VW Bio Runner, Rock and drone

The VW Bio Runner combines all the best elements of a car, a motorbike and a jet - so you get the safety and stability of a car, the precise handling physics of a bike...and two jet engines.

Fortunately all this speed doesn't come at the expense of our lovely planet, as the Bio Runner is an eco-minded racer's dream. The twin turbine engines, which spin to an 'efficient' 500,000rpm, are powered by bio-synthetic jet fuel. The single-occupant is attached to the controls directly via his hands and feet, and the entire cabin can be shifted in relation to the wheels to transfer weight and increase handling capabilities. It has 'muscle-based synthetic suspension', no less.

Decked out in Red Bull decals, the Bio Runner is designed to race in the fantasy 'Baja 1000 One Tank Unlimited Solo Class', which trips off the tongue, though the idea gives environmentally-friendly racing an interesting twist. Basically, each competitor gets only one tank of fuel to compete with, and must 'use every bit of technology, wit and strategy to finish'.

But the Bio Runner is never alone, because as well as being deployed into the race by a helicopter (hopefully also fuelled by bio-synthetic fuel, or the whole ecological aspect of the race series is negated), it also has its own drone. The Arial Reconnaissance Drone (AR-D) will fly out and take video of the track from ahead of the car when visibility is poor, sending the footage straight to the cockpit. Who said VW was reserved and sensible?

Mark Nichol

Tuesday October 28