Porsche Concept Car - 918 Spyder Concept

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities. This car, however, is intended to offer the performance of a super sports car with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph), and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nurburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The highly-innovative Porsche 918 Spyder concept car combines Porsche's Intelligent Performance philosophy with the high-technology from motorsport, with classic but modern design to make a truly convincing statement.

Porsche 918 Spyder, this open two-seater is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500 horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm - as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW).

The V8 combustion engine is the next step in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4-liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned mid-ship, in front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance and the right set-up for supreme performance on the race track.

Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the car's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.

A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode, the Porsche 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.

The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to additionally improve the car's driving dynamics.

Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the Porsche 918 Spyder also bears out the car's DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) and liberal use of magnesium and aluminum not only reduce weight to below 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb, but also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.

The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the road. Variable aerodynamics, typical of Porsche, ensures both visionary and traditional highlights especially around the rear spoiler. The striking rear hoods extending out of the headrests, in turn, not only fulfill an aerodynamic function on the Porsche 918 Spyder, but also accommodate retractable air intakes with a ram air function.

The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech operation. Additionally, the cockpit offers a glimpse at the potential interior architecture of future Porsche super sports cars. The three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the '60s, bearing out that unique philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of Porsche.

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance.

Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept represents an essential milestone in Porsche's strategy on the way to genuine electric-mobility.

Opel Concept Car - Flextreme GTE

Powered by GM’s Voltec petrol/electric hybrid system, the Flextreme GTE boasts a smooth, streamlined look that helps it achieve a low drag coefficient of just 0.22Cd. The tall, sloping tail and flat, enclosed underbody will help keep the car on the road, as well as improving fuel economy and performance. Opel claim the Flextreme GT/E will have a top speed in excess of 201km/h.

how extended-range electric vehicle technology can be plugged into large or mid-size vehicles, as well as compact cars such as the upcoming Volt (Ampera in Europe).

Another interesting bit of information is that when traveling above 48km/h, a vertical panel will extend behind each wheel arch to help improve high speed airflow and reduce turbulence. The body is constructed predominantly of carbon fibre to reduce weight.

Under full electric power, the Flextreme GTE has a range of up to 65 kilometres, while using the petrol engine as a generator, this range is extended to over 480km.

Opel claims a fuel economy figure of 1.34L/100km, a CO2 output of 40g/km and a 0-100km/g time of under nine seconds.

Underneath that swoopy skin, however, is the same extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain GM has demonstrated over the past few years. A T-shaped, 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack lurks underneath the cabin, which feeds a 120-kW motor driving the front wheels. The battery can propel the car up to 40 miles on a single charge, but a 1.4-liter I-4 combustion engine comes online to help recharge the battery for longer drives.

The Flextreme GT-E also explores the potential for active shape shifting. At speeds above 30 mph, a vertical panel extends along the body from the air extraction slot behind each rear wheel-arch. These side spoilers guide high-speed airflow around the rear corners of the car, further reducing the amount of turbulence.

Mass reduction measures for the body include the use of lightweight, carbon composite outer panels, polycarbonate window glazing and aluminum alloy structural components. Compared to conventional materials, these offer a 40 percent weight saving which further contributes to reduced energy consumption and an increased driving range.

2011 New Ferrari 599 GTO Concept

After months of speculation, Ferrari has finally unveiled the 599 GTO. It's the first car to get the hallowed GTO nameplate in over 25 years. Blessed with 670 hp, the 599 GTO can blast to 60 in about 3.3 seconds and rockets to a top speed of 208 mph.

2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Concept

Maranello, 8 April - Now available on www.ferrari.com are the first photos and information on the new 599 GTO, an extreme V12 berlinetta developed to a specific performance-oriented brief. The 599 GTO is, in fact, the company's fastest ever road car. It is an exclusive limited edition special which, in true Ferrari tradition, is a completely new concept, albeit inspired by a production car. In fact the 599 GTO is based on the 599XX, the advanced experimental track car, and can be considered almost a road-going version. The Ferrari 599 GTO is reserved for just 599 clients who seek the maximum expression of high-performance driving. The Ferrari 599 GTO benefits directly from the technological transfer from racing and set a record lap time at Fiorano in 1'24".

