Automotive
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Pirelli purchases Fioravanti patent to enable tyre of the future
December 2, 2006 Tyre-giant Pirelli has purchased the patent for an innovative new tyre monitoring system from design and styling company Fioravanti. The acquisition of the rights to the Fioravanti patent for monitoring the tyre footprints of a motor vehicle and automatically optimizing the behaviour of the motor vehicle will fast-track Pirelli’s ability to deliver its much-anticipated CyberTyre product to market. CyberTyre is one of a number of new technological systems (including X-Pressure, Safety Wheel System, and CyberWheel) being created by Pirelli with the aim of making tyres ever-more intelligent and interactive. The CyberTyre system instantaneously measures and wirelessly transmits information about the forces regulating vehicle dynamics by way of miniaturised electronic sensors. The small Turin-based Fioravanti company is developing quite a reputation for innovation, having previously developed an ingenious rotating roof design for its 2001 Alfa Romeo LF concept car which was subsequently used by Ferrari in the 575 SuperAmerica. (read more...)
Tough Compact HCD10 Hyundai Hellion Concept
December 1, 2006 The Hyundai Design and Technical Center and Hyundai Motor America presented the world debut of the HCD10 Hyundai Hellion concept during a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. Hellion is a compact three-door sport crossover designed with attitude and independence creating its unmistakable character. Hellion’s architecture was inspired by a tough, hardshell backpack that uses ribs to provide structural and visual strength. To support this, Hyundai used three ultra-lightweight structural ribs to create Hellion’s safety cage. These ribs connect to a suspended surfboard-shaped spine. Hellion’s ribcage not only provides protection for its occupants, but also adds visual rigidity and shape. By stretching the sheet metal skin away from the common body surface, the ribs give Hellion a new kind of organic ruggedness. (read more...)
Compact Honda Step Bus Concept - man maximum, machine minimum philosophy
November 30, 2006 Our automobiles reflect who we are, and the Honda Step Bus Concept is designed specifically for high energy lifestyles, representing the ultimate expression of Honda packaging prowess with a mid-engine design and a fully maximized and quickly adaptable interior. The highly configurable, high-tech interior provides ultimate urban utility from the outside in. Sliding front doors with a space efficient design let people enter and exit in tight spaces. Although micro in exterior size, the cavernous interior can harbor large amounts of band equipment, sports gear and other bulky items. (read more...)
Honda REMIX Concept mixes sports car attitude with everyday functionality
November 30, 2006 The Honda REMIX small sport concept vehicle made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday. The REMIX explores the shape and design of a two-seat sports car focused on agile and fun-to-drive performance that can also provide exceptional practicality as a daily driver. Sports car in shape and design, the low-slung REMIX features a wrap-around canopy that adds a fighter jet-feel to the driving experience. The aluminium-color exterior accentuates every line and curve in the geometric, yet fluid styling. Capable of delivering more than just driving performance, the rear storage area supplies generous cargo room. (read more...)
VW’s Concept Tiguan makes debut at Los Angeles Auto Show
November 30, 2006 The launch looked more like a nighclub than an automotive debut but Volkswagen was intent on selling the sizzle as well as the sausage. The sausage in question was the Concept Tiguan compact 4x4, and the venue was the Los Angeles Auto Show, with the whole affair topped off by the announcement that the first examples of the SUV will be delivered to customers by the end of next year. The first news of the Tiguan’s development came with the debut of Concept A in Berlin earlier this year. This was followed by the naming of the model in July, the result of a poll of more than 350,000 readers of magazines of the AutoBild group. This latest development in Los Angeles takes the Tiguan one step closer to production and hints strongly at how the final version could look. (read more...)
Mazda Nagare Concept: Capturing the Emotion of Motion In New Surface Language
UPDATED NEW IMAGES December 1, 2006 Mazda does good concept cars. In the 2005-2006 global auto show season, Mazda’s Sassou (2005 Frankfurt Motor Show), Senku (2005 Tokyo Motor Show) and Kabura (2006 Detroit Auto Show), Mazda’s global design team kicked butt. Mazda’s design division has invented a new surface language called Nagare for introduction at this year’s Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show. It looks like a Grand Slam to us! NAGARE (pronounced “na-ga-reh”) is Japanese for ‘flow’ and the embodiment of motion. Under the direction of Mazda’s new global design director, Laurens van den Acker, the challenge given to the team was to invent a novel means of registering motion in vehicles whether they’re moving or still. Nagare achieves that goal while also signaling a fresh design direction for future Mazda vehicles. Nagare is the first of a series of design concepts – some closer to actual production vehicles than others – that Mazda will showcase this global autoshow season, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo. We can’t wait. (read more...)
