Automotive
CZ3 Tarmac Spyder
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March 3, 2005 Mitsubishi showed off its scorching CZ3 Tarmac Spyder concept car at the Melbourne Motor Show today, adding to its wave of open top concept cars: in 2002 with S.U.P. Cabriolet and then again in 2003 with the CZ2 Cabriolet. Unveiled in North America quasi-simultaneously with the new Evolution VIII, Tarmac Spyder stretches the envelope, just as the acclaimed CZ3 Tarmac concept did when it was launched in 2001. Only several steps beyond... Read More
Pininfarina’s 75th anniversary concept car – the Birdcage
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March 3, 2005 Pininfarina’s Birdcage concept car was built as a landmark vehicle to mark three quarters of a century of one of the most prominent design company’s on the planet. Based on the Maserati heritage and on its most advanced mechanicals and realized in collaboration with Motorola, Pininfarina revives the storied theme of the true dream car now proposed in a synthesis of the vision of the three companies: exclusive design, sports DNA and technological innovation. Pininfarina’s prosperous collaboration with Maserati, marked by the great international success of the Quattroporte, is celebrated with this rolling hi-tech sculpture that evokes a new future context, imaginary but possible, while simultaneously paying homage to the strong and distinctive brand characteristics of the Tridente. Read More
Ford SAV Concept Targets New Market Niche
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March 3, 2005 Ford Europe's SAV Concept demonstrates a fresh approach in two ways. Firstly it defines a new breed of car, the Sports Activity Vehicle: a three-row mono-space that is athletic both in its appearance and the way it drives. Secondly, the Ford SAV Concept provides a suitably dynamic form to reveal the emergence of a new design direction for Ford of Europe. Sleek and purposeful, the Ford SAV Concept demonstrates new ideas for people- and load-carrying flexibility. For Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s recently appointed Executive Director of Design, it marks the first indication of a new form language for the Blue Oval brand. Read More
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
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March 3, 2005 Aston Martin has finally taken the wraps off the production V8 Vantage at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show. First shown as a concept at the 2003 NAIAS in Detroit, the V8 Vantage will be built at Aston Martin’s Headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK, and completes the current Aston Martin line-up. This now comprises the flagship Vanquish S, the elegant DB9 and the agile V8 Vantage. Read More
Koenigsegg CCR Breaks World Speed Record for Production Cars
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March 2, 2005 On February 28, the Koenigsegg CCR broke the production road car speed record, achieving a new official top speed of 388 kmh at Italy's Nardo Prototipo proving ground. The Koenigsegg CCR raised McLaren's previously unofficial mark of 372 kmh set at Nardo/Prototipo in 1993 by over 15 kmh. On top of this the CCR broke the official McLaren F1 record of 386.7 km/h, which was set on the 9 km straight line VW Ehra facility in Wolfsburg Germany. The Koenigsegg CCR is already the most powerful production car in the world and now adds the speed crown, beating out the McLaren F1 (372 kmh), the Ferrari Enzo (355 kmh), Porsche Carrera GT (334 kmh), McLaren Mercedes SLR (334 kmh) and Lamborghini Murcielago (330 kmh). Read More
Bertone Villa - advanced minimalism
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March 2, 2005 The Bertone Villa originates from the desire to break the rules, to rebel against the homogeneity of the contemporary car, to search for a new balance between design and emotion. And the risk of breaking a consolidated balance transforms itself into a creative opportunity. So the Bertone Villa interprets the concept of the car of the future in an original way, and proposes a surprising perspective to the exterior design, focusing attention on the side, in particular, the access into the vehicle, and on a new concept of interior luxury. Developed on the basis of the Cadillac SRX, the Villa was shown for the first time today at the Geneva Auto Show. Read More
New Morgan Aero 8 shown at Geneva
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March 2, 2005 History repeated itself today when, in a surprise move, Morgan released the new Aero 8. It was five years ago exactly that saw the surprise launch at Geneva of the then new Morgan Aero 8. Now, with over 300 examples in customer's hands comes the latest version, fully approved for the American Market. Read More
The Morgan Aeromax: a unique Morgan