The Fiorano lap time provides just one indication of the potential of this car. Just as significant are the technical specifications - 670 hp in a 1495kg car represents a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, and ensures a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.35" as well as a top speed of over 335 km/h.

As is Ferrari's policy, every new Ferrari features new solutions for a road car. Thus the Ferrari 599 GTO is equipped with the latest, second-generation carbon-ceramic brakes which are lighter and offer better performance, new aerodynamic innovations, such as the wheel doughnuts which increase aerodynamic efficiency as well as improve brake cooling, and the Supersport tyres developed by Michelin include a wider front tyre for greater roadholding. The driver-car interface is also new with the adoption of the Virtual Race Engineer (VRE) which provides the driver with instantaneous information on performance.

The GTO (Gran Turismo Omologata) moniker instantly calls to mind two Ferraris that have entered the collective imagination as symbols of performance. After the 1962 250 GTO, which swept the boards in GT racing categories in the 1960s and is now a highly prized collector's car, came the iconic 1984 GTO, which basically invented the entire modern supercar genre.

The web special includes photos, videos and interviews on the new car, while an exclusive preview for a small number of Ferrari clients will be held on April 14th at the Military Academy in Modena. The public debut of the Ferrari 599 GTO will instead be at the Beijing International Motor Show at the end of April.

The Ferrari 599 GTO's engine is directly derived from the 599XX unit implementing, however, the necessary modifications for road-going homologation. It thus complies with Euro 5 and LEV 2 standards. The 5999 cc 65-degree V12 engine punches out 670 CV at 8250 rpm with maximum torque of 620 Nm at 6500 rpm and there is a smooth, constant rush of power all the way to the redline with no loss of flexibility even at medium and low revs. This result was obtained by working on the fluid-dynamics and components to reduce internal friction and by adopting, amongst other things, the 599XX's redesigned crankshaft. The car also has a racing-type intake system with a new manifold with diffuser-type intake geometry and short inlet tracts designed to improve power delivery at high revs and reduce losses.

The Ferrari 599 GTO inherits much of the development work - using the same principles as employed in F1 - that went into making the 599XX such an extreme performance car. Reducing weight was a vital objective and the result was the widespread use of composites and components manufactured with technologies more akin to racing specifications. The areas involved include the bodywork and greenhouse (with thinner gauge aluminium and thinner glass), the brakes, transmission and exhaust system. The result is a dry weight of 1495 kg and a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, a very significant figure that underlines the GTO's performance potential.

The Ferrari 599 GTO's aerodynamics have benefited significantly from Ferrari engineers' experience in F1 and with the 599XX which allowed downforce to be greatly increased without impacting on drag. Thanks to solutions transferred from the track car to the road-going version, the GTO generates downforce of 144 kg at 200 km/h. The entire car was honed, including the front, the sides, the flat underbody and cooling flows. In the latter instance, the GTO can count on improved ducting to the brake discs and pads, and the adoption of wheel doughnuts - a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure that hot air exiting the wheelarch stays as close to the body of the car as possible to reduce drag.

The new CCM2 braking system is lighter and even more consistent in high performance situations. Its consistent coefficient of attrition meant that the ABS could be calibrated to a particularly high performance level, further reducing lap times, thanks to improved deceleration and shorter stopping distances. In fact, the Ferrari 599 GTO boasts an excellent 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of just 32.5 metres. As well as their role in improving aerodynamics, the Formula 1-derived wheel doughnuts also improve braking efficiency by optimising brake cooling.

2010 Announced Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti

Over the weekend, the first three of eight “Naomi for Haiti” special edition Lotus Evora sports cars were auctioned off, with the first car fetching $496,000. The vehicles, created by supermodel Naomi Campbell and Lotus Design Director Donato Coco, were auctioned off at the Fashion for Relief event held during Fashion Week in London with all proceeds going towards relief efforts in Haiti. Car number one was purchased by Campbell’s boyfriend Vladimir Doronin.

2010 Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti

In response to the horrific natural disaster that has crippled the nation of Haiti, Naomi Campbell together with Lotus Cars will be auctioning eight special edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evora sports cars, with the proceeds from the auction going to help the relief effort in Haiti on 12th of January 2010.

