The Toyota group is initiating a voluntary recall of 760,000 Toyota RAV4 SUVs from the 2006 to early 2011 model years and 18,000 Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan from the 2010 model year to repair a suspension problem that could lead to a crash. The
Japanese carmaker said that its engineers determined that if the nuts
on the rear suspension are not tightened properly after a rear wheel
alignment service, the suspension arms might rust and possibly even
separate. The company reported nine crashes and three minor injuries related to this problem. "Toyota
is currently developing a remedy," the automaker said in a statement.
"Once the remedy is available, we will send a notification letter by
first class mail advising owners to make an appointment with an
authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the remedy performed at no
charge."
The Ghost Coupe that our spies recently captured testing in Germany
will be much more than a two-door version of the premium brand's
entry-level model as company sources claim it will also be the fastest
production model to ever wear a Rolls Royce badge. The news comes via a report from Autocar magazine, which says that the Ghost Coupe is being developed as a response to the newest, high-powered models from Bentley and to a lesser extent, Aston Martin. While
the two-door model will use the same platform and 6.6-liter
twin-turbocharged V12 that underpin the Ghost sedan, both will be
tweaked and modified accordingly. The
British magazine reports that output rises from the Ghost’s "standard
531bhp to an estimated 600bhp" – though a quick check on the Rolls Royce
website reveals that the V12 in both the regular and LWB versions of
the sedan is rated at 563bhp (570PS). The
suspension, brakes, steering and tires will be upgraded to improve
handling, while the Coupe's slightly more compact dimensions may help
the car shed some pounds over the sedan model. As
we previously reported, Rolls Royce has yet to decide on the final name
of the luxury coupe, which is expected to arrive next year.
General Motors wanted to get ahead of the competition in the mid-size segment by launching the all-new 2013 Malibu in Eco trim
with a 37mpg highway 2.4-liter eAssist engine in March, six months
before the arrival of the regular 2.5-liter base engine and the 2.0-liter turbo flagship. However,
GM's dealers had plenty of 2012 Malibu sedans sitting on their lots and
as surprising as it may sound to some, up until now, the older model is
heavily outselling its successor. According to data obtained by Autonews,
from the March launch through June, GM sold about 7,000 examples of the
2013MY Malibu Eco, compared with around 100,000 units of the 2012MY
Malibu. Nevertheless,
there's a completely reasonable explanation for this disparity in sales:
the 2012 model comes with special incentives that can drop its price to
about $6,000 less than the 2013 Malibu Eco, which starts at $22,390
(excluding a $760 destination and handling fee), to around $16,400
(€13,350). And as is the case with most mainstream buyers looking for a new ride, money talks…
British design house Kahn
has presented a new take on the original Land Rover Defender under the
guise of the Chelsea Truck Company, which is one of Kahn's sub-brands
for off-road vehicles. Aptly named the XS 90, the revamped three-door Defender
is finished in an Orkney Grey color with contrasting satin black
details that include the mesh headlamp and front grille protectors, side
steps, bumpers, mirror caps and the Kahn design 18-inch alloy wheels
wrapped in BF Goodrich tires. A
lot more work went into the interior that was refashioned from top to
bottom sporting front and rear racing car seats in quilted red leather
and contrast stitching, with the same material also used on the door
panels, the padded armrest, gear lever, roof lining, sun visors and
sections of the dashboard. The steering wheel rim is dressed in grey Alcantara while Kahn added a red fascia to the speedometer and rev counter. There
are no upgrades under the hood with the XS 90 offered with the stock
2.2-liter turbo diesel rated at 120hp (122PS) and 265 lb-ft (360Nm),
coupled to a six-speed manual transmission.
