Powered by a 110cc scooter engine, the Spira foam car returns 100 MPG, weighs just 302 Lbs and tops out at 70 MPH. Built using common motorcycle parts, Lon Ballard, the vehicle's inventor, suggests it could use any bike engine you want.

The most noticeable thing about the 10-foot long, five-foot wide Spira is its foam body, reminiscent of one of Erwin Wurm's fat cars but without the commentary on consumerism. That foam endows the Spira with several fantastically unique abilities.

First, you can run it into things without either that thing or you getting hurt. Second, it's unsinkable, meaning the Spira is future-proof, should that future include rising sea levels. Third, it's sexy. Ballard doesn't substantiate this claim with any examples, but we'd imagine the voluptuous curves and lack of sharp edges could benefit dragons immensely.

Ballard claims the Spira's foam construction was inspired by yet another icon of foam construction; Croc sandals. You can easily see this in the fashionable lines and immense functionality.

Ballard intends to enter the Spira in the Automotive X Prize fuel economy race before commencing production in a place he calls "The Detroit of the East," but most people just call it Thailand.

Sprinkled throughout the film were spherical-wheeled Audis and a few other concept cars. Our favorite scene was when Will Smith’s character is calmly driving down the freeway and gets attacked by two robot transporters deciding to pull off some tricky maneuvers by rotating 180 degrees to surround him while continuing to drive forward. After the crazy Steve Jobs drone robots start to attack, Will Smith’s character puts the Audi RSQ into a 360 degree spin, again while driving straight, in an effort to eject the robots from the car. Neat! But what if this wasn’t just movie magic? What if there was a company trying to produce a spherical drive unit today? Where could I find this awesome piece of tech, you ask? Well, a company called AirShip Technologies Group is doing just that, but they’ve upped the nerd quotient even more by using everyone’s favorite future car, the DMC DeLorean of Back to the Future fame.

Built to compete in the highly lucrative Automotive X-Prize, AirShip Technologies Group’s maglev-style, spherical-drive DeLorean will be powered by magnets, dual lithium-ion battery packs, elf dreams and unicorn farts –- essentially allowing it to glide across the ground like a magic carpet. And really, anything powered by "track balls" can't be too bad.

We’ll let AirShip Technologies Group explain details of the concept from their website below:

“AirShip Technologies Group has filed a Letter of Intent to enter the competition for the Progressive Insurance AXP (Automotive X PRIZE). The PI-AXP is a very powerful design, development, construction and ultimately a race to sustain 100 mile/gallon vehicles that meet certain design aspects, tests and endurance as they undergo various road conditions.

Various competitor entries are expected, but none will show the agility of AirShip Technologies Group’s vehicle known as the AirShip. The AirShip ground transport vehicle is designed from the ground up to be powered by electric based track-spheres. Critically developed transit track spheres or “track balls”, shell brakes, suspension systems and guidance software are specified for adaptation to the chassis. For ground transit, all four drive train track spheres have a revolutionary electric base powertrain assembly that incorporates a free moving spherical ball that replaces traditional wheels and tires. The track sphere wheel assembly rotates the spheres by forward, aft and lateral electric motors that can change the direction of travel on demand. The motors fit into circular frame hubs that hold the spheres in place, vastly simplifying the drive system and eliminating the need for fuels that produce Green House Gases (GHGs).

At the Kent State University TRIZCON2008 Problem Solving Event (April 2008) for the Altshuller Institute of TRIZ Studies, the Track Sphere technology design and development was modified and accelerated in order to move AirShip concept vehicle components to a Delorean ATG production car. The experimental workshop in support of the US$10 million Automotive X PRIZE had delegates from Germany, Israel, Ireland, Russia, UK, Korea, Taiwan, and multiple US states. Represented were several members from the industries of electronics, automotive, aerospace, control systems and textile industries, tire industry, universities, private industry and consulting. The X PRIZE will go to the vehicle that can demonstrate 100 miles per gallon or the equivalent in alternative fuels and able to drive at 100 miles/hour, in a production-capable vehicle.

The science of the Track Sphere hyper-efficient transit drive system and integrated frame and hub, enables the driver to maneuver all four spheres for better handling and steering control while moving the AirShip in a 180-degree motion on center for reverse from a stationary position. Enter the AirShip with the ability to exploit electric power that has a long life expectancy as an efficient, quiet and powerful energy source alternative. Those off-the-shelf electric power sources currently under consideration for vehicle propulsion are Bio-Diesel, Fuel Cell, and Lithium-ion Battery Packs; plus Solar Fabric Photovoltaic's for supplemental vehicle electronics.

