Automotive
Bentley Arnage Drophead Coupé
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January 5, 2004 From Bentley's very earliest days, open-top cars have been an intrinsic part of the company's heritage. Over the decades that followed many revered convertible or 'drophead' models were created, both by notable Bentley coachbuilders such as Mulliner, Park Ward, and later 'in-house' at the company's Crewe headquarters. From the 1955 Park Ward S1 Drophead Coupé, through the later Corniche and Continental eras, up to the magnificent Azure of 1995, an entire portfolio of unashamedly glamorous and wonderfully desirable cars meant that Bentley retained its reputation as the creator of the world's most elegant convertibles. Now that reputation has grown once more with the unveiling of the new Bentley Arnage Drophead Coupé show car at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show.
New Saab Safety System helps drivers pay attention
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January 5 2005 Good news for the sleep deprived and sufferers of Narcolepsy. Saab is developing a safety system that monitors eye and head movements, issuing a warning signal if the attention of the driver strays long enough to risk causing an accident. "The other car appeared from nowhere! I just didn't see it." Drivers often make such comments after an accident or a near-miss. In truth, it is an admission that for a brief moment the driver was not concentrating fully on what was happening outside the car.
2006 FORD HARLEY F-150
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January 4, 2005 As we've seen before, automotive marketing often sees strange bedfellows seeking to leverage each other's brand values. Ford used the Detroit (North American International Auto Show aka NAIAS) auto show next week to launch another "king of the road" by joining with another motoring giant with a view to giving performance enthusiasts a new definition of custom cool - the 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150.
META ONE concept bristles with new technology
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January 2, 2005 Ford-owned Mercury will be showing an interesting concept vehicle at the Detroit (NAIS) show next week. The Meta One Concept showcases an array of new technologies: the world's first Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle diesel powertrain, Lane Departure Warning and Collision Mitigation by Braking - technologies that could help prevent or lessen the severity of many accidents. Meta One illustrates what a future Mercury crossover vehicle might look like.
Supercharged V8 engine for new Range Rover
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Dec. 27, 2004 The vehicle that began the 4x4 SUV revolution 35 years ago is set for a major power upgrade. Land Rover today released images of its flagship vehicle, the 2006 Range Rover. In addition to largely cosmetic exterior changes, including front grille and bumper, power vents, lamps and wheels, the 2006 model gains two new powerful engine options, including a supercharged version.
Rinspeed Senso - an intelligent and sensitive concept car
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December 22, 2004 Cars that monitor the driver's key biometric indicators so they can respond accordingly are on the horizon. Innovative Swiss automobile design studio Rinspeed has collaborated with plastics giant Bayer MaterialScience to produce a vision of the next generation of cars with the "Senso" concept car. Few details have been released at this stage as the car is being readied for the European 2005 auto show circuit, but the idea behind the car is that it will sense and adapt to the driver's mood. The car apparently uses a combination of biometric and other information to assess the driver's mindset, then assists the driver to reach an optimum state of mind by altering ambient light, and "feel, smell and sound."
Bentley to produce limited run of Arnage limousine concept
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December 20, 2004 Bentley Motors is to produce a limited production run of the Arnage Limousine concept created by its Bentley Mulliner coachbuilding division for the 2004 Geneva International. The resultant car will be truly one of the most exclusive in the world - only 20 individually designed, handbuilt and numbered, bespoke Arnage Limousines will be commissioned, with each customer having access to a personal Bentley Mulliner designer and account manager. Pricing will begin at £270,000 (US$535,000).
Mazda MX-Crossport Concept hints at possible future design direction
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December 16, 2004 Mazda has released details of a new concept vehicle scheduled to be shown in public for the first time at the 2005 North America International Auto Show next month in Detroit. The MX-Crossport design concept represents a new direction Mazda is considering as it works to expand its line-up. The MX-Crossport is a crossover-type vehicle that combines the strong, sports car styling motif of the company's flagship RX-8 with the more practical packaging of a sport-utility vehicle.