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March 2, 2005 Morgan has released images of an extraordinarily beautiful one-off design. The Morgan Aeromax is a unique Morgan commissioned by Prince Eric I. Sturdza, President of Banque Baring Brothers Suisse. Based on the requirement for a comfortable long distance Touring Coupe, drawings by Matthew Humphries were discussed with the customer to define the total concept. Particular requirements such as the "gullwing" boot openings, hardwood and traditional pleated leather interior and a large flat load area behind the seats were particular requirements. Read More
Subaru's 2005 World Rally Car to Debut in Mexico
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March 2, 2005 The latest evolution of Subaru's Impreza World Rally Car will debut on March 11 at Rally Mexico, the third round of the 2005 World Rally Championship. Jointly developed by the Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT), Fuji Heavy Industries (the maker of Subaru vehicles), and Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the brand's performance arm, the Impreza WRC2005 will be debuted in the hands of Petter Solberg. Read More
All-New Mazda MX-5 debuts in Geneva
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March 3, 2005 UPDATED IMAGES Sixteen years after Mazda first showed what was to become the best selling two-seat sportscar in history (the MX-5), it has taken the covers off an all-new, third-generation MX-5 at the 2005 Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva. Mazda has thoroughly reworked every aspect of the MX-5’s design, mechanical function, and dynamic response with a view to infusing more fun and driving satisfaction. The new MX-5 is more powerful, more capable, more comfortable, offers better occupant protection yet its curb weight has increased by just 10 kg. In addition to saving weight, the torsional rigidity of the body structure has been improved 47% and a true 50:50 weight distribution has been achieved, significantly reducing the MX-5’s moment of inertia about the vertical (yaw) axis. The most notable change to the MX-5’s shape is the elimination of the "Coke bottle" shape of the contours. The nose and tail are smoothly tapered, as before, but now the surfaces wrap smoothly between the wheels without narrowing. The functional benefit of this change is a wider cockpit with additional hip, shoulder, and elbowroom. In addition, the space needed for side air bags is available. Read More
Extraordinary Formula 1 promotional event in Sydney
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February 28, 2005 With the Australian Formula One Grand prix just seven days away, Australian F1 driver Mark Webber was part of one of the most spectacular promotions ever staged for the sport yesterday when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed exclusively for his 2004 model BMW WilliamsF1 FW26B. Webber’s five laps of the international landmark closed it to traffic for five hours while a full scale operation was put in place to create a safe and secure ‘field of play’. Webber drove across the bridge ten times, making ten U-turns, a major feat in itself given the car’s extra large turning circle. Read More
Protoscar builds the Porsche 911 Estate Car
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February 26, 2005 Swiss design company Protoscar has designed some very high profile concept cars, having been an integral part of the design of Rinspeed's radical show cars of the last five years such as the Splash, Senso, Bedouin, and Presto. This year, in addition to the Rinspeed Senso, the company will show a design concept of its own with some wonderful automotive heritage - a "Shooting brake" based on the Porsche 911 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow, next week. The Shooting Brake concept evolved a century ago from European gentlemen wishing to have enough room for their guns when they were going hunting or to shooting contests yet at the same time drive their sports cars. A "shooting brake" is a modified two door coupe with an estate-wagon back crafted, rather than grafted on. Read More
Alfa Romeo's 159 - the car to replace the 156
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February 26, 2005 The car that has to replace the Alfa Romeo 156, the award-winning sports sedan that redefined Alfa Romeo and took the legendary Italian car maker to new sales records with its unique blend of performance, ageless style and Italian brio, has one of the toughest jobs in the industry. That car is the Alfa Romeo 159 and it makes its world debut at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show on 1 March 2005. Read More
Porsche's spectacular design for new museum
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February 24, 2005 Porsche is presenting to the public the entries of the ten architectural practices that participated in the competition for the planned new Porsche museum building. From today until March 6, the models will be on view daily between 11 am and 6 pm in the Meidinger-Saal in "Haus der Wirtschaft" in Stuttgart. Interested visitors will thus be able to visualise the plans for the Porscheplatz in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in detail. The new Porsche museum, which is one of the most spectacular architectural projects in the history of the sports automobile manufacturer, is to be completed in 2007 and is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors each year. Read More
