Tronatic Atmos Concept – a French electric sportscar in the making

Have you ever dreamt of driving/riding a Light Cycle? Well, have we. There may be a small, but likely chance that you’ll get to drive a Tron inspired car made by a team of French designers. It’s called the Tronatic Atmos Concept and it looks… flabbergasting!

We’re using big words because this is quite the concept! French graphic design studio Tronatic, specialized in 3D animation and graphic, has created a test drive featuring this concept, which is both futuristic and intriguing. The concept was presented at the end of last year and is an all original design that makes the car really stand out.

Just like in a SciFi movie, the Atmos Concept has strong graphic elements and contrasts between the white stripes and the dark paint, which is surely to make it an eye catcher. The interior is as much as a spaceship as the exterior, and its fluent lines seem prepared for an airport runway more than a usual road.

There are no other technical details yet, but you can find out more from Tronatic’s nifty website.

Post tags: Tags: Tronatic Atmos Concept, Tronatic Atmos Concept pictures, Tronatic Atmos Concept rendering

The Audi A2 Concept in pictures and numbers

Audi couldn’t miss to line up its new creation for the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, so it has released pictures of the lovely A2 concept.

Audi is planning to take on BMW, with their i3 model, but BMW seems to be about 2 years ahead with their release, which is planned for 2013. Premium EVs are a hot segment and I’m sure the competition in it will be fierce.

The Audi’s plans for the A2 is to fit it with a 85kW electric motor that moves the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. The car can produce 199 pound-feet of torque at most and the lithium-ion battery pack is created to last for 125 miles. Zero to sixty in just over 9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 93 mph is not so bad for an EV.

Since the battery ads a lot of extra weight, a lot of aluminum and carbon fiber was used to get the weight down to 2,535 pounds. Audi states that an autonomous driving mode will be part of the package for the A2.

We can’t wait to see what they’ve prepared for Frankfurt, which starts next Tuesday! Until then, check out the entire photo gallery of the Audi A2 concept on our Facebook page.

Post tags: Tags: 2011 frankfurt motor show, audi a2 concept, audi a2 pictures, audi a2 rendering

Another Frankfurt concept: the Volkswagen NILS

As any self respecting motor show, Frankfurt is ready to house and display the most daring and intriguing concept cars in the world. While car lovers and profanes alike stare in awe at them, we’ll comment and keep you posted with the car manufacturers’ daring dreams of automotive evolution.

But enough of big words, we have a new concept car to talk about, created by Volkswagen. The NILS concept is a futuristic vision for an urban, cosmopolitan commuter. Weighing only 460 kg, with an aluminum body and an all-electric powertrain, the NILS is meant to stand out of its category, mainly by its daring design, we’d say.

Designer Thomas Ingenlath, director at the Potsdam Design Center, comments: “NILS was designed to make a visual statement and transport a vision of the automotive future to the present. The car had to visually highlight the theme of sustainability, while showing a future-oriented look and simply being fun.

Gull-wing doors on a small, electric city car? Volkswagen has the courage to do it! Add free-standing wheels to that and a rear-mounted motor that delivers 15 kW with a 25 kW peak output and you’ve got yourself an interesting prototype.

Some more numbers in the press release say that the car is only 3.04 meters long, a total width of 1.39 meters and had a height of just 1.2 meters. Quite the toy, this NILS! This “toy” can be charged through a conventional 230 Volt electrical outlet (maximum charging time 2 hours).

There is something quite amazing about this car, though: Volkswagen claim that it can get from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 11 seconds, that is has a range of 65 km and a top speed of 130 km/h. Not bad for this tiny thing! The auto maker also says that it’s quite sporty and agile, with great handling. In order to believe them, we’d have to get our hands on it and see what it can do.

Safety controls include the new City Emergency Braking, that uses a laser sensor located in the front VW logo to detect the risk of an imminent collision, and can automatically brake the car. Inside, digital equipment is present, but limited. In order to keep the car light and relatively cheap, Volkswagen cut the power-steering and the side mirrors can be adjusted only manually.

Overall, it’s an interesting concept. Would you drive it?

Post tags: Tags: 2011 frankfurt motor show, frankfurt, frankfurt motor show, NILS concept, Volkswagen NILS concept

Porsche Cajun Renderings Leaked

We finally have some definite proofs that Porsche is working on a baby Cayenne, which most likely will be called Cajun. The car will probably be launched in 2013 and is going to be based on the Audi Q5. It seems that the model is going to be available in both 5- and 3-door variants, but nothing is certain at the moment.

