The Progressive Auto X Prize is a California-based contest that will award prizes totalling $10 million for vehicles that can go 100 miles on the energy equivalent to that of a gallon of fuel. Delta is finalising the design of a "low, sporty four-seat coupe" that will use a unique, lightweight electric motor developed at Oxford University, and is scheduled to begin track tests at the end of 2009.
"Whether we or any of the other small teams can become the next GM or Ford is another matter," says Technical Director Nick Carpenter, "but the contest gives us the chance to bring fresh approaches uncluttered by history." Some of those new ideas may be snapped up by bigger fish, he adds, but even those that don't still have a chance to shine and influence the future of mass motoring.
Managing Director Simon Dowson said: “Delta Motorsport has a growing, international reputation for bringing together innovative design, creative production solutions and skilled project management. We work hard in developing close relationships with our suppliers and collaboration with businesses that have complementary skills to ours, this way we can apply the best solutions to the particular piece of work, this might be race cars, developing safety products for motorcycles or hybrid and battery electric vehicles. However, we will only continue to stay ahead of the competition if we continue to invest in technology."
Further media coverage of Delta Motorsport's activities is available by clicking the following links:
http://www.eminnovation.org.uk/News.aspx?WCI=htmResults&WCU=CBC%3dView%2cDSCODE%3dNEWS%2cNEWSITEMID%3d10-N111
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16919-innovation-100mpg-car-contest-under-starters-orders.html
http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn16919-x-prize-cars-gallery/8
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams/delta-motorsport
http://www.emda.org.uk/news/newsreturn.asp?fileno=3595
Source: New Scientist
