auto industry

Aston Martin Rapide

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:12:00 +0000

The Aston Martin Rapide is a five-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 2006. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a saloon car produced by Lagonda, now part of Aston Martin. The car is based on an Aston Martin DB9.

The Rapide is built at a dedicated plant at the Magna Steyr facility in Graz, Austria. Production began in 2010 and the factory plans to build 2,000 per year. The concept car version featured a full-length glass roof and LED light bars on the rear end, two firsts for Aston Martin. The glass roof was not carried through to production.

For luxury and convenience, the Rapide's standard features include a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, bi-xenon headlamps and LED taillamps. Leather and walnut trim are standard, with metallic accents; power front seats with memory, cooling and heating; Bluetooth; satellite radio (US version only); and USB and iPod connectivity. The Rapide comes, as standard, with a Bang & Olufsen 16 speaker sound system with two that rise from the dashboard on activation of the system. The production version of the Rapide was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Leonardo Fioravanti (his designs are ahead of its time)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Leonardo Fioravanti (b. 1938) is an Italian automobile designer and CEO of Fioravanti Srl.Leonardo Fioravanti produced a concept car that signaled a change in family saloons forever.

He studied mechanical engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, specializing in aerodynamics and car body design. Before founding Fioravanti Srl, he worked twenty-four years with Pininfarina, followed by a position at Ferrari and the director's role at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo.

Fioravanti designed the Ferrari Dino, the Ferrari Daytona, the Ferrari P5 and P6, the Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer, the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 (the forerunner of the Ferrari 400), the Ferrari 308 GTB, and the Ferrari 288 GTO.

Marcello Gandini (introduced the concept of scissor doors)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Marcello Gandini is an Italian car designer, widely known for his work with the automotive design house Gruppo Bertone, notably his design of the Lamborghini Countach. Together with Giorgetto Giugiaro and Leonardo Fioravanti, Gandini forms a noted triumvirate of Italian car designers, all born in 1938, within months of each other. Gandini currently continues to work on automotive and aviation design.

In a 2009 interview with Robert Cumberford, editor at Automobile Magazine, Gandini indicated "his design interests are focused on vehicle architecture, construction, assembly, and mechanisms - not appearance."

In 1963, Gandini approached Nuccio Bertone, head of the Gruppo Bertone company, however Giorgetto Giugiaro, then Bertone's chief designer, refused to work with him. When Giugiaro left Bertone two years later, Gandini was hired, and worked for the company for fourteen years.

Creator of Stile Bertone in Caprie, Gandini served as general manager of the styling house, designing show cars as well as managing the construction of prototype automobiles.

Gandini designed Lamborghini's Miura and Countach and many practical cars as well, including the Citroën BX, the first-generation BMW 5-series, the Innocenti Mini, and the Renault Supercinq. He introduced the concept of scissor doors with the Alfa Romeo 33 Carabo prototype, while the Lancia Stratos supercar was another Gandini design.

Gandini left Bertone in 1980, pursuing freelance automotive, industrial and interior design.

Gandini designed many classic automobiles, including:
Alfa Romeo Montreal
Alfa Romeo 33 Carabo
BMW 5 Series (first gen)
Bugatti EB110
Citroën BX
Cizeta Moroder V16T
De Tomaso Pantera 90 Si
Ferrari Dino 308GT4
Fiat 132
Fiat X1/9
Iso Lele
Lamborghini Countach
Lamborghini Diablo
Lamborghini Espada
Lamborghini Jarama
Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini Urraco
Lancia Stratos
Maserati Khamsin
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati Quattroporte IV (1994–2001)
Maserati Shamal
Renault 5 Supercinq
De Tomaso Biguà, Qvale, and Mangusta
Gandini also designed concept cars like for instance the Bertone Pirana.

Non-automotive work
Although best known for his work in the field of automotive design, Gandini has produced works in other areas, including home architecture, the design of a nightclub interior, and the body styling of the Heli-Sport CH-7 helicopter.

Jean-Pierre Ploué (He marked a new era for Citroën)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Jean-Pierre Ploué is a French car designer, born in 1962, known for bringing the Citroën marque back to strength and restoring its reputation for innovation and strong individualistic styling.

Ploué graduated from the École nationale supérieure des arts appliqués et des métiers d'art in 1985. He started his career at Renault from 1985–1995, where he designed the Laguna concept car, the Twingo, and worked on the design of the Clio II.

From 1995 to 1998 he worked at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany. From 1998 to 1999 Ploué was Head of Design at Ford in Cologne, Germany.

In 1999 Jean-Pierre Ploué replaced Arthur Blakeslee as Head of the Citroën Design Centre, responsible for rejuvenating the brand’s image. His arrival marked a new era for Citroën, resulting in the launch of successful and stylish new models such as the C4, the second generation C5, the C6, and the DS3, which played a strong role in the rebranding of the marque. Concept-cars C-Sport Lounge, C-Métisse, Citroën Metropolis and GT by Citroën designed by his team show their desire to resume their position as a leader in car design.

In 2009, he was promoted to Director of Design for the PSA group, in charge of designers Gilles Vidal from Peugeot and Thierry Métroz from Citroën.

Citroën Tubik Concept

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:39:00 +0000

Un pari osé par Citroën qui vient de présenter son nouveau concept-car Tubik, réinterprétant le célèbre utilitaire de la marque. Un concept de monospace futuriste et hybride capable d’accueillir 9 personnes, avec un habitacle facilement modulable.

Citroën a un passé très riche, et ses replongées-recyclages récents lui ont réussi. Alors malgré la ligne officielle « anti-rétro », retour au musée pour l’inspiration de ce concept qui bat le rappel de la lignée utilitaire de la marque. Tubik ramène par son nom au TUB, Traction Utilitaire Basse, la camionnette basée sur la plateforme de la Traction qui a révolutionné le marché de l’utilitaire à l’aube de la seconde guerre mondiale. Malgré l’époque troublée qui a empêché le véhicule de réaliser son potentiel, il a tellement marqué les esprits que son nom a survécu dans le parler populaire pour désigner son successeur, le Type H. C’est de celui-ci que s’inspire esthétiquement Tubik.

