Automotive
Suzuki unveils radical mobility concepts
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Suzuki has announced several radical prototype vehicles to be shown at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. Remarkably, there will be a second generation Kizashi show car based on the machine shown at Frankfurt just three weeks ago. In addition, there’s an interesting sustainable mobility concept called the Pixy which houses another more personal electric vehicle concept known as the SSC. On top of that there’s a motorcycle modelled after an aircraft (Biplane), a fuel cell motorcycle (crosscage), a four-seater minivan with two power sliding doors (Palette) . Read More
UK Porsche driver receives record 172mph speeding ticket
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September 27, 2007 The road is not a racetrack - but if it was, Britain would have a new national champion. Londoner Tim Brady is now serving a 10-week jail sentence after being clocked at a record 172mph (277 kmh) in a Porsche (not pictured) he borrowed from his employer – that’s 16mph faster than the previous four-wheeled record holder. Read More
New Nissan GT-R set for Tokyo launch
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September 27, 2007 Nissan has begun the pre-launch build-up for its new, high performance GT-R sports car ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show on October 24. Japan will be the first to get the GT-R (previous models were known as the Skyline GT-R) in December with an expected price of 7.8 million yen (US$67,500). Read More
Running costs of US$1400 a mile!
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September 26, 2007 This car might well be one of the most expensive automobiles to have ever been owned with running costs, including depreciation, insurance, registration, garaging ad infinitum, currently standing at well over UKP 700 (US$1400) a mile. Costing around UKP250,000 to build, it has covered just 348 miles in the past 22 years and its value is now estimated around UKP30,000 – meaning it has cost UKP 632 (US$1264) per mile in depreciation alone! The car, which took eight Aston Martin Lagonda craftsmen two years to design and three years to construct, is going to auction next week. Read More
KTM to build X-Bow roadster assembly plant
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KTM has announced plans to build a new assembly plant for the production of its first car – the 700kg, 300 bhp carbon fibre X-Bow roadster.
Back in April Gizmag reported on the company’s intention to out-source production of 1,000 units per year, but the hugely positive reaction to the X-Bow along with the successful introduction of its first generation of sports quads onto the US market has prompted the decision to create its own “four-wheel centre of excellence” assembly facility. Read More
High-performance Volvo S80 concept on show at SEMA 2007
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September 24, 2007 German motorsport company Heico Sportiv has done some serious tweaking to the Volvo S80 T6 to produce a customized 260kW concept designed to showcase the potential of the standard AWD model. The high-performance concept will be on display at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) automotive tradeshow beginning on October 30 in Las Vegas. Read More
SSC Ultimate Aero sets new “World Fastest Production Car” record
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September 24, 2007 Shelby Supercars (SSC) has reported a world record 257mph run in speed testing of its 1183bhp, twin-turbo V8 Ultimate Aero TT. The first pass was recorded at 257.41mph (414.31kmh) and the second pass was recorded at 254.88mph (410.24kmh) in testing on a temporarily-closed two lane stretch of public highway in the company’s home state of Washington for an average top speed of 256.15mph. Read More
Three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder enters production phase
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The first 2008 Can-Am™ Spyder™ roadster has rolled off the assembly line in Valcourt, Québec. Gizmag readers will be familiar with the uniquely designed three-wheeler which has generated massive interest since being unveiled earlier this year. Lying somewhere between a motorcycle and a convertible sports car, the first production models of the 990cc, Y- shaped Spyder roadster (two wheels in the front, one in the rear) will be delivered to dealerships across North America next month with International markets to take delivery at the beginning of 2008. Read More
One supercar, hold the paint job: Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang
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September 20, 2007 Ah, the Bugatti Veyron – the supercar to end all supercars.