“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has generously donated their time and effort to make Fashion For Relief happen,” said Campbell. “I’m thrilled with the support from Lotus and to have teamed up with my great friend Gino Rosato for this important cause. I hope we continue to raise as much awareness and funds as we can.”

The remaining five Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti will be auctioned starting from today on the supermodel's website at www.naomiforhaiti.com. The highest bidders and the new owners of the remaining five Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti cars will be announced at the Lotus press conference on the 2nd of March at the Geneva Motorshow.

The Lotus Evora is a very desirable, multi-award winning, high performance, mid-engined sports car that presents a fantastic piece of design to bid on. The “Naomi for Haiti” Evora sports car has been specially designed by Lotus Design Director Donato Coco and reflects Naomi’s design direction. The bespoke styling combines the flag of Haiti with a dramatic colour scheme and the cars include a full range of options, meaning these cars will all become desirable collectors items.

The “Naomi for Haiti” Evoras will be auctioned at Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief TM charity fashion show on the 18th of February at the London Fashion Week venue at Somerset House. The remaining “Naomi for Haiti” Evoras will be entered into an auction run on the “Naomi for Haiti” website Charity Auction - Naomi For Haiti and bidding will commence at 0800 GMT on the 19th of February and will end at 1200 noon GMT on 28th of February 2010.

According to Naomi, Lotus Cars has been Fashion for Relief’s biggest supporter and has been instrumental in helping us to raise crucial funds for The White Ribbon Alliance and its partners in Haiti. Still according to her, to have Lotus on board supporting Fashion for Relief is very important to Sarah Brown, myself and everyone at The White Ribbon Alliance and we are truly very grateful.

Naomi Campbell says, "I am deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in Haiti. So many have been killed and severely affected by the earthquake - women and children in particular are most vulnerable in disasters. Fashion is universal, personal and touches everyone. I am delighted that Lotus Cars is supporting my Fashion for Relief TM charity and I am sure with such generous help we will raise crucial funds to help save the lives of women and children."

Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Affairs at Lotus Cars stated, “I am very proud to welcome my good friend Naomi into the Lotus family. We are delighted to be able to work together to raise money for such a worthy cause. The Fashion For Relief event has proven to be exceptionally successful and it is fantastic to be able to help the nation of Haiti.”

Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar said “It was a great pleasure for Lotus to work with Naomi and the White Ribbon Alliance for this excellent cause and we are delighted that by working with Naomi, our suppliers and the generosity of the bidders, we have been able to raise such a significant sum of money to help those in need during this difficult time.”

It was announced on March 11, 2010 at the 80th Geneva Motor Show that the eight special editions of the Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti have achieved in excess of €1.4m at auction.

Ford Concept Car - Start Concept

The Ford Start Concept is based on an innovative hybrid aluminum/high strength steel body construction with a lightweight aluminum safety cell, which provides a rigid structure for the glass and roof to attach and houses side curtain airbags.

The Ford Start Concept was inspired by the world's fast-growing mega cities and the unique needs and mindset of their inhabitants. With heavy traffic, limited parking and fuel efficiency being key concerns among urban drivers, the Ford Start concept provides a vision into a future sporty, small-car package that meets a multitude of primary driving objectives, particularly among first-time buyers.

Besides the crisp, smooth exterior shell constructed with lightweight composite body panels that snap-fit on an aluminum structure and the innovative interior (put together by Ford’s Irvine, California Strategic Concepts Group Studios), the model features a 3-cylinder EcoBoost. Power for the Ford Start Concept comes from a 1.0L 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine that delivers power and torque that comparable to a normally-aspirated I-4 powerplant.

All exterior body panels are made from deformable, pre-colored recyclable composites. Natural sisal fiber is used to form the interior panels.

The pressed aluminum wheels are mated with Michelin Green X tires featuring low rolling resistance and lightweight construction.

The holistic design approach – considering advances in the drivetrain, materials, and clever construction – demonstrates that a weight savings of 140 kg is possible.

The Ford Start Concept also has adopted smart phone technology to perform a multitude of in-car functions. This aspirational design concept uses lightweight material and efficient aerodynamics.