These renderings come from an internal styling exercise at the company’s design headquarters and we can see that the Cajun will borrow some design cues from the 911 model. To differentiate it from the aforementioned Q5, Porsche will come up with an entirely new interior and parts of it, like the ancillary switchgear, climate controls and the instrument pack will also make it into new generation of the Boxster as well as a new mid-engined roadster that will be slotted below the Boxster.

Reports say that the baby SUV will be powered by a wide selection of Porsche-tweaked Audi engines, including here 4- and 6-cylinder gasoline and diesel units. Most likely, the Cajun will be available only with a four-wheel drive system borrowed from Audi.

This will become Porsche’s fifth model in the lineup and hopefully for the German automaker, will help with the company’s objective of reaching 150,000 annual sales. The new sub-Boxster model aims as high as 200,000 units by the end of this decade.

With the launch of the Cajun, Porsche will build a new bodyshell facility and hire 100 people at its east German facility. At the moment, the body of the Panamera model is built and painted by VW at the Hannover factory.

Source: Autocar.co.uk

Post tags: Tags: Porsche, porsche cajun, renderings

Porsche 928 Revival Under Development

Porsche 929 (rendering)

According to the British car magazine Autocar, Porsche is working on a front-engined GT coupe that will be a part of the 2^nd generation Panamera family, which should be out sometime in 2014 or 2015. The car will ride on a short-cassis version of the next-gen Panamera and will try to mimic the magic of the exquisite 928 coupe of the late 70s.

Porsche 929 (rendering)

Most likely, the car will be known as a “929” model and will allow Porsche to penetrate a segment that generates more than 10,000 sales per year, courtesy of great cars like the Ferrari California, Bentley Continental and the exquisite Aston Martin DB9. We will probably see two versions of the 929 in the form of a coupe and a convertible that will have a soft top.

Porsche 929 (rendering)

In related news, the German manufacturer has announced a solid investment program in its Leipzig, Germany, where they make the Cayenne. They will create a new body assembly line in order to accommodate the launch of the highly anticipated baby SUV, the Cajun. Moreover, Porsche might opt to switch the production of the Panamera from VW’s facility in Hannover to Leipzig once the new generation is launched.

Porsche 929 (rendering)

PS: These renderings have been made by Julliana Cho, who is a Porsche-sponsored student that recently graduated from the Royal College of Art.

Source: Autocar.co.uk

Post tags: Tags: porsche 928, porsche 929, renderings

Abt Speedle Rendered

The new generation of the Volkswagen Beetle hasn’t been out that long and we already have some renderings of upcoming tuning projects for the model. One of these aftermarket programs is being developed by Abt. Dubbed Speedle, the upgrade program is going to be available for all the engines in the lineup, starting with the entry-level 1.2 TSI engine which in its standard configuration outputs 103 hp (105 PS / 77 kW). After the upgrade, it will produce about 138 hp (140 PS / 103 kW).

The 1.4 TSI unit has 157 hp (160 PS / 118 kW) as standard and after the tuning it will develop 207 hp (210 PS / 103 kW). The top-spec 2.0-liter turbo engine is capable of producing 197 hp (200 PS / 147 kW) when it rolls out of the VW factory and after Abt will modify it, it will be able to unleash about 236 hp (240 PS / 176 kW).

If you prefer Satan’s fuel (aka diesel), the 1.6-liter develops as standard 103 hp (105 PS / 77 kW) but Abt can modify it in order to output 123 hp (125 PS / 92 kW). Lastly, the more powerful 2.0 TDI with 167 hp (170 PS / 125 kW) can be tweaked so that it can produce 138 hp (140 PS / 103 kW).

Aside from these modifications in the engine compartment, the tuner will also throw in a brand new spoiler in the front, rear skirt set that has oval exhaust pipes and a rear muffler, along with a rear skirt insert and new side skirts. In addition, the Abt Speedle will pack front & rear headlight brows as well as adhesive graphics kit.

The car will also feature Abt DR rims and a set of lowering springs to bring the car closer to the ground.

Source: Abt Sportsline via WCF

Post tags: Tags: abt speedle, renderings, Tuning, volkswagen-beetle

Fiat Dino Revival Envisioned By Concept Designer

We haven’t seen a coupe from Fiat since the Coupe model which was axed back in 2000. If the Italian automaker is thinking of a Dino revival, they could get their inspiration from Peter Norris, a British designer that revealed his vision of a new coupe from Fiat, but most likely not the successor of the Coupe, taking into consideration that it features the Pininfarina badge, which means that it’s not as affordable as the Coupe was.

Anyway, his concept is a front-engine, RWD luxury sports car that has a very sleek profile with an extremely low roofline. It also has big wheel arches while the front fascia reminds us of some Aston Martin models, especially if we take a closer look at those headlights. Out in the back, it has C-shaped taillights and the exhaust pipes have been mounted in the center.