The one million Euro, 400 km/h (248.5 mph) machine laid claim to the title of the fastest, most powerful and most expensive street-legal production car in the world in 2005. But more than that, it’s an engineering achievement of epic proportions, a 1000-horsepower, aluminum and carbon-fiber celebration of the pinnacles of speed, power and aerodynamics that are possible when no expense is spared. The sheer genius and artistry of its construction are highlighted by the limited edition Veyron Pur Sang unveiled at Frankfurt, the first supercar ever released without a paint job. The raw beauty of the Pur Sang’s perfectly shaped materials is even more striking and inspiring than the gorgeous paint jobs on the standard production models. Read More
BMW concept X6 ActiveHybrid
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September 17, 2007 BMW has showcased two innovative new systems in the guise BMW Concept X6 Sport Activity Coupé at the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. As well as being the first vehicle to be fitted with a unique stabilization system known as Dynamic Performance Control, the concept incorporates BMW's ActiveHybrid system – a combination of a combustion engine and two high-performance electric motors aimed at delivering greater efficiency over a wider speed range than conventional hybrid designs. Read More
The other Ferrari Limousine
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September 14, 2007 We wuz wrong! We wrote earlier this week about the world's first stretched Ferrari, and we've since had several readers (thanks to Bill Siegfried and Peter Yu) who wrote to inform us of another stretched Ferrari that resides in the USA. It turns out the original world's first stretched Ferrari can be hired for the princely sum of US$400 an hour from Ali Baba Limousines in Philadelphia PA. Ali Baba specializes in exotic limos - the stable includes stretched versions of some serious automotive unobtanium, including Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Range Rover, Hummer, and getting into "oh, how could they" territory a stretched Porsche Cayenne, a stretched Excalibur, and, heaven forbid, a stretched 1952 MG (sob!). Read More
GM debuts fourth-generation Hydrogen fuel cell car
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September 14, 2007 General Motors have released details on stage four of their HydroGen fuel cell vehicle development program. Over the next 18 months, over 100 fuel-cell powered HydroGen4 vehicles will be tested internationally in a range of driving environments and conditions. The question remains though, is Hydrogen likely to become a viable alternative to petrol? Read More
Ferrari crams unprecedented F1 technology into new 430 Scuderia
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When Ferrari pulls the covers off a new model, the world stops to look – especially when it’s an up-spec version of an already phenomenal car that’s been lightened, pumped up with a dose of steroids and packed to the gills with barely-filtered technology fresh from the garage of the oldest and most successful Formula One team in the paddock. Here it is: the brand new and much-anticipated Ferrari 430 Scuderia supercar. Read More
Mercedes Benz researchers investigate driving moods
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September 13, 2007 The next time a TV commercial tells you that a car enhances your driving pleasure it may not just be a matter of purely subjective opinion. Mercedes Benz are working on a system that measures emotion while driving in an endeavor to bring some scientific analysis to the issue. In an attempt to understand what makes for an enjoyable driving experience experts from the Fraunhofer Institute in Rostock, Munich Technical University and Mercedes Customer Research have collaborated in a unique pilot study which involved testing various methods for measuring drivers' emotions. Read More
Mazda develops plant-derived biofabric suitable for vehicle interiors
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September 12, 2007 The world’s first biofabric made with 100 percent plant-derived fibers and suitable for use in vehicle interiors has been developed by Mazda. The durable biofabric does not contain any oil-based materials and is resistant to abrasion and damage from sunlight, in addition to being flame retardant. Mazda plans to use the fabric for the seat covers and door trims in the its new Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid that will be exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. Read More
Nissan’s Mixim Concept Car in detail
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September 13, 2007 According to Nissan research, teenagers have fallen out of love with the car – they see it as an oily, noisy throwback to the last century. Rather than drive across town to meet friends, they live in a virtual world where the internet is their vehicle of choice. Nissan, however, believes the Mixim show concept will ‘refresh’ their opinions. The futuristic electric coupe concept has a central driving position, a cloverleaf ‘three plus one’ seating layout, scissor doors, an F1-style wheel and controls, lightweight construction and plenty of power … and it’s all electric. Click here to see more highlights from the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Read More
Toyota iQ small car design concept