Weeks back, we saw Fox Marketing throw up an image on their Facebook page regarding a Yonaka Motorports built Scion FR-S for this year's upcoming SEMA show.Today,
Fox Marketing has announced that a second build is in the works. This
time it will carry the Takata Racing apparel and a not so orange paint
job. As
for now, the tuning brand says that more details will be released in
the upcoming weeks, but from what we can see, the Yonaka version will
carry a similar body kit including new front grille, side splitters and
massive rear racing wing. This car will also feature the only HKS
powered supercharger in the U.S. Fox says that this FR-S will debut in the Toyo Tires booth at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, as soon as they "find a white six-speed to build." More to come, so stay tuned… By Jeff Perez
Even though a replacement is due in less than a year, the Volkswagen Golf GTI remains a darling of the tuning industry. This
latest proposal comes from Germany's BBM Motorsport, which has combined
forces with other aftermarket brands to create the car you see pictured
here. By
reconfiguring the ECU and adding a custom exhaust system, BBM
Motorsport was able to pump an extra 63 ponies and 100Nm (74 lb-ft) out
of the GTI's 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine, with total
output now standing at 271Hp (275PS) and 380Nm (280 lb-ft). A
new braking system with four piston calipers painted in red from
StopTech along with tauter suspension parts from KW and new 20-inch
alloy wheels shod in tires size 235/30R20 provide an upgraded ride and
handling. CFC-Styling
station covered the car in a matte-blue foil wrap while the mirror caps,
bonnet and rear diffuser are made out of carbon fiber.
The minds at ABT Sportsline have turned their tuning guns on the diesel version of the new Volkswagen Beetle that benefits from a power upgrade as well as the usual cosmetic and chassis improvements. "It is really the right engine for this car," says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO and founder of ABT Sportsline. "Particularly people who use their car quite a lot will really value how economical but also torquey it is," he added. The
German firm tweaks the 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit to increase power
from 138hp (140PS) and 320Nm (236 lb-ft) to 168hp (170PS) and 370Nm (273
lb-ft) and as a result, acceleration to 100km/h (62mph) drops from 9.4
seconds to 8.8 seconds. ABT
then fits the Beetle 2.0 TDI with a lowered sports suspension and a
larger brake kit for the front axle with black painted calipers. An
available styling kit includes a front spoiler, a rear apron that
encompasses a diffuser and the new twin oval exhaust pipes, head- and
tail-lamp covers and a license plate insert. Customers also can select from a variety of alloy wheels, in diameters from 18 to 20 inches shod in performance tires.
Created by Porsche to fill
the gap between the 394hp (400PS) 4S and 493hp (500PS) Turbo Panamera
models, the GTS comes with a mildly tuned naturally-aspirated 4.8-liter
V8 engine delivering 424hp (430PS) and upgraded chassis components and
looks. According to Porsche's own words, the Panamera GTS
is the "sportiest model in the range", but that did not deter Anderson
Germany from making a few changes of its own to allegedly improve the
sports saloon. The
German tuner's engineers started off with the V8 engine that gains a
software upgrade and a three-stage adjustable sports exhaust system that
boost output to 501-horsepower (508PS). A
new electronic module allows the driver to drop the Panamera GTS's
height-adjustable suspension by an additional 30mm, while the car now
rides on massive 22-inch alloys wrapped in 265/30-22 tires at the front
axle and 295/25-22 at the rear. The
exterior is then dressed in a new body kit that includes a restyled
front bumper with an apron, headlamp surrounds, side skirts, new rear
bumper trim, a rear apron housing a diffuser and tail light décor. For the final touch, Anderson Germany takes on the interior, which is redone in a combination of leather and Alcantara with white diamond stitching. Other
upgrades include the white carbon trim package, new entry sills on the
doors, footwell lighting in the front and the back with a dimming
function and a high-end sound system with amplifier, subwoofer and a
number of speakers.
What does acronym S.W.A.T.
stand for? Well, for most people it's the short form for 'Special
Weapons And Tactics' used to describe an elite tactical unit in various
law enforcement agencies. In this case, however, S.W.A.T. stands for 'Special Wagons And Tuning',
which is the name of a German tuning group comprising the KBR
Motorsport, Cover EFX, SH CarCare and CFX companies with the Volkswagen CC being one of its newest projects. S.W.A.T. says that it crafted the CC to "act natural" through the use of a special camouflage-themed matte foil wrap. In
our book, camouflage means that a vehicle is dressed up in way that it
remains unnoticed by blending with the environment, but unless we are
living in a monochromatic jungle and we don't know it, we can't see the
tuning firm's CC staying under the radar, quite the opposite actually...
Besides the new wrap,
the Volkswagen saloon rides on a lowered sport suspension with
shortened coilovers and colored 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in tires
size 225/30ZR20 on all four corners. As
a final touch, the German tuner says it upgraded the (unidentified)
engine and exhaust system to lift output to 276hp (280PS).
