Remember the RMC Scorpion Concept from a few months ago? It’s no longer a concept.

A working model of this hydrogen hybrid supercar debuted at SEMA last week, and it’s breathtaking in person. This curvaceous beauty was covered in a red/orange pearlescent paint sitting below a large tent which made it nearly impossible to get a good picture.

Adrian Pylypec, VP of Sales & Marketing for Ronn Motor Company (RMC) assured me that this Scorpion is a running version, and seemed very proud that RMC broke the typical concept car mold in that their concept car IS the production car. No extreme design concepts, then taming back the production version.

The RMC Scorpion uses a Hydrogen On-Demand (HOD) fuel injection system which takes plain tap water and converts it into hydrogen on the spot. The hydrogen gas is then injected into the fuel system, helping burn fuel at a much more efficient rate. The expected highway fuel economy for the RMC Scorpion is rated around 40 mpg.

The hand-built body is made from carbon fiber, sitting on a completely unique chrome-moly chassis developed exclusively for the Scorpion. The gasoline engine will be the same 3.5 liter V6 powerplant used in the 2008 Acura TL Type-S. With the twin-turbo option and the HOD system, the RMC Scorpion will be able to produce around 450 horsepower. When’s the last time you heard of a 450 HP car getting 40 mpg?

Look for a full write-up on the RMC Scorpion in the near future.

More RMC Scorpion Photos:

Related posts:

1. A Hydrogen Supercar— the RMC Scorpion
2. Live at SEMA 2008: The Wheels – A Chrome Extravaganza
3. Live at SEMA 2008: First Impressions

**UPDATE: RMC Scorpion Live from SEMA 2008

Now this is a fantastic idea.

Mean and green, that’s how I like it, and this car delivers.

Called the Scorpion, it is a car made by the Ronn Motor Company (RMC), and it is scheduled to be in production this fall— around October or so. Visually, it is a stunning car with the looks to compete with any exotic, but it’s the mechanics that are the real beauty.

This is proof that environmentally friendly cars don’t have to be slow and ugly. This car is a hybrid, but more than that, it runs on hydrogen. Actually, it runs on a 30-40% hydrogen/gasoline blend, but the important thing is the system used by RMC.

Most hydrogen cars use fuel cells, a fantastic but costly system that should be further explored. In this method, hydrogen goes to the fuel cell, where it is electrochemically converted to electricity, which then powers the car. This system should be seriously looked into, as it is the perfect system—no complicated moving parts, no combustion, hydrogen is eternally renewable, and the only emissions are water vapor.

The Scorpion, however, runs on a less attractive but fantastic nonetheless hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) system. This system is much like modified gas engine, only it uses gaseous hydrogen rather than liquid gas. Since the hydrogen is mixed with gasoline, it means there is combustion involved, but there are almost no emissions, due to the fact that there is no carbon in hydrogen. The hydrogen is provided via the Scorpion’s hydrogen on demand system, which uses dual computer processing controls to deliver the good stuff in real time, and it is then blended with gasoline.

Performance numbers are enticing— over 200 mph, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, yep, there’s no doubt that this is indeed a supercar. Anticipated horsepower is 450, nothing to sniff at, as well as 302 pound-feet of torque. However, these numbers aren’t concrete, the official details have not been out yet.

The look of the car itself is fantastic, with its menacing, snake-like front, beautiful curves, and of course, the air scoop along the side. Chromed skirt edges are a nice touch, though they might disappear for the production model. It is sensual, curvacious, and oh-so-sexy. All in all, a smooth, clean, and simple but good-looking green supercar.

So basically, put it all together and you get over 40 mpg, no emissions, and one hell of a sexy ride. I wish it got more mpg, but considering what it has already accomplished, it’s a win-win. And you can’t go wrong with that.

Specs

Price: $150,000 (estimate)

Engine: 3.5 liter V-6

Top Speed: 200+ mph

Horsepower: 450

Torque: 302 lb-ft.

0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds

Mileage: 40+ mpg

Related posts:

1. Live at SEMA 2008: RMC Scorpion
2. Jack Nicholson Praises Hydrogen Car … In … 1978?!
3. Toyota aims to produce $50k hydrogen car by 2015