Tag Archives: future

Gadget Gadget, Two Wheels

Kawasaki Is Developing a Hybrid Motorcycle With an Electric Supercharger

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Kawasaki already makes the H2, a motorcycle with a supercharger. Motorcycle.com has put some patent and trademark application pieces together that strongly indicate that an electric supercharger is currently under development.

Previously, electric superchargers have been a joke. I’ve seen devices that are basically 12-volt fans, running off the starter battery, spliced into a car’s intake system and allegedly cramming more air into the engine. The actual performance benefits of these systems is either none, or negligible.

But the way Kawasaki is going about it, this might actually work. The electric supercharger would run off the much larger battery of a hybrid motorcycle. These are far more powerful than a regular starter battery. In short bursts, they could supply enough power for an electric supercharger to actually be effective. While the old electric superchargers were built and sold by no-name snake-oil companies, Kawasaki is a reputable business. They wouldn’t be doing it if it didn’t work.

Auto Industry, Electric Avenue, Four Wheels

Subaru Teases Their First Electric Vehicle: The Solterra

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Subaru’s been slow to hop on the electric bandwagon, but they’re getting there. They just released teaser photos of the Solterra, their first electric model. Naturally, it’s an SUV.

I agree with Elektrek’s take on this. All-wheel-drive is what Subaru is best known for, and they’re doubling down on that. But when it comes to electric vehicles, all that goes out the window, because you can easily have multiple motors powering the wheels. No trick STI center differential can replace the flexibility of two independent electric motors front and rear. So it’s puzzling as to why Subaru has taken this approach.

Only time will tell how an electric Subaru will blow head gaskets.

Auto Industry, Four Wheels

There Will Be Another Morgan 3 Wheeler

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Morgan must’ve read my love letter to their 3 Wheeler, the last of which was built recently. Or was it? A Morgan press release says there will be another, and they have photos to prove it.

The camo color scheme is amusing, because it’s impossible to disguise a Morgan 3 Wheeler to look like anything other than what it is. What these pictures reveal, though, is the clear lack of a Harley (I know, S&S) V-twin engine comically hanging off the nose of the car. It’s just some ugly gridwork, which will likely look much nicer in the production car.

So what’s under the hood? Morgan says a Ford three-cylinder (1.0 EcoBoost, maybe? That engine would put a lot of pep into this car) and I believe them, but I can’t help speculating that there may be an electric offering in the near future as well. We’ll have to see. But I’m glad that the 3 Wheeler is not dead after all. Thank you, Morgan, for listening to my request.

Auto Industry, Electric Avenue, Four Wheels

Lotus Goes Large On Electric

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Colin Chapman would be spinning in his grave. The company once known for “simplify and add lightness” has announced big plans to do quite the opposite, reports Electrek. We knew Lotus was going electric, but three of the four new models on the way aren’t what you’d expect from Lotus. They include two SUVs, a four-door coupe, and a sports car, which will be the last to come out. We’ll have to wait until 2026 to see it. All four of these models will be electric.

While it’s a sad departure from the true sports cars we know and love, it’s also pretty much inevitable for any car company that wants to survive. Survival is necessary if we’re going to keep getting the little zippy sports cars that made Lotus famous in the first place.

Auto Industry, Four Wheels

Subaru WRX Wagon May Return, But Only In Australia

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WRX fans have been screaming for a hatchback or wagon version of the car ever since the current (and outgoing) generation car came out for 2015. It seems those screams have been answered — but only if you live in Australia.

CarExpert reports that the current Levorg wagon will complete its transformation into a long-roof version of the WRX starting next year. Unfortunately, Subaru will continue its financially sensible commitment to crossovers and SUVs in North America and not bring it here, much to the dismay of wagon fans like me. I bought my 2015 WRX in spite of it being a sedan and not a hatchback, not because of it.

So what will the next North American WRX look like? Subaru will show us on September 10.

Photo credit: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima via Wikimedia Commons