Through the use of new
software for the engine control unit (commonly known as ECU), UK's
Superchips has been able to improve the performance of Ford's new
1.0-liter three-cylinder, direct injection turbocharged Ecoboost engine found on several European market models such as the Focus and the B-MAX. In
stock trim, the three-cylinder gasoline unit is officially rated at
123hp (125PS) and 169Nm (125 lb-ft) or 200Nm (149 lb-ft) with the
overboost function. On the dyno, Superchips found that the engine is
slightly more powerful delivering 127hp. After
the company's engineers updated the ECU, the 1.0-liter engine was
dyno-tested at 145hp (147PS) at 6,169 rpm and 227Nm (167 lb-ft) at 2,656
rpm. The British
tuning firm claims that the remap doesn’t detract from the standard
Focus 125PS Ecoboost’s 56 mpg UK (46.6 mpg US or 5.0lt/100km) average
fuel consumption, just as long as the car is driven in a "like for like"
manner. Superchip's
ECU upgrade is priced at £455 (about US$713 or €580) including VAT and
can be fitted on all arch 2012 onwards variants of the 125 PS (123 bhp)
Ford Focus 1.0-litre Ecoboost models.
Among the numerous limited edition M3s
produced by BMW over the model's 26-year long history, the 2004 M3 CSL
(for Coupé Sport Leichtbau, which translates to Lightweight Sport Coupe)
holds a special place in the hearts of bimmer fans. Only
1,383 cars were produced for its 2004 model year run, with the emphasis
being put on reducing weight over the regular model. The CSL had a curb
weight of 1,385 kg (3,050 lb) making it 110 kg (240 lb) lighter than
the normal M3, while other enhancements included a more powerful engine
and a re-tuned suspension. One of the M3 CSLs landed into the hands of German tuning firm MR Car Design, which turned the Bavarian sports coupe into a track racer for the REIL Performance racing team. After
gutting out the CSL's interior, the German crew began work to further
lower the car's weight by replacing the side and rear windows with
Plexiglas. The CSL's
bootlid was replaced by a carbon fiber version modeled after the regular
model's boot as the tuner added a huge wing sourced from a Porsche GT3
racer. MR Car Design
then proceeded to upgrade the engine and exhaust boosting output to
386hp (392PS). Changes were made to the suspension and the braking
system as well. The
car rides on a new set of BBS Motorsport alloy wheels wrapped in special
Yokohama tires, while the tuner added quick release mechanisms for the
hood and boot and finished off the exterior with a new wrap and livery. The stripped interior of the M3 CSL was fitted with race-spec bucket seat, steering wheel and roll cage. All
told, the MR Car Design M3 CSL tips the scales at 1,260 kg (2,778
pounds) and according to the tuner, it can lap the Nürburgring
Nordschleife in 7:43 minutes, or seven seconds faster than the time
recorded by German car magazine Sport Auto in a stock M3 CSL. The cost of the conversion is €130,000 or about US$160,000 at today's exchange rates.
For most people in the
northern hemisphere, August is the last summer month of relaxation and
freedom before the new season kicks in and we all return to reality. What
this means for most industries and especially the automotive sector, is
that there is not a lot going on, which could explain why MINI chose
this month to reminisce about its past concepts, from the moment it was acquired by the BMW Group in the mid-1990s to the present day. All
in all, MINI chose to remind us of a dozen design studies, from the
1997 Concept Monte Carlo Rallye to the updated version of the Rocketman
hatch, some of which were destined for production like the Paceman,
while others like the 2009 Beachcomber, simply to arouse interest at motorshow floors. If
you follow the jump, you will find pictures and a description of each
model by MINI. If you feel up to it, you can tell us which concept is
your favorite in the comments section below.
2012. MINI Rocketman Concept. This new edition of the MINI Rocketman Concept
was conceived in 2012 and combines innovative ideas for personal
mobility in major cities with classical, unmistakably British design
features for the interior and exterior. Decked
out in the colours of the British national flag, the concept car
features eye-catching details such as a distinctive lighting design for
the Union Jack in the roof area. The MINI Rocketman Concept embodies
sporting elegance in typical British form.
2011. MINI Rocketman Concept. This well received concept car
fused traditional values with innovative technology to redefine MINI’s
core principle of the creative use of space. As a 3+1-seater with 3
doors, an exterior length of just over 3 metres (approx. 10 ft.) and a
unique space utilisation concept up its sleeve, this concept car shone a
spotlight into the future. Its
visionary character was defined by the systematic application of
lightweight design principles on a carbon spaceframe canvas.
