Tuesday, September 11, 2007

62nd International Motor Show (IAA) Cars ,Frankfurt, Germany


Flower power, hemp, and space technology serve as swift guides to the future:

German Hip-Hop Artist Smudo to Present BioConcept Car at the IAA

Frankfurt am Main, September 10, 2007.


Smudo, the singer of the German hip-hop band “Die Fantastischen Vier”, will be taking part in the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) Cars to promote clean technology. Besides being a hip-hopper, Smudo is an amateur racecar driver, which is why he will be attending the world’s largest mobility show to present his favorite vehicle, the BioConcept Car. Smudo is using the vehicle to show how driving enjoyment and responsibility can both cross the finish line in an original way.



The unique BioConcept racecar is great at accelerating and runs solely on biofuels. What’s more, researchers and developers are working on further improving its aerodynamic body, which is made of innovative organic composites. This vehicle obviously belongs at the 62nd IAA in Frankfurt, which, in line with its slogan of “See what’s driving the future”, will be displaying the whole range of ingenious and effective ideas for ensuring sustainable mobility in the future. On Thursday, September 20, Smudo will present the one-of-a-kind eco-racecar at the Four Motors racing team stand in the F3 outdoor area, across from the BioFuelBar. The presentation will begin at 2:00 p.m. At the stand, visitors will also be able to try out the new racing game Juiced2 from the BioConcept partner THQ. Smudo, whose passion for racing simulations eventually took him behind the wheel of a real racecar, is represented in the game, as is his BioConcept Car.

At first glance, the real-life BioConcept Mustang GT RTD looks like a typical muscle car. In fact, the car generates around 280 hp underneath its natural fiber hood. However, in rather untypical fashion, this performance is achieved with pure “flower power,” meaning it runs on conventional biodiesel. Smudo’s Four Motors racing team was assisted in the development of the innovative four-cylinder diesel by the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP). The unique natural fiber body components are based on those used for the Mustang. Production of these components was made possible through the collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and supported by the Agency of Renewable Raw Materials (FNR) with funding from the German Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture.

The result of these efforts is a competitive, environmentally sustainable racing vehicle, which is driven by Smudo in the BFGoodrich long-distance championships and the International 24h races at the Nürburgring.

Four Motors is a prominent racing team that specializes in motor sports using renewable sources of energy. Four Motors developed the BioConcept Mustang GT RTD under the direction of former DTM driver Thomas von Löwis of Menar, and is today working on using second generation biofuels.







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