Le Tubik fait partie de la catégorie des concepts purs et durs, déconnectés des réalités industrielles et surtout destinés à faire rêver et démontrer le savoir-faire du bureau de style. La motorisation est par conséquent très accessoire et on retrouve sans surprise la chaîne de traction Hybrid4 sous le capot, histoire de pouvoir ajouter le mot « vert » dans les brochures. Mais l’essentiel n’est pas là. L’idée mise en avant par Tubik est de « redonner du sens au voyage », une idée qui rejoint une réflexion entamée par Citröen via le nébuleux projet Multicity. Est-ce que cette idée accouchera d’un nouveau véhicule, par exemple un grand monospace haut de gamme ? Rien n’est moins sûr. Sur les utilitaires comme sur les monospaces, Citroën est lié à ses partenaires Peugeot et Fiat. Faire cavalier seul dans ce domaine est difficile à rentabiliser, et une voiture à l’identité aussi fortement liée à un constructeur ne peut être partagée facilement. On attendra donc avec impatience les déclarations des dirigeants de la marque à Francfort pour savoir ce qui se cache derrière ce concept atypique, si tant est qu’il s’y cache quelque chose.

GT by Citroën

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:36:00 +0000

La GT by Citroën est un concept car développé par la marque française Citroën pour le jeu vidéo Gran Turismo 5, sur PlayStation 3. Elle est présentée pour la première fois au public lors du Mondial de l'automobile de Paris en 2008. Patrick Arnaud, ingénieur chargé de la GT, explique que le « but était de créer la supercar de 2025 ».

La GT by Citroën est le résultat d'un partenariat entre Citroën et Polyphony Digital, studio de développement de la série Gran Turismo, jeu de simulation automobile sur les consoles Playstation. La GT peut se piloter dans Gran Turismo 5 Prologue2 et dans Gran Turismo sur PSP. C'est en réalité grâce à l'amitié entre Takumi Yamamoto, qui est l’auteur du style extérieur de la voiture, et un de ses amis d’enfance qui travaille chez Polyphony, que l'on doit cette supercar. Ils ont ainsi eu l'idée de concevoir une automobile dédiée uniquement au jeu de la PS3. Par la suite, Takumi présente le projet à Jean-Pierre Ploué, directeur du style Citroën. Il est immédiatement convaincu par cette idée nouvelle, si bien que Citroën accepte de construire l'automobile en vrai pour la présenter au public.

La GT by Citroën exploite au maximum les codes stylistiques de la catégorie, à savoir un profil très bas et musclé, des jantes de 21 pouces, des portes papillon, un très imposant aileron, des entrées d'air proéminentes, etc. Les phares intègrent les dernières technologies dans le domaine, à savoir un éclairage à LED, aussi bien à l'avant qu'à l'arrière.

BMW i series

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:17:00 +0000

BMW i3 Concept – The Future SUV

The BMW i3, previously Mega City Vehicle (MCV), is an urban electric car under development by BMW. The i3 is part of BMW's "Project i" and is being planned as a new brand, BMW i. The BMW i3 is expected to go into mass production in 2013 with deliveries in several world markets by that year end.The i3 concept car was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and BMW announced the electric car will have a “REx” range extender option. BMW plans to showcase a BMW i3 prototype during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The i3 will be BMW first zero emissions mass produced vehicle due to its electric powertrain, and BMW also expects to be the first company to launch a volume production vehicle on the market featuring carbon-fiber reinforced plastic to improve the vehicle's energy consumption.

BMW i8 Concept – Combines an Electric Drive System And a Combustion Engine

The BMW i8, first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, is a plug-in hybrid under development by BMW. The initial concept car was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the BMW i8 concept car destined for production was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8 has a 7.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which delivers an all-electric range of 35 km (22 mi).

In 2010 BMW announced the mass production of the Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics in Leipzig begining in 2013 as the BMW i8. The i8 is part of BMW's "Project i" and will marketed as a new brand, BMW i, sold separately from BMW or Mini. The BMW i3 and the BMW i8 will be the first models available from 2013. Other i models will follow.

According to BMW, the average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle (KV01) is 3.76 liters/100 kilometers, (75.1 mpg imp), and has a carbon dioxide emission rating of 99 grams per kilometer (1,3 l/100km and 33g CO2/km ; EU-PHEV ECE-R101). The estimated all-electric range is 50 km (31 mi), and the 24-litre diesel tank extends the total vehicle range to up to 700 km (430 mi). The lightweight chassis is made mainly from aluminium. The windshield, top, doors and fenders are made from polycarbonate glass, with the body having a drag coefficient of 0.22.

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe – The high-performance Driving Machine

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:03:00 +0000

The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a high-performance version of the BMW 1 Series Coupe, developed by BMW's tuning branch BMW M. It is currently the smallest and cheapest M model available. The name was chosen to avoid confusion with the original BMW M1.

BMW M Boss Dr. Kay Segler officially announced the making of the M variant of the BMW 1-Series Coupe on July 9, 2010, via an official YouTube video and press release. On December 9 2010, BMW officially announced all details on the car exclusively on the internet.

Unlike other M models (like the M3 and M5) which use M-derived engines named Sxx, the 1 Series M Coupe uses a M-tuned, twin turbocharged version of the N54engine, as found in the 335is and Z4sDrive35is. Still a 3.0 litre inline 6 cylinder engine with direct injection, it produces 335 hp (250 kW) at 5900 rpm and 332 lb·ft (450 N·m) torque from 1500-4500 rpm (with +369 lb·ft (500 N·m) overboost). The redline is 7,000 rpm. Official 0-60 mph time is 4.7 seconds, quarter mile (~400 m) in 13.2 seconds. The car is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed. There is an M Drive button that activates a quicker throttle response program. The sole available gearbox is a 6-speed manual transmission with an M gearshift knob, dry sump lubrication system, and 3.15:1 final drive ratio.

Freeman Thomas (designer of Panoz Roadster)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Freeman Thomas, born August 20, 1957 (age 54), is an American automobile and industrial designer who has worked for Porsche, Volkswagen Group, DaimlerChrysler and Ford.

Thomas is credited with the following designs:
Volkswagen New Beetle
Audi TT
Audi A4
Audi A6
Panoz Roadster
Chrysler Pacifica
Dodge Super 8 Hemi concept
Jeep Willys concept
Jeep Treo concept
Dodge Sling Shot concept
Jeep Rescue concept
Dodge Tomahawk concept motorcycle
*With Ralph Gilles
Chrysler 300
Dodge Magnum
Dodge Charger

Ralph Gilles (Designer of Chrysler 300)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Ralph V. Gilles, born on January 14, 1970 in New York City, is a Haitian-Can-American automobile designer.