2010. MINI Paceman Concept. MINI positioned this concept car – a classical crossover concept based on the MINI Countryman – as the first Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) in the premium segment. The
study’s dynamic and powerful, yet at the same time luxurious,
appearance sent out a message of exclusive sportiness. Visually it had
an air of the muscle car about it, showing off its dynamic credentials
impressively from every angle. MINI Beachcomber Concept. This precursor to the MINI Countryman focused on maximising driving fun and boasted a radical, open-air body concept. A very masculine concept,
it referenced the legendary Mini Moke from the 1960s and focused on
highlighting various interior design features. At the heart of the
action was the versatile Centre Rail, to which a MP3 player, mobile
phone, additional light sources, a cool box, a laptop or GPS tracker, a
stopwatch, a glasses case, a bottle holder or a food box could be
attached. MINI Scooter E Concept. This electrically driven study took cues from the MINI E, a Germany-wide test project for emission-free driving. The MINI Scooter E Concept
saw MINI Design transferring the brand’s central design language from
four wheels to two for the first time, demonstrating in the process the
potential of MINI. Hallmark
MINI details were reflected in three different design variants: one
focused on “Britishness”, another on the Mod movement which is such an
important part of scooter culture, and the third model adopted the
appearance of the MINI E.
2009. MINI Roadster Concept and MINI Coupé Concept. In their own distinctive ways, the “Oxford Twins”
showcased a wealth of exciting features offering a fresh interpretation
of the traditional values, individual style and innovative character of
MINI. The Coupé delivered undiluted driving fun wrapped up in an
ultra-sporty coupé skin, while the unadulterated, elegant Roadster
positively exuded stylish open-top motoring.
2008. MINI Crossover Concept. A
model variant without any historical reference points and measuring
over four metres (13 ft.) in length, this taster concept for the MINI
Countryman offered plentiful space for rear passengers and unprecedented
load capacity for a MINI. The
flexible interior layout and an innovative stowage system similar to
the Centre Rail allowed the interior to be adapted widely to individual
requirements.
2005/2006. MINI Concept Frankfurt / Tokyo / Detroit / Geneva. This
series of four concept cars was shown at the world’s most important
motor shows over a two-year period, each variant tailored to the venue
for its presentation. The four variations on the theme acted as previews
for the upcoming MINI Clubman and each borrowed cues from MINI history.
The
Concept unveiled in Frankfurt was billed “Travel in style” and played
the elegance card to resounding effect, while in Tokyo the car’s British
origins were brought to the fore. A
winter sport theme highlighted the versatility of the “Sports Equipment
Carrier” shown in Detroit, and in Geneva the MINI Concept reprised the
role of the service car in the Monte Carlo Rally, thus recalling the
brand’s legendary sporting exploits. All
four versions impressed most prominently with an innovative door
concept that revolutionised the utilisation potential of the interior.
The split rear doors offered extremely generous access to the luggage
area of the MINI Concept – and would soon do likewise in series-produced
MINI models, starting with the Clubman.
1997. MINI Concept Monte Carlo Rallye. This
right-hand-drive two-seater recalled the victory of the classic Mini in
the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Design icons such as the hexagonal radiator
grille and circular headlights were given a fresh interpretation for
this concept car for the 21st century, MINI design having remained
pretty much unchanged since 1959. This concept car was followed in 2001
by the arrival of the first MINI of the modern generation.
We still have a long way to go before the 2012 edition of the SEMA Motor Show,
which runs from October 30 to November 2, but OMIX-ADA, an independent
manufacturer and wholesaler of Jeep parts and accessories, is trying to
grab our attention with a new concept model scheduled to debut at the
Las Vegas show. Named
"Crush Recovery", the project car is based on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler
Unlimited Rubicon 4x4. It is the work of Jeep builder Dave Doetsch and
will be displayed at the OMIX/Rugged Ridge Off-Road Success Center. Doetsch says he designed the Crush Recovery to be ultimate off-road vehicle to recover 4x4s stuck in the toughest terrain. The go-anywhere Jeep Wrangler
will be outfitted with more than 60 of the latest products from OMIX’s
family of brands including, Alloy USA's high-strength chromoly axle
shafts and Rugged Ridge's XHD Modular Aluminum Bumpers and new half
doors. A CGI of the 'Crush Recovery' concept follows below the jump.
