February 2011 - Cars, Concept & Design

2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1

Nissan Motorsports International announced that NISMO just signed the official partnership agreements for the FIA GT1 World Championship with Sumo Power GT (UK) and Swiss Racing Team (CH). Both teams will run two NISSAN GT-Rs respectively in the inaugural World Championship. Two teams for the FIA GT1 World Championship series in which the R35 GT-R will compete in 2010.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1

The R35 Nissan GT-R will be raced by the Sumo Power GT team from the UK as well as the Swiss Racing Team. Further details, such as the driver lineup, will be released later on. NISMO will provide technical support to its new racing partners.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1

The prospect of a new world championship, run under fresh regulations was appealing enough for Nissan to develop the highly acclaimed GT-R into a GT racer. It was going to be the first time since 1996 that the (Skyline) GT-R would compete in international GT events. While the FIA GT1 World Championship will not kick off until the spring of 2010, 2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1 built to the new regulations could already compete from 2009 onwards. Nissan Motorsport (Nismo) opted to use the extra year and worked had to get the new car ready for the official pre-season test at Paul Ricard.

The GT-R is a rear-wheel drive GT1 racer and comes with a naturally aspirated 5.6-liter VK56DE V8 engine tuned to 600 hp and 650 Nm of torque. It is fitted with a 6-speed transmission from Ricardo by way of a carbon triple-plate clutch and grips the ground with 18-inch x 13-inch forged wheels by Rays.

Nissan’s participation in FIA GT1 racing has been in the works for some time. Last year it tested the GT-R in several GT1 races. Now, they seem ready for the real competition.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1

To be eligible for the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship a manufacturer has to field at least four cars. Gigawave was expected to continue with the GT-R but unexpectedly the team closed its shop late in 2009. At that point Nissan had already signed a deal with Swiss Racing Team for the other two cars. In January Nissan announced that Sumo Power GT would fill the void left by Gigawave.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars NISMO GT-R FIA GT1

At the same time Nissan released the first details of the 2010 version of the car. The specifications were left unaltered but numerous aero tweaks were made for improved performance. Drivers and other details will be announced at a later time.

Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept

Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept

The latest Volkswagen will unveil the 3rd and latest iteration by its roadster diesel-electric hybrid concept serial, the fresh XL1 Super effective Vehicle (SEV) at these week’s Qatar Motor demo, which runs by January 26 to 29. The latest 2011 Volkswagen XL1 Hybrid Concept are motivated by a diminished 800 cc TDI two-cylinder basic rail diesel engine breaking 48 HP.

Vision becomes reality – Volkswagen’s “Formula XL1”: Volkswagen XL1 prototype consumes just 0.9 l/100 km! Wolfsburg / Doha, 25 January 2011 - Future mobility is one of the most stimulating topics of our time. The key question here: Just how much could the energy consumption of cars be reduced if all the stops were pulled out for efficiency? There is now an answer to this question, and Volkswagen is delivering it in the form of the new XL1. Combined fuel consumption: 0.9 l/100 km. No other hybrid car powered by an electric motor / internal combustion engine combination is more fuel efficient.

Powering the Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is a compact 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 47 hp. It's linked to an electric motor producing 27 hp, resulting in a total of 74 hp - a modest output yet more than enough when the low kerb weight of 1753 lbs (795 kg) of the vehicle is taken into account. The new Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept features an even more impressive design, plus it’s a plug-in hybrid that combines a 48 HP two cylinder TDI engine with a 27 HP E-motor, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG), and a lithium-ion battery. The battery can be charged from a conventional household electric outlet.

The Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept can drive 35 kilometers in pure electric mode and delivers a fuel economy of 0.9 liter/100 kilometers. While the profile is similar to the L1 concept, the XL1 has a more dynamic appearance, with a typical radiator grille, electrically controlled air intakes, new headlamps with LED technology, and fully covered rear wheels to prevent air turbulence.

Weight of Volkswagen Concept Car - XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Concept just just 795 kg or 1,752 pounds, thanks to the extensive use of lightweight materials throughout including Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer parts for the body, magnesium for the wheels, ceramics for the brake discs and aluminium for dampers, steering system and brake calipers. Also equipped seven-speed DSG gearbox with an automatic clutch mounted between the diesel engine and eclectic motor. VW says the electric motor can either work independently of the TDI engine or in tandem when accelerating.

