History of America's Sports Car

The Chevrolet Corvette is often known as "America's Sports Car" due to the fact that it is the first all-American sports car built by the American manufacturing company General Motors. The Corvette has maintained its reputation as a very powerful yet affordable car for more than 50 years now. The car first came out in 1953 and was manufactured in a GM assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. What sets the Corvette apart from its European counterparts is its emphasis on simplicity. Most competing brands depend on smaller displacement and a complex engine. The Corvette on the contrary, uses a larger displacement and a simpler overhead valve that often resulted in a lighter, cheaper and physically smaller engine. This same philosophy is also reflected in the type of suspension used by the Corvette where GM opted to use the transverse leaf springs.

The name for Chevrolet's entry-level sports car back in 1953 comes from a highly maneuverable frigate class warship of the same name. The person responsible for choosing the name of GM's sports car was Myron E. Scott, who happens to be the creator of the Soap Box Derby. The early Corvettes have fiberglass for their outer body due to the steel quotas left over from the war. The engine used back then was the "Blue Flame" inline 6-cylinder truck engine with two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and drum brakes that are similar to any Chevrolet car line of that time. Compared with its European counterparts, the Corvette was an underpowered vehicle. It was only in 1954 that a Paxton supercharger became available as a dealer-installed option. This significantly improved the performance of the Corvette but was still behind its counterparts.

The Corvette underwent major changes by 1963 and marked the start of the second generation of Corvettes that was also known by the acronym C2. There were several body designs made by Larry Shinoda, which were released from 1963 till 1968. The development of the Corvette Stingray sporting split-rear windows and fake hood vents also started in 1968. A 6.5 L big-block engine option also became available and an even larger 7L big-block engine came by 1966.The Third generation (C3) Corvette's design made by Larry Shinoda was inspired by a Mako Shark. The C3 lasted until 1982 and in each passing year, various improvements were added to the Corvette especially on its engine. In 1973, Urethane-compound bumpers replaced the chrome bumpers of the Corvette.

Electric Sports Cars Are Possible

Many people have a misconception that the electric sports car is slow and not too strong. Can not be further from the truth. Bustup, California-based company, because with out Alias in mid-2009. Alias that is purported to 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, a combined 320 horsepower in two-wheel machine, and reaches a top speed of 120 mph. Alias squabbling that can run up to 150 miles on one charge.

Tesla Motors, also a California-based company, is set to open the road, he can claim 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Akan roadster that also has a 248 horsepower engine, reaches a top speed of 125 mph, and can run up to 250 miles on one charge.

Fisker Automotive (California company) will send you a sports car called the Karma, which is an electric / gas hybrid sports car. Karma will have two drive modes: Stealth Mode and Sport Mode. In Stealth Mode, the Karma will commence from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 95 mph. In Sport mode, start from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 125 mph.

Overseas, a company based in the UK, called Lightning Car Company, is releasing the Lightning GT. This all-electric vehicle to run 0-60 mph in 4 seconds and reach top speeds exceeding 130 mph. The Lightning GT also brings an impressive 700 + brake horsepower engine.

Finally, the Swiss automaker Rinspeed is releasing a iChange, sporting a lightweight electric car that will go from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 136 mph. Three lithium batteries will power the iChange, producing over 200 horsepower. This car will run up to 60 miles on one charge.

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The Caterham 7 Sports Car

Lotus 7 first released to the public in 1957 and cost £ 1000 pounds to buy new. However, simplicity of design that is intended also to be able to offer Lotus 7 kit in which he will be as much as half the cost. Chapman's constant aim throughout all the Lotus cars are for lighting, make sure that the car has produced the highest agility and road holding.

Lotus grows in height as a Chapman realized that the company will need to shed the image with the car kit if they are to be considered seriously super manufacturing and so forth, in the year 1973, with the design and rights to the Lotus 7 was sold to Caterham Cars and Caterham 7 new born.

This is not surprising that the Caterham 7 has continued to be popular with the enthusiastic driver as long as decades, with a simple machine in front of, behind electricity and two chairs in the center's philosophy, this is a sports car has become a hit. As often happens if you have the winning design in your hands will often try to find another copy and have exceptions Caterham, pursing some case law to protect the design.

Design of the Caterham 7 remain pretty static until, in 2000, which is the version offered by SV. This is the Caterham's best for all those drivers who is found fit in a tight squeeze 7, providing additional width from 11cm to the chassis means that the whole group of new drivers can enjoy a surprising way of handling and performance of the 7.

Unbelievably though Caterham car light source to reduce the weight further from the road racer, and this has caused the light varies from Caterham. Caterham released in 2004, the most extreme version of the 7 again, with the R500 Evo. This car can accelerate to 100mph and then brake back to zero again in just over 10 seconds, an achievement which he placed in front of a Ferrari enzo seriously humbled.

Caterham have continued on with the theme of lightness by producing a new version of the R500, a car that utilizes the latest in carbon fiber and the thin wall of aluminum, and has enough power to weight ratio to worry about with the owner of Bugatti Veyron. Nowhere is spared the weight loss program, even windscreen is optional extra, although thankfully the size of the bulbs for those who are still hot late night drive.

While the ship Caterham models offer exceptional performance for the price, the Caterham 7 is available for every need and budget performance. More importantly, if you can face some long nights locked in the garage and build one from the kit you will be able to save more money, and the glow of satisfaction in that sports car you just created is all your own work.