After the 160 BMW 1-Series ActiveE coupes
and 40 MINI E hatchbacks, the Bavarian automotive group today presented
its third pure-electric vehicle to the London Olympic and Paralympic
fleet: the Mini MINI. Evidently,
and unlike the other two models, the Mini MINI was not designed to
shuttle athletes and officials within the Olympic Park and surrounding
Games sites. Instead,
the radio-controlled (RC) model, which is roughly a quarter scale of
the real-life car, will be used on the field of play in the Olympic
Stadium to ferry javelins, discuses, hammers and shots back from the
field to the throwing area. "The
MINI team was thrilled to be given this challenge to develop a vehicle
with such an important and high profile role during the Olympic and
Paralympic Games," commented Juergen Hedrich, Managing Director of MINI
Plant Oxford. The BMW Group created three Mini MINIs that will be operated by Games Makers assigned and trained for this duty. The
scale models measure 1,100mm (43.3 inches) long and can carry up to 8kg
(18 pounds) of athletic equipment such as a single hammer, discus or
shot or two javelins in their interior, which is accessible through the
adapted sunroof. A
10hp electric motor drives the Mini MINIs that can sustain 35 minutes of
continuous usage with a radio control range of approximately 100 metres
(3218 feet) and be fully re-charged in 80 minutes.
Mini MINI
Number in fleet: 3
10hp / Zero emissions
Usage: Field of play vehicle to retrieve javelins, discuses, hammers and shot from the field to the throwing area.
Dartz, the Latvia-based company that will be forever remembered for the Prombron Monaco
Red Diamond Edition with its true- and then faux-whale penis leather
dressed interior, has returned with an announcement for a new future
product.The firm's new model is named Nagel Dakkar after Russian racing driver Andrew Nagel who the 1912 Monte Carlo Rally. Always
up for a joke (we assume…), Dartz has this to say about the Nagel
Dakkar: "This won't be just new car model - will be new class of cars we
call it B.N.U.D.S." And since you're surely wondering what B.N.U.D.S. stands for, we will allow Dartz's unedited press release to do the explaining:
Bespoke - as every car will be made specially for You Noble - as this car will be sold under world one of the oldest car labels Urban - as will be excellent for city ride - and doesn't matter narrows streets of Monaco, of wide highway in LA. Desert -
car will be bsed on tubular frame and designed by famous SAM - Saxon
Automobile Manufactur which is wellknown with their rally car with all
perfomance issues Safety - using titanium tubular farme in new car will be achieved unseen before safety for "civil" cars."
The Latvian company released two
different renderings of the Nagel Dakkar, a pencil sketch by its own
Alex Isaev and a more professional looking CGI made by German designer
Pochwatta. Dartz
says the body and the interior of the SUV will be customizable while
the underpinnings will remain the same and include a 650hp Mercedes-Benz
AMG 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 engine. Production
will start in 2013 with prices for the base model ranging from €250,000
to €300,000 when it comes to Euro notes and $390,000 to $468,000 if you
pay in good ol' US dollars – we have no idea why there's a difference
between the two currencies. For more things that don't make much sense, hop over the break to read the rest of the press release from Dartz. Story References: Dartz via Autoblog.nl
Dartz Press Release: Attached
- scetches from two car designers we are working with - DARTZ stuff
designer Alex Isaev (pencil pictures) and German designer Pochwatta. Our
joint team now are in discussion how will look future, and - as we are
bespoke car builders - may be it will have different bodies. That's for sure, as our customers must have choise. As all we know no ladie will come to party in same dress as other. But, yes, they always come to this party in same cars. yes, expensive, yes luxury - but - YES - similar. DARTZ-SAM car will solve that issue, as on titanium frame we can put on "dress' or car body you want, you choose, you dream. DARTZ-SAM
will world one&only unique car which will mix highest quality of
german engeneering and car building traditions with insane russian
luxury. DARTZ-SAM will be favorite car in Your garage - as when you
will wake up don't knowing what's your plans for today, you can easy
jump in in DARTZ-SAM - you can go off-road, all-road, or any-road. DARTZ-SAM - car where you can make billions, like in business-pullman, and non-stop go to win rally. WHY NOT? You work hard - You deserve it! DARTZ-SAM
plans is to get as minimum 1,3% of world luxury SUV market, but that's
minimum, DARTZ already get request from Chinese government company which
they signed contract at 2011. As uniting of such out-of-box thinking teams look very promising. Wealthy people need personalized cars and there are ten's of bespoke sportcars makers - but there are zero bespoke SUV makers. That make people to buy regular SUV's and invest hundred's of thousands to upgrade them. But anycase this are just regular cars, with expensive, but regular upgrade.