Rolls-Royce Concept Car - 2011 Apparition Concept by Jeremy Westerlund

Rolls-Royce Concept Car - 2011 Apparition Concept by Jeremy Westerlund

Dreamt up by one Jeremy Westerlund while studying at the Art Center school of design, the Rolls-Royce Apparition is a rolling trompe-l'œil that at once both reaches back into the automaker's history and extends into the future. Rolls-Royce Concept Car - 2011 Apparition Concept by Jeremy Westerlund has Clever design features abound, like the spare wheel secreted into the bodywork at the front like 1930s Rollers, an open cockpit for the driver and the twin rear windows that mirror the shape of the headlights. It’s like something out of a science fiction film, and a heck of a lot more interesting than some of the so-called concept cars Rolls-Royce has show in the past five years.

The idea blends classic design elements with futuristic ones, with mahogany wheel inserts and a shape that places the chauffeur out in the open like in vintage motor carriages, with the occupants coddled inside.

The design of Rolls-Royce Concept Car - 2011 Apparition Concept by Jeremy Westerlund is based around the old motor carriages that had a chauffeur sitting up front, exposed to the elements, with the passengers coddled inside. Like most contemporary Rolls models, the front is utterly dominated by the prominent grille and hood ornament.

The design is based around the old motor carriages that had a chauffeur sitting up front, exposed to the elements, with the passengers coddled inside. Like most contemporary Rolls models, the front is utterly dominated by the prominent grille and hood ornament. It features unique touches like real mahogany inserts in the wheels, and the imposing overall shape is long and low: the designer took his cues from sailing yachts, and even though the model is built to 1:4 scale, it's still nearly six feet long. If such an extreme example of fantasy ever became reality, it would measure 279 inches overall – that's over 23 feet, or about four feet longer than the Phantom.

Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept

Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept

The Nissan ESFLOW electric sports car concept isn’t scheduled to be unveiled until the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in just a couple of weeks. Nissan plans to reveal its new electric concept, called Esflow, at the Chicago Auto Show this year. The car will make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show from March. The ESFLOW concept will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3-13 March) where it will share the Nissan stand with a number of other innovative and exciting newcomers - but with one major difference: these are production ready.

Nissan has a reputation for creating some of the most exhilarating sports cars on the market. Nissan has also developed the world's first practical Zero Emission family car, the Nissan LEAF. Now Nissan has put that expertise together. It has captured the excitement of a sports car and the environmental benefits of an electric vehicle and blended them into one dramatic two-seater concept: ESFLOW.

It may be a concept, but the Nissan ESFLOW electric sports car proves it's possible to remain environmentally sympathetic without having to give up the joy of driving. It looks like a sports car, handles like a sports car and performs like one too. But Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept is different to every other sports car yet built: it's electric. Using technology pioneered in the award-winning Nissan LEAF, the EV concept shows that driving can still be as much fun tomorrow as it is today.

Ecological minimalism need not come at the expense of luxury. The cabin of the Nissan ESFLOW Concept is clean and open and weight saving has been a priority throughout its design, but it is still a comfortable and pleasant place to sit. By far the heaviest components in modern cars' interiors are the steel framed, thickly upholstered and increasingly motorized seats. In ESFLOW the seats are sculpted into the rear bulkhead of the car, negating the need for a heavy frame. This of course means that they are immobile, but this is of no consequence as the fly-by-wire steering and pedals adjust electrically to the best spot to suit each individual driver's size and preferred driving position.

Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept is rear-wheel drive and it runs on two motors. The car's graceful proportions allow the twin electric motors to be placed above the axis of the rear wheels, in a mid-ship position,. These motors independently control the left and right wheels, and so the torque is optimized to ensure outstanding vehicle stability and control as well as efficient power regeneration. The motors produce enough torque in an instant for it to reach a 100kph in under 5 seconds.

Power for the motors comes from the same laminated lithium-ion battery packs used in the Nissan LEAF, but in Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept the packs are located along the axis of the front and rear wheels. This centralizes the mass of the car, and thus its rotation point, close to the driver's hips. These cleverly positioned batteries enable the car to travel over 240km on one charge.

The colors of this Nissan Concept Car - 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept are inspired from glaciers, with highly reflective blue-tinted solidified liquid shapes. Even if this concept will not hit the production line too soon, it could be a great source of inspiration for Nissan’s future sports cars.

Kia Concept Car - 2010 KV7 Crossover Concept

Kia Concept Car - 2010 KV7 Crossover Concept

The latest 2010 Kia car maker company has unveiled new Crossover Concept leave have its creation and will world premiere at next month’s 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Aside from the teaser rendering you see pictured above Kia Concept Car - 2010 KV7 Crossover Concept, the Korean firm didn’t really reveal any details on the funky crossover model that features a set of Gullwing-style rear doors, but if you insist, we’ve added the press release.

This make another dramatic design statement with the world debut of an all-new, convention-challenging concept vehicle named “KV7.” Kia Concept Car - 2010 KV7 Crossover Concept.