Gilles is currently the President and CEO of the SRT Brand and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler Group LLC. He styled the 2005 Chrysler 300 — after joining Chrysler in 1992. Gilles has been passionate about cars since the age of 6 and began drawing concept vehicles by the age of 8. When Gilles was 14, an aunt (Giselle Mouscardy) noticed he was talented at sketching cars and wrote to former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca to inform him of her nephew's talents. A reply came from K. Neil Walling, Chrysler's design chief at the time, suggesting Gilles attend one of three design schools. He attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. In 2002, Gilles received an Executive MBA from Michigan State University. In August, 2008, Gilles replaced the now retired Trevor Creed as Senior Vice President of Design. In October 2009, Gilles was promoted to President and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand . He was replaced as Dodge's CEO in June 2011, remaining Senior Vice President of Design and becoming CEO of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division

Harm Lagaay (designed the BMW Z1 sports car)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Harm Lagaay (28 December 1946, The Hague) is a Dutch automobile designer. Educated in the Netherlands he completed the studies at the IVA and went to work for a Dutch company Olyslager in Soest.

In the late 1960s, Lagaay went to work for Simca, then from 1971 for Porsche. He worked in the team designing Porsche 911 and designed Porsche 924. From 1977 Lagaay worked as Chief of Design for Ford in Cologne, and moved to BMW in 1985.

He returned to Porsche in 1989 as head of the "Style Porsche" department in Weissach.
He retired from Porsche in July 2004 and has been followed by Michael Mauer of Germany.

Toyota WiLL series

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Toyota WiLL Vi

The Toyota WiLL Vi is a compact car, produced from 2000 to 2001, with distinctive styling combining elements of many cars. The WiLL Vi was designed by the then newly-formed Virtual Venture Company, headed by Jim Shimizu.

Toyota WiLL VS

The Vi's bigger brother, the Toyota WiLL VS was years ahead of its rivals in car design when it was first introduced in 2001. It was manufactured at Kanto Auto Works. Inspiration for the design of the WiLL VS was said to have been derived from the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter.

The WiLL VS came in three levels of trim. The top of the range model came with alloy wheels, fog-lamps, body kit and tiptronic gearshift. Models are available in automatic transmission, tiptronic, and a six speed manual, powered by Toyota's 1800cc VVT-I engine offering 140 hp or VVTL-I engine offering 180 hp, which is the unit in the higher spec Toyota Celica.

Toyota WiLL Cypha.

The WiLL Cypha was produced from 2002 to 2005. It shared many of its mechanicals, including the 1.3-litre 2NZ and 1.5-litre 1NZ engines, with the Ist. Its styling developed themes seen in the Vitz/Yaris, but has a more angular look. Notable features are the rear lights placed level with the rear window, giving a look of the Renault Megane II, and the distinctive headlights which have four lamps per side arranged vertically. The interior used a rounded theme, with items such as the door pulls and the central console being circular. All Toyota WiLL Cyphas were manufactured by Central Motors at its "Headquarter plant".

8 concept cars from Mazda

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Mazda Taiki
(designed by the Yokohama Design Center team led by Chief Designer, Yamada Atsuhiko)
The Mazda Taiki is a one-off concept car produced by Mazda, and is the fourth car in Mazda's 'Nagare' design series. Mazda says the Taiki "reflects one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping to create a sustainable society".

The exterior design is inspired by flowing robes and carp streamers. The Taiki has scissor doors and a very impressive drag coefficient of 0.25. Even the wheels and tires were designed with aerodynamics in mind.

The interior colours are inspired by Yin and Yang. The driver's side of the cabin is black, while the passenger side is white
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Mazda Nagare
(designed by Laurens van den Acker)
The Nagare (pronounced “na-ga-lay”) is a concept car that was introduced by Mazda at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Nagare is considered to be an exercise in natural and organic car design to explore the future of Mazda automobiles. Its name “Nagare” translates into English as “flow” and the designers specifically studied motion and the effect it has on natural surroundings when creating this vehicle.

The Mazda Nagare is a celebration of proportions and surface language according to its designers. Its bodylines flow like liquid across its smooth seamless design and there are no distinguishing marks that detract from the overall theme of the car. It has a large windshield that rakes at a very steep angle molding itself into the glass roof of the car. Its large and aggressive wheels are wrapped into the wheel wells, incorporating them as a part of the body.

Two double-length doors hinge forward when opened and spread from the cabin like the wings of a butterfly. Inside, you find the driver’s seat centrally located in the front of the cabin and three passenger rear seats arranged in a "wrap-around lounge" in the back. The interior continues the Nagare’s organic themes with futuristic elliptical controls and dials relating information to the driver.
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Mazda Ryuga
(designed by Yasushi Nakamuta)
The Mazda Ryuga is a concept car introduced by Mazda and partner Ford Motor Company at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The car, along with the Mazda Nagare which was introduced at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, is an exploratory design study intended to illustrate future styling directions for future Mazda passenger vehicles. The Ryuga moniker (pronounced "ree-yoo-ga") is Japanese for "gracious flow".

The large 21" wheels are placed at the far corners for a stable, balanced stance. The body features two gull-wing doors, and is significantly shorter and lower than the four-passenger Mazda RX-8 sports car.

The Ryuga accommodates four passengers in typical 2+2 seating, with front bucket seats and a lounge-like rear passenger area. A "floating" center cluster with elongated pods includes a multi-function touch panel for controls and displays. A set of charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras are installed for monitoring the rearward view and blind-spot. The steering wheel is an open top style, which utilizes steer-by-wire technology
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Mazda Hakaze

(Designed by Laurens van den Acker , Peter Birtwhistle)

The Mazda Hakaze Concept, is a concept car that was revealed in early February 2007. Its major design elements come from a new design language developed by Mazda called Nagare, developed by Laurens van den Acker, Mazda Global Design Director. It translates to "flow". This element has been used on past Mazda concept cars such as: Mazda Nagare; Mazda Ryuga; Mazda Kabura.

