Articles tagged with "Automotive"
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Nissan Terranaut concept for explorers (with built-in computer console)
February 1, 2006 Nissan Europe will present a bold concept at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The Nissan Terranaut is a 4x4 vehicle which is intended for explorers and those customers with a spirit of adventure who want to travel to the extreme corners of the globe. The Terranaut was conceived to serve as a mobile working environment for scientists, geologists, archaeologists or other adventurers who travel to the most challenging environments on the planet either for their work – or pleasure. Its cabin is designed to accommodate three people – a driver, a passenger and, in the rear, where a scientist or specialist is well served with a computer console, as well as communication and analysis equipment to support them in their work. (read more...)
Renault F1 Team launches 2006 championship campaign in Monaco
January 31, 2006 The Renault F1 Team today launched its 2006 world championship challenger, the R26, in Monaco with the promise of an aggressive defence of the team’s double 2005 world championship. In front of world-wide media and VIP guests in Monte-Carlo, the world champions officially launched the 2006 championship campaign with a clear objective: defending the world championship with an aggressive approach to the 2006 season. “In terms of performance objectives, there can be only one: to be fighting for the world championship in the final races,” explained Renault F1 Team President Patrick Faure. “We enter the year with an unchanged line-up in our management, our drivers and our technical team. Everybody at Viry and Enstone has been working to prepare a technical package capable of keeping us at the top. Complacency has no place at Renault. We are focused on repeating our successes.” Previous 2006 Formula One team launch reports can be found here: Ferrari's 248 F1, Toyota's TF-06, Honda's RA106 and Williams' F1 FW28. (read more...)
Concept-EZ MIEV showcases the flexibility of in-wheel electric motors
March 1, 2006 Mitsubishi finally rolled back the curtain on the Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV 4WD mono-box concept at the 76th Geneva International Motor Show today. The Concept-EZ1 MIEV2 showcases the company's MIEV concept for next-generation electric vehicles that employs in-wheel motors and a high energy-density lithium-ion battery system as core technologies. In the absence of a centerline powertrain, the vehicle interior is far more flexible than a traditional auto design and can be reconfigured into different seating arrangements, having a lounge mode (a conference room-like space with the seats arranged in a circle), a transport mode (cavernous luggage space with the rear seats stowed under the floor) and a driving mode (with spacious and comfortable seating for five adults). (read more...)
The launch of the Williams F1 FW28
January 27, 2006 The WilliamsF1 team launched its 2006 season race car, the FW28, at the team headquarters near Oxford this afternoon. The FW28 is a manifestly purposeful race car, its defining visual cue being the aggressive barbed sting on the back of the engine cover. The car is both a response to circumstance, including the shifting technical regulations and the new primary partnerships the team has forged with engine supplier Cosworth and tyre company Bridgestone, as well as being its own clear statement of intent. Clearly the biggest transition is the shift away from 3.0l V10 motive power in favour of a 2.4l V8, and in Williams’ case, the new partnership with Cosworth. With the associated power losses all teams will encounter, all Formula One designers have been tackling a demand for higher aerodynamic efficiency to help compensate. In the case of the FW28, this became a fundamental design parameter for the car and is reflected in many ways across the aerodynamic strategy of the car, visible particularly in the design of the rear wing with its decambered tips. The target in this area was to maintain downforce while shedding drag at the wing tips. (read more...)
Concept cars move to the forefront of collectables
January 27, 2006 Collecting rare automobiles has long been one of the more rewarding forms of investment as it has the added bonus of owning and driving a fine automobile while your asset appreciates. As the successful baby boomer generation begins to retire and cash in decades of endeavour, this appreciation of fine automobilia and the wonderful camaraderie which surrounds the collector scene is driving prices ever higher … and with it, a new star has emerged among automotive collectables - the concept car. Concept vehicles are vehicles with an instant and easily verifiable history – in the same way that cars owned by celebrities fetch a higher price, the concept car is usually created as a one-off, by a team of experts as a showcase of future technology (the first car with … electric windows, fuel injection, ad infinitum) and hence it has its own celebrity status, having been the focal point of massive media promotion at a major public event. Last week’s Barrett-Jackson Auction was a prime example – it attracted record attendance, broke numerous world records, had total sales of more than US$100 million and saw US $4,320,000 paid for a General Motors Futureliner concept bus, US$3,024,000 for a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car and US$648,000 for Shelby Cobra GT500 Concept car just nine months old. (read more...)
