Trend Green Sports Cars

While the focus today is on small and fuel efficient cars with tiny carbon footprints, a number of fledging automakers are entering the market with high performance, fun-to-drive sports cars that include 'green' technologies. Two notable entrants include Breckland Technology in the UK with its Beira V-8 roadster and Austin, Texas-based Ronn Motor Company with its Scorpion supercar. Each has passed the concept stage and will be offered to consumers later this year.

Both alt-fuel supercars use current production engines modified for improved performance and better fuel economy. The Beira is powered by a modified General Motors 6.0-liter LS2 V-8, the same engine used in the Chevrolet Corvette and Pontiac G8. Ronn motivates its Scorpion with a modified 3.5 liter V-6 used in the Acura TL Type S. Both show that high performance can be achieved alongside improved fuel economy and operation on alternative fuels.

Breckland Technology, which produces the Mosler supercar, builds its Beira on the General Motors Kappa platform used for the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. It does away with their standard Ecotec four-cylinder engines in lieu of the aforementioned LS2 V-8, which is tuned to produce 400 horsepower and modified for bi-fuel operation on either gasoline or LPG (liquid propane gas, or propane). The Beira has a range of about 700 miles on the combined capacity of 15.6 gallons of gasoline and 18.5 gallons of LPG. Using clever packaging, Breckland actually increased usable luggage space with the top down even with the addition of LPG storage.

Weighing just over 3,000 pounds, the Beira can accelerative to 62 mph (100 km/hr) in just under five seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. To handle this big boost in power, the car's fully independent suspension was entirely re-engineered with up-rated springs, dampers, and bushings, plus thicker anti-roll bars front and rear. Braking power comes from HiSpec 325 mm ventilated disc brakes. A Tremec 6-speed manual transmission is used.

Breckland totally restyled both the front and rear body sections using lightweight composites instead of steel. It also has a custom-built interior. The Beira will cost around $107,000 (£55,000). There are currently no plans to market the car in the U.S.

The Ronn Scorpion features supplementary hydrogen fuel injection to improve its performance and reduce fuel consumption of the Acura 3.5 liter DOHC V-6 engine. In normally aspirated form the engine produces 289 horsepower, although optional twin turbochargers bump this to over 450 horsepower. Initially, Ronn plans to offer the Scorpion with a 6-speed manual transmission and then a 6-speed automatic in 2009.

The Scorpion uses Hydrorunner's G3 electrolytic hydrogen generator that's designed to work with gasoline or diesel engines. This hydrogen-on-demand system produces hydrogen on-board by electrolyzing water with electricity generated by the vehicle's standard electrical system. The 130 octane hydrogen is inducted through the air intake manifold and blended with gasoline at a ratio of 30- to 40-percent hydrogen. Coupled with a close ratio 6-speed transmission and other fuel saving measures, the Scorpion's highway fuel economy is claimed to be in the 40 mpg range, even with the 450 horsepower twin-turbo option.

The Scorpion uses a lightweight, hand built carbon fiber body over a race car designed chrome-moly chassis. Ride and handling are well looked after with IndyCar style hybrid independent front and rear suspension.

Given the extraordinarily high cost of gas and a diverse automotive market that will likely continue to support a range of vehicle choices from econobox to supercar, we can expect to see more exotics and sports cars emerging with better fuel efficiency and overall environmental performance. It's been a long time coming.