4WD

18:45 August 3, 2009 PDT

From street car to mean marine ... this concept car's tires are extremely adaptable

Despite the fact that very few make it off the drawing board to prototype stage, ‘go anywhere’ concept cars are an ever popular subject for budding auto designers and car lovers alike. And why not - they allow us to forget about the pesky practicalities of design and tiresome economics and imagine what could be. The latest to cross our desk - the Amphibious Hybrid concept vehicle - is a case of Bond meets the Transformers with its automatically adjusting tire design that morphs to ensure maximum grip on any given terrain including ice and water, where it becomes a kind of three wheel paddle boat. Read More

AUTOMOTIVE

BMW X1 to hit market in October

By Michael Mulcahy

20:09 July 5, 2009 PDT

The X1 offers BMW's four-wheel-drive technology in a compact SUV

There’s no doubt that when BMW promises, it delivers. Last year we reported from the Paris Motor Show on the unveiling of the Concept X1, which BMW promised to have to market in 12 months. And, sure enough, one year later here it is: BMW’s first compact SUV (essentially it’s an X5 shrunk to a more city-friendly size) with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive and the first in the X series to have Auto Start-Stop. Read More

4WD

Amphibious hybrid concept car - street machine to mean marine

BMW X1 to hit market in October