SEMA 2008: Ronn Motor Company unveils the 200-mph Scorpion HX
by Damon Lavrinc on Nov 4th 2008 at 11:55AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ronn Motor Company Scorpion
The list of small firms claiming to be on the verge of creating the next motoring revolution grows each week, but Ronn Motor Company might have the ability to back up the hype. Ronn Maxwell and a team of fabricators, engine builders and all-around car guys, wanted to create a supercar that delivered striking good looks, engaging driving dynamics and a bit of green technology to bring the supercar into the 21st century. The result is the 450-hp Scorpion and its hotter, 600-hp sibling, the Scorpion HX.
Built off a lightweight chrome-moly chassis shrouded in a carbon fiber body, the Scorpion has a seductive shape backing up its sting, along with 20-inch MOZ wheels and 12-inch Wilwood disc brakes. The 3.5-liter DOHC VTEC-equipped V6 is pulled from the 2008 Acura TL Type-S and mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels through an LSD. The standard Scorpion puts out 450 hp, while the HX uses a duo of turbos and a proprietary intercooler setup to bring output up to 600 hp. Preliminary 0-60 times aren't available yet (we'd guess somewhere in the 3.5-second range), but top speed should be in excess of 200 mph.
While coaxing 600 hp out of twin-turbo'd 3.5-liter V6 isn't a huge feat, the H2GO Hydrogen On-Demand system is the Scorpion's showpiece. The system produces hydrogen through the electrolysis of water while the vehicle is in motion, creating 130-octane hydrogen in gaseous form. A mixture of gasoline and hydrogen is injected into the intake manifold, along with a 30-40 percent mixture of air. That allows the Scorpion to keep emissions at a minimum while returning an estimated 40 mpg.
Ronn Motors will have its press conference a few hours from now, so expect more details – and possibly production plans – to follow later today
Gallery: SEMA 2008: Ronn Motors Scorpion
Photos copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andy ^_^o 12:00PM (11/04/2008)
Now who needs a Prius? ^_^v
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P.V. 12:04PM (11/04/2008)
Why doesn't Acura use this engine in the new RWD (or RWD-biased AWD) RL? That would make more sense to me than using a V8. It's powerful AND environmentally-friendly.
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Andrew T 12:05PM (11/04/2008)
"The system produces hydrogen through the electrolysis of water while the vehicle is in motion"
Oh god. Let the never ending discussion commence...
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Yar 12:12PM (11/04/2008)
This is going an endless discussion of practicality/possibility vs whether or not 'Big Oil' will destroy this vehicle.
2004m3driver 12:21PM (11/04/2008)
So how does the vehicle get in motion in the first place? Where are these Electolysis going to be stored? Is it feasible, affordable? Why a coupe? When is the Exxon tanker going to transform into a Decipticon and destroy this vehicle in a fight for galaxal dominance?
Farris 12:29PM (11/04/2008)
"The system produces hydrogen through the electrolysis of water while the vehicle is in motion, creating 130-octane hydrogen in gaseous form."
I had no idea that elemental Hydrogen contained octane!
BigMcLargeHuge 12:59PM (11/04/2008)
@ Farris,
I hope you're kidding.
Farris 2:41PM (11/04/2008)
I should probably have ended my comment with:
(/facetious)
Bluestreak 2:42PM (11/04/2008)
Farris, please look up the definition of terms you don't understand before posting ridiculous statements like that one above.
P.V. 12:05PM (11/04/2008)
Why doesn't Acura use this engine in the new RWD (or RWD-biased AWD) RL? That would make more sense to me than using a V8. It's powerful AND environmentally-friendly.
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P.V. 12:06PM (11/04/2008)
(stupid commenting system)
Pat 12:14PM (11/04/2008)
So the 600 hp version is done with 2 turbos. How is the 450 hp version getting it's power? The 3.5L V6 isn't capable of 450hp NA is it? Is it this magical hydrogen electrolysis that's giving it an extra 150+ hp?
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Pat 12:17PM (11/04/2008)
Nevermind. The website says the 450hp version has twin turbos as well. They also spelled vtec wrong.
Red 12:24PM (11/04/2008)
You'd be surprised. I've seen a 2.2L V6 pushing out 375hp N/A. But like you, I too am curious. I assumed the 450hp setup uses the twin turbos and the 600hp is a different tune.
Hamud 12:17PM (11/04/2008)
WOOT, that car looks hot and green, eheheh.
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StarkRavingMad 12:17PM (11/04/2008)
Looks cool, mush better than the tesla. I'm just not too sure about the H2GO system though.
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AC0 12:19PM (11/04/2008)
All curves and no creases gives this a definite '90s feel.
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BigMcLargeHuge 12:29PM (11/04/2008)
Before somebody says 'no way that car can get 40mpg', keep in mind they didn't say city/highway.
If you're not sold on the hydrogen system, it may not matter. The car weighs about the same as a Lotus Elise.
So which the guy might be nuts for attributing the MPG gains on a hydrogen-on-demand system, it is perfectly feasible that his ultralight car is, in fact, very green.
2 ideas. Light weight + hydrogen. 1 might work even if the other doesn't.
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atlanta_pete 12:30PM (11/04/2008)
Give this one to the Stig and see how long it lasts. Looks a bit fragile to me.
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zamafir 12:37PM (11/04/2008)
"While coaxing 600 hp out of 3.5-liter V6 is a feat unto itself"
Really? There are a few GTI's currently putting out 600hp with the 2.0T, and a host of R32s putting out 600hp with a bi turbo 3.2-liter V6, when was the last time 600hp from a 3.5-liter V6 and a pair of turbos was considered a 'feat'?
The whole hydrogen setup, hell yes, but 600hp from a bi turbo 3.5l? nah. I didn't think those kind of numbers were remarkable in general, let alone the honda community, but maybe I'm misinformed.
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