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September 12, 2007 Since time (automotive time that is) began, luxury has also by default meant big. Big meant more interior space, more power, more features, more cost and more prestige. As the world comes to terms with doing more with less, that trend seems set for a reversal – small in the future will no longer mean frugal, meagre and penny-pinching and that’s the key message Toyota is hoping to convey with the iQ concept car. Large cars don’t make a lot of sense on the crowded streets of Rome, Paris and London, so the iQ packs luxury features into a small form factor. Read More
Shades of the classic Beetle - Volkswagen’s up! concept
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September 12, 2007 Designed to showcase Volkswagen’s vision for future small, efficient, city-going vehicles, the 3.45 meter long up! concept car features a new drivetrain and rear engined layout reminiscent of the original Beetle. Read More
Sortimo’s passenger seat organiser with swivel laptop stand
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September 12, 2007 Sortimo have made a business out of configuring work vehicles for effective storage and usability – like these click-in, click-out van racks for tools and equipment. Their latest utility device is a passenger-seat organizer for travelling sales agents and the like that gives you access to your laptop, files and samples whilst lashing securely and locking into the car, and easily mounting on a trolley for portability. Read More
1 million euro Lamborghini Reventon – 20 only
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September 12, 2007 Lamborghini yesterday unveiled the Lamborghini Reventon at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Only 20 cars will be produced and they come with a very exclusive price tag - EUR1 million (US$1.38 million) plus taxes. Although it is based on the Murciélago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventón is completely new and combines extraordinary styling with its limited edition status and price tag to make the supercar a symbol of extreme exclusivity.
World’s first Ferrari stretch limousine
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September 12, 2007 Now here’s something very much out of the ordinary. This unique black Ferrari 360 Modena carbon fibre stretch limousine will undoubtedly spin heads when it’s unveiled at the European Limousine and Chauffeur Show in the UK this month. The fastest limo in the world according to owner Dan Cawley, the 23 feet long, 400bhp vehicle achieves 0-60mph in less than six seconds and has a top speed of 170mph. Read More
The awesome Mercedes-Benz F 700 Research Car
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September 12, 2007 Unveiled yesterday at the Frankfurt Show, the Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car is arguably what a luxury touring sedan might look a few years from now. A small (1.8 litre) new design for the internal combustion engine in the form of the DIESOTTO motor (which combines the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and the diesel engine), a seating design that breaks with tradition to enable a spacious interior and a plethora of innovative technologies designed to create an exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The technology which really interested us most was the suspension system - the car can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. Click here to see more highlights from the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt.
GM Flextreme offers integrated personal transport
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September 12, 2007 Now here’s an idea that might well catch on – personal transport integrated within a larger vehicle, all of it cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. GM’s Flextreme carries two Segways below the cargo floor, allowing a further 38 km of electric mobility and completing the city commute or extending mobility into environments where cars cannot go. Read More
Digital car radio with surround sound
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September 11, 2007 Billed as the next generation of automotive radio technology, DAB Surround was presented by the BMW Group in collaboration with the Fraunhofer IIS and Deutschlandradio at the IFA in Berlin. Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) offers CD quality sound and enables several radio programmes along with additional data to be broadcast on a single frequency, meaning cars can be fed with real-time information including traffic reports and local hazard warnings. Read More
Renault Laguna Coupé Concept
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September 11, 2007 Described as embodying Renault’s vision of a top-of-the-range grand tourer Coupé, the Laguna Coupé Concept strives to exude a mix of power and refinement through its flowing profile, long-nose and very short rear overhang backed by a newly developed 170-195kW (230-265hp) V6 dCi powertrain and Four-wheel Active Drive chassis. Read More
The 224mph, 720hp BRABUS BULLIT
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Yet another eye-catching supercar will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in the form of the BRABUS BULLIT – a 720 hp (537 kW), 224 mph (360 kmh) automobile based on the new Mercedes C-Class that features the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine originally designed for the car that claimed the title of the world's fastest sedan in 2006, the BRABUS ROCKET. And the impressive numbers don’t stop there – the car achieves 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds, reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) after just 10.49 seconds and breaks 300-km/h (186 mph) in 24.5 seconds. Read More