The All-American Eagle back on the racetrack
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February 24, 2005 One of the most famous Formula One cars of all time will be on show this coming weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit near Melbourne. Dan Gurney's 'screaming' Weslake V12-engined Eagle F1 will be in full flight at the Shannons Phillip Island Classic (February 26-27). Built by Gurney's own All American Racers, the Eagle F1 took Gurney into the history books when he won the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix, becoming only the second GP driver in history after Jack Brabham to win a Formula One race driving the car he built. Read More
Bentley Continental Flying Spur - the world's fastest four door saloon
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February 24, 2005 The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur makes its international debut at the Geneva Salon on March 1 and will begin its global roll-out from April 2005. Sharing heart and soul with its Continental GT coupe stablemate, the Continental Flying Spur is a fastest four-door Grand Tourer in the world, with a top speed of 195mph. It marries the excitement, power, refinement and craftsmanship of the Continental GT with enhanced luxury and space to provide a stylish combination of performance, style and comfort. Read More
The New Maybach 57 S - 6.0-litre V12 biturbo 612bhp luxury saloon
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February 23, 2005 The all-new Maybach 57 S (Special), a more powerful and individualised version of the Series 57 saloon, will be shown for the first time in Geneva next week. Developed in cooperation with Mercedes-AMG, the 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine provides impressive acceleration, powering the Maybach 57 S from zero to 100 km/h in only five seconds. This makes the Maybach 57 S the world’s fastest series-production saloon in its segment. In line with the more powerful engine, the Maybach 57 S also comes with an uprated chassis. Read More
Porsche to release new model: the Cayman
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February 23 In the course of this year Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, will be enlarging its range of sports cars through the introduction of another outstanding model. Based on the Boxster platform, the new car, given its performance qualities, will rank between the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S. This position of the new model is also borne out by its six-cylinder boxer engine transmitting maximum output of 295 bhp (217 kW) to the rear wheels. Like the power of the engine, the price of this new sports car will also come between that of the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S. Read More
AUDI's RS4 Super Sedan debuts in Melbourne and Geneva simultaneously
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February 23, 2005 The all-new 2006 Audi RS 4 super car will make is worldwide public debut at Geneva Motor Show on March 1 and the Melbourne Motor Show on March 3, 2005. The all new RS 4 is the top-of-the-range model in the A4 series, with its 4163 cc V8 developing 420 bhp, exceeding the 100 bhp per litre mark to produce a luxury, thoroughbred saloon to rival BMW's M3 super sedan, with the company's all wheel drive Quattro system an added drawcard. Read More
New vehicle altitude world record holder - the Touareg conquers the summit
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February 21, 2005 - The Volkswagen Touareg has set a new altitude record for vehicles - 6080 metres above sea level. On 29 January 2005, battling against icy winds and a lack of oxygen, the expedition team fought its way through the lunar landscape of the Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcano, in a standard Touareg Expedition to achieve the world’s altitude record for vehicles. The altimeter and GPS system displayed. On February 16, the record was officially recognised by the “Guinness Book of Records” at an altitude of 6080 metres. Read More
The Pagani Zonda F - F for Fangio, that is!
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February 20, 2005 Pagani has announced the Pagani Zonda F, created in honour to Manuel Fangio and with specifications that will put it among the fastest road cars in the world. Already acclaimed as one of the fastest sports cars available in the form of the Zonda, the new Pagani Zonda F uses the same 7.3 litre V12 AMG motor, with a horsepower increase from 555 bhp to 602 bhp. Weighing just 1230 kilograms, the Pagani Zonda F will have a top speed of 345 kmh and a 0-100 kmh acceleration time of 3.6 seconds!!! The price and more details of the Pagani F will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show. Read More
Formula 1 drive up for grabs?
