiment in the 1960s, inspiring Pontiac to offer it as an independent model.
  • The 2004 model of the rebirthed GTO was unremarkable, but the 2005 model featured a more powerful LS2 6.0-liter V-8 engine.
  • The fourth-generation GTO faced issues such as high price, reliability problems, and a lack of the quintessential muscle car look.

In the 1960s, the Pontiac GTO was the top muscle car in the United States. It began life as an experiment by Pontiac executives, including John DeLorean, to build a vehicle attractive to the younger generation. The company evaded a GM rule that outlawed engines over 330ci in midsize cars by offering the GTO package as an option on the LeMans line. The executives predicted that Pontiac would sell 5,000 units; car dealerships sold over 32,000 examples.

Clearly, the experiment was a huge success, inspiring Pontiac to offer the GTO as an independent model. Pontiac had inadvertently created the muscle car and became the most successful manufacturer in the segment. However, the vehicle’s reign at the top ended swiftly due to dwindling sales, the oil crisis, and tightening emissions regulations.

Pontiac waited until they had a car worthy of the GTO name before resurrecting it. In the early 2000s, the famous name returned on a car popular in Australia, the Holden Monaro. The rebirthed GTO featured a 5.7-liter V-8 engine and could reach 60 MPH in a little over 5.3 seconds. The 2005 model saw significant improvements, including a more powerful LS2 6.0-liter V-8 engine producing 400 horsepower and a top speed of 178 MPH.

The new GTO was not a conventional muscle car in terms of its appearance, but it offered impressive performance and handling. It had a stiff chassis and a performance-tuned suspension, resulting in stable and precise cornering. The car was also a comfortable cruiser and featured a spacious and well-designed interior.

Despite its performance capabilities, the fourth-generation GTO faced issues such as high price, reliability problems, and a lack of the quintessential muscle car look. These factors contributed to its sales failure. However, the GTO is now considered one of the best sleeper cars on the market, with its combination of power and understated looks. A 2005 model can be found for as low as $12,500.

Building an Off-Road Chopper with Huge Mud Tires

Experimenting with different flavor combinations can be a lot of fun. From classic pairings like banana and Nutella to more unconventional ones like green grapes and hummus, it’s all about finding unexpected delights.

The Grind Hard Plumbing Company is known for building whatever their wild hearts desire. They don’t care if it’s never been done before or if it seems like a terrible idea. For them, the real joy comes from planning and executing their projects. While the end result is important, it’s the journey and the problem-solving along the way that make their builds truly special.

In a previous project, they built a unimog with four 46-inch Mickey Thompson mud tires and a V-twin engine from a KTM 1190 Adventure. The result was an insane-looking vehicle that performed flawlessly.

However, as a group of friends who love building things, they eventually found themselves repurposing their old creations into something new. That’s the beauty of having a DIY mindset; you start imagining new projects using your existing resources.

Now, their latest endeavor is an off-road chopper that will feature the 1190 Adventure engine and two of those massive mud tires. This project will require a significant amount of fabrication work and careful planning. In the latter part of the video, they explore the layout of the chopper after salvaging the necessary components from their previous build.

They anticipate that the handling of this chopper will be challenging, given the size of the tires. They might even need to incorporate power steering to make turning easier. But in the world of DIY, venturing into uncharted territory is part of the fun. It’s sure to be an intriguing project that enthusiasts will want to follow closely.