DaimlerChrysler and GM Join Forces to Develop Two-Mode Full Hybrid Propulsion System
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December 16, 2004 DaimlerChrysler and General Motors have announced a cooperative effort to advance the state of hybrid technology. The companies plan to work together to develop a two-mode full hybrid propulsion architecture for applications in GM, Chrysler and Mercedes Car Group vehicles. The full hybrid with two driving modes optimises power and torque for the given driving conditions. The first mode provides tremendous fuel-saving capability in the low-speed and stop-start driving conditions typical of urban commuting, with a combination of full electric propulsion and supplemental combustion engine power. The second mode is used at highway speeds to optimise fuel mileage, while providing full engine power when conditions demand it, such as trailer towing or climbing steep grades. All the driver feels is the satisfaction of low fuel consumption and an ample reserve of power and performance.
BMW M6: New V10 Super Coupé
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December 15, 2004 BMW's high performance M3 and M5 cars are set to be joined by the M6, a sporting rendition of the two-door luxury 6 Series Coupé. Powered by the same 500 horsepower Formula 1-inspired V10 motor and seven-speed sequential manual transmission fitted to the M5, the thoroughbred M6 will be available in very limited numbers towards the end of 2005.
THE BEST MOTORSPORT DRIVER IN THE WORLD IS ..... WHO?
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December 6, 2004 It was billed as the ultimate motorsport showdown, with newly crowned world champion of Formula One, Michael Schumacher, and the new World Rally Champion, Citroën's Sébastien Loeb lining up against each other for the first time in the 2004 Race of Champions. So who won in the mother of all motorsport battles? It wasn't Schumacher. He was knocked out by a little known Finn, who races in the World Series by Nissan, a single car series run around the world that searches for up and coming drivers, Heikki Kovalainen.
Ethanol powered SAAB 9-5 on sale next year
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November 30, 2004 A SAAB 9-5 powered by ethanol will go on sale in Sweden next year. The Saab 9-5 BioPower will be the first prestige vehicle to utilise this eco-friendly renewable energy source, and is supported by favourable environmental and business tax concessions. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine also delivers a significant performance improvement when running on ethanol-based fuel, while still able to use petrol if required.
Alfa Romeo wins 'World's Most Beautiful Coupe' award
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November 26, 2004 Alfa Romeo's 2004 winning streak continues with an international jury of leading designers, artists, engineers and architects electing the Alfa Romeo GT as the most beautiful Coupe in the world in the annual 'World's Most Beautiful Automobile' (L'Automobile più Bella del Mondo ) awards.
The judges recognized how the stylists at Bertone and Centro Stile Alfa Romeo had used masterful skill to draw on Alfa Romeo's extensive heritage, in particular, the 1900 SS, the Giulietta Sprint, the Alfetta and Giulia Sprint GT, yet had produced a car that truly has its own unique style and character.
Quasiturbine tech promises engine paradigm shift
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November 27, 2004 A white paper outlining a revolutionary new approach to engine design has been released at the Global Powertrain Conference (GPC) in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Quasiturbine technology uses photo-detonation for low-power-efficiency and requires low octane, additive-free gasoline or diesel fuel. It is also multi-fuel compatible (including direct hydrogen combustion) and offers a drastic reduction in existing propulsion system weight, size, maintenance and costs. Utilised within the internal combustion engine, the photo-detonation process could save half the gasoline now consumed by vehicles and provide substantial environmental benefits.
Ford's Mercury Meta One concept
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November 20, 2004 Details of Ford’s Mercury Meta One concept have emerged in the lead-up to the 2005 North American International Auto Show. With an emphasis on high-tech, pro-active new safety features such as "Lane Departure Warning" and "Collision Mitigation by Braking", the Meta One also promises a world-first advanced powertrain, and enhanced electronics in a design that explores the adaptation of the Mercury DNA to a crossover vehicle.
Jeep's 'Gladiator' pickup reborn
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November 20, 2004 Chrysler has shown the first design for a rugged, midsize 'lifestyle pickup' called the 'Gladiator' based on the popular Jeep Wrangler sport-utility. The name 'Gladiator' has been used by Jeep in the past for pickup models built from 1963 to 1969 and this design continues to honour the Jeep brand heritage with its rugged functionality and instantly recognisable styling.
Chrysler reveals V8 powered 'Firepower' concept
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November 21, 2004 The Chrysler-branded 'Firepower' concept pushes beyond the sports car realm by blending expressive detail and engineering into its long-nosed design and low-slung silhouette. The sleek new concept seeks to uphold the Chrysler brand standards of elegance, refinement and affordability in a "grand tourer" that lays down the challenge to General Motors' Corvette. The Dodge Viper-based, 425-horsepower concept will be among the highlights at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2005.