Inside it has four bucket seats, making somewhat of a 2+2 format. There is a wrap-around center console. Everything inside can be adjusted to the driver's specific needs; once they are set the settings are stored in a Bluetooth card that the driver keeps possession of. When the driver activates the car using the card, all his/her personal preferences are automatically adjusted.
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Mazda Furai
(Designed by Swift Engineering with Mazda's design studio,Southern California led by Laurens van den Acker)

The Mazda Furai is a concept car revealed on 27 December, 2007 and manufactured by Mazda. A teaser image of the vehicle was released on 11 December, 2007. The Furai officially debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Furai , meaning "sound of the wind", is the fifth and last of the Mazda Nagare line of concept cars that have been made by Mazda since 2006. The chassis is based on the Courage Compétition C65 Le Mans Prototype that Mazda last used to compete in the American Le Mans Series, two seasons previously and is designed to use E100 ethanol fuel, it is powered by a new generation 3-rotor wankel engine that puts out 450 brake horsepower (340 kW). The engine is developed and built by renowned rotary tuner, Racing Beat, who also built the car's rotary-shaped muffler canister.
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Mazda Kabura
(designed by Franz von Holzhausen)

The Mazda Kabura is a concept car shown by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda in 2006.
The Kabura, introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, is a sport compact which shows styling themes and technologies which could appear in future production models. It was designed in Irvine, California by Mazda of North America design chief Franz von Holzhausen, whose past projects have included the Audi TT and Pontiac Solstice.

The Kabura’s exterior is described as a wide "powerful" stance, with pronounced wheel arches and taut surfaces, reminiscent of classic coupes. The windshield and forward portion of the roof are integrated into one seamless glass surface that extends from the cowl to the B-pillar. Overhead portions of the glass have adjustable tinting, so that the driver can adjust a knob to change the roof’s opacity, as desired, from clear to completely opaque.

The unique 3+1 interior layout is designed to provide comfortable seating for one or two tandem passengers to the right of the driver, with only occasional use of the fourth "jump-seat" behind the driver as needed.
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Mazda Kazamai
(Designed by Laurens van den Acker)

The Mazda Kazamai is a concept car made by Mazda. It was first introduced at the 2008 Moscow International Automobile Salon in August and later shown at the 2009 AutoRAI Amsterdam held in April.

The Kazamai is number six in a series of concept cars with the Nagare flow design language. The design features panel lines inspired by crosswinds in nature which evoke visual lightness. The car also has a bold five-point grille, accentuated front wheel arches and sleek roof line, which are combined with large 22-inch wheels.

Thanks to its aerodynamic design, evolved lightweight body structure and use of aluminium, 2.0 L DISI direct injection engine and lightweight 6-speed automatic transmission the Kazamai has a 30% better performance and fuel economy and CO2 emissions compared to the foregoing 2.0 L gasoline engine.
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Mazda Kiyora
(Designed by Mazda Europe and Mazda Japan led by Peter Birtwhistle)

The Mazda Kiyora is a concept car made by Mazda. It was first introduced in a 2008 Paris Auto Show. It is the next generation urban compact car intended to replace the Mazda2. It is a design study for next-generation compact car and also an engineering study of high fuel-efficiency gasoline engine. The design theme of the Mazda Kiyora is water. It is applied to a city, a new trend in the automotive market due to environmental concerns. The Mazda Kiyora achieves 32 km/L of fuel efficiency and 90g/km of CO2 emission.

The Mazda Kiyora has two butterfly doors and a tailgate. It has four seats and the rear two seats can be folded. The body frame is streamlined like Mazda’s former concept car the Nagare series. The roof and two side doors are made with transparent material so you can see the monocoque & frame structure from the outside. It is designed not only to look like water stream, but also to increase the safety while decreasing the weight. To enhance the streamline, all the mirrors are substituted by cameras so the Mazda Kiyora does not have side mirrors sticking out from the car. The body length is 377 cm which is 10 cm shorter than Mazda2. In spite of the size, the Mazda Kiyora has a rear boot that can fit a large suitcase. The rear seats are made of a mesh fabric to create this extra space.

The dashboard inside the car uses a touch screen technology. The driver can move and organize the icons including all the meters and audio system on the display.
One notable feature of Mazda Kiyora is its roof. The roof is designed to collect rain water and purify it through an installed filter. The water is saved in a bottle installed in the car so that passengers can drink it.
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Opel RAK e Concept

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:07:00 +0000

le constructeur Opel lève le voile sur son auto futuriste verte alias le RAK e Concept lequel rejoint la flopée de concepts du genre (Audi, KTM ou VW par exemple) appelés à être exposés en Allemagne. ET là force est de saluer Opel pour un concept sur lequel personne ne misait franchement et dont un futur concret est d’ores et déjà anticipé.

Son design résolument agressif sort assez clairement des canons de style traditionnels Opel rappelant peut-être en version condensée le concept Honda P-Nut. Quant au gabarit du RAK e Concept, il se révèle contenu et destiné à se faufiler dans les mégapoles embouteillées avec une longueur de 3 m pour une hauteur de 1,19 m et le « tiers du poids d’un petit véhicule moderne .

Peugeot VELV Concept

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:16:00 +0000

The VELV (Véhicule électrique Léger de Ville - lightweight urban vehicle) is a compact urban commuter that joins several similar concepts recently unveiled by PSA, such as the EX1 and the BB1.

It was unveiled at the ADEME Forum, a one-day event organized by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency that took place in Paris on September 26th 2011.

The VELV is very close to a three-wheeler, as it features a minimal rear track, and features a turning radius of just 7.20 metres.

The exterior is characterized by some of Peugeot’s recent styling cues – even if the company logo is only showcased on the wheels.

8 concept-cars pour le futur

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Citroën Metropolis

Surprise au salon de Pékin : après avoir présenté ses concepts Revolte, Survolt et DS High Rider, Citroën exposait la superbe Metropolis. Grande berline de la taille des A8L ou Classe S Limousine, la Metropolis dévoile les ambitions de la marque aux chevrons dans le haut de gamme. Future DS6 ? On l'espère, même si le modèle de série sera de dimensions sans doute plus réduites sans rien sacrifier au style spectaculaire de la Metropolis. Pourvu que Citroën n'attende pas aussi longtemps qu'entre la Lignage et la C6 !

BMW CS

Le BMW Concept CS est un prototype conçu par le constructeur allemand BMW. Il a été présenté au public au salon automobile de Shangaï qui s'est tenu en avril 2007. Il avait pour but de préfigurer les futures directions stylistiques de la marque.

La une face avant agressive et très expressive, avec des naseaux largement agrandis par rapport aux anciennes productions de la marque. Cependant, la BMW Concept CS reste intimement liée aux fondamentaux stylistique BMW : naseaux, pli Hofmeister, alternance de surfaces concaves et convexes sur les flancs du véhicule, etc...

