Mitsubishi unveils super fast bullet-shaped elevator for the Shanghai Tower

I remember as a child in the 50s riding the Empire State elevator to the roof and at the time it was the fastest elevator in the world. I mean if we can't have the fastest elevator in the world, what does that say about us as a nation anymore.

Isnt it amasing what other counties can do with all the export money they get and in america every where you look it is cuts ,cuts, cuts when will it stop america nafta, gafta , and we get the shafta

Burj Khalifa was built by SOM; Shanghai was built by Gensler. Both of these firms were American; now they call themselves "global."

From a physics standpoint, the speed of the elevator doesn't tell you much about the intensity of the ride, its the acceleration that matters. You could be going up 100 mph and not feel a thing, but if you obtain that speed in a matter of seconds, it'll bring everyone on the elevator to the ground. I'm assuming the elevator only gets to 40 mph after a hundred or so feet, giving the same sensation as speeding up on a car.

Why do I have this image in my mind fo Wyle E. Coyote getting a delivery of an elevator with a giant, fuse-lit rocket attached to it from the Acme Elevator Company?

The Freudian fascination with World's Tallest Building has gotten silly -- and this from me, born and raised in Chicago, where architecture and skyscrapers are revered. The engineering marvels of building massive skyscrapers are dwarfed by the economics of keeping the buildings' units leased. History seems to show adequate to marginal on a boom and disastrous on a bust. Good luck, Shanghai. Hope your hubris pays off.

hopefully it's programmed to stop at the top

This is very uplifting......

It's not the speed that is dangerous. It's that sudden stop!

Cool! I wish we could still afford to compete for records in the world... We used to be Number 1 but... :-(

Paid for by you and I as we relish the low prices that Chinese labor has gifted us with. Of course, all of those Americans who used to assemble DeWalt tools, Mongoose bicycles, and everything else that American corporations used to make in America, are without work. But we LOVE those low prices.

confusious say "crowded elevator smell different to midget"

China, the mere word makes me pizzed! This country has let China, and a handful of U.S. Businessmen crush the manufacturing in this country! And our spineless Congress fear doing the right thing by putting tariffs and trade sanctions against this country and any other country that does not operate with balanced trade! Why? Because a few rich businessmen won't make thier expected $150 mill this year! Completely OUT-OF-TOUCH with reality!

Oh yeah?! Well America has the fasted wallet drainer in the world!

Wow 40 mph! And if the cables snaps its 212 mph down.

You better be way up at the top of that tower when the civil unrest begins!! If you are on the ground the masses will rip you limb from limb!!

Built by slaves and praised! just wow!

An escalator doimg 40 MPH would be much more fun to watch!

and you thought their eyes were slanted now. Just wait until they start riding THAT elevator.

... Made in China ?... Thank you, but I will take the stairs.