Peter Norris is from Rochester in Kent, United Kingdom and over the years he has worked for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and at Ideaworks 3d, which is a mobile games company. During his 7-years period that he spent at Free Radical Design, he was in charge of creating virtual vehicles for videogames like Star Wars: Battlefront III and Timesplitters 2.

I really like this concept except for the low roofline and those taillights. Other than that, it’s awesome. When we will be seeing a new Fiat Coupe or Dino? Time will tell. Until then all we can do is wait or turn our heads to other manufacturers as there are plenty of cars to choose from in this segment.

Source: CarBodyDesign

Post tags: Tags: Concepts, fiat coupe, fiat dino, pininfarina, renderings

Images Of Potential BMW 6-Series GranCoupe Leaked

Remember the BMW Gran Coupe concept that we saw last year? Well, we already know that the German automaker is working on a production version of that cool-looking concept and according to an unknown Chinese website; the car will look just about the same as it does in these renderings.

Just like the coupe and convertible versions of the 6-Series, the GranCoupe is expected to feature a 6-cylinder 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that develops 320 hp (324 PS / 9 kW) or a more powerful V8 4.4-liter that churns out 407 hp (413 PS / 304 kW).

The official debut of the BMW 6-Series GranCoupe should occur sometime next year and it will have to face up some serious competition coming from the Audi A7 and the Mercedes CLS.

Source: JokeforBlog via Autoblog via WCF

Post tags: Tags: bmw 6-series gran coupe, renderings

Design Study – Mercedes-Benz Aria Concept

The author of this Mercedes-Benz Aria Concept is Slavche Tanveski, a Macedonian design student that wanted to show us his perspective of an electric, luxury car of the year 2030. This fascinating concept was developed at the Mercedes-Benz Design Studio under the direct supervision of the company’s designers.

The idea behind this concept was to create a vehicle that has a timeless design, mixing a sleek silhouette with dynamic proportions and sculptural surfaces in order to express of possible 2030 Mercedes-Benz luxury car model.

He got his inspiration from the body of a woman, a violin and a Coca Cola bottle, adding tensioned and articulated lines which give the car a powerful character and definition. We also notice those “aero pins” that define the tail volume, wheels and the interior cabin.

The concept features wheel hub electric engines and for this reason the air intakes had to be positioned on the sides, instead of the regular center area. The student didn’t forget about the traditional arrow-like MB nose and for this concept it serves the purpose of changing the direction of the air.

The wheels have a 5-spoke design, combined with a complex surface that mimics the exterior form design language while at the same time hinting at the electric drivetrain that powers the concept.

The most important characteristic of the interior is its modularity and the special way in which it is connected to the body of the car. We say special because it isn’t welded to the exterior, but wired to the copper skeleton, making it interchangeable.

We’ll let this video do the rest of the talking:

Source: CarBodyDesign

Post tags: Tags: mercedes-benz aria concept, renderings

Maserati GT Garbin Envisions 2020 Gran Turismo Model

Designed by Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia and Chetan Rajput, this Maserati GT Garbin is a design study that envisions a 2020 Gran Turismo model. It was the project thesis for these designers that graduated from the Politecnico di Milano and it was developed during the Master in Transportation and Automobile Design and was sponsored by the Fiat Group.

The designers got their inspiration from the 1967-1973 Maserati Ghibli, despite the fact that they didn’t want to create a retro design. It was named after a south-westerly Italian summer wind, also known as the “Garbino” or “Libeccio”.

In the front we notice the traditional Maserati grille, mixed up with a couple of design cues borrowed from the fascinating Citroen GT Concept. It features generous doors that slide forwards and luminescent materials along with backlighting areas that give a special look to the general design of the concept. They used the same recipe for the interior cabin, which is dominated by the areas that connect the Garbin’s door panels to the dashboard.

Source: CarBodyDesign

Post tags: Tags: maserati gt garbin, renderings

McLaren Veyron-killer In The Works

It seems that McLaren is working hard on a new flagship model that will beat the all-mighty Bugatti Veyron and all other supercars to date. Known inside the company as the “Mega Mac”, the car will most likely be launched sometime in 2014 and only 500 units will be ever made. The price tag for the hypercar will probably be between 350,000 and 400,000 pounds.

Sources inside the company say that the new vehicle will be “bigger, angrier and more functional looking” than the MP4-12C, despite the fact that it will have a family resemblance to both the current model and the iconic McLaren F1. In addition, the car will sport active aerodynamic systems, including both front and rear spoilers which will be deployed in certain conditions, along with a rear airbake, similar to the one we already saw on the MP4-12C.