Porsche 918 Spyder

La Porsche 918 Spyder est la première sportive hybride ayant une réelle vocation commerciale ; elle pourrait de fait succéder à la Carrera GT, bien que rien ne soit officiellement annoncé. La 918 sera mue par un moteur thermique traditionnel – un V8 – secondé par deux moteurs électriques2.

D'une cylindrée de 3,4 litres, le V8 développera aux alentours de 500 chevaux à 9 200 tr/min ; les moteurs électriques y ajouteront 218 chevaux, portant la puissance totale de la 918 à plus de 700 chevaux. Pesant 1 490 kg, la 918 devrait afficher, grâce à sa motorisation hybride, une consommation moyenne de 3 litres aux cent kilomètres. Le 0 à 100 km/h devrait être abattu en 3,2 secondes, pour une vitesse de pointe de 320 km/h2.

Ford Start

La Ford Start n'annonce pas de modèle futur chez Ford. Elle livre en revanche la solution du constructeur pour faire face aux défis automobiles du XXIe siècle en particulier en ville. La Start présente ainsi pour la première fois le nouveau moteur trois cylindres 1.0 EcoBoost qui devrait équiper plusieurs modèles de la gamme. Injection directe, turbo compresseur, ce petit moteur devrait offrir la puissance d'un 1.6 atmosphérique même si Ford refuse pour le moment d'en dire plus. On peut donc parier sur une puissance de 90 à 120 chevaux selon les variantes, le tout avec des rejets de CO2 inférieurs à 100 grammes.

Seat IBE

Comme pour Ford avec la Start, l'IBE de Seat est la réponse du constructeur espagnol aux problèmes de mobilité urbaine. Dans un gabarit réduit (3,78 m), l'IBE propose une solution 100 % électrique avec un moteur de 75 Kw (102 chevaux) capable d'atteindre 100 kilomètres/heure en moins de 10 secondes. La vitesse de pointe est limitée à 160 km/h mais l'IBE est surtout destinée à la circulation urbaine, tout en restant capable d'escapades. Aucun chiffre concernant l'autonomie n'a par ailleurs été communiqué par Seat.

Peugeot SR1

Ce sculptural cabriolet dévoile à la fois l'avenir stylistique et technique de Peugeot. Après un passage à vide (307, 407...) le style Peugeot signe son retour sous la direction de Jean-Pierre Ploué (designer Citroën désormais à la tête du design PSA). Une vraie réussite à la fois élégante, racée et sans ostentation. Le SR1 ne débouchera malheureusement sur aucun modèle de série, mais il dévoile la motorisation Hybrid4 qui associe moteur thermique et électrique pour une puissance totale maximale de 313 chevaux, pour une consommation annoncée à seulement 4,9 litres.

Chevrolet Volt MPV5

Après la berline, voici le crossover. Plus long, plus haut et plus habitable que la berline (bref, plus familial) le MPV5 décline le concept Volt dans un véhicule plus polyvalent. Une façon pour Chevrolet de démontrer que son architecture s'adapte à tous les besoins et à toutes sortes de véhicules. Le principe de fonctionnement est identique à celui de la Volt : la voiture est toujours mue par son moteur électrique. Lorsque la batterie, qui offre une autonomie d'environ 50 kilomètres, est épuisée, un moteur 1,4 litre thermique la recharge, offrant à son tour 480 kilomètres d'autonomie.

Hispano Suiza

Revival inattendu pour la marque hispano-française à l'histoire tourmentée. Symbole du luxe d'avant-guerre, Hispano Suiza fait partie de ces marques mythiques qui disparurent les unes après les autres, inadaptée à l'automobile de grande série devenue objet de consommation. Une belle surprise donc de retrouver une Hispano Suiza, même à l'état de concept car sur un salon. Côté design en revanche on est plus partagé devant cette agressivité un peu exagéré et ces proportions manquant de finesse. Stylistiquement et mécaniquement, l'Hispano utilise une base d'Audi R8, ce qui se retrouve également dans l'habitacle.

Mitsubishi ASX vs Nissan Qashqai

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:27:00 +0000

Mitsubishi ASX

Le Mitsubishi ASX, appelé Mitsubishi RVR1 au Japon et au Canada, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2 aux États-Unis, est un crossover du constructeur automobile japonais Mitsubishi Motors vendu depuis l’été 2010. L'ASX avait été annoncé en 2007 par le concept car Cx Concept. Il a fait ses débuts au Salon de Genève en mars 20103.

L'ASX porte haut le design et les valeurs de Mitsubishi. Cela commence par sa calandre, agressive, inspirée des fameuses sportives Lancer Evolution. Avec sa calandre béante et ses phares acérés, l'ASX semble vouloir dévorer le bitume. Le reste du design est un peu plus conventionnel, mais harmonieux malgré le gabarit réduit (4,3 mètres). Face à son principal rival, le Qashqai, l'ASX se démarque par une ligne plus originale malgré le restylage récent du Nissan.

A l'intérieur, Mitsubishi a fait un effort patent sur la qualité de fabrication et d'assemblage. Les matériaux utilisés sont plus valorisants qu'à l'accoutumée, la finition de bon niveau, sérieuse et sobre. Un peu trop peut-être, mais dans la bonne moyenne de la catégorie, surtout rapporté au prix de la version de base. Un prix (23 400 euros en version 4x2) qui n'empêche pas le Mitsu de faire le plein d'équipement dès la finition d'entrée appelée Invite.
L'essentiel est déjà là. Climatisation automatique, régulateur de vitesse, détecteur de pluie et allumage automatique des phares, jantes alliage ou encore CD MP3 constituent la dot d'un ASX très généreux.

Nissan Qashqai

Le Nissan Qashqai est un crossover produit par la marque japonaise Nissan.

Plus compact et plus aérodynamique que le X-Trail, il est vendu en Europe depuis le printemps 2007 et s'appelle Dualis au Japon. Il est fabriqué dans l'usine de Sunderland en Grande-Bretagne. Afin de réduire les délais de livraison très longs dus à un succès plus fort que prévu sur l'ensemble de l'Europe (y compris en Russie), Nissan a également débuté la fabrication du Qashqai/Dualis dans son usine japonaise du Kyūshū. Au Japon, le Qashqai ne rencontre qu'un faible succès, bien loin des scores de ventes du X-Trail, et n'est pas diffusé aux États-Unis.

Les versions de base ne disposent que de deux roues motrices, mais le véhicule peut également être doté d'une transmission intégrale baptisée "4x4 All-Mode" sur les versions 2 litres essence et diesel pour 2 200 €. Prix du Qashqai en France : de 19 850 € pour le 1.6 de base Visia à 32 950 € pour le 2.0 dCi en finition haut de gamme Tekna avec quatre roues motrices et boite automatique.