AirShipTG’s design is focused on aerodynamics of speed and light weight manufacturing. The exterior car body is made of composites, stainless steel or aluminum. AirShip’s lightweight composite frame structure is similar to those found in race cars and jet aircraft; yet this one weighs a scant 250 pounds and can support 2,200 pounds gross weight.
Using an Open Technology Innovation approach developed from work in the Open Source Software industry, we are modifying the AirShip Use Case for ground transit only in order to make the Automotive X-Prize 100 miles per gallon (or equivalent in alternative fuels or electricity) and the 100 miles per hour vehicle qualifying requirements.

We all love our automobiles, but this initiative is designed to reduce green house gases for the world! In fact, our cars even take on our personalities or visa versa; they get us from home to work and from work to home. However, the automobile is facing a dilemma as it is at the intersection of two world problems – that of oil dependency and climate change due to green house gases. That’s why we are doing what we can to make a difference by competing in the Automotive X PRIZE where our team will compete beside worldwide teams to create hyper-efficient vehicles. The AirShip’s energy source is electricity which also produces electricity via a solar cell fabric which greatly miniaturizes the solar cells of the past so that the solar fabric serves as the outer skin of the vehicle.”

[via: AirShip Technologies]

In addition to the hybrid, an all-electric model is also being developed. A drivable prototype should be ready by September.

In addition to performance and economy, Hybrid Technologies is working hard to ensure the new supercar will be comfortable and driver-friendly. Movable aerodynamic aids will be capable of transitioning from low-drag to high-down force, improving both handling and economy. The company wouldn't release specific power numbers, but when asked if they could challenge a vehicle like the Corvette, Cerven responded, "way out of the ballpark—it's gonna be wild."

By now, you're probably thinking that this all sounds too good to be true. Trust us, we are too. With vehicles like the Fisker Karma and Tesla roadster topping out at 120 and 130mph respectively, Hybrid Technologies would need to bring a significant level of innovation to this vehicle in order to compete with gasoline-powered supercars. Expect to find out whether or not all this is hot air during the X Prize competition "some time in 2009." [via Popular Mechanics]

Motive believes that the transportation sector needs to undergo a rapid evolutionary change in order to maintain current standards of living while reducing our energy needs dramatically. In order to achieve this, a shift is required toward low volume high-tech manufacturing techniques. This will enable us rapid evolution of individualized vehicles that use a fraction of the energy required by today's automobiles and public transportation vehicles. The Automotive X-Prize will help to push the boundaries of what is perceived not only as possible, but also as probable. Motive's intent in entering the X-Prize is to demonstrate our capabilities in the fields of automotive design and engineering. Motive believes in the need for innovation and sustainability and is thus committed to developing and using ecologically sensitive materials and manufacturing methods.

The 2 initial renders below depict our BEHEV - Battery Exchange Hybrid Electric Vehicle that combines the appeal of a sports car with everyday versatility. The sporty 2+2 shooting brake is framed within a layered structure giving it muscular forms and proportions. Keep an eye on Motive for future developments.

* Four passenger, full size vehicle
* BEHEV tm - Battery Exchange Hybrid Electric Vehicle
* Modular composite/aluminium/steel chassis structure
* Lightweight bio-composite RIM body panels
* FWD multi-speed quickshift transaxle
* Regenerative braking, traction control
* High-performance ICE generator
* 1800lbs

[Source; Motive Industries]

The new Star Trek flick, directed by J.J. Abrams and slated for an early May release, tells the story of James T. Kirk's youth and education at Star Fleet Academy. Word has it that Kirk and his homies cruise the campus for hot tail in the Aptera, which in the real world will allegedly get 30 mpg. Who needs a dilithium-guzzling shuttlecraft? I wonder if Kirk & Co. will exercise the Prime Directive with the fetching young cadets they cruise... Actually, it doesn't surprise me that the Aptera would wind up on the big screen. It looks as if it was borrowed from the future. The Sci Fi Channel should just go ahead and build a whole show around it. [Livescience]

The qualified entrants will compete for the giant wad of all-Progressive supplied cash in a variety of real world challenges in the categories of speed, distance, traffic, terrain, and weather. Everybody and his brother is in on this one — The US House and Senate have already approved NTSB, DOT, DOE backing with the DOE tossing $3.5 million in grant money into the fold for education of youth and consumers.; The Sierra Club and NRDC support grassroots efforts; Individuals like Al Gore, Dean Kamen (who will be entering and sits on the Automotive X Prize Board), the Governator, and many more are putting their voices behind the effort.

There are already 64 pledged entrants from 22 countries and 10 US states from private, college, and even high school groups. Four examples of which were present at the show, The Venture 1, the first look at the MDI Air Car, a Ale from France, and the "Hybrid Attack" - a diesel electric hybrid built by a team from the West Philly High School. The applications will begin being accepted starting in two months, so if you want a shot at 10 million bucks, you better start filling out the paperwork now. Find out all the nitty gritty details at ProgressiveXPrize.org.