DARTZ-SAM sales plan on nearest years: 2013 10 units 2014 20 units 2015 40 units 2016 40 units 2017 40 units
Car price is planned Eur 250,000 - 300,000 for base model. $390,000-$468,000 car specifications:Engine 8 cylinder AMG Mercedes V8 Bi-turbo Capacity 5.5L Performance 650 HP, 850 Nm (626 lb ft) Top speed 250 km/h Drive train Gearbox 7 gear double clutch gearbox Clutch AP Racing Sinter metallic Differentials Sadev Body Titanium tubular frame chassis Base for all the vehicles Carbon Kevlar chassis Extremely light Dimensions Length 4620 mm (4-door / 4920mm) Width 2000 mm Height 1700 mm (250 mm clearance) Unloaded weight 1890 kgs / 1990 kgs Wheel base 2910 mm (4-door / 3210mm)
Earlier this month, we told
you that aside from the upcoming Macan crossover and the 918 Spyder
plug-in hybrid, Porsche is plotting a second supercar model with a
conventional powertrain and a smaller version of the Panamera sedan,
internally known as the Pajun. As it turns out, these aren’t the only new models under consideration at Porsche's Stuttgart headquarters as Car&Driver is reporting that the German firm will unveil a station wagon concept of the Panamera with a "shooting brake" moniker at the Paris Motor Show in late September. An
unidentified Porsche source told the magazine that the design study
will gauge showgoers' reaction to the vehicle before committing to it,
while also hinting at the styling of the facelifted as well as the next
Panamera notchback models. "The
concept stands somewhere between the face-lifted current-generation car
and the next one," the insider told C&D adding that if the concept
receives the green light, it will become part of the range of the next
generation Panamera. The design study is also said to showcase a new plug-in hybrid powertrain.
We know for a fact that any
new car's design goes through several phases before reaching its final
production form and that in the process, designers experiment with various prototypes that usually don't see the light of day.Every
once in a very rare while, though, we get the opportunity to take a
look at early prototypes that either inspired or led to the finished
product. Such is the case with this scale model of a design prototype that was created by the team responsible for the styling of the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS compact saloon, which goes on sale in the U.S. this month. The
model car features a sleek looking, five-door hatchback body style with
a very short rear overhang, pronounced front fenders and a sweeping
roofline. It also appears that it may have been designed to sport
suicide style rear doors. While
we understand that this is a concept from the early development phase,
we came in contact with Cadillac just to make sure. "We
have lots of artifacts from the car's [ATS] design and development that
we pulled out to show how it was authentically created," a Cadillac
spokesman told Carscoop. "So
some of the sketches and models are things that literally led to the
final car, and some are naturally going to be things that hit the
cutting room floor. That model simply shows some of the concept-oriented
work. It's not intended to spark expectations of a certain new body
style," he added. One thing to keep in mind is that with a few exceptions, premium automakers don't believe that there's a big market for hatchbacks in North America – which is why you won't see the new BMW 1-Series and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches. On
the other hand, if Cadillac wants to expand its sales in overseas
markets such as China and Europe, at some point it will need to enhance
its range with a lower priced and smaller sized hatchback model that
will be available with both gasoline and diesel engines. On
a side note, if you would like to see more of the prototype, tell us in
the comments section and we will shoot an email to GM and see if they
can send us more photos.
There is a debate going on right now,
as to whether Chevrolet designers should make the next Camaro coupe,
expected to be introduced in 2015, look more like a first-generation
model (1967-1969) or the second-generation version built from 1970 to
1981. But what if GM and Chevrolet were to take a different path and create something with very few, if any, retro touches? This is where 22-year-old automotive design graduate from Lawrence Tech in Michigan, Tyler Bame, steps into the picture. The young designer, who we first heard about back in April through a conceptual study for a new Ford Taurus sedan, has come up with a futuristic looking concept of the next Chevrolet Camaro coupe. We'll
let you check the two renderings of the exterior and interior of the
car before you hit the comments section to tell us what you think about
the design.