The Ford Mustang by Giugiaro – a one-of-a-kind concept
NEW IMAGES POSTED December 4, 2006 The 2005 Ford Mustang captured the hearts and minds of millions of fans and future owners when the all-new model debuted. But the proportions and design of Ford’s first purpose-built muscle car in 30-plus years caught the eyes and sparked the imaginations of a pair of the world’s leading coachbuilders in Italy as well. (read more...)
Heads Up Display (HUD) tested in Baja 1000
November 28, 2006 When the Wide Open Baja Challenge team put the SportVue GPS-enabled prototype heads up display to the test at last week's 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the 1000 mile granddaddy of all desert races, the system proved as rugged as the treacherous desert course. Created by former Indy car racer Dominic Dobson, the SportVue Heads Up display technology gives riders and drivers a constant view of critical data in an easy-to-use display in the drivers' peripheral vision, focused at infinity. The technology frees the driver from distracting glances at dash-mounted GPS displays and allows them to focus on driving. (read more...)
Volkswagen Neeza Concept Car
November 19, 2006 With the Chinese automotive market now the second largest in the world and growing like topsy, the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition is become one of the world’s premier automotive showcases in very short order. Few of the world’s non-Chinese automotive companies have debuted concept cars there for a variety of reasons that will no doubt change over the next year or two – one of the first to launch an entirely new concept car is Volkswagen which has just taken the wraps off the Neeza concept, a crossover between a sports coupe and an estate with an off-road appearance. Significantly, it was designed in China for China, combining Chinese and German design philosophies. The concept intentionally has neither a radio, navigation system nor other form of infotainment equipment. Instead a ‘Magic Box’ serves as an interface for radio and navigation systems, mobile phone, personal organiser and other devices. And the roof is entirely glass. (read more...)
Maybach 62 S: World's most powerful chauffeur-driven saloon
November 18, 2006 Maybach, the luxury brand with a legendary past, re-established just four years ago, is adding a fourth variant to its line-up in the shape of the newly developed 62 S model. The new flagship model in the Maybach range premieres this week at the "Auto China 2006" international motor show in Beijing and is primarily designed to be chauffeur-driven and meets the very highest of standards in terms of spaciousness, smoothness, comfort and dynamism. The "S" stands for "Special" and the engineers at the Maybach workshops have incorporated a number of specially developed features, most notably the power output of the car which has been enhanced with a twelve-cylinder engine developing 450 kW/612 hp. The end-result is a new dimension in travelling comfort, particularly for the passengers in the generously proportioned rear compartment of the new high-end luxury saloon. Pricing starts at UKP260,535 (US$495,000) (read more...)
The Geely Fengying Concept
November 17, 2006 The scarily large and growing Chinese automotive industry will impact everyone on the planet in more ways than just rising fuel prices and greenhouse gas emissions – it will also significantly influence design, so don’t be surprised to begin seeing new brand names you’ve never heard of on some pretty dashing automobiles … like Geely f’rinstance. The Chinese auto maker will introduce the Fengying concept car at the Beijing Auto show, complete with styling borrowed from the aero industry and scissor doors. (read more...)
Aston Martin reveals the V8 Vantage Roadster
November 15, 2006 Aston Martin will unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated convertibles of the year when the V8 Vantage Roadster goes on show at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday 29th November. Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said of the new car, “the V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car, a car that heightens the senses and provides a dynamically thrilling driving experience. The Vantage Roadster adds to the unbeatable thrill of open air motoring and by combining engineering excellence, technological innovation and physical perfection, will ensure every journey is one to remember.” (read more...)
New smart fortwo better in every way
UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY November 12, 2006 The new smart fortwo has finally arrived: what began with the idealistic vision of a hybrid engined, cheap-to-manufacture, economical two seater with a low environmental footprint by Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek in the early nineties, has finally seen its second edition. It’s our bet that Hayek will be judged as visionary, albeit naive, a century from now, as the automotive industry is a fraught with danger for the inexperienced, and by the time the car found a permanent home in the form of Daimler Chrysler, it was most of the things originally envisaged but cheap. As luck would have it, all of those strengths are becoming more important by the day, and the high tech, high cost intelligent decisions made a decade ago by a fledgling car company have now been reworked by masters of the art and the second generation smart fortwo is improved in every way. The smart fortwo coupe and smart fortwo cabrio were unveiled to more than 550 international journalists yesterday evening in Stuttgart for the very first time. The location was unusual, but nonetheless very fitting for the smart fortwo: in the middle of the city, on the roof of a multi-storey car park. In addition, there were presentations on comfort, agility, safety and environmental friendliness. After all, the new smart fortwo can do everything that its predecessor can do – but even better. This means that the new smart fortwo, despite looking almost identical to the untrained eye, is even more comfortable, even more agile, even safer and even more environmentally friendly than its predecessor. (read more...)