Honda unveils new F1 challenger
January 25, 2006 The Honda Racing F1 Team unveiled its challenger for the 2006 Formula One season in Spain this morning with the new driver line-up of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. This marked an important milestone for Honda as it is the first Formula One car launched by a Honda works team since 1968. Two identical RA106 race cars were delivered to the launch to enable Button and Barrichello to begin testing at the same time. The RA106 sported its new base canvas of Honda Racing White, a colour which has been synonymous with the Honda motorsport identity since the company’s F1 debut in 1964. The rest of the livery has the more familiar feel of the Lucky Strike brand, which remains as title sponsor for the 2006 season. The new cars and their RA806E engines are the product of a single, unified team which combines the resources of the Honda Racing F1 Team Operations Centre in Brackley, England, Honda Racing Development’s engine base in Bracknell, England, and Honda R&D in Tochigi, Japan. (read more...)
Ferrari's new 248 F1 - not the end of an era says di Montezemolo
January 25, 2006 To say Ferrari had a bad year in racing in 2005 is an understatement. Going into the year with six consecutive constructors titles and five consecutive drivers titles, Ferrari finished a distant third in the constructors championship and Schumacher’s claim on being best ever slipped when he too finished a third with Alonso more than doubling his points haul. Ferrari's President, Luca di Montezemolo was very clear in his pronouncement as the 2006 Ferrari F1 machinery and staff were introduced to the media at Autodrome Mugello yesterday: "After having lost two titles at the last round, in 1997 and 1998, and six consecutive world crowns, I don't want the 2005 results to seem like the end of an era. We have lived through some incredible years. Last year we suffered a little from the successive rule changes but now we are looking ahead. We want to get back to winning ways.” Accordingly, Ferrari showed a completely new car. (read more...)
Toyota discloses unprecedented details of F1 development
January 23, 2006 There are just two environments akin to the acute excellence required to compete successfully at Formula One level – a space launch and the battlefield. All three areas are so close to the edge of human understanding that the technology developed in their pursuit often filters down to consumer products and introduces a better way. Panasonic Toyota Racing officially kicked off its 2006 Formula 1 campaign with a special event at the Toyota manufacturing facility in Valenciennes, France earlier this month, at the same time as disclosing an unprecedented amount of information about the Toyota production process and how it has been applied to the former art, and now decidedly scientific process of Formula One. Incredibly, the company has applied knowledge developed in manufacturing production cars to improve its Formula One competitiveness . If you’re into car racing or manufacturing, this is a “must” read! (read more...)
Start-up plans 330 MPG hybrid for under US$20,000
January 19, 2006 Accelerated Composites is a Carlsbad-based startup that aims to disrupt the car design status quo by developing a low cost, 330 MPG hybrid car to be manufactured in Southern California and sell for under US$20,000. The company’s two-seat passenger car is constructed from lightweight composite materials and is extremely light, which according to the company, will enable the diesel/electric hybrid to post 330 MPG fuel efficiency in normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling similar to that of a Honda Insight. Dubbed the Aptera, the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods, the lowest drag coefficient of any production car and a maverick design mantra. (read more...)
BMW Sauber F1 rolls out in Valencia
January 18, 2006 BMW officially entered Formula One in its own right yesterday with the unveiling of the BMW Sauber F1.06 before more than 500 journalists and guests in the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (CAC) in Valencia (Spain). BMW purchased a majority shareholding in the Sauber Formula One team which became official on January 1. Without doubt the most interesting aspects of the F1 launch season is not the champagne and parties, but the information released by the various camps on their technical development. This year in particular, the reduction of engines from 3.0 litre V10 to 2.4 litre V8 will pose some interesting technical challenges, as explained by BMW at the launch. (read more...)
Prodrive creates the P2 sports car
January 13, 2006 Prodrive has unveiled the P2, a unique two-seater sports car with some exciting credentials. The P2 uses a modified 344 bhp, 575 Nm, Subaru Impreza STi engine and all wheel drivetrain, which incorporates innovative ALS (Anti-Lag System) and ATD (Active Torque Dynamics). If you haven’t heard of Prodrive, it’s probably because you don’t read the fine print. The company has won more than 100 international rallies and six World Rally Championship titles for Subaru, the British Touring Car Championship five times (with BMW, Alfa Romeo and Ford) and is also involved in numerous other international racing series, including managing the BAR F1 team. Prodrive also consults and develops road cars, such as the NARO and Tango, and has developed numerous cars for the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Subaru, Range Rover et al and despite the obvious focus on performance, the P2 has all the comforts of a luxury car, with a six speaker stereo system, power assisted steering and electric windows. The company’s Motorsport involvement becomes obvious when viewing the specifications of the P2 though, as it weighs just 1100 kg and has a power to weight ratio of more than 350 bhp/tonne, reaches 100 km/h in under four seconds and tops out at 280 km/h. The jury is out on whether the P2 will be produced in quantity, but with an anticipated UKP40,000 price tag, we expect the queue would be quite lengthy for a car of such remarkable real-world ability. (read more...)