Une version allongée du Qashqai en 7 places (Qashqai+2) est disponible depuis novembre 2008. Il reprend les mêmes motorisations que le Qashqai classique avec comme différence une puissance de 103 ch au lieu de 106 pour le 1.5 dCi ainsi qu'un FAP (filtre a particules) ; la gamme de prix débute à 23 450 € pour la version 1.6 115 ch essence Optima à 33 950 € pour le 2.0 dCi 150 ch Tekna All-Mode (4x4) boite automatique.

MegaCruiser vs Hummer H1

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:12:00 +0000

MegaCruiser
The Toyota Mega Cruiser is a large, heavy-duty sport utility vehicle introduced by Toyota in 1995. The largest SUV ever built by Toyota, it resembled the Hummer H1, and like the Hummer, was designed primarily for military use with the Mega Cruiser seeing duty (as the HMV) as infantry transports equipped with mounted howitzers and mobile Surface-to-air missiles in the Japan Self Defense Forces. The civilian version is known as a BXD20 and the military version as the BXD10.

Exclusively sold in Japan, the Mega Cruiser also was used by prefectural police and fire/rescue departments, although a limited number were sold to civilians. This vehicle was intended to test designs that would eventually make their way into mass produced Toyota SUVs (like the Land Cruiser), but was financially unsuccessful for Toyota.
The Mega Cruiser featured a 4.1 L turbodiesel I4 engine. The engine focused on producing high amounts of torque at low revs. The SUV featured front, center, and rear differentials, as well as four wheel steering.

Hummer H1
The Hummer H1 is a civilian off-road vehicle based on the M998 Humvee, which was created by AM General. The vehicle was produced from 1992 through 2006, and was the first of what became the Hummer line. It was initially known only as the "Hummer"; however, in 1999 in a joint venture between General Motors and AM General, GM began marketing the Hummer H2, which was built on the Chevrolet Tahoe chassis. It was at this point that the original Hummer was given the H1 designation. For collectors, the most desirable model is the H1 Alpha, produced in the final model year of 2006. It had the most powerful engine and the best fuel mileage of the H1 vehicles. Overall, the H1 was a very limited production vehicle.

"Originally designed strictly for military use the four-wheel-drive utility vehicle was released to the civilian market due to popular demand. Boasting 16 inches (40 cm) of ground clearance as well as super-aggressive approach and departure angles, the Humvee could clamber over a 22-inch (56 cm) high obstacle, handle a 60 percent grade and wade through up to 30 inches (76 cm) of water."

Julian Thomson (the man behind the jaguar CX-75 supercar)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:39:00 +0000

Julian Thomson began his automotive industry career in 1984 as a designer at Ford in Dunton. He transferred to Lotus Design in Norwich in 1986, where he held successively senior design posts before being appointed Chief Designer at the Volkswagen Group's Design Centre in Barcelona, Spain. He has extensive design experience gained across a wide range of new vehicle projects.

Born in Surrey in the UK, Julian was educated at Hatfield University, where he graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. This was followed by a two year, post-graduate course at the Royal College of Art, where he attained a Masters Degree in Automotive Design.

best designed cars of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Best Handling: 2012 Porsche Cayman R

The Porsche Cayman R is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive 2-seat sports car produced by Porsche AG of Germany. First launched in the 2010, the Porsche Cayman R is based on a 2009 Porsche Cayman S. The Porsche Cayman R featured a new body kit, new 482-millimetre lightweight wheels, lighter aluminium doors, lighter bucker seats, and together with the removal of radio, storage compartments, air-conditioners and interior door handles, the Cayman R weighs 54.8 kilograms lighter than a 2009 Cayman S. With the help of the new sports suspensions, the Cayman R is 20mm lower than a 2009 Cayman S. The engine was a 3.4-litre flat six Direct Fuel Injection boxer engine which can produce up to 330 hp (246 kW). The standard Cayman R can finish 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds, but with the optional 7-speed PDK dual clutch transmission and the Sport Chrono package, it can finish 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The Cayman R with the manual transmission can reach the top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h), and 174 mph (280 km/h) is the maximum speed of models equipped with the PDK.

Most Gorgeous Car Under $20K: 2011 Kia Optima
(designed by Peter Schreyer)

The 2011 Kia Optima was unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, and was launched in the market in 2011. The Optima uses the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 30kW electric motor and lightweight lithium polymer batteries to produce a full gasoline-electric hybrid with an estimated 37 miles per US gallon (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg-imp) city and 39 miles per US gallon (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg-imp) highway. There are no apparent features that differentiate it from the Kia Optima except for a badge, different wheel discs and special Light Platinum Graphite paint color.

Most Impossible Performance-to-Price Ratio: 2012 Nissan GT-R
(Designer by Kazutoshi Mizuno)

Two-point-nine seconds — that's how long it takes the 530-hp Nissan GT-R to reach 60 mph. For reference, this is roughly half a second slower than the 1,001-hp, million-dollar Bugatti Veyron, a feat that should be impossible at the GT-R's $90,000 price. The Nissan accomplishes this trick through a complex drivetrain-management system, one that watches everything from tire slip to the health of the transmission's clutches. Thus equipped, it can rip off eye-watering launches all day long without wearing out or asking anything of you — a landmark intersection of low price and insane capability. The automotive media calls the car Godzilla.

Manual Gearbox of the Year: 2012 Honda Civic SI

The computerized automatic transmission — two pedals, no lesson from your dad required — has essentially rendered the manual gearbox obsolete, shuffling cogs faster and more efficiently than any human being. Which makes it all the more amazing that the world's best stick shift lives in a Honda, not an unattainable exotic. For under twenty-five grand, you get the 201-hp Civic Si's six-speed wonder box: feathery effort, eyeblink-short throws, a sublimely easy clutch. Grab the lever and sneeze, you've gone from first to second. Twitch a shoulder and you're in third, yowling out of the last corner at Monaco and reliving every racing fever dream you've ever had. No silicon chip is anywhere near this much fun.

Most Understated Supercar Ever Built: 2012 McLaren MP4-12C
(Designede by Frank Stephenson)

Supercars are almost always emotional things — you don't buy a six-figure sportster if you can't get all hot and bothered about it. It would stand to reason, then, that a cold, distant machine like the McLaren MP4-12C wouldn't be worth your time.