The company has tagged it as a convention-challenging concept car, and certainly, those rear gullwing doors do capture the attention in a big way. The vehicle’s lines are reminiscent of the Soul’s, and it does look like a – rather – stretched version of the latter.

BMW Concept Car - 2011 Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW Concept Car - 2011 Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW officials have announced that they would bring to the Geneva Motor Show 2011 a concept called Vision ConnectedDrive. It is an efficient and technologically advanced roadster, not sacrificing anything in terms of driving pleasure. It is unclear whether the model is related in some way with rumors of a future BMW roadster, smaller than Z4, or is a natural development of the GINA concept, but the new model is said to predict the future appearance of the BMW series vehicles.

Official BMW representatives said: “In 2011 the automobile industry is celebrating the anniversary “125 yeas of the automobile,” reason enough to not only look back, but also to look forward. Connectivity is one of the key fields of tomorrow’s world. And of course, we at BMW are proud to be among the pioneers of connected driving: for example, with the first on-board internet access in 2008, the first iPod integration in 2004, or the first ultrasound-based park distance control PDC in 1991.”

“2011 is also the year in which we are setting course for the future. Initial insights are already available to you now in the Future Lab from BMW Concept Car - 2011 Vision ConnectedDrive Concept. Or soon right here, with an extraordinary vehicle concept cars, which will once again revolutionize driving in terms of comfort, infotainment and safety. Exactly as you have come to expect from BMW.”

Some rumors suggest that the model will have a “3D interface” that will relate to the driver, with a futuristic design. The second feature is visible and will go in the direction of future BMW models. Instead, it is unclear how much influence the future creation of the BMW model, since the differences between the current range and the concept presented in Geneva 2011 are quite large, which hampers a rapid transition.

The layered surfaces are enhanced with fiber-optic lighting effects that highlight the different functions and sections of the car. It certainly isn't possible to design a car like this with just a few pen strokes. And it is a remarkable and potentially trend-setting approach that is every bit as daring as the one taken by BMW design ten years ago with the X Coupe.

The windshield acts as the medium for a three-dimensional head-up display, and additional information is shown on the monitor behind the steering wheel. Tellingly, the layer that displays relevant driving information is christened the "safety layer," and it is fed by plenty of watchful sensors. A larger zone that also encompasses the passengers is called the "infotainment layer," and it offers movies, music, and internet access. Passengers also get their own display with nav and music info, which can then be sent to the driver’s attention at the press of a finger.

The design and technology of this spectacular roadster are aimed at making the vehicle an integral part of a networked world. Comfort, safety and the infotainment experience in the vehicle can be precisely optimized by the innovative functionality, individually tailored to suit the requirements of both the driver and passenger. New technologies and design concepts are employed to add even more facets to the unmistakable BMW driving pleasure.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira

2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira

They have been teasing this car 2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira for a long time, but now just in time for 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon it is ready to be unveiled. This is one of the finest body kits we’ve seen for the mighty GT-R so far. We know that Japanese tuner’s Tommy Kaira finished the early stage of their Nissan GT-R plan for the launch at the 2010 Tokyo AutoSalon. This Kyoto based tuner, who is known to have started out by modifying Mercedes car is now all focused on GT-R as it brings out the Silver Wolf Nissan GT-R from its stable.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira

Called the Silver Wolf, this 2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira comes with a full body kit, plus new rolling stock, brakes, exhaust and suspension components. The carbon fiber widebody package gives the GT-R a serious attitude adjustment. Two kit choices are available, the first being a very comprehensive one while the second just works on the front end.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira

With no change to GT-R’s twin-turbo V6 engine, the 2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira has just got some fabulous interior work and upgraded breaks, exhaust and suspension systems. Carbon and red leather interior will give it’s driver a very luxuries feel while the carbon fiber widebody of the silver wolf still keep it decent and stylish. Tommy Kaira has well managed to keep its name in the auto industry and it is expected that the Japanese icon will not compromise on the performance of their new GT-R project. So until there is some final testing on the Fuji Speedway, check out the greatest performance car more closely in the pictures below.

2010 Nissan Sports Cars GT-R Silver Wolf by Tommy Kaira

The Tommy Kaira Nissan GT-R (R35) full kit consists of, among others, a wet carbon front bumper, a front grille cover, lip spoiler, under diffuser, side ducts and side skirts. The rear also features wet carbon in the form of a racing diffuser, a rear wing and rear fender extensions. The AVS Model F15 Platinum black wheels are shod with Pirelli P-Zero 255/40R20 and 285/35R20 front and rear tyres respectively.