New MINI production model announced - inspired by Traveller Concept
January 12, 2006 BMW will be enhancing the MINI family with a further model. The new MINI model will offer increased interior space and increased functionality in order to appeal to the distinctively experience-oriented and active MINI customer. The new car will take its inspiration from the MINI Detroit design concept shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) this week. Although it has yet to be defined which of the unique ideas and design features presented on the concept will be implemented for series production, Dr. Michael Ganal in his speech at the NAIAS stated a time frame of three years for the realization of the new MINI model. (read more...)
MBR 3-seat supercar
January 12, 2006 The F1-inspired three-seater MBR supercar will make one of its rare public appearances at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham (UK) this week. The 550bhp V8-engined Exigence Of Speed combines the latest in aerospace and motor sport technologies, with a lightweight, high-strength composite monocoque chassis and body panels assisting in keeping the kerb weight below 1000 kg without compromising structural rigidity. The Mecachrome V8 engine and six-speed gearbox are mid-mounted longitudinally for optimum weight distribution, and its 550 bhp give the supercar a power-to-weight ratio of 0.5bhp per kg. The double-wishbone unequal length suspension features inboard spring/damper units activated by pushrod as on modern racing cars for best in-class handling characteristics. The final pre-production car and first rolling prototype is planned to be unveiled before the end of 2006 and an assault on the Le Mans 24 Hour race is planned for 2007. (read more...)
Mitsubishi unveils hybrid MIEV 4WD sport compact concept
January 10, 2006 Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) used the NAIAS to unveil the Concept-CT yesterday, a groundbreaking concept for a hybrid-powered small car that may influence future development of Mitsubishi models. The key to the Concept-CT's roomy packaging, performance potential and fuel efficiency is the Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric Vehicle (MIEV) hybrid powertrain, which employs an electric motor in each of the vehicle's four wheels. The ultra-compact four-door hatchback combines practicality, fun-to-drive performance and low fuel consumption. (read more...)
Ferrari 599 GTB - most powerful V12 production car of all time
January 10, 2006 There are few automotive announcements that could turn attention from the new model frenzy currently underway at the NAIAS (Detroit) Show, but overnight news from Maranello has done just that, when Ferrari announced the forthcoming Pininfarina-designed 599 GTB. To be shown for the first time on February 28 at the Geneva Motor Show, the 599 GTB will be the most powerful V12-engined production car of all time. The latest interpretation of a theme that has seen such classics as the 250 GT, the 275 GTB, and the 365 GTB4, the 599 GTB replaces the most recent in that great line of berlinettas, the 575M Maranello. The new car is a concentration of Ferrari's most innovative and technologically advanced engineering solutions applied to a mid-front engined two-seater coupe. (read more...)
Chrysler Imperial Concept – flagship material
January 9, 2006 Like the great Imperials of Chrysler’s storied past, the 2006 Imperial concept vehicle is designed as Chrysler’s flagship, a luxury sedan that is elegant, provocative, aspirational, yet attainable. For inspiration, the designers looked not only to the classic Imperials of the 1930s and 1950s but also to Chrysler’s long tradition of creative concept cars, from the earlier Chrysler d’Elegance and Falcon to the more recent Chrysler Chronos and Firepower. This rich heritage is expressed in the crisp line that parallels the sill, then arches up over the rear wheel and flows to the rear of the car, signaling that this is a powerful rear-drive automobile. (read more...)
Kabura Concept: Sports Coupe with innovative 3+1 layout
January 8, 2006 Research shows Mazda has one of the youngest new-car buyer groups (average age 41 years) in North America. Based on this research, the latest Mazda concept car is designed to enhance its appeal to Generation-Y buyers, who are several steps ahead of the latest trends and constantly on the lookout for affordable possessions that satisfy their hunger for stylish, insightful and spirited designs. The Kabura design concept ventures beyond the compact sports coupe norm to support youthful lifestyles and explore several fresh ideas that could appear in future production models, with one of the most interesting aspects being the interior versatility. Replacing the typical 2+2 layout is a clever 3+1 arrangement which establishes a new interior concept giving greater passenger comfort versus a traditional coupe without increasing weight or size. Obliging spur-of-the-moment adventures and shopping sprees, all passenger seats fold flat to make way for snow boards, shopping bags and all the tools of an active life. (read more...)