The 1000 bhp Bristol Fighter T
November 9, 2006 In 1946, the Bristol Aeroplane Company, one of the world's most successful aviation manufacturers diversified into car manufacture. In 1960 it was persuaded to join with others to form the British Aircraft Corporation (later British Aerospace, and now BAE Systems), becoming a significant part of one of the most innovative companies on the planet. At that time the car division (Bristol Cars Ltd) passed into private hands and has continued building exclusive and exquisite luxury automobiles ever since. It does not have ANY dealers – if you wish to buy one, you must deal directly with the factory. The marque’s most recent design, the Bristol Fighter, was named after one of its successful WWII aircraft, and comes with a purpose-built 8-litre V-10 engine producing 525 bhp,comfort for a driver over 200cm tall, and room to do some intercontinental touring without having to scrimp on the luggage. Surprisingly, the company’s elite clientele began requesting more horsepower, so it produced a 660 bhp version – the Fighter S. The frightfully fast Fighter S kept them happy for a while, but the requests for even more horsepower kept coming. So, ladies and gentlemen, may we present the twin turbocharged, intercooled UKP351,931 (US$670,000)Bristol Fighter T producing 1012 bhp at 5600 rpm and 1036 lb.ft of torque at 4500 rpm. That ought to keep the blighters quiet for a while! (read more...)
Rhino RTV now accessorized for work too
November 5, 2006 Somewhere between a monster truck and a lightweight high-spec, space-framed racing 4x4 with a liberal helping of mountain goat thrown in is the Rhino, which is not to be confused with the world’s toughest bus, the Rhino Runner. The Honda-powered 2.0 litre Rhino is a product of the deserts of Nevada and has evolved such remarkable go-anywhere capabilities that the company is now offering a fully accessorized “Search and Rescue” RTV, which was unveiled at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week. The Rhino RTV is a new type of off-road vehicle that with the addition of purpose-oriented accessories, offers unique capabilities to law enforcement agencies, park services, ranchers, and other businesses working in outdoor, off-highway environments. Though at heart we suspect it will always remain a primarily recreational vehicle for the adventurous at heart, add on equipment racks, trailers, winches, GPS systems, emergency lights, radios and canvas tops and the RTV can be transformed into workhorse utility vehicle. (read more...)
Jay Leno’s Turbine-Powered EcoJet Concept
IMAGE LIBRARY UPDATED November 8, 2006 What would keep a group of automotive designers up all night? "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, for starters, but not by his monologue or parade of Hollywood guests. This time it's because the late-night talk show host invited the General Motors Advanced Design Studio to help design a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar called EcoJet. Leno and Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, introduced the car yesterday at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle's shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar. (read more...)
Carroll Shelby’s Personal Dual Supercharged 800 BHP Cobra
UPDATED November 5, 2006 The name Carroll Shelby is universally known for his remarkable road and racing cars, so when his personal car comes up for sale, it’s worth taking notice. In 1966, Shelby plucked this vehicle from a line of 19 production Competition Cobras and molded it into one of the most impressive automobiles ever built. It has a monstrous 427cid, 800hp twin Paxton supercharged V8 with a super three-speed automatic transmission. “When I built this dual supercharged 427 Cobra in 1966, I wanted it to be the fastest, meanest car on the road,” said Shelby. “Forty years later, it will still kick the tail of just about anything in the world. It’s the fastest street legal Cobra I’ve ever owned.” For those interested in the history of the vehicle, check out this web page with lots of detailed (if somewhat faded) images of the restoration. (read more...)
Honda’s 500bhp Element-D (for Drifting)
November 1, 2006 The Honda Element-D ("D" for drifting) racecar shows what can happen when enthusiastic Honda associates raid the company parts bin. It's not all that long ago that racecar meant something with low frontal area and aerodynamic efficiency, but in the new sport of drifting, being as aerodynamic as a brick is an advantage. Built for the racing sport of drifting, the Honda Element-D racecar replaces the stock 4-cylinder/Real Time 4WD drivetrain with a custom-designed and longitudinally-mounted 3.2-liter Honda V6 and rear-wheel-drive. Producing 500-horsepower, the lightweight twin-turbocharged powerhouse is guaranteed to light up the rear tires and accelerate sideways at full opposite lock. Associates from Honda R&D Americas in Ohio plan to campaign the Element-D in the 2007 Formula Drift Series. (read more...)
