December 2010 - Cars, Concept & Design

Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept

Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept

Cadillac has unveiled the Urban Luxury Concept at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, a design study of a four-seater vehicle that combines compact dimensions with the brand’s trademark values and design elements. The new Cadillac called the Urban Luxury Concept Cars is One of the more unusual concepts created for the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, so called because of its positioning as "a new type of vehicle that offers a luxury experience in a diminutive size," according to the brand. Designed at GM's North Hollywood Advanced Design Center under the direction of Frank Saucedo, the Urban Luxury Concept looks exactly like what it purports to be: a baby Cadillac with a smaller-than-usual footprint, plus lots of room inside and a frugal hybrid powertrain under the hood.

The Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept comes with a wheelbase of just over 97 inches, while measuring an overall length of 151 inches, width of 68.1 inches and a height of less than 57 inches.

Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept

"The Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept celebrates its scale with intelligent, innovative content that makes it unique regardless of its size,' said Clay Dean, Director of GM North American Advanced Design and Cadillac Brand Champion. 'It has a small exterior footprint, but is roomy inside.' Engineers have developed a concept hybrid propulsion system for the Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept that includes a turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder engine employing electric assist technology, engine start-stop function, brake energy regeneration and a dry dual-clutch transmission. Based on extensive prototype and production experience, a combination of these technologies could offer projected fuel economy of 56 mpg in the city and 65 mpg on the highway, in a vehicle of the size and configuration of the Urban Luxury Concept.

Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept

A large windshield and twin skylights create an open, airy feeling and enhance the perception of spaciousness inside with seating for four. A minimalist approach blends with refined materials, colors and lighting. These elements combine to create a passenger space that conveys the new perception of luxury: small, exquisitely detailed and fitted with the latest in digital technology. The front row passenger seat slides and reclines to offer a relaxing seating position. When folded flat, the seat's rear panel offers modern parents a conveniently integrated Orbit Baby SmartHub™ docking station within reach. The technology behind the unique touch pad controls is ergonomically tucked around the steering wheel to deliver real-time feedback for an efficient commute. The right-hand touch pad is hidden until deployed or detached by the passenger, who can interact online without compromising the driver's control. Via the on-board network, a passenger can request destination directions or audio playlists be integrated in the driver controls. Also woven into the system is OnStar with advanced voice recognition interaction, which allows the driver to do more without taking his or her eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel.

Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept

Befitting its role as a Cadillac, the Cadillac Hybrid Cars Urban Luxury Concept's interior materials convey luxury through quality and advanced technology. Blue and grey leather dominates the interior space and is contrasted by fabric selected for its high-tech look and feel, and usually found in couture fashion. It is used on the seats, as well as parts of the instrument panel and door panels. The interior is finished with carbon-color wood inlays, brushed aluminum accents and ceramic materials. Ambient lighting conveys an upscale aura that is complemented by the ultra-modern Tanzanite glow of the touch-screen displays.

Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept

Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept

Skoda Octavia first electric car Green Line E will debut at 2010 Paris Motor Show. The car model for business innovation potential and technological capability in this growing region determined. Mobility for people and clean cars for the environment - these are Škoda's commitments. Mobility without emissions is the future. "The Skoda Octavia Green E Line embodies the values of the brand absolutely perfectly - the vehicle combines the desire for individual mobility with our environmental goals", said Škoda Auto BOD Chairman Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland.

The Green E Line concept is based on the Škoda Octavia Combi. With its modular chassis design, this series-production car is the ideal option in terms of arranging the batteries, electronic control units and the electric engine with its constant power of 60 kW and max. power of 85 kW. Available right after the start (as is typical of this type of drive), the maximum torque of 270 Nm gives the car enough power for sharp acceleration and a good amount of agility and responsiveness, which the driver will appreciate mainly in busy city traffic. The Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just twelve seconds, and the car's maximum speed is limited to 135 km/h.

Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept

The electricity for the Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept is supplied by a modern lithium-ion battery. With a range-per-charge of 140 kilometres, the Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept comfortably meets the requirements of most everyday commuters in Europe. Located under the middle and rear parts of the floor and extending partly into the luggage compartment, the 26.5 kWh battery is made up of 180 lithium-ion cells (diameter 150 mm, length 650 mm) and weighs about 315 kilograms. However, the battery has almost no impact on the volume of the passenger and luggage compartments. The Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept is fitted with five comfortable seats, and its passenger compartment is identical with that of the Octavia Combi with a combustion engine.