Citroën Concept Car - Metropolis Concept

Citroën Metropolis Concept's distinctive silhouette is a vision of creative and sophisticated luxury with an imposing stature (5.3m long, 2m wide & 1.4m high), reflecting the dynamism and ambition of China in the 21st Century. Powerful and engaging, Citroën Metropolis' subtle 'Pearl Silk' body colour changes under different light conditions, revealing the model's generous curves and ultra-honed detailing.

Created by Citroën’s international design team - based in Shanghai since 2008 - Citroën Metropolis will be on show in the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Fair from 1st May to 31st October, 2010.

The Citroen Metropolis is a big luxury sedan with a wheelbase bigger than both the Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class and it just so happens to follow the debut of the BMW long-wheelbase 5 series at the Beijing Motor Show.

The Citroen Metropolis is power by a hybrid powertrain featuring a 2-litre V6 petrol engine developing 272bhp (200kW) and 375Nm of torque and an electric motor with 95bhp (70kW).

When additional performance is required, such as during overtaking, the car uses both the electric motor and the combustion engine to deliver a maximum power output of 460bhp (345kW) and 430Nm of torque - equivalent to a 4-litre V8 petrol engine.

There’s also a four-wheel drive mode for when extra grip is needed.

The Citroen Metropolis is fitted with a 7-speed, dual-clutch electronic gearbox and four-wheel drive. The Metropolis measures 5.3m in length, 2m in width and 1.4m in height.

Delivering a smooth and cosseting ride experience, Metropolis is specified with Citroën's renowned Hydractive suspension, which dampens even the roughest of road surfaces and improves the car's aerodynamic performance - further helping to reduce CO2 emissions.

At the rear, Citroën Metropolis carefully balances width and stability with flowing aerodynamic lines - incorporating an active spoiler - and signature Citroën design flourishes, such as a concave rear window. Chrome touches around the side windows visually elongate the cabin, while 'origami' quarter-lights appear to float in the air - and also house a light source.

Reflecting China's avant-garde status, grandeur and vitality, the sleek limousine concept immerses itself in 'Créative Technologie', balancing environmental responsibility with luxurious comfort and driving pleasure. Incorporating a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and Hydractive suspension, Citroën Metropolis produces CO2 emissions of just 70g/km - approximately one fifth that of a conventional engine with equivalent performance.

2010 New Porsche Boxster Spyder Sports Car

“The new Boxster Spyder looks distinctly different from its Boxster siblings,” said Klaus Berning, executive board member responsible for worldwide sales and marketing at Porsche. “Our designers borrowed from the rich history of our mid-engine sports and race cars of the ’50s, but under the skin it has our most advanced technology so that its performance matches the Spyder’s looks, making it the quintessential purist Porsche.”

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Porsche is introducing a new top version of the Porsche Boxster, a light mid-engined roadster making its world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December. Weighing just 1,275 kg or 2,811 lb, the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder is the lightest model throughout the entire range of Porsche cars. Clearly recognisable right from the start, this new mid-engined roadster represents the true, purist form of the Porsche sports car – light, powerful, consistently open, and very efficient. This new mid-engined roadster represents the true, purist form of the sports car – agile, powerful, open and efficient. This third Boxster model will join the Boxster and Boxster S and will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, December 2, 2009.

The newest member of the Boxster family stands out from the other versions of Porsche's mid-engined roadster. Its low-slung, lightweight soft top – when closed – extends far to the rear to protect the driver and passenger from bright sunshine, wind and weather. This top, when combined with extra-low side windows and two striking bulges on the single-piece rear lid, provides the Boxster Spyder with a sleek silhouette reminiscent of the Carrera GT.

The Boxster Spyder features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with Direct Fuel Injection upfront of the rear axle. Maximum output is 320 horsepower (hp), 10 hp more than the Boxster S. The Porsche Boxster Spyder accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The Porsche Boxster Spyder top speed, in turn, is 267 km/h or 166 mph – with the roof open.The combination of 10 more hp and 176 pounds less weight than the award-winning Boxster S, plus an all-new sport suspension that lowers the Boxster Spyder 20 mm, a lower center of gravity, a standard limited slip differential, and exclusive wheels provides the kind of driving dynamics that back up the unique look. Aluminum door skins and lightweight interior door panels from the 911 GT3 RS contribute to the weight reduction.

