Concept

Automobili Lamborghini has become one of the driving forces in carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) research. The Italian automaker runs two development facilities, the ACRC (Advanced Composite Research Center) and the ACSL (Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory), and collaborates with companies such as Boeing. The result is a “host of patents” for CFRP technologies, designed for the production of incredibly light yet strong and stiff automobiles. To show us all what’s possible when it kicks out the carbon fiber jams, Lamborghini has just unveiled its Sesto Elemento concept supercar at the 2010 Paris Motor Show... that would be 570 hp, 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) for starters. Read More

Like Peugeot, which has unveiled its EX1 concept electric vehicle as part of the company’s 200th anniversary celebrations, Jaguar is celebrating its 75 years with an equally, if not even more, stunning concept electric supercar. Unveiled today at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the C-X75 boasts some impressive performance stats that prove this is no mere show pony. Powered by four 145kW electric motors – one on each wheel – producing 780bhp and a total torque output of 1600Nm (1180lb ft), the C-X75 can accelerate from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 3.4 seconds, and from 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in 2.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 330km/h (205mph). Read More

At last year’s Geneva Auto Show, Spanish auto maker SEAT displayed its hybrid Leon Ecomotive Twin Drive project, which the company said was its first step towards a pure electric production car. Just one year later it came through with a progress report, in the form of an EV concept sports car, the IBE. A new version of the IBE, featuring further-developed design, technology and interior, will be unveiled this weekend at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. We’ll be there to gawk at the thing in person, but in the meantime, here’s a little about the car. Read More

Peugeot's new HR1 urban concept car which will be seen for the first time when the Paris Motor Show opens on Saturday, was created to “appeal to young city dwellers.” We've heard that before, but this time it really does look like they've “nailed it!” The styling, scrumptious seats, electric scissor doors to facilitate access in tight spots, a heads-up display for the driver, a reconfigurable instrument panel which uses a “movement recognition” system (allowing the driver to scroll through functions and select settings with hand movements), and just so the passenger doesn't feel left out, they get a tablet computer which slides into the glovebox and can even share data wirelessly from the driver’s display. Oh, and it gets 81 mpg. Read More

As laptop computers continue to shrink in size and mobile phones become more and more powerful, can it be that long before the two merge into a device with the portability of a mobile phone and the functionality of a laptop? While it is just a matter of time before the power of a fully-fledged PC can be crammed inside a device the size of a mobile phone, our fingers aren't getting any smaller so overcoming the problems of interacting with such a small device will require some creative thinking. Creative thinking like that of designer Billy May who has come up with a mobile phone concept called the “Seabird” that is designed to address some of the frustrations people face when using such physically small devices. Read More

Daimler’s smart brand has managed to reduce the size of its already micro-sized vehicles even further by subtracting a couple of wheels and unveiling a concept scooter. The chassis of the all-electric smart escooter is modeled on the tridion safety cell of the smart fortwo, with its steel and aluminum frame clad in fully interchangeable plastic body panels. The scooter has a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) with power provided by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 80 Ah that gives the vehicle a range of up to 100 km (62 miles). Read More

With preparations nearing completion for the commercial launch of the Peugeot iOn, which, like the Citroen C-Zero, is basically a French version of the Mitsubishi i MiEV electric vehicle, Peugeot has provided a glimpse of just how sexy an electric vehicle can be. Celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, the company has unveiled its latest concept car called the EX1 that is based upon the body of the SR1 concept car unveiled earlier this year. Although it’s still a concept car, Peugeot says the striking two-seater roadster has already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start. Read More

At the crossroads of motoring, fashion and sport, the Citroën Lacoste concept is a “shared vision of boldness, creativity and optimism” between the French brands, according to the pre-Paris press release. At first glance, the Citroën Lacoste concept appears to be a very optimistic car indeed, as it doesn't have a roof to mitigate the inevitability of a bleak French winter. In fact, the Citroën Lacoste has an auto-inflatable hood that deploys along the roof backbone to form a bright yellow soft-top roof in what is apparently quite a spectacular transformation. Sadly, the press kit doesn't have any pics of the roof deployed. Read More

How many device remotes do you have? One for the TV, one for the DVD/Blu-ray player, one for cable/satellite box, one for the hi-fi and perhaps even one for the computer – have I missed any? Maybe you've tried to consolidate all of these various remotes into one big universal control with lots and lots of buttons. The Gesture Remote offers something a bit different. The simple interface is completely free of buttons and spatial thumb gestures are used to access menus and choose content. Read More