With smart dashboard indicators, the driver of the Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line always stays in control. The computer screen provides continuous information including instant output, power consumption, battery charge and the remaining range. The navigation display describes the energy flow, i.e., informs the driver that the electric engine is being supplied with electricity or, on the contrary, that it is generating electricity as the car decelerates or goes downhill.

Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept

The look of the Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept conveys the environmental-friendliness of its electric drive. Pearl-white exterior colour and elegant chrome-trim on both the front and rear of the vehicle as well as on the wheels create an impressive contrast with the glossy black roof with integrated energy-generating photovoltaic panels.

Electric Car Skoda Octavia Green E Line Concept

Škoda Auto is planning to create a test fleet of Octavias Green E Line in 2011 with the objective of obtaining additional information relevant to the further development of the electric drive.

Energo Racer Cars By Paul Hanna To Swim Faster Through The Water

Energo Racer Cars By Paul Hanna To Swim Faster Through The Water

Usually modern vehicles are designed with the constraint of having to house an internal combustion engine. When he designed the Energo Racer, Paul Hanna draw inspiration from nature, mainly from marine animals and the way they move their bodies to swim faster through the water.

Energo Racer Concept Car By Paul Hanna, is 22 feet long and 8 feet wide, the racer can be molded to run on a number of alternative fuels or power sources, including hydrogen, solar and electric, with ease.

Energo Racer Cars By Paul Hanna To Swim Faster Through The Water

Energo Racer – One more interesting feature is that the car can be molded to be powered by different alternative fuels or power sources such as hydrogen, solar and electric power. Inspired by the nature, mainly marine animals and the way their efficient bodies cut through the water, designer Paul Hanna has come up with a vehicle concept named the “Energo Racer” to take the rider on a wonder ride.

Energo Racer Cars By Paul Hanna To Swim Faster Through The Water

Energo Racer Cars Concept By Paul Hanna, featuring an aerodynamic body to minimize air resistance, the futuristic vehicle removes the engine for a free flowing form to set new records in speed.

Energo Racer Cars By Paul Hanna To Swim Faster Through The Water

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

Amphibious cars are nothing new, the best of these being the Amphicar. With its bobbed proportions and telltale propeller, the Amphicar was popular enough in lake regions of the U.S. by the 1960s to be an accepted novelty when spotted on the road.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars, now a very real version of an amphibious car has been released in the UK. The Gibbs aquada high-speed amphibian (HSA) is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160kmh) on land and 30mph (48kmh) over water, taking just six seconds to transform from road going sportscar to a jet powered marine vessel. The aquada is powered by a 175hp, V6 engine with 4 speed automatic transmission that's linked to the fully-enclosed jet propulsion system when on the water.

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

Doubtful, as the Gibbs Aquada has been a bust in Europe since its 2003 debut there, but that's likely missing the major impact of Gibbs Technologies marriage of auto, marine and propulsion technologies. With three amphibious vehicles, the car-like Aquada, the military-esque Humdinga and the personal-sized Quadski, Gibbs is poised to build or license their high-speed amphibious technology to whoever can use it.

Gibbs didn't set out to make a swimming car, but rather integrate land and marine technology to form a unique classification, the amphibian. Gibbs has sunk, so to speak, more than $100 million into the program, with over 60 patents pending in nearly every aspect of the vehicle design.

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

To meet its lofty speed goals, the Aquada uses a carefully shaped outer body supported inside by a metal space frame. In this is conceptually similar to integrating a NASCAR racer's rollcage into a load-distributing unibody structure as used in a typical sedan.

Propulsion in the ten Aquada prototypes currently testing in Michigan is from a 2.5-liter 160-horsepower engine. Gibb's press materials are careful not to specify precisely which engine this may be, but we assume a turbocharged four cylinder would provide the necessary combination of power and weight (a 175-horsepower V6 is used in the euro-spec Aquada).

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

A take-off from the transmission powers a carefully designed water jet for marine propulsion; Gibbs says the compact jet produces nearly a ton of thrust at half the size and a quarter of the expected weight. It's enough for the Aquada to have set a 32.8 mph record speed run, and sufficiently reliable for Sir Richard Branson to break the amphibian speed record across the English Channel by four hours. More prosaically, Gibbs demonstration video shows the Aquada pulling a water skier.

While we have not piloted an Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian, it's clear that its driver-center, three-across seating, no doors and Bimini top will have practical considerations, or at least provide numerous conversation starters. On land we'd assume the Aquada would deliver more than acceptable road handling and middling performance given the moderate power and 3,225 lbs. weight.

