The RMC Scorpion was a hydrogen-powered supercar that was first developed in 2008 by the Ronn Motor Company. The car was first unveiled at SEMA and was widely received. The outlandish supercar stunned all who were present, for many of them it was the first time seeing an eco-friendly car that didn't instantly make them want to turn away.
The RMC Scorpion was a gasoline-hydrogen hybrid supercar unlike any other. The idea to build the RMC Scorpion came about when the founder of RMC, Ronn Maxwell had an epiphany. At the time there was a growing demand for gas-powered cars, and Ronn Maxwell knew that it wasn't sustainable, so he sought to look for a more sustainable alternative.
"How fast can you make water go?" A simple question that led Ronn Maxwell down a rabbit hole that would see the creation of a hydrogen-powered supercar. The RMC Scorpion was truly well ahead of its time. A truly beautiful supercar that was meant to go on to revolutionize the automotive industry.
Design
The Ronn Motor Company outsourced most of the Scorpion's design and construction to hot-rod specialists, Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters. The car's chrome-moly tube chassis was wrapped in an elegant carbon fiber skin that was sure to make unsuspecting bystanders drool. The Scorpion had a lot of curves, even by today's standards. The car was designed to leave a lasting impression wherever it went.
Hydrogen Power
The RMC Scorpion supercar used a 30-40% hydrogen-gasoline blend but what really set the Scorpion apart from other hydrogen-powered cars was the system used by RMC.
At the time most hydrogen-powered cars used fuel cells, where the fuel cells were electrochemically converted to electricity which was used to power the car. The Scorpion, however, did things a little differently. The RMC Scorpion ran on a hydrogen internal combustion system.
The system was very similar to the modern gas-engine, the only difference is that it used gaseous hydrogen instead of liquid gas. The hydrogen was provided via the RMC Scorpion's on-demand system, which used dual computer processing controls to deliver the hydrogen, where it was then blended with the gasoline. RMC named the system H2GO. All in all the car could go 40 miles per gallon, not bad for a supercar.
Performance
The car was very eco-friendly that much you know, but how would it perform on the track? Afterall it was technically a supercar.
The RMC Scorpion was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 internal combustion engine courtesy of Acura. The car produced a total of 450 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque, not too shabby for a "boring eco-friendly car". The Scorpion had a theoretical top speed of over 200 mph and could go from 0-60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds. The Scorpion could certainly hold its own.
Giving The Terminator a Test Drive
The car made such a buzz when it was released that it even got the attention of the Terminator. The then California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger took the hydrogen-powered supercar for a test drive, needless to say, he loved every bit of it. When a car gets that kind of praise it is usually followed by a slight propping up of the value. When it was first announced, RMC confirmed that the car would sell for $175,000. The company also announced the only 200 RMC Scorpion's will ever be made.
Everyone wanted one
The Texas-based company was all set for world domination. Frontpage news articles were abuzz with everyone eagerly anticipating the arrival of the hydrogen-powered supercar.
After the car was unveiled CEO and Founder of the Ronn Motor Company, Ronn Maxwell stated, "the response since the global unveiling at SEMA has been amazing and enthusiastically overwhelming. We are with the reaction and attention we have received as a result of showcasing the H2GO powered Scorpion. We have responded to over 250 purchase inquiries and have added 10 confirmed sale orders." The car was a hit.
The Unthinkable Happened
The Scorpion was all set to take the world by storm when the unthinkable happened. The 2008 financial crisis came at the worst possible time for the Ronn Motor Company. The global recession hit the company harder than expected and Ronn Maxwell was forced to scrap plans for the RMC Scorpion along with the Ronn Motor Company. The world was denied a truly magnificent car.
Where Are They Now
Ronn Maxwell never gave up on his dream to build the Scorpion. Almost a decade after he had to kill the Scorpion, Ronn Maxwell founded the Ronn Motor Group. The new company's aim is to create cars, busses, and trucks all powered by hydrogen.
Their chief motivation however will always be to create a hydrogen-powered supercar, that is what started everything and the company has made it no secret that they plan on taking another crack at the supercar industry.