Not to be outshone by the BMW car brand and its upcoming "i" series
of pure-electric models, BMW Motorrad, which is the German company's
motorcycle division, is also gearing up for the presentation of its
first zero emissions model. Following
the original E-Scooter concept at the BMW Motorrad Innovation Day 2011
and the Concept e at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW has now
introduced a near-production prototype of the electric scooter named the C Evolution. The electric-powered
scooter was presented in the U.K. capital today with BMW to allow
selected London Olympics visitors to drive the prototypes during the
games. The
C Evolution features a hybrid composite structure upon which it fits an
electric motor producing a continuous output of 11kW (15hp) and a peak
output of 35kW (47hp) allowing for an electronically limited top speed
of 120km/h (75mph). According
to BMW, in terms of acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h (37mph), the C
Evolution "comfortably holds its own against current maxi scooters a
capacity of 600 cc or more". The
C Evolution is powered via a drivetrain swing arm. The alternator is
positioned behind the battery casing and integrated in the swing arm. The
8kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) and
can be recharged through an integrated charging device via a regular
household socket or a charging station in less than three hours. Moreover,
the C Evolution features a 'smart' recuperation system that regains
energy during coasting or braking, and which BMW says can extend the
range of the two-wheeler by 10 to 20 per cent, depending on riding
style. The Bavarian company believes that it can have the production model ready for sale by 2014.
It may be a bit early to be
talking about a new Renault Megane - given that the current iteration
of the compact model has been with us only since late 2008 having
received some mild updates earlier this year, but we have discovered some interesting renderings from designer Clavet Thomas that we thought we'd share with you. The designs are for a replacement of the sportier looking Megane Coupé,
which is essentially a three-door hatchback with a coupe-ish roofline,
much in the likes of the VW Scirocco and Opel / Vauxhall Astra GTC. Judging
by the wheels, the lowered stance and the rear diffuser, Thomas was
looking to emulate the look of the range-topping RenaultSport edition. You
can view the pictures in more detail in our gallery after the jump.
Once you're done, tell us what you think about the Megane Coupe IV study
in the comments section below. Photo Credits: Clavet Thomas
A blast from the past and
the most recent concept study to wear the blue and white roundel will
highlight BMW's presence at The Legends of the Autobahn 2012, which
takes place on Friday, August 17, at the Rancho Canada Golf Club in
Carmel Valley, California.The fourth annual all-German brand Concours,
which is hosted by the BMW Car Club of America, Mercedes-Benz Club of
America, the Porsche Club of America and the Audi Club of North America,
will play host to the North American premiere of the BMW M8 prototype and the Z4 Zagato Coupe. The
M8 Coupe project was never displayed at a show and many believed it had
been destroyed until the Bavarian automaker opened the gates of its
M-brand's vault in 2009 revealing it along with other gems such as the E34 M5 Cabriolet and E36 M3 Compact. The
proposed flagship model of the E31 8-Series Coupe featured extensive
use of carbon fiber to save weight and a special 5.6-liter V12 engine
created out of two M3 straight-six engines delivering an estimated
580-horsepower, and which later on found its way under the hood of the
fabled McLaren F1. BMW,
however, pulled the plug on the project and decided to develop a much
milder performance version named the 850CSi with a 380hp V12. The Zagato Coupe study made its world premiere at this year's Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
in Italy. The hand-built, one-off concept is based on the Z4 roadster
and as its name implies, it has been stylized by famed Italian design
house and coachbuilder Zagato.
We know that the next BMW M3 sedan is coming and we have a general idea of what it will look like thanks to an abundance of spy shots
over the past year, but if you are still having a hard time visualizing
the sportiest model in the F30 3-Series range, photoshop artist
Wildspeed has put together these renderings. The
CGIs (Computer Generated Imagery) propose a wider body with bloated
front and rear wheel arches housing larger wheels in beefier tires, a
vented hood, double-slat grilles, side skirts and a typical M-style
front bumper with enlarged air inlets. What
do you don't see here is the rear end of the car that will sport a
redesigned bumper with a diffuser flanked by twin tailpipes on either
side and possibly a boot lid spoiler. The F30 M3 sedan (along with the coupe model)
will mark a return to a straight-six engine, but this time it will be
turbocharged with an output of around 450-horses, up from the current
unforced-induction V8's 414hp (420PS). A six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed dual clutch transmission will power the rear wheels. We
expect that the new M3 will be lighter than the current generation,
possibly losing as much as 100kg (220 pounds) with significant benefits
in handling, performance as well as fuel economy and greenhouse
emissions.
Design Credits: Wildspeed for F30Post Thanks for the shout Tom!
