14 DAY TRIAL // The most interesting automobile to hit the "market" of incredible prototypes that actually work is the BMW H2R Record Car. You wouldn't think a hydrogen car could do so much, but this is not just an electric car.
She's a fine example of German craftsmanship combined with the latest technology in the field of alternative fuel sources and it was built with the intention of setting new records in hydrogen performance.
After spending incredible amounts of time, money and energy to spearhead the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the result is worthy of the name BMW. The groundbreaking result set nine world records and proved that hydrogen has the best chances to become the fuel of the future.
The exterior design is as futuristic as the general theme of the car. Having smooth lines, aerodynamic design and gleaming silver body, it looks more like a marine predator from the future. The car has a lightweight aluminum chassis, a monocoque aluminum space frame and an outer skin composed of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.
This gives her a superb stability and a truly impressive top speed, with a greatly appreciated support from the 245/40/19 tires and from the suspension system, which uses a double-wishbone, spring-strut front axle, rack-and-pinion steering, forged-aluminum track control arms (with two ball joints for superior wheel guidance and directional stability), a tie bar and an anti-roll bar.
Technical specifications are also remarkable, as she uses a 6-liter V12 liquid-hydrogen-powered engine, generating 232 horsepower. This technological wonder can propel the car to a top speed of over 187 mph (301 km/h) and makes her accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6 seconds, which is quite a performance for most cars using the classical internal combustion engines.
The H2R attained world best times and speeds for a hydrogen-powered car in the flying-start kilometer, flying-start mile, standing-start 1/8 mile, standing-start 1/4 mile, standing-start 1/2 kilometer, standing-start mile, standing-start 10 miles, standing-start kilometer and standing-start 10 kilometers.
But the most important thing about this car is the fact that she singlehandedly proved that clean and energy-efficient cars are not only an illusion, but the reality of tomorrow, as it only takes a bit of willpower to make nature smile and breathe easy.