- Mark Nichol
This is the RMC Scorpion, the American supercar unveiled at SEMA this week. And though it might look like a run-of-the-mill motor show supercar, with its 20-inch chrome alloys and low, wide stance, it's far from ordinary.
That's because you can fill it up using your garden hosepipe! The Scorpion showcases a revolutionary new hydrogen injection system, which takes water from an onboard tank and uses it to boost performance and reduce carbon emissions.
The system, which is dubbed 'H2GO' and works in tandem with a regular petrol engine, separates the water using electrolysis into its base hydrogen and oxygen elements. The hydrogen is then mixed with petrol and injected into the air intake, as normal. Hydrogen is carbon free and has a higher octane rating than petrol, so CO2 is reduced and performance is improved.
That means the Scorpion's Honda sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine generates 300bhp and propels the 998kg car from 0-100 Km per hour in around four seconds, all the while returning 17.01km per litre. A twin-turbo 'HX' version is available too, with 450bhp and a top speed of over 321 Km per hour.
Sales begin in January, but with only 200 cars planned initially environmentally savvy supercar fans need to be quick to get their hands on one. Priced at around $176,000 for the standard car and $296,868 for the HX, potential suitors will need to be rich too. However, there's good news for the rest of us, because the hydrogen injection system will go on sale as an aftermarket kit for any car.
Due to hit the shelves in January too, the $1,112 kit can be retro fitted to any motor and will improve fuel consumption by 20-25 percent, reducing emissions to boot. See, who said limited run motor show supercar concepts are irrelevant?
