Concept – Page 4

Suzuki X-Head Concept

January 20, 2008January 17, 2008 by Rocky

This one looks straight out of the Pixar Disney move Cars, the nearly comical and almost Tonka Truck, Suzuki X-Head Concept is the star attraction on the Suzuki stand at this years Detroit Motor Show. This little pickup is meant to have the toughness of the popular Jimny and the load carrying capacity of the Carry. It’s part SUV and part Pickup truck and about the size of a wheelbarrow with a wheelbase of only 93 inches and very little overhang. The car was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show a few months back and got rave reviews. There are some very interesting and clever compartments and options designed for this vehicle and lets hop Suzuki get to work and bring something like this to the market, it will make motoring much more fun.

Saturn Flextreme Concept

January 19, 2008January 17, 2008 by Rocky

The Saturn Flextreme Concept continues our week of Detroit Motor Show features. This clever and rather weird looking car is a little sister to the Opel Flextreme car shown at Frankfurt a few weeks back. The Saturn car has a lithium-ion battery eclectic motor which can drive for about 34 miles and a diesel engine which can power recharge the battery when necessary, or be recharged via the powerpoint in about 3 hours. Saturn have stated at the launch of this vehicle the front of the vehicle in particular the lights and grille use styling cues of the future Saturn look- which will be quiet striking. Probably the most interesting and weird idea in this concept is the addition of two Segways stowed under the cargo floor, we really don’t know why, must be there just incase the battery goes flat?

Chrysler ecoVoyager

January 18, 2008January 17, 2008 by Wattsy

Chrysler has an interesting concept vehicle on show at the Detroit Motor Show, and full of style and cutting edge technology with the ecoVoyager. The futuristic looking vehicle as the name might suggest is environmental friendly with lithium -ion battery pack and also a fuel cell and some very clever interior packaging. The car has been cleverly designed for the family as a practical and functional recreation vehicle. The 268 horsepower electric motor powers the front wheel drive car and is designed to run about 40 miles without a recharge. Brakes help recharge the battery and for longer trip the fuel cell kicks in and gives approx 400 miles with hydrogen tanks under the cargo bay, and the only thing that comes out of the tailpipe is fresh water. The interior features high levels of luxury with full leather and cherry wood inserts. The chairs look like what you would expect on a private jet.

Toyota’s I-Unit

January 16, 2008January 13, 2008 by Rocky

The Toyota I-Unit is a ultra compact single seater vehicle which was a cross between a motorcycle and a car, looking a lot like a exoskeleton. The vehicle had adapted shape depending on speed. At low speeds around cities the vehicle was more upright so you were similar height to pedestrians. At higher speeds the pod would lay back giving a more aerodynamic appearance and a much lower centre of gravity. Weighing in at only 180 kilograms the vehicle ran on lithium ion batteries with the rear wheels being run by electric motors. The vehicle was controlled by two joystick devices using drive by wire technology, and an intelligent transport system (ITS) was used so the vehicles could talk to other forms of transport and road markers. One interesting feature was mood lighting, the pod’s led technology would change colour depending on the drivers mood. Toyota has stated that it may launch a similar vehicle in years to come- at the moment it is just a working show car.

Intelligent Multi-mode Transport System

January 14, 2008January 13, 2008 by Rocky

The last World Expo was held in Nagoya, Japan and for the event which attracted over 24 million visitors Toyota developed the Intelligent Multi-mode Transport System or IMTS bus line. Which circled the huge park. The bus was not manned and was controlled completely by computers, driving, stopping and operating all by technology. The vehicle operated on a dedicated road which had special magnetic markers in the pavement which steered the bus along with other special sensors including automatic braking control by means of inter-vehicle communications, ground signal units, and other devices. The body of the bus was also high tech using light weight carbon composite monocoque for the body. The vehicles were powered by natural gas (CNG) offering low emissions compared to normal forms of transport. There were 13 vehicles circling the park and the average speed was about 20 km per hour, moving some 18000 people per day. IMTS vehicles are steered and controlled by magnetic markers imbedded in the middle of the dedicated road. High levels of safety and dependability are assured by the automatic speed control and braking functions resting on inter-vehicle communications, ground signal units, and other such devices.

The Holden EFIJY

January 13, 2008January 13, 2008 by Rocky

Back in the 1950’s Holden produced the FJ Holden which has gone on to become one of Australia’s iconic classic cars. So what better car to base a show car off some 50 years later than to create a new interpretation of the vehicle using many of the classic and loved design cues. Using a Chevrolet Corvette underbody, a 5.2 metre radical custom coupe was produced boasting a thumping 480-kilowatt, supercharged six-litre V8 engine under the bonnet and every imaginable gizmo and gadget including LCD and LED technology, all packaged with magnificence retro styling. The paintwork was breathtaking with a rich dark purple called Soprano Purple highlighted by chrome badging and features. The car has since toured the world and been the toast of many auto shows and won quiet a few prestigious awards from Hot Rod magazines and other media.

Ford Discovery Centre – Australia

January 12, 2008October 12, 2009 by Wattsy

Back in 1925 Ford started their Australian production in Geelong Australia and today the city is still home to their Stamping facilities and Research and Development centre. Within a few metres of their original works near Geelong’s waterfront the Ford Discovery Centre now stands. Offering visitors an extensive showcase of vehicles that the Marquee has become famous for from the Model T to the latest model Falcon. The centre is much more than a car museum it is a hand’s on technology centre where people especially the young can come face to face with production robots, vehicle cutaways and visit a mock up of Ford Australia’s top secret design studio where full size real clay model vehicles are on display. The center fun and education and is a very popular learning centre for many of the states primary schools. The center has many one off concept vehicles and show cars, historic vehicles including the world’s first utility vehicle the 1932 Ford Ute and some of the latest iconic vehicles in it’s ever changing display.

Could the Mini Moke be on the way back?

January 11, 2008January 12, 2008 by Rocky

We were visiting http://news.windingroad.com earlier and found this interesting spy shot. it is believed to be a test mule from BMW. From the picture it is easy to see the front is very mini like- the body looks all wrong to be a Mini, and we just had the new models released- could it be the return of the Moke? There has been rumors doing the rounds for some time now that BMW were working on a 4×4 crossover style Mini- the return of the Moke would be the perfect vehicle. Imagining what’s under this yellow camouflage its not hard it think there might be an open top buggy- time will probably tell. The original Moke was designed by the then Mini owner BMC from about 1964. They became extremely popular as a low cost and rather rugged little car. They were later built in Portugal and Australia where they were very popular. Australia even exported the Moke, the Israeli Army were one of their major customers where machines guns were mounted to the front of the car.