Automotive
FlyOver Visual MAP - Car Navigation Systems with 3D aerial imagery map
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FlyOver Technologies has released its second generation Visual Map technology which interprets maps and aerial imagery to produce a realistic 3D navigation map for in-vehicle navigation.
Holden and Elfin show MS8 CLUBMAN AND MS8 STREAMLINER
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March 12, 2004 Holden showed two retro-cool V8 racer roadsters at the Melbourne Motor Show. Created in collaboration with the Elfin sports car marque, the low-slung racers are an open wheeler track machine and a smooth-bodied Le Mans style roadster respectively, and will be called the Clubman and the Streamliner. They are hand-built specials which are thoroughly modern interpretations of an earlier motorsport era.
Rinspeed Splash - amphibious sportscar unveiled
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The Rinspeed Splash Amphibious Hydrofoil Sportscar previewed by Gizmo in December 2003 was unveiled to the world at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show - the Splash is capable of 80 kmh (approx. 45 knots) on the water and 200 kmh on land. The design is yet another concept from Swiss creative studio Rinspeed, whose concept designs have graced the pages of Gizmo several times in our short history. In 2002 it was the Presto, a collapsible car which turned from a four seat convertible to a two-seater at the press of a button. Then, last August Rinspeed showed the Bedouin, an off-road vehicle capable of extending and retracting just like the Presto. In early January this year we showed the CAD drawings of the Splash and now the car has been unveiled, the tenth Rinspeed concept car and the most outrageous to date.
Renault Wind Concept Car
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The Renault Wind concept car is a 2+1 roadster with streamlined design and lively performance which will be shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show.
MINI Cabrio Unveiled
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The MINI, one of the great success stories of modern automotive design, is to be released as a convertible. The newly designed MINI Cabrio features some ingenious design in the roof and sunroof and the way the vehicle cleverly uses space. Another stunner!
New supercar on show at Melbourne Motor Show
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February 21, 2004 The Pagani Zonda is one of the world's most exclusive automobiles and arguably the fastest production car available in the world at this point in time. Later this month Pagani will enter the Australian market when the AUD$1.2 million machine goes on display at the Melbourne Motor Show. Ever wondered just how good a $1.2 million car can be? Read on ...
Mazda Space Wagon
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Mazda Motor Corporation heads into the 74th Geneva International Motor Show with the world debut of its newest concept vehicle, the MX-Flexa. The six-seat concept demonstrates one possible direction Mazda could take in creating a future space wagon.
Jaguar unveils the XK-RS Concept 550 horsepower convertible
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It's the most powerful road-going Jaguar convertible ever and demonstrates how Jaguar's luxury GT road car can be transformed into a thundering 200-mph supercar. Developed by Michigan-based Rocketsports Racing in cooperation with Jaguar North America, the XK-RS concept is based on the Jaguar XKR sports car which has twice won the Trans-Am Manufacturers' Championship.
VW offers insight into future automotive technologies
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The automobile is evolving more rapidly than it has for many decades. New active vehicle safety and driver-assistance technologies are being developed by all of the leading auto manufacturers. Historically, these new technologies have been kept under wraps until ready for market but Volkswagen recently presented the media with an outline of nine future systems it has under development, offering an insight into the car of the not-too-distant future.
Opel TRIXX: Clever and Versatile Concept for the City
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It's highly versatile, with a remarkable amount of interior space: the innovative TRIXX small-car concept that Opel is presenting at this year's Geneva Motor Show (March 4 - 14).
Radical Nissan Actic Concept
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The Nissan Actic is a "content rich" design exercise created by Nissan Design America which made its debut at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit
Volkswagen T-concept unifies the SUV and sports car
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Volkswagen opened yet another door to the future of the automobile at the North American International Autoshow in Detroit earlier this month when it showed the 'concept T', a crossover vehicle blending a high-capability off-roader and an uncompromising sports car to produce an off-road coupe.
Saturn Curve supercharged coupe has refined flair
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General Motors introduced the Saturn Curve at the North American International Auto Show.
Chevrolet Nomad - the taste of apple pie, the flair of capuccino
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The Nomad is a concept car built by GM and introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. It's not a sedan, wagon, SUV or any other categorizable vehicle, but it simultaneously conveys presence and practicality.
Lexus HPX Concept Car combines sportscar and utility
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Lexus' latest concept vehicle is making an appearance at the North American International Auto Show. Known as the HPX, or High Performance Crossover, the vehicle combines the versatility of a luxury utility vehicle and the performance of a sports sedan in a sleek and stylish package.
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Mid-Engine Super Car
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Chrysler used the media focus at the 2004 NAIAS in Detroit to announce a spectacular quad-turbo, V-12 powered, mid-engine super car which it has named the "ME Four-Twelve."The ultimate engineering and design statement, and a brilliant example of the Chrysler Group's capabilities, the ME Four-Twelve will establish a real-world performance record for a rear-wheel drive, mid-engine super car and may also set a record for lightening-quick vehicle development. Taking less than one year to complete from start to finish, the Chrysler Group partnered with some of the best in the business to assist in its development.
Honda's next generation SUT Truck Concept
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The Honda SUT Concept made its world debut at the 2004 North American International Auto Show as American Honda announced plans for the launch of an all-new sport-utility truck slated for introduction in 2005.
