Automotive X Prize teams begin performance testing in Michigan

The 28 teams competing in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize will begin performance testing this week at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The teams are vying for $10 million in prizes, which will be awarded to consumer-friendly vehicles that exceed 100 mpg. This week begins the first of the three on-track performance testing stages: shakedown, knockout qualifying and finals.

New car looms from McLaren F1-creator

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 13 June 2007 10:18 Gordon Murray is set to finally realise his dream of creating a highly efficient, radical car for mass production. The mastermind behind the F1 supercar left McLaren Cars a couple of years ago, and has now secured the funding to set up on his own. Gordon Murray Design Limited – a design, prototyping and development company – will be launched on 4 July.

Motortrend examines making of Kia’s Track’ster concept

Motortrend has included a comprehensive step-by-step guide exploring the process through which Kia built its Track'ster concept car in its April edition. The study, complete with a detailed photo timeline, tracks the progress of the concept vehicle from the original idea right the way through to the car's unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show. The Track'ster was originally pitched as a turbo four-cylinder all-wheel-drive sports car and is based on the production version of the Kia Soul, which was the company's second-best-selling vehicle of 2011.