Fundamentally, the entire Boxster family is the successor to the legendary 550 Spyder and RS 60 of the Fifties and Sixties, all sharing the same mid-engine roadster concept. Low weight and supreme agility combine to provide outstanding driving pleasure.

Market introduction of the new Porsche Boxster Spyder will start worldwide in February 2010. The base price in the Euro countries is 53,100 Euro. Including 19 per cent VAT and national specifications, the market price of the new Porsche Boxster Spyder is 63,404 Euro. Boxster Spyder is a regular, but specially developed and upgraded production model as compared with the Boxster and Boxster S.

The new stylish, cool 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder sport car that weights just 2,811 pounds is expected to be available by February 2010 for a base price of $61,200.

Futuristic Concept Car Peugeot Coaster

The Peugeot Coaster futuristic concept car has been created by designer Kim Minchul. This vehicle offers an alternative for every day driving in the city, where everything is restricted, offering an entertaining ride for the driver.

The coaster futuristic car concept has been designed to be an entertaining ride for the users with various thrilling activity. The driver’s cabin of the car has been envisioned to be separate which gives the driver a feel of safety and enhances their confidence during driving.

Also, it provides enough space to have the freedom of driving while enjoying the outside views from the transparent driver’s cab. With every move of the car, the users will have thrilling movements too, making it an experience like an interesting ride of an amusement park. Moreover, the unique aesthetics of the car makes it a perfect ride for both urban and rural use.

This concept vehicle offers great mobility and a different way of freedom, which separates it from other means of transportation, giving a new value to driving, and making it fun and exciting, through its innovating system.

2009 New Nissan 370Z NISMO S-Tune Sports Car

The new NISMO 370Z starts with the unmatched foundation of an advanced Nissan FM (Front Midship) platform, refined 4-wheel independent suspension and 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL). The VVEL system helps optimize intake valve open/close movements, allowing the needed air to be sent promptly to the combustion chamber at the precisely optimized time. For its use in the NISMO 370Z, the 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 produces 350 hp @ 7,400 rpm and 276 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm. The NISMO Z®'s enhanced engine power and acceleration is provided through use of an exclusive H-configured exhaust system design and muffler tuning, along with optimized ECM (Engine Computer Module) control.

2009 Nissan 370Z NISMO S

NISMO will offer 370Z buyers two sport packages that can be combined. The Nismo S-Tune Aero Package includes a redesigned front bumper spoiler, side skirts, rear bumper spoiler, trunk spoiler, and floor mate for a total of 411,000 Yen. 

Nissan's performance and tuning arm, Nissan Motorsport - or Nismo - is prepping an S-Tune package for Japanese buyers of the all-new 2009 370Z, but so far there's been no official word that the kit would be headed to the U.S. Now a report has emerged that the kit will be coming to America, and it will be here by June 2009.

The report is still unofficial, but according to the gang at GTChannel, the kit will indeed be sold in the U.S. in about six months. The 370Z was just released for official sale in the U.S. yesterday but it has been on sale in Japan for most of December.

It's not yet clear if the S-Tune kit for the 370Z - available in both 'Aero' and 'Performance' packages - will be available pre-packaged or if they will again be special-order pieces that can be put together to 'build your own'. If the report holds true, however, we only have to wait six months to find out.

This time someone managed to scan NISMO's official brochure providing us with further details on the S-Tune package for the 370Z. Even though everything looks Japanese to us, the black and white scans tell us that apart from the bodykit that comprises front and rear lip spoilers, side sills, a rear wing and larger alloy wheels, the S-Tune package will also include a full sport exhaust system and suspension and brake upgrades.

Today we bring you more pictures of the Nissan 370Z NISMO S-Tune Package adding to the already leaked collection we saw earlier.

The S-Tune Package is made by Nissan’s in-house tuning department for the new 2009 Fairlady Z (that’s what the Nissan 370Z goes by in Japan). The kit includes a new aerodynamic body kit consisting of a new front lip spoiler, new nose piece, side skirts, a rear spoiler, rear fenders and Nissan NISMO floor mats. Performance wise Nissan added a NISMO S-Tune suspension kit, a NISMO stainless exhaust system, S-Tube break pads and 19-inch Nismo LMZ5 wheels for a total of 1,028 Million Yen.