BMW release new M3 Coupe Competition Package
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November 25, 2004 BMW Australia
has released the new BMW M3 Coupe Competition Package option for the iconic M3 Coupe. Drawing a myriad of components from the AUD $210,000 M3 CSL, the new BMW M3 Competition Package option delivers increased responsiveness and agility, M Track Mode dynamic control, optimised suspension settings, a quicker steering rack, M3 CSL-style 19-inch light alloy wheels with beefed-up brakes and a unique BMW-Williams F1-inspired Interlagos Blue metallic paint to transform your M3 Coupe into the ultimate racing vehicle.
Holden and CSIRO research powertrain technologies
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November 24, 2004 Holden has announced an Australian based joint research program with CSIRO to explore future global powertrain technologies. The program will contribute to parent company General Motors' mission to design and develop hybrid and hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, announced the joint program at the GM 'Road To Hydrogen' seminar in Sydney, where participants were able to drive Hy-wire, the latest hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle from GM which could revolutionise the way future cars are developed.
Automotive advertising shifts gear
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November 21, 2004 The success of a new advertising campaign from Citroën marks not only a coup for the company in the promotion of its latest model - the C4 - but a more general trend in automobile advertising that aims to grab the attention of an ad-weary public using an off-beat, creative edge. This trend (most notably demonstrated by the Honda Accord Euro 'Cog' television commercial of 2003) sees the C4 promoted by sophisticated animation in the form of a dancing robot. By generating a ‘wow’ factor rather than presenting the consumer with ‘just another car on the road’, Citroën has also benefited from widespread distribution of the ad via viral email networks .
Honda survey reveals what children want from cars
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November 21, 2004 Adults may dismiss flying cars as the stuff of science fiction, but for children, according to a new survey released by Honda, only a flying car will do. Gizmag readers, of course, know that such vehicles are already in development
and that by the time many of the children surveyed here are old enough to drive, flying cars will be a common sight.
LOEB ENDS 2004 ON THE WINNER'S PODIUM!
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November 14, 2004 Citroën's Sebastien Loeb started the 2004 season by winning the Monte Carlo Rally and he has finished it the same way, winning the Telstra Rally Australia at the weekend (11-14 November 2004).
The victory takes his season total to six wins, matching the world record set by fellow Frenchman Didier Auriol exactly ten years ago and provides a perfect end to the season that saw Loeb win the World Championship Drivers' title and Citroën take its second successive manufacturers title with the Citroën Xsara WRC.
AVIC-N2 next gen car navigation/multimedia system
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November 8, 2004 The AVIC-N2 from Pioneer may be the most advanced in-car navigation and entertainment system on the market. The motorized, 6.5" touch screen display puts everything at your fingertips, including memory navigation (with route guidance, electronic mapping and points of interest), DVD video, multimedia audio/video, a rear camera and even a virtual dashboard to monitor your vehicle's performance all in one device for approximately US $2,200. The screen even folds away, allowing the driver to follow voice prompts to their final destination once they have the hang of it.
Scion unveils the xB mobile DJ vehicle
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November 8, 2004
The rise of specialist automobiles for niche markets continues with a showing of the Scion xB DJ vehicle at the SEMA conference in Las Vegas recently. The Scion xB DJ is a concept car packed to the brim with audio/video and navigation equipment from Pioneer Electronics and aimed at the hip and booming dance music crowd.
Morgan Motors offers a piece of motoring history
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November 5, 2004 Morgan Motors has begun manufacturing the popular +4 model again after nearly four years absence. Like all hand-built Morgan automobiles, there is a 12 month delivery period, but if you can't wait there's also a chance to buy the historic Morgan Aero 8 GTN Le Mans car which raced in the Le Mans and Spa Francorchamps 24 hour events and the Sebring 12 Hour in the US when it goes up for auction on ebaymotors.co.uk on November 15.
Volvo unleashes 650 horsepower XC90 Power Utility Vehicle
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November 5, 2004 Volvo has unveiled plans for an all new powerhouse model. The XC90 Power Utility Vehicle, is powered by the company's new V8 planned to produce 650 horsepower, sports a six-speed automatic "Geartronic" transmission and a computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system. Volvo once had a dowdy image thanks to championing safety long before it was fashionable. In recent times, a string of innovative and socially astute concept cars has done a lot to reinvigorate the company's brand. The introduction of the diabolically fast XC90 Power Utility Vehicle is no doubt designed to bolster the Swedish car manufacturer's image and attract new enthusiasts.