Futuristic Nanospyder Concept (psst - it’s a Volkswagen)
November 1, 2006 A team of highly creative Volkswagen designers based in California have unveiled their own unique take on the future of modern transportation. The result is the Volkswagen Nanospyder. Futuristic nanotechnology supported by hydrogen fuel cells, solar power, wheel-mounted electric motors and inflatable organic body panels combine to form the unusual shape of the two-seater concept. (read more...)
Outrageous 650 bhp C6 Corvette with 5600 watt sound system
October 31, 2006 There’s no place quite like the SEMA Show 2006 in Las Vegas to see outrageous automobiles and the Outrageous C6 Corvette is appropriately being debuted there. Designed as a showcase for Custom Shop, Mid America Motorworks and Sony, the supercharged, fibreglass beastie features a custom interior of Ostrich leather and Alcantara suede, vertical doors, 650 horsepower (478 kW), and 5600 watts (5.6 kW) of Sony electronics. (read more...)
Steam Car Challenge targets century-old speed record
October 31, 2006 In an environment where world’s best practice in any human endeavour is expected to last only a few years, it seems ludicrous that a land speed record could survive for a century but that’s the case with the world steam-powered land speed record. A century ago, when the global automotive industry was in its infancy, the internal combustion engine was by no means the only contender as the power source for the personal transportation revolution – electricity and steam were also viable contenders in the first few decades. Indeed, the steam-powered Locomobile was the world's first successful automobile and a machine based on the famous Stanley Steamer automobile attracted global attention on January 27, 1906 when it smashed the outright world speed record of 109 mph setting a new record of 121.57 mph. Now a British team, the British Steam Car Challenge, is preparing to push the World Land Speed Steam-powered Record past 200mph. The car is powered by a 300 bhp Curtis steam turbine and the team is now completing the high-tech boilers for the car, named Inspiration. The boilers will generate a formidable four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day. (read more...)
Nokia launches dedicated car navigation device
October 31, 2006 Global mobile phone company Nokia has announced its first dedicated personal navigation device. The Nokia 330 Auto Navigation will initially be launched in Europe and offers both spoken and visual directions. The Nokia 330 Auto Navigation contains a 2GB memory card for the preinstalled Europe-wide map data, switchable 2D/3D and day or night view on a 3.5 inch color touch screen, and the ability to request a repeat of the last instruction. Expected to be available before the end of the year at an estimated retail price of EUR 360, the 330 also includes a music player, photo viewer and video player. (read more...)
New system automatically recognises traffic signs and prevents unintentional speeding
October 30, 2006 In many parts of the world, automatic systems designed to capture speeding motorists are proliferating to such an extent that unless intense concentration and cruise control is employed, it’s easy to rack up regular $100+ fines for seemingly innocuous infringements. Many governments around the world now use their automated traffic fine systems as lucrative revenue raisers. Fortunately, technology is coming to the aid of the motorist too, and a new system developed in Europe by Siemens can automatically recognise speed limits on traffic signs and prompt motorists if they are transgressing so they can avoid speeding tickets. The system works with a camera in the car that scans the scene in front of the car for traffic signs and forwards the information to an onboard computer. With the help of the cruise control, the system then keeps the car within the speed limit. The risk of unintentionally driving too fast is particularly high when motorists are in unfamiliar surroundings or faced with road construction sites. (read more...)
Ascari debuts 625bhp A10 supercar
October 30, 2006 The latest Supercar contender made its first appearance at the 2006 MPH show in Birmingham (UK) late last week in the form the A10 from British manufacturer Ascari. Announced last December, and billed as a performance equivalent to the Ferrari Enzo FXX, the 225 mph A10 has a 5-litre V8 engine, with a six speed gearbox as standard and an optional sequential gearbox. Designed and hand built in Banbury, the 625bhp A10 weighs in at around 1200kg, thanks to its lightweight six-piece carbon fibre body. Unlike the EUR1.5 million Enzo FXX, the A10 is road legal and will sell for EUR522,000 (US$665,000). Reaching 60mph in just 2.8 seconds and 100mph in less than 6 seconds, the manufacturer claims the A10 will become the fastest road going production car around a race track. Although it was announced that 50 of the remarkable vehicles would be built, latest information suggests only ten of the species will be created, so better get the chequebook at the ready. (read more...)
Dual-speed supercharger for the Hummer H3
October 27, 2006 European automotive technology company, Antonov, will be showing its innovative 2-speed supercharger drive system at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show next week in Las Vegas with two mouth-watering implementations. A Hummer H3 (that's a stock H3 pictured) incorporating the patented technology will be presented at the show by Antonov’s US distributor Wheel to Wheel Powertrain and the system’s performance enhancing characteristics will be demonstrated at the show proving grounds in a Ford Mustang GT. (read more...)
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