I thought I'd share something I'm interested in here.

Has anyone else heard of wikispeed? I read about it in the news a while ago. It's an open source car so the plans are freely available on the web with instructions on how to build it.

Quick specs: The SGT01 offers the following:

109 miles per gallon combined (US EPA cycle simulation)
It's the lightest car ever to achieve a five-star equivalency rating for front-, side-, and rear-impact tests.
0 to 60 MPH comes in 5 seconds.
Current top speed of 149 MPH.
The ultra-efficient gasoline engine is mid-mounted for optimum efficiency of power delivery and minimal energy loss when turning.
4 gallon gasoline tank for a 400 mile range. No batteries, just ultra-efficient use of gasoline.
It's available for only $25,000.

http://www.wikispeed.com/

Thoughts?

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open source .... so it runs linux rather than windows ?

Nah, just means that all the design and construction information is free to use and modify by anyone.

For open source projects there is usually a controlled base, Linux for example is produced by a core team and controlled for consistency, but anyone is free to download, use, modify, reproduce as they wish. Most of the time there's some kind of free license that limits using it for commercial gain.

Whereas windows is more like a conventional car, detailed design and construction information is hard to get.

So for wikispeed it means all you need to know to build one of these cars is freely available and if you want you can modify as you please. It also means if you're interested in getting involved you can volunteer time to develop the design.

The other benefit of the car is it's modular so you can upgrade as you go by bolting in upgraded modules. You might build one with the petrol engine now and in 5 years swap it for an electric motor and battery pack.

sounds too good to be true...
and their site has no inforamtion about how any of those amazing things are achieved, just that they're using a Honda R18a engine and claim that with half the weight of the civic and half the Cd, they will at least double the fuel economy and performance.
no actual car photos or videos, let alone tests either. I reckon its more of a wish-list than anything.

There's some footage of the actual prototype here http://main.wikispeed.softlaunch.352media.com/car

They're fairly large claims but within reason, some years ago VW build a car that used 1L/100kms which styling wise is similar to this one but a bit smaller and with a diesel engine. I think they called it their 1 or something like that. SO I don't think it's unbelievable but yes, it would be good to see some verified results.

can it get us locked up and seek amnesty in a forign countries embassy? if not its no wiki!!!!!

I can build one that leaks if you like....