Scorpion, The 450 hp Sports Car By Ronn Motor Company

Hydrogen use for cars is only thought to be possible with fuel cells or even in regular combustion engines, as BMW is trying to prove possible with some of its vehicles. Ronn Motor Company, from Texas, USA, has proposed a new use of this gas: to blend it with gasoline. According to the company, doing so can improve highway fuel economy up to 17 km/l (or 40 mpg). Even better, it can do that for a 450 hp sports car that sprints from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds and reaches top speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph). Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Ronn Scorpion.

Although very little information can be found about the car at Ronn Motor Company’s official website, the company has sent us a press release that solves most of the doubts, but not all. The rest of them had to be sold personally. The engine the car uses, the Acura 3.5 litre V6, generates 289 hp in its stock form and 450 hp in twin turbo configuration. VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) is not present, or, else, all six cylinders work all the time, but even so the car achieves an impressive 17 km/l highway fuel economy

This is due to the blend of hydrogen and gasoline in 40%/60% proportion, respectively. Hydrogen is provided by the hydrogen delivery system from Hydrorunner, which generates hydrogen directly from an on board water tank that holds 11.3 litres (3 gallons) of water and only has to be refilled every 1,600 km (1,000 miles). This clever solution avoids the need of so far heavy and expensive hydrogen tanks in the car. The generation of hydrogen varies according to accelerator demands. “(It generates) more at higher rpms and less at lower rpms”, said Adrian Pylypec, VP for Sales and Marketing at Ronn Motor Company to World Car Fans.

Prices are also not mentioned on the press release, but we have already confirmed them: US$ 150,000, and Ronn Motor Company is accepting pre orders. It may look expensive, but there will only be 200 units of Scorpion around, so exclusiveness is a good explanation for the price, but not the only one. The supercar also features carbon fibre body, chrome molly chassis, Recaro seats, Indy car independent suspension in all four wheels, Bose 8 speaker sound system, HID Xenon headlights, LED sidemarkers and custom LED gauges, among other things. Even filled up with comfort equipments, Scorpion manages to keep its weight as low as 950 kg. And this is not a small vehicle, considering by its 2.67 m wheelbase. Total width is yet to be confirmed. Production starts in the last quarter of 2008 and deliveries at about the same time.