Rinspeed 'chops' the Porsche Cayenne
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November 2, 2004 The latest creation of the Swiss design powerhouse and tuner Rinspeed is the Porsche Cayenne-based Chopster, inspired by the mostly American cult to lower the roof line ('chop') on even the most unlikely vehicles. And the Cayenne, one of the best looking multi-purpose machines on the market, is an unlikely vehicle to mess with.
Toyota's new Porte small car with a single electric door
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October 29, 2004 No sooner had we written up the newly announced Peugeot 1007 with its clever sliding doors and space efficient design, than Toyota actually put a very similar vehicle on the showroom floor in Japan.
The new Porte is a compact car with a wireless remote-controlled electric sliding door on the passenger side - slightly different from the two-door Peugeot, but with the same reconfigurable seating concept.
KITT and Magnum's Ferrari 308GTS for sale on EBay
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October 29, 2004 Celebrity, movie and television star cars have featured prominently in Gizmag recently, with the Batmobile going onto the auction block just a few weeks back. Now two more famous hero cars of 1980s television have gone under the hammer - the David Hasselhoff-driven KITT from the Knight Rider TV series and the original Ferrari 308 GTS driven by Tom Selleck in the smash-hit detective show, Magnum, P.I.
Nissan Caravan Box In Box
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October 29, 2004 After mass production comes mass customisation and the Tokyo Motor Show shows the development of specialised, sliver-thin, vertical-market offerings is already well underway.
The Nissan Caravan Box In Box was created around a the concept of adding "merchandising capability to the traditional vehicle functions of mobility and transport."
The Caravan Box In Box is designed so that all of the display boxes it contains can easily be pulled out from either the back door or the sliding side door and opened for displaying goods.
Mitsubishi FUSO Concept
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October 29, 2004 Mitsubishi showed a radical concept truck at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, exhibited as a concept known simply as FUSO, which is a bit confusing given that the company's entire truck brand, which began all the way back in 1932, is also named FUSO.
The Fuso was one of a number of exhibits designed to promote and focus upon the future of the company and is described by Mitsubishi as "a concept truck that proposes an entirely new style of commercial transport."
Given the company's well publicised quality problems, we suspect the focus has been moved to future new products, replenishment of the entire range as quickly as possible, and things have shifted quickly in recent months, even in the land of the shortest concept-to-showroom times in the industry.
The New BMW 3 Series
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October 29, 2004 BMW has released details of its all-new BMW 3 Series. To be shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show next March, the E90 3 Series is will go on sale in mid-2005.
The E90 3 Series adds an armoury of impressive, innovative improvements for engine, chassis, safety technology as well as driving comfort.
Three new engines.
The new BMW 3 Series comes with three engine options: two all-new six-cylinder engines and an optimised iteration of the famous 2.0-litre four-cylinder slots into the 320i entry model
H2H: The Hydrogen-Powered HUMMER
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October 29, 2004 General Motors has adapted a HUMMER H2 SUT to run on hydrogen, and will share it with the office of the Governor of California (aka Arnold Schwarzenegger). The HUMMER H2H will assist efforts to learn more about hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure development.
"The H2H is a bold experiment that along with the Hydrogen Highway Network will help California demonstrate the economic and technical viability of hydrogen," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Californians invent the future and the H2H shows that a vehicle of today can run on the fuel of tomorrow."
THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN: The Race of Champions
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October 29, 2004 Since 1988 The Race of Champions has invited the best in all the world motorsport series to compete in a unique event where the competitors all drive a range of identical cars in different conditions.
The event has been dominated by rally drivers, with their all-round abilities on different surfaces and ability to quickly adapt to new cars - this year though, the event has attracted reigning Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher.
The electric land speed record
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October 29, 2004 The Ohio State University's electric vehicle, the Buckeye Bullet, has broken the electric vehicle land speed record, raising the bar to more than 300 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt flat last week.
Over several days the car set an official world record of 271.7mph, an official US record of 314.95mph (different rules), and became the fastest electric vehicle ever at 321.8mph.