Ferrari shows new 612 Scaglietti
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The new 612 (6 for litres, 12 for cylinders) Scaglietti is named after Sergio Scaglietti who designed some of the most beautiful cars ever to emerge from Maranello. The Scaglietti is a magnificent design enabling four passengers to travel in exquisite comfort and a suitably brisk pace - 540 horses of brisk pace.
Mercedes-Benz unveils the Vision Grand Sports Tourer
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Mercedes-Benz paved the way for a new vehicle category when it unveiled the Vision Grand Sports Tourer - a new take on the groundbreaking touring saloon concept - at the North American International Auto Show in January 2004.
Range Stormer
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Land Rover made history at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, by unveiling its first ever concept show car, the Range Stormer. The Range Stormer is a high performance, sports tourer SUV concept car, which showcases a future design direction for Land Rover. It also previews a new production model that will enter a fresh market segment for the company and will be an additional model line in the Land Rover portfolio.
Mazda turbo
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The LA Motor Show was the venue for Mazda to show its turbocharged MX-5 which will go on sale in May in Australia at a price point of just $46,000. At that price, it's almost certain to invigorate the roadster marketplace with a high level of performance and style at a remarkable price point.
New Models galore at Detroit 2004 Motor Show
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January 5, 2004 - More than 20 new concept vehicles and a dozen major production models have been announced over the last few days at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, one of the world's most important automotive events. Watch this link on a daily basis as we preview the future of the automotive industry with detailed accounts of each major manufacturer's announcements.
Personal vehicle monitoring and tracking system
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Unlike conventional GPS-based systems, the Australian designed and manufactured monitoring EziTraK system does not require any ongoing or back-to-base fees, providing direct access to tracking, emergency alert and tampering information and control over immobilsation of the vehicle via a phone line.
LA to Las Vegas: one car, no driver, no remote-control
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Like most motor racing, the rules are simple: stay on the course and finish first within ten hours - oh, and no drivers and no remote control. This is a race for robots!
Downsized Hummer H3T concept to expand sports utility range
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Hummer have unveiled a concept vehicle which extends the brand to an even more civilised, more environmentally responsible and smaller sports utility vehicle - the H3T concept.
BMW announce new 6 Series Convertible
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BMW has announced the arrival of the BMW 6 Series Convertible, a variant on the 6 Series Coupe that incorporates a side fin roof designed to give the same visual impact as wide C-pillars and maintain the unique balance between coup'-like styling and the new 2+2-seater Convertible form.
Mercedes-Benz premiere protective nano-paint
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Mercedes-Benz has developed a scratch-resistant clearcoat using tiny ceramic nano-particles, each less than a millionth of a millimetre in size. The new clear lacquer is set to go into series production at Mercedes-Benz at the end of the year after four years of R&D with the E, S, CL, SL and SLK-Class series being first models to become in available with this new paint system.
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Selespeed revealed at Bologna Motor Show
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The Bologna Motor Show (December 6-14) has been chosen by Alfa Romeo to showcase the 147 GTA Selespeed - a performance version of the 3.2 litre, 24 valve V6 147 GTA launched in Australia during August that's been given a Formula One Selespeed sequential manual gearbox for to bring its racetrack DNA to the fore.
400bhp TVR Sagaris to premiere at British Motor Show
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The new TVR Sagaris will be seen for the first time ever at Earls Court on the 11 December as part of the 2003 British Motor Show. The boutique UK engineering firm have a long-standing tradition of launching a new car at every Show and this year's offering is a 400 bhp motorsport design based on the T350.
Mitsubishi to unveil Eclipse Concept-E at Detroit Motor Show
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The attention of the automotive world will turn to Detroit in January for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) - and manufacturers are already providing a taste of what to expect. Among them, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have announced that the Eclipse Concept-E high-performance sports concept car will make its global debut...
smart roadster hits Australia
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The smart roadster two-seater convertible will launch in Australia next month promising purists the chance to sample an "intensive open-air motoring experience". The diminutive roadster has an engine output of 60 kW, weighs only 790 kilograms and can accelerate from 0 - 100 kmh in 10.9 seconds.
Porsche convertible wins automotive beauty award
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The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S convertible has been voted the "world's most beautiful open sports car" by an international jury in Italy. The 235 kW (320 hp), all-wheel drive 911 Carrera 4S convertible took the award in the "Convertible, roadster and convertible coupe" category.
Citro'n C-Airlounge Concept takes European Award
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The Citro'n C-Airlounge has been named 'Concept Car of the Year' by European motoring and motor industry magazine Autocar. The aerodynamically advanced C-Airlounge features a unique interior lighting system that utilises fibre optics and projectors concealed in the armrest-covers and carpet to enable a choice of "interior graphics".
Monstrous V10 powered pick-up
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When the V-10 Viper powered Dodge Ram SRT-10 was announced in 2002 it was billed as the "boldest, baddest and fastest pick-up in the world" and that's still very much the case for the just released 2004 model.
Automotive accolades for Bentley, Mazda And Fiat
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Examples of automotive excellence from Bentley, Fiat and Mazda have earned the respective manufacturers accolades in separate awards around the globe...