Infiniti Debuts Coupe Concept
January 8, 2006 Infiniti today unveiled a dramatic new concept vehicle, the Infiniti Coupe Concept, at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Among the Coupe Concept’s exterior design features are a full-length glass panel roof, modulated front fenders and hood, deep front spoiler and large projector headlights, polished bare metal-look paint, compact camera outside rearview mirrors, hidden door handles and large 20-inch, 9-spoke painted aluminum-alloy wheels. (read more...)
Ford's V10 Super Chief concept runs on hydrogen, ethanol or gasoline
January 8, 2006 – The Ford F-250 Super Chief concept uses what the company calls "Tri-Flex fueling", enabling the supercharged V-10 to run for 500 miles between fill-ups on hydrogen, E85 ethanol or gasoline. The tri-fuel flexibility is one possible innovation by Ford to help pave the way for hydrogen vehicles, as the nation's ethanol and hydrogen fueling infrastructure continues to develop. The concept truck and its name are inspired by the bold, American Super Chief trains of the nation's past. Super Chief is Ford's most advanced, well-appointed pickup ever – designed to build on the standard for interior excellence established by the new F-150. (read more...)
Dodge Challenger Concept is a thoroughbred in 1970 “Pony Car” tradition
January 8, 2006 As with all pleasurable memories, you remember the good and screen out the bad. In creating the Dodge Challenger concept car, the designers at Chrysler Group’s West Coast Pacifica Studio knew they had a rich heritage to draw upon. “Challenger draws upon the initial 1970 model as the icon of the series,” said Tom Tremont, Chrysler’s Vice President- Advanced Vehicle Design. “The 1970 model is the most sought after by collectors. But instead of merely recreating that car, the designers endeavored to build a Challenger most people see in their mind’s eye—a vehicle without the imperfections like the old car’s tucked-under wheels, long front overhang and imperfect fits. (read more...)
Ford's diesel-electric hybrid Reflex Concept features solar panelling
January 8, 2006 Concept cars are designed to showcase technological capability and to test market opinion. As such, the Ford Reflex concept car shown to the media for the first time today scores maximum points on both counts. The subcompact-sized Reflex is a technological showcase with its advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine, a liberal sprinkling of solar panels and advanced safety features as inflatable safety belts. More importantly, the advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine and new-generation lithium-ion batteries help deliver up to 65 miles per gallon, offering guilt free performance. (read more...)
Hyundai NEOS 3 Crossover concept and technology showcase
January 7, 2006 The 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show offers an opportunity to peek into Hyundai’s future in the form of the NEOS 3 Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) concept. The CUV is the third in a signature series of futuristic concept cars to be styled at the company’s Chiba Design Center in Korea. The NEOS 3 offers the utility of a 4WD, but thanks to its unibody construction and opulent appointments, it retains the feel of a luxury sedan. Scratch the surface and you’ll find an array of remarkable technology including side mirrors that auto-dip in reverse gear to improve downward visibility, pre-crash sensors and proximity control using Extended High Frequency radar, an infrared night vision system, a Heads-Up Display and a trackball that offer centralized control of the climate regulation, navigation and entertainment systems. (read more...)
Hyundai HCD9 Talus concept - a new direction in sports car design
January 8, 2006 Hyundai Motor America’s stand at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will today see the world debut of the new HCD9 Talus concept, a car which the company describes as for the person who “has grown accustomed to the needs and benefits of an SUV, but desires the emotional gratification of sports car styling and performance." (read more...)
Kia bears its soul concept car
January 6, 2005 Kia today unveiled the all-new Soul concept car during a press conference at the North American International Auto Show (N.A.I.A.S) in Detroit. The Kia Soul concept is a crossover utility vehicle (C.U.T) with a sporty, bold look that builds on design cues from the Kia Mesa concept vehicle introduced at the 2005 N.A.I.A.S. (read more...)
Lamborghini Miura Concept launch
January 8, 2006 The House of the Raging Bull has reprised the legendary name and beautiful shape of the Muira with the introduction of a Lamborghini Miura concept car. The daring design study dubbed the "Miura Concept" was secretly unveiled at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills, California to an elite group of auto industry insiders and car enthusiasts last Thursday evening. Arguably the most beautiful car ever created and long considered company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's favorite Lamborghini of all-time, the new Miura Concept brings back the legendary Miura name on the eve of the car's 40th Anniversary. The original Miura quickly became one of the hottest cars of its day with a long list of past and current celebrity owners like movie star Nicholas Cage, Tonight Show Host Jay Leno, rock star legends Elton John and Rod Stewart, and Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the epitome of cool from The Rat Pack. The new concept penned by Lamborghini design head Walter de'Silva brings back the sensuous styling of the original Miura that raised the benchmark in supercar design and instantly won the admiration of car enthusiasts worldwide. (read more...)
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