LusoMotors LM23: 150hp, Honda CBR-powered track car

Track cars powered by motorcycle engines are becoming increasingly popular as the superbike mills, usually mounted amidships, provide tons of power for their small displacement and low weight. Further evidence of this truth is seen in the LusoMotors LM23, a Lotus replica powered by a one-liter Honda CBR1000 engine making about 150 horsepower. Weighing just under 900 pounds, the power-to-weight ratio of this machine would be enough to scare just about any other car you are likely to meet at the track while its light weight would surely allow for plenty of grip in the corners. The high performance of the LM23 is fitting, as the Lotus 23B design on which its based was such a giant killer that it was banned at Le Mans in the early sixties for being too fast for its small displacement.

A quick glance at the chassis shows such track-ready details as inboard-mounted coilovers and a tube frame complete with integrated roll bar. The chassis sits under composite bodywork, just like the original Lotus, though the modern interpretation adds carbon fiber to the traditional fiberglass skin. It looks like we have another Lotus replica set to join the ranks of the numerous Seven variations already sitting in our fantasy garages.

Honda launches Indias first hybrid car

First the good news for those caring for environment: Japanese auto giant Honda Motors Co. on Wednesday introduced India to the first hybrid vehicle-- the Civic Hybrid that runs on a petrol engine assisted by an electric motor.

The bad news: Thanks to a hefty 104 per cent duty that the government levies on imported cars, the hybrid version would cost Rs 21.50 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), almost double the price of the conventional variant.

The prohibitive pricing may keep out buyers, but Honda hopes it would make a strong statement about the future of the auto industry in the backdrop rising oil prices and concerns of growing carbon emissions.

"We are not looking for volumes here but showcasing our technological prowess. We want the Indian consumers to experience this new technology which surely is the future of cars," said Masahiro Takedagawa, President and CEO at Honda's Indian subsidiary.

A hybrid vehicle is basically driven by a conventional petrol engine with an assisting electric motor that is powered by a battery. Due to the assisting electric motor the petrol engine is smaller but it delivers the same performance with lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. The Civic hybrid for example has a smaller 1.3 litre gasoline engine (the normal Civic is powered by a 1.8 litre engine) but delivers around 50 per cent higher fuel efficiency.

The car uses regenerative braking as well which ensures that the energy lost when the vehicle is decelerated is used to recharge the batteries powering the electric motor. This also does away with restrictions of range and charging that need to be done in a conventional electric vehicle.

Despite the many advantages of hybrid technology, the pace of growth in India has been slow due to its high cost and lack of incentives. Though the government has reduced excise duties on hybrid cars to 14 per cent earlier this year, import duties remain steep. And Takedagawa said his company "will not be able to manufacture the car here due to technological reasons."

Ford cuts inspired by Honda

For years, the success of vehicles such as the Ford F-Series pickups and Explorer SUV kept the Blue Oval brand from improving its line of mostly uncompetitive sedans. Automakers like Honda, though, never went the way of body-on-frame trucks and SUVs, preferring instead to continually improve its range of cars and crossover utility vehicles. That strategy is paying dividends in these days of high fuel prices, and Ford has taken notice. Asked whether he would prefer a more car-oriented model-mix, like that of Honda or Toyota, CEO Alan Mullaly recently answered, "Absolutely. We just don't have enough of those small or medium-sized vehicles yet, and that's what we need to concentrate on." Of course, all is not lost. As Automotive News points out, Ford has a new F-150 on the horizon, which is likely to improve its sales somewhat, and the brand as a whole has sold 647,140 vehicles, placing it well above Honda through April. Profitability, on the other hand, is another matter entirely.