Peugeot's Second Life showcase
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September 10, 2007 Second Life hosts 7000 businesses and boasts a GDP of $64 million (as of September 2006) and with estimates of this year's GDP running as high as $600 million, it's no surprise that the corporate world is making its presence felt. The latest foray by car manufacturer Peugeot, will see the company presenting a virtual showcase of its new 308 RC Z concept car on September 11. Read More
Four new Chryslers for the UK in 2008
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September 10, 2007 Chrysler Group will use the Frankfurt IAA Motor Show to launch four new models into the UK market for 2008. Europe will get its first look at the new Grand Voyager, Sebring Cabrio and Dodge Journey next week, as well as the all-new flagship Jeep Cherokee. Read More
New Porsche Cayenne GTS showcases on-road dynamics
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September 8, 2007 A new version of the Porsche Cayenne GTS, which makes its world debut at the IAA Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 11, features a specially developed chassis: it is the first Cayenne to offer the electronically-controlled damping system, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), with steel springs. This combination, which also lowers the Cayenne by 24mm, was previously reserved exclusively for Porsche sports cars. The car boasts an enhanced version of the direct fuel injection (DFI) 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine. The engine in the Cayenne GTS yields 405bhp (298 kW) at 6,500rpm – 20bhp more than in the Cayenne S. Read More
Mitsubishi’s innovative i MiEV SPORT electric vehicle
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The Tokyo Motor Show is seven weeks away, but as the home of the all-powerful Japanese industry it is where the most advanced technologies go on display first. Accordingly, Mitsubishi has announced a show car for Tokyo we won’t see in Frankfurt next week. The i MiEV Sport looks like a 21st century Goggomobile but promises genuine sporting capabilities with a whopping 680 Nm of torque pushing a small lightweight electric vehicle. Based on the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), the car features a 20 kW motor inside each front wheel another 47 kW at the rear, plus the company's S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system, all in a lightweight, rigid aluminium space frame with the batteries and inverter tucked underneath for a low centre of gravity and plenty of interior space. Read More
F 700 with DIESOTTO leads Mercedes-Benz clean fuel showcase
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September 7, 2007 Spearheaded by the F 700 research car – a vehicle that achieves low-emission economy at 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres via its hybrid drive and innovative DIESOTTO engine - and joined by a range of hybrid and clean diesel BLUETEC models, Mercedes-Benz has placed the emphasis firmly on economical and environmentally-friendly vehicles in its line-up for the 2007 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Read More
Aston Martin to show two DBS special editions in Frankfurt
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September 7, 2007 Coinciding with the first European showing of the DBS, Aston Martin but will showcase two new special editions – the Aston Martin DB9 LM and the V8 Vantage N400 at this month's 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Read More
The Project Kahn SLR
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September 6, 2007 We’ve written about Project Kahn’s creations previously and the new Mercedes SLR makeover is spectacular enough to warrant more coverage. The Kahn SLR includes a sports exhaust system, lowered sports suspension, the soon to be released Kahn SLR body styling package, Kahn 9” x 20” front and 10.5” x 21” rear RS-X alloy wheels and a 60 bhp engine upgrade all built on a very impressive standard SLR specification. Then there’s the option of custom paintwork and custom leather interior, and … Read More
The Volvo Recharge Concept – electric car with a 1.6 litre Flexifuel back-up motor
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Volvo is set to unveil an interesting plug-in hybrid at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The ReCharge Concept is a Volvo C30 with electric wheel motors and batteries that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet. When fully charged the Volvo ReCharge Concept can be driven approximately 62 miles on battery power alone before the car’s four-cylinder 1.6 Flexifuel engine takes over to power the car and recharge the battery. As the vast majority of us drive less than 60 miles a day, the ReCharge is effectively a permanent electric car with an acceleration figure of 0-62mph in 9 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.
Lexus active driver safety system prevents accidents caused by innattention
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September 6, 2007 With the aim of reducing the many road accidents caused by simple inattention, Lexus has introduced an active and intelligent new driver safety system using six cameras that monitor your face as you drive. If there’s an obstacle in your path and your head’s turned the wrong way, this clever car will hit the anchors for you. The system also incorporates active headrests designed to minimize injury in the event of a rear-end collision. Read More
