A Race Car Powered By Laser Technology

We've been hearing a lot about laser technology off late, especially from the camps of German carmakers like BMW and Audi. However, we hear that GM has now come up with a car that uses a laser propulsion system and mind you, it isn't any ordinary car.

Chevrolet unveiled the Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo concept at the LA Auto Show and is designed primarily to pay tribute to the 'innovative race cars' that Chevrolet and Chaparral Racing developed more than 45 years ago.

The Chaparral 2X has a composite chassis and an extremely aerodynamic body that requires the driver to lay face down with their arms and legs splayed toward the wheels. Power is provided by a laser-based propulsion system that draws inspiration from advanced work targeted at space travel and future aircraft design.

The mid-mounted laser propulsion system pulses of light that focus in a shroud creating shock waves that generate the thrust which according to the people at Chevrolet is massive. The laser is powered by lithium-ion batteries and an air-powered generator which help the car to produce 900bhp. All that power helps the Chaparral 2X to accelerate from 0-100Km/h in 2 seconds before hitting a top speed of 386Km/h.

GM's Executive Director of advanced design, Clay Dean said, "This concept is an audacious and ambitious vision - and one that demonstrates to a new audience how Chevy's engineering and design teams challenge norms and explore the technologies of tomorrow."