The interior cabin will offer all-round visibility while the luxury features will be kept down to a minimum, along with a limited luggage room located behind the seats. Rumors say that it will feature on-board data logging as well as a video camera in order to allow the driver of the car to film his/her own track time – pretty cool if you ask me.

Now to the really interesting stuff about the “Mega Mac” – it will be powered by a V8 5.0-liter engine that will produced 799 hp, offering 160 hp / liter. This power unit will be developed in partnership with Ricardo. All of the 590 ponies will be available at 7,500 rpm and the peak torque of 590 lb.-ft will be delivered between 3,500 and 6,800 rpm. This engine will be mated to a Graziano 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Performances are not set in stone at the moment, but we should expect to see a 0-60 mph sprint in 2.8 seconds, 0-100 mph in 5.5 seconds and a 0-200 mph time in 20 seconds.

Despite the fact that the 0-60 mph time is longer than the one of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, McLaren’s hypercar will reach 200 mph faster than Bugatti’s 22 seconds.

Just like the aforementioned MP-12C, the new model from McLaren will benefit from a carbonfibre Monocell, using similar, but updated, aluminum pushrod suspension, along with a 5-stage traction control system, adaptive dampers and hydraulic anti-roll control. To stop the car in an efficient manner, the engineers will install Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes, along with Brake Steer and electronic brake force distribution.

Source: AutoCar.co.uk

Post tags: Tags: mclaren mega mac, renderings, rumors

Rumors – Audi Q5 Cabriolet In The Works

If we were to believe the recent rumors that have surfaced the Internet this week, within two years, Audi will roll out the cabriolet version of its very successful Q5 model. The first car of this kind was the hideous Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, and for reasons that I really don’t understand, Audi wants to do the same thing.

It will most likely have a two-door configuration and inside space enough for four passengers, along with a fabric roof that will fold electronically. The standard Q5 has a curb weight of 1,720 kg, but the cabrio version will be a little bit heavier in order to stiffen the chassis. Extra weight means that it won’t handle just as good as the standard model and fuel efficiency will be reduced.

Of course, this soft-top will be targeted to style seekers, not for those looking to save a couple of bucks at the gas station or those that are driving enthusiasts. Autoexpress.co.uk says that Audi will make only 5,000 units of this model.

Instead of making the car alongside with its SUV sibling, the German automaker will probably outsource the model to an independent coachbuilder, like Magna Steyr, located in Austria. Most likely, the cabrio version will come with a far more luxurious interior cabin, with suede upholstery and exquisite leather, all in a wide variety of possible combinations. In addition, the car’s roof will most likely be available in a wide array of shades.

We should expect to see the same quattro AWD system, with a choice of 4- and 6-cylinder TDI and TFSI power units. Starting price should be of around 40,000 pounds.

Source: AutoExpress.co.uk

Post tags: Tags: audi q5 cabriolet, renderings, rumors

Preview – 2011 Luxgen Neora Concept

The Taiwan-based Luxgen company will reveal this month at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show its new Neora Concept, an all-electric sedan that has a high-tech interior and a sculpted exterior. Luxgen is an independent Taiwanese brand that develops next-generation electric cars and from their sketches we can see that the Neora (from Neo and Era) comes with a beautiful sculpted body and an extensive use of the LED technology, with the taillights using a high-tech blue light.

The interior cabin of the car was inspired by consumer electronics, featuring generous interactive displays and an infotainment system that was developed in partnership with the Taiwan-based mobile phone company HTC.

The Luxgen marquee might make its official European debut at the end of this year with the launch of an SUV model.

Source: Luxgen via CarBodyDesign

Post tags: Tags: luxgen neora concept, renderings, shanghai auto show

Design Study – Skoda Vision WRC Concept

Inspired by the design language of the Vision D Concept, this is a study of a rally car created by Pavel Hruby for the Czech magazine AutoDesign&Styling. The vehicle show what a new rally car from Skoda would look like, and is based on the latest design idiom which we saw last month during the 81^st edition of the Geneva Motor Show.

The exterior of the rally car features the traditional sharp and precise edges that were adapted for a rally car that has less constraints regarding production feasibility. AutoDesign&Styling commissioned this project and it was published in the latest issue of the Czech magazine, with the title “Go, Skoda, Go!”

Source: AutoDesign&Styling via CarBodyDesign

Post tags: Tags: renderings, skoda vision wrc concept

Teaser – Audi R8 GT Spyder

The guys over at Audi have revealed this week the first two sketches with the upcoming R8 GT Spyder, which is going to be a lightweight version of the original model, distinguished by a matte titanium splitter and LED taillights. In addition, it will pack a very aggressive rear diffuser, bespoke 19-inch alloy rims and a carbon fiber rear wing.
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Post tags: Tags: audi r8 gt spyder, renderings