Amphibious Sports Cars Concept Gibbs Aquada High-Speed Amphibian

"Our plans for North America are ambitious, aggressive and achievable," Gibbs has said, stating, "Aquada could generate annual sales volumes of 100,000 or more within five years." Perhaps we should get our driving gloves and water skis ready now.

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

In 2010, Nissan launched an innovative LEAF as the first mass production electric vehicle in the world, as well as a beginning for the future vision of zero emissions Nissan. Forward to 2035: electric vehicles concept and green technology infrastructure which matured into a fully sustainable dream, that brings to life.

Created by Nissan Design America for the 2010 LA Design Challenge, a competition that has asked automotive producers from around the world to create eco-conscious vehicles with a top design that weigh less than 1,000 pounds (454 kg).

Using industry-leading technology, Nissan iV maximize the driving experience by eliminating excess. 2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology makes deep longing and joy of driving with EV that can offer exciting and strikingly beautiful, fast performance with zero fault.

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

Infused with Nissan’s heritage of sports cars and performance, Nissan iV is a high-performance EV inspired by nature’s intelligent beauty and crafted by human ingenuity. The iV is a super-lightweight sports cars tourer that showcases “organic synthetics,” a revolutionary manufacturing technique in which automotive parts are cultivated like agriculture in a 100% sustainable, carbon-neutral process.

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

Every detail is engineered toward renewable, lightweight strength and maximum efficiency. Featuring an interwoven organic frame, the chassis material is synthetically grown and formed into an aerodynamic shape.

The car seats four and features a photo-voltaic rooftop ,a slim bio-battery provides stability and regenerative capacitor technology that recoups 60% of kinetic energy spent.

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

The vehicle is powered by concentric hub-less in-wheel electric motors, which also acts as a suspension and steering, using magnetic levitation and propulsion. Concentric magnetic rings amplify rotation with each outer ring to boost high-speed performance and provide independent wheel control for ultimate handling and maneuverability.

Nissan’s president Carlos Ghosn has publicly said that the company’s success depends on its ability to develop and deploy electric vehicles that excite the masses. The iV is part of Nissan’s zero emissions future.

The Renault/Nissan partnership with Better Place will result in more than 100,000 battery-swap enabled sedans on the road in Israel and Denmark, with cars and charging infrastructure slated for Toronto, Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay Area.

2010 Nissan iv Concept Electric Concept Cars And Green Technology

Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car

Peugeot New Zealand has confirmed that it will be bringing Peugeot’s exciting new sports car, the 308 RCZ, to New Zealand in 2010. Unveiled to critical acclaim as a concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, the RCZ will soon become a production reality. Peugeot’s stylists and engineers have worked to ensure that the RCZ that will hit New Zealand’s roads will be keeping with the expectations created by the stunning design of the original concept.

Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car

The objective behind Peugeot’s sports car is for it to become an exclusive vehicle, full of emotion, aimed at enthusiasts who are particularly discerning with regards to driving enjoyment. Divisional Manager of Peugeot New Zealand, Simon Rose, says “I have been fortunate enough to have had the privilege to see and drive the new Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car in the flesh last week in Paris.” “It is an outstanding example of Peugeot’s stand point and position regarding producing innovative and stylish looking products. Its also testament to the last few years of investment and the position taken in terms of money continuing to be channelled into research and design, all be it in the middle of a challenging world economy.”

Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car

Peugeot continues to produce and design market leading product which will make for an exciting future for our customers. In short, the RCZ is the epitome of the brands future. “The finished product looks like a work of art and drives and handles like a dream in terms of the rewarding road handling and chassis, in a way that makes you want to keep driving and driving” said Mr Rose. Subject to overseas demand, the Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car will likely launch in NZ as early as mid 2010 and will be the brands image car in terms of profiling both HDi and Diesel technology, as well as the unique styling you see coming through on all future models in the range.

Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car

Set to make its debut in Frankfurt this September along side the all-new Peugeot 308 3- and 5-door, the 308 RC Z concept car makes a serious play for the Audi TT. The 308 RC Z manages to take the TT's design a small step further with more aggressive stance while still making it distinctively Peugeot with the signature front end and 207 CC like rear boot overhang. Aiming to be a driver's car, the 308 RC Z concentrates on keeping the vehicle's weight down. By using aluminum suspension components, carbon fiber trim and a polycarbonate rear window amongst other weight saving tricks, the 308 RC Z weighs in at a respectable 1200 Kg (2645 lbs).

Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car

Engine specification includes the world Engine of the Year award winning high performance 1.6 petrol and 2.0 High Pressure Direct Injection diesel versions which will be mated with a 6 speed automatic gearbox. The Peugeot Sport 308 RCZ Concept Car gets the same 1.6 liter THP engine from the 207 RC. However, this concept gets revised engine management giving 43 more horsepower from 175 (128 kW) to 218 (160 kW). With 300 Nm of torque available at full boost, the 308 RC Z sprints up to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 235 km/h.

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione

From Alfa Romeo Press Release.

Daniele Bandiera, President of the Alfa Romeo Business Unit, presented an exciting concept car to the international press this morning. It is called the "8c Competizione" and it joins the other important novelties displayed on the Alfa Romeo stand at the 60th Frankfurt International Motor Show: the new Alfa 166 (also having its world preview), the Alfa GT, the new 156 and Sportwagon, and the GTV and Spider models with their recently revamped styling and features.

Designed and developed at the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, this prototype will become a true brand icon, evoking a great sports cars tradition of which the name is part. In the Thirties and Forties, the '8c' signature that returns here, identified the racing and road cars that were equipped with the new eight cylinder engine developed by the famous engineer Vittorio Jano. The term 'Competizione' on the other hand, is a tribute to the 6C 2500 Competizione, the sports coupé driven by Fangio and Zanardi in the famous Mille Miglia race in 1950. So '8c Competizione' is not an invented name, but a clear reference to Alfa's racing history. And of course the Alfa Romeo legend was created to a great extent by the victories its cars achieved on race courses all around the world. There were so many of them that alone they represent a long, fascinating chapter, made of men and competitive spirit, engines and cutting edge technical ideas. The protagonists of the inestimable human and technological heritage that is responsible for today's beautiful cars, full of character and, above all, capable of combining the beauty of the styling with the pleasure of driving them.

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione

Let us admire then the captivating, original lines of this carbon fibre 2-seater, and its extremely generous measurements: 1900 mm wide, 4278 mm long and 1250 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2595 mm. The body is given extra dynamism by the horizontal furrow cut into the side above the front wheelarch.

In addition to this, the large tyres (245/40 - R20 at the front and 275/35 - R20 at the rear) and the powerful, muscular rear wings accentuate the impression the model gives of a strong, forceful personality. This does not detract in any way from the elegance of the lines that run smoothly from front to back, to the light clusters set into the integral bumpers. A stylistic balance that has its maximum expression in the daring design of the rear window that covers the rear and partially envelops the rear pillars.

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione

The front elements have been repositioned as they were on the most important Alfa racing cars of the past - the 'whiskers' and shield are aligned at the same height - a decision of historical and evolutionary significance. But a rapid glance will reveal that the styling of the whole exterior is full of classical references, an ideal opportunity for a modern interpretation of traditional Alfa stylistic cues. For example, the front end recalls the former 33 Coupé Stradale, while the rear sports the characteristic round light clusters of the Giulia TZ.

It is difficult to be indifferent to the '8c Competizione' concept car, because it is the pure expression of Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione of the car. And with this new model, Alfa's stylistic language takes a further step forward. Compared to another concept car, the 'Nuvola', which also featured the shapes and surface treatment of the new Alfa Romeo aesthetics, the styling approach of the Alfa 8c Competizione enhances the brand's DNA with a modern hi-tech interpretation of the most famous designs in Alfa Romeo history.

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione

Nor can we forget that the Alfa Romeo sports cars of past and present all share a particular feature: the ability to thrill even the most experienced drivers when they take the wheel. And the Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione is no exception. Suffice it to say that under the bonnet lurks a 4.2 litre V8 (90°) turbo engine with a volumetric compressor. This powerful unit delivers over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm and together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the prototype to a top speed above 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometres in just 4.5 seconds. This engine commands not only absolute performance and outstanding peaks of power and torque (over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm), but also smooth, effortless delivery even at low speeds. The result is a car capable of exciting performance, that is perfectly at home on everyday roads and not only on the racetrack.

The Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Concept 8c Competizione combines this brilliant performance with extraordinary roadholding and the handling of a true thoroughbred. The merit goes to the dual wishbone suspension at front and rear, which ensures extremely enjoyable handling, combining the control you would expect of front-wheel drive with an exceptionally sporty drive and pinpoint response, which are particularly important on mixed routes. We must underline that Alfa Romeo chose rear-wheel drive on the 8c Competizione to support the exuberant engine and to deliver truly unbeatable emotions.