Jay Leno's EcoJet

We first saw Jay Leno's EcoJet mid-engine turbine coupe at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Leno, with General Motors' Design Chief, Ed Welburn, and Frank Saucedo, who heads the automaker's west coast studio, penned the design concept.

Leno has both a motorcycle and a pickup truck powered by "jet" turbine engines, so the plan was to create an automobile that would run on a similar powerplant fueled by biodiesel.

The EcoJet Leno was initially a static exhibit, but one thing about Jay's Garage is that everything runs. So Jim Hall, Bernard Juchli and the other wizards in the Burbank shop set about to turn the EcoJet Leno from a barely rolling display into a complete running automobile.

What they were mating were a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine with some 700 bhp and upwards of 500 lb-ft of torque to a GM 4-speed automatic transmission. This driveline was installed amidships in a reworked Corvette aluminum frame surrounded by the carbon fiber body.

Think about the challenge of turning a static show car into a running automobile. Problems like mating the electronics of the turbine to those of the gearbox and then creating a dashboard display so Leno can monitor functions when driving.

Eco car by Rome

Zero-emission Eco car saves on parking expenditures.

With city lanes getting more congested with the increase in the number of cars, a lack of parking space has always been an issue which most drivers have to confront. How about an eco car that serves as a balcony when you’re not driving in it? Obviously the idea hasn’t met realism till date, but electric eco car designer Roman Mistiuk thinks it can very well solve all parking woes. Roman has come up with an electric car dubbed the eco Metromorph, which doesn’t need parking space on the ground, but a window facing the road.


Powered by two in-wheel motors, which are fueled by two battery cases, the eco electric car promises a zero-emission ride as well. The eco futuristic concept can be parked vertically outside your apartment’s window, where it serves as a balcony. Once in balcony mode, the seats of the eco electric car can be adjusted, which allows them to become eco lounge chairs for lying down and relaxing.

F1 racecar replica created from trashed Styrofoam

Recycled artwork made from used Styrofoam.

We all are quite aware of the fact that just like plastic waste Styrofoam too is extremely harmful for the environment. Being lightweight, cheap and strong, the material is still the most feasible choice for packaging products especially electronic items that require an extra degree of protection. That’s the main reason we often see DIYers trying out their skills with Styrofoam and crafting it into various items that includes chandeliers and even robots.

However, there are some designers who do possess extreme recycling skills and can make stunning pieces of art from materials that not many bother to reuse. Michael Salter is not a new name in the recycling world and there aren’t many designers who can compete with Michael in recycling Styrofoam. The designer is back again and this time with a full scale F1 racecar replica that he crafted from nothing other than trashed Styrofoam.

Bionamic gets powered by millions

Zero-emission electric car powered by solar energy.

The enhancement in solar technology has made it possible for car designers to incorporate tiny solar modules on the body of the car to generate energy on the move. The Bionamic by Güney Kol is one such car that will use the technology to perfection. The electrically-powered four-wheeler is designed with a stunning visual appeal and an eye toward practicality as well.


Like all electric cars, this one too requires a lightweight yet strong body, which in this case is made from a passive elastic sheathing made of carbon/metal nanotube alloy. Apart from the elastic exterior, the car also carries a tougher layer, which is a carbon nanotube muscle suit. The muscle suit houses millions of tiny solar modules that are precisely positioned to get the most out of the sun.

Apart from the on-board solar electricity generators, the car also makes use of an Ion Intake System that absorbs ions from the environment and converts them into usable energy to propel the car. Instead of a conventional steering wheel, the car is controlled by a pair of joysticks that are placed to make driving easier.