As if. McLaren is the legendary British Formula 1 race team — the same group of speed-mad loonies that created the epochal F1 supercar of 1994 to 1998 — and the MP4 is their attempt, in reserved British fashion, to take on the Ferrari 458 Italia. The tech comes hot and heavy: An active air brake lives on the MP4's rear deck. A trick hydraulic suspension lets the car alternate between cushy comfort and roll-free max attack in seconds. And a twin-turbo, 592-hp V-8 sits under the rear deck spitting out a whooshy, subdued, often guttural noise, more concerned with doing its job than with impressing bystanders. That's the McLaren in a nutshell: Unlike the Ferrari 458, it isn't a spine-tingling hard-on machine. Its plainly designed cockpit isn't the bell-and-whistle joy buzzer you get in a Lamborghini or Aston Martin. Even the name is soulless. This is a tamed racing tool, and it doesn't care if you like it or not. Which, all things considered, is pretty damn exciting.

Most Innovative Drivetrain of the New Century: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

When you drive the Chevrolet Volt for the first time, you feel a little underwhelmed: It feels ordinary, without drama. That's the point. The 95-mpg Volt's basic ingredients — two electric motors, an 84-hp gas engine, and a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack — mirror those of other hybrid cars, but the end result is extraordinary. You can knock off your commute without burning a drop of gas. You can drive from New York to L. A. without finding a place to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack. You can even break a few speed limits, and have a good time in the process.

Exhaust Note of the Year: 2012 Audi TT RS

Audi's championship-winning 1980s Quattro coupe sported a raucous five-cylinder engine. It sounded like hell come to breakfast — loud, bloodthirsty, able to explode small birds. That also describes the Audi TT RS. Qualities the TT shares with its forebear: all-wheel drive, a turbo, more thrust than you need (340 hp, 332 lb-ft). What it adds: a comfy cockpit, achingly modern styling. What you will never need: earplugs. When the oil inevitably runs out, this is the noise that'll be left ringing in humanity's collective head.

Most Desperately Welcome Drop-Top: 2011 Chevy Camaro SS Convertible
(designed by Sangyup Lee)

Problem 1: You cannot see out the back of a Chevy Camaro SS coupe. Problem 2: You cannot hear the car's 426-hp V-8 getting angry, cannot immerse yourself in clouds of burnout smoke on the way home from the Styx/Foreigner Fourth of July rocktacular. The drop-top Camaro solves these issues and adds a heaping blue-sky dose of possibility.

the new Lamborghini Aventador is the best car of the Year 2011

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:55:00 +0000

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is a two-door, two-seater sports car publicly unveiled by Lamborghini at the Geneva Motor Show on 28 February 2011, five months after its initial unveiling in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Internally codenamed LB834, the Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old Murciélago as the new flagship model in the Lamborghini line-up starting in 2011.

Soon after the Aventador unveiling, Lamborghini announced that it had already sold over 12 months of the production vehicles, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2011.

The Aventador LP700-4 will be using Lamborghini's new 690 bhp (510 kW) 6.5 liter 60° V-12 engine. Known internally as the L539, new engine is Lamborghini's fourth in-house engine and second V12. It is the first all-new V12 since the Countach (the other two being the V8 from the Urraco/Silhouette/Jalpa and the V10 in the current Gallardo).

10 concept cars headed to be reality

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:20:00 +0000

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C
(Designed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti at Alfa Romeo Centro Stile)

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept debuted at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011. The 4C is small lightweight rear wheel drive sports car; its size is similar or slightly smaller than Alfa Romeo MiTo supermini. It is two seater coupe, designed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile (Alfa Romeo Style Centre) and uses a carbon fiber tub, front rear crash box and hybrid rear frame with main use of aluminium construction to keep its weight as low as 850 kilograms (1,874 lb). Weight distribution is 40% on the front axle and 60% on the rear axle. The car was developed independently by Alfa Romeo, however using similar methods as KTM X-Bow and Lotus Elise.The 4C has high quadrilateral suspension at the front and MacPherson at the rear.

2013 Jaguar C-X75

Jaguar C-X75 is a plug-in hybrid, two-seat, concept car from Jaguar which debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The C-X75 produces 778 horsepower through four electric motors, each of which drives one of the four wheels. The batteries driving these motors are recharged using two diesel-fed micro gas turbines instead of a conventional four-stroke engine. It is described as an ideas model that will influence future design and technology.

In May 2011 Jaguar announced plans to build a limited production of the Jaguar C-X75, with a downsized, boosted petrol engine instead of the micro gas turbines in the concept, from 2013 until 2015. The plug-in hybrid supercar will be priced at between GB£700,000 - GB£900,000 (US$1.15 - US$1.48 million) depending on local market and taxes. A maximum of 250 cars will be built in partnership with Formula One team Williams F1. The production version will have an all-electric range of 50 km (30 mi).

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
(Designed by Gerry McGovern)

The Range Rover Evoque is a compact SUV from Land Rover which went into production in July 2011. The vehicle will be available in three-door and five-door body styles, and with front-wheel only or four-wheel drive. The car was announced on 1 July 2010, and it designed to address the requirement for reduced CO2 emissions. A near production concept was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show as the Land Rover LRX in January 2008.

2012 Mazda6

When Mazda showed off the sexy Shinari concept at the 2010 L.A. Auto Show last December, it signaled a strong directional change. The Shinari is sexy; It looks less like a competitor to the Altima and Camry crowd and more like a Lexus fighter.

The Shinari will lose some of that show-car edge when it goes on sale as the Mazda6 this December. But word is that it will sport an unconventional 2.2-liter diesel boasting 310 lb-ft of torque and a 40-plus mpg highway rating. The car's free-revving, 5200-rpm redline is especially unusual for diesels, but Mazda's goal was to emulate the character of its gasoline-powered cars, so this twin-turbocharged diesel seems less foreign to buyers who know the brand for quick-revving gas motors. Expect Mazda to offer an upgraded interior with more of a luxury feeling, too. If Mazda can pull all this off it has a motor to rival the Germans and a unique look to rival its Japanese competitors.

2013 Cadillac ATS

The Cadillac ATS is an upcoming compact luxury sedan from Cadillac. Currently, General Motors considers ATS a "codename" for the model, which means the final production name may change. It will be smaller than the Cadillac CTS, and is intended to compete with the Audi A4, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and BMW 3 series. Cadillac presented an ATS concept coupe to automotive journalists on August 11, 2009.

The ATS will be launched in mid-2012 as a 2013 model. It will debut as a four-door sedan with rear wheel drive, based on the new GM Alpha platform. Reports have indicated that coupe and all-wheel drive versions may follow. Styling has been described as consistent with Cadillac's Art and Science theme, and GM has released a teaser side-view image of the car.

2014 Audi Quattro Concept

At the Paris Motor Show in 2010 Audi presented the quattro concept. It commemorates the 30th anniversary of the original Audi Quattro and the Audi quattro four wheel drive system. Based on the Audi RS5, it features a modified 2.5L five-cylinder TFSI engine and the sixth generation of quattro transmission. It has been reported that Audi are considering a limited production model (200–500 cars) based on the quattro concept.

The car is powered by a turbocharged (TFSI) five cylinder 2.5 L engine producing 408 PS (300 kW), enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. It has a six-speed manual gearbox and a new generation of the quattro permanent four wheel drive system.

2012 Ford Vertrek Concept

What was called the Vertrek Concept at auto shows should roll off the assembly line in Louisville, Ky., next spring as the next Ford Escape. The current Escape is ancient, going without a design overhaul to its boxy body since 2001. Whatever can be saved from the Vertrek Concept will be, and it's safe to say that the next Escape is going to get a carlike ride more fitting for the dogfight in the crowded five-passenger crossover segment. Likely to be roomier and more refined, the new Escape should also get the 180-hp, 1.6óliter four-cylinder EcoBoost motor that's already deployed in a few models in Europe and is set to spread to production in the U.S.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

The SLS AMG E-Cell is planned for model year 2013 and will use all-electric powertrain components. It will include four electric motors (one on each wheel) with combined ratings of 392 kW (525 bhp) and 880 N·m (650 lb·ft), liquid-cooled 400V lithium-ion battery rated 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The battery will be supplied by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG. Mercedes-Benz anticipates selling the vehicle beginning in late 2012.

2012 Scion FR-S

We've waited seemingly forever for the FTó86, the joint project of Subaru and Toyota on a light, inexpensive sports car, to morph from clay to metal. But the multiyear effort should finally bear fruit later this year when the Toyota puts its cards on the table in the form of a new Scion. We'll see a flat, Boxer engine in 2.0-liter displacement, courtesy of Subaru, as well as rear-wheel drive. Power and pricing are up in the air, though the rumored low-$20,000 range would pit the small car against the V6 Mustang and Camaro crowd. With these looks, the Scion will turn a lot of heads, and tuners are going to have a ton of fun trying to take Subaru WRX STi parts and bolt them onto their Scion.

The Scion FR-S Sports Coupe Concept, where FR-S means Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport, was unveiled at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. According to Yahoo! Autos, sales are expected to start in the third quarter of 2012 as the Scion FR-S.

2014 VW Bulli

Volkswagen's attempt to disguise a Chrysler minivan as a Wolfsburg-bred flower-power-mobile hasn't gone over very well, but the brand needs to sell in every segment in this country if it's going to grow. The Bulli would integrate well with VW's strategy of multiple models on a single platform. The five-passenger van would use the next-gen Golf as its underpinnings, and possibly would come as either a hybrid diesel or even an electric-only vehicle, like the concept shown in Geneva this past spring. And unlike the present Transporter, which has really ballooned from the compactness of the original Microbus of the 1950s and '60s, the Bulli is small and squat. Still, modern-day adventurers and those with a hint of nostalgia will hope VW saves the show-Bulli's rear seat that folds totally flat for in-car camping.

Jozef Kabaň (designer of Bugatti Veyron)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Jozef Kabaň (4 January 1973 in Vavrečka, Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia) is a Slovak automobile designer. He started his career as a designer in Volkswagen. In 2003 he moved to Audi as an exterior design assistant. In 2007 he advanced to the position of Chief of Exterior Design at Audi. He was chief-designer of the Volkswagen Lupo, SEAT Arosa and Bugatti Veyron. Now he is Chief of Exterior Design at Škoda Auto.

Peter Stevens (a great sportcar designer)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Peter Stevens (born 1945) is a British car designer.

Having worked freelance for most of his career, and spent five years at Lotus Cars he took a job as lead designer at the MG Rover Group in 2000. He is the visiting Professor of Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art. Stevens was named 2002 Automotive Designer of the Year by AutoCar Magazine.

In July, 2011, it was announced that Stevens would be brought on board as director of design at Rivian Automotive, a green auto manufacturer located in Rockledge, Florida. Stevens is to head-up the vehicle's design development and coordinate styling on Rivian's flexible vehicle platform. This platform allows for various powertrain options including advanced gasoline, diesel-electric and plug-in electric construction.

Some of his most notable designs are;
Jaguar XJR-15
Lotus Elan M100
McLaren F1
Lotus Esprit (redesign)
Subaru '555' WRC Imprezas
Subaru Impreza P1 and Prodrive P2 (also based on an Impreza engine)
MG 'Z' cars
MG XPower SV

Walter de'Silva (one of the top car designers)

noreply@blogger.com (writer) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Walter Maria de'Silva (born 27 February 1951 in Lecco, Italy) is an Italian car designer who is currently Head of Volkswagen Group Design, and is currently responsible for oversight on the design of all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands including Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda as well as Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Since beginning his car design career in 1972 as head of design for FIAT, de'Silva has also worked as a designer at I.DE.A Institute, and as head of design for Alfa Romeo, SEAT and the now defunct 'Audi brand group'.

In March 2002 Walter de'Silva was appointed Head of Design to the now-defunct Audi brand group which encompassed the Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini brands. Volkswagen Group management charged de'Silva with giving the Audi range a more emotional design language which included the controversial introduction of the full-height, single-frame front grille that now adorns all Audi models. His first full design for a production Audi was the 2004 A6. He has since gone on to contribute to the 2005 Audi Q7, 2006 Audi TT and the 2007 Audi A5, which is reportedly his favourite design.

Following the appointment of former Audi chairman Martin Winterkorn as the chairman of the Volkswagen Group in January 2007, de'Silva was appointed as Head of Volkswagen Group Design effective from February 01, 2007, and is now responsible for the overall strategic design direction of all VW passenger car brands including Škoda, SEAT, Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. de'Silva replaced Murat Günak, and his first task was to re-evaluate the designs of three then-imminent Volkswagen models which had been penned by his predecessor: the 2008 Golf, the 2008 Passat CC and the 2008 Scirocco.