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February 19, 2005 Fancy a drive at the Australian Grand Prix next year? BMW has a car waiting for you if you fit the bill. All you need is an international profile and a week spare next March. Each year at the opening Formula One race of the season in Melbourne, BMW puts 26 cars on the grid for the Celebrity Challenge, and each year the line-up puts on a show like no other. In 1986, Dire Straits guitar virtuoso Mark Knopfler hit the concrete retaining wall in this race and the whole world held its breath. Most years at least one celebrity has thrilled the crowd with a spectacular crash after driving beyond their ability and experience. Read More
genX concept car has an inbuilt pop-up bed
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February 19, 2005 One of the most radical concept cars we’ve ever covered, EDAG’s genX show car has inbuilt suitcases and a bed to cater for what EDAG designers call, “the modern lifestyle.” We’re not sure if that means having a bed without having to drive home, being able to drink without having to drive or sleeping in your car permanently. The genX premiered at the 2004 Geneva International Motor Show. Read More
The Lamborghini
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February 19, 2005 The House of the Raging Bull has shown the first photos of a new concept car it will display at the Geneva Motor Show - the Lamborghini "Concept S." Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo, the "Concept S" is a spectacular expression of the Lamborghini brand, inspired by the classic single-seater racing cars of the past. Created at the Centro Stile Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese by Luc Donckerwolke, Head of Lamborghini Design, the "Concept S" is his extreme interpretation of an "open car". Read More
EDAG and Rinspeed present the 600 horsepower Chopster SUV
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February 19, 2005 Last November Gizmag released the first information about the Porsche Cayenne-based Rinspeed Chopster and at the time we commented that the beautiful Cayenne was a most unlikely vehicle to mess with. The new 600 horsepower Chopster SUV will debut at the Geneva Motor Show and interestingly, it somehow got a lot better looking in the last three months. A collaboration between two of the most innovative automotive companies in the world, the Chopster offers 800nM of torque and costs around 325,000 Euro. Read More
Shelby GR-1 set for world trip
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February 18, 2005 Snapped yesterday heading from Detroit to Geneva, Carroll Shelby's GR-1 concept vehicle is possibly set to wow European audiences in the same way it has captivated Americans from the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to the Detroit Motor Show. The entire car is polished aluminium and even the headlights are water-cooled. If Ford decides to put it into production, potential buyers can expect to pay around US$200,000 for it. This is the second concept car produced by the magical combination of Ford and Shelby - the pair fell out for a while but more than four decades after their original agreement to produce performance cars, Ford Motor Company and Carroll Shelby are back together producing exquisite production and concept cars. Read More
Dodge Ram Daytona - race-styled pick-up
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February 19, 2005 Dodge is bringing the historic Daytona nameplate to the Dodge Ram line of pickup trucks. As politically incorrect as that may be in these environmentally-sensitive times, Dodge is the biggest seller amongst the Chrysler Group’s array of brands because it is unashamedly about in-yer-face performance and raw power. Accordingly, the Limited-edition Dodge Ram draws inspiration from the winged 1969 Dodge Charger race car and will be the first pick-up truck to see the showroom floor with a spoiler as standard. The first 75 production Dodge Ram Daytona models were presented to Dodge dealers yesterday in a ceremonial parade lap at Daytona International Speedway. Read More
Mitsubishi Nessie
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February 18, 2005 The rise and the rise of the SUV as a mode of transport in many western nations is fueled some fascinating concept vehicles over recent times as the world’s automotive manufacturers attempt to read public opinion and develop the next generation look for the once humble and workhorse 4WD. That was never more obvious than the recent North American Motor Shows, and the trend continues at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with the release of Mitsubishi’s Nessie, styled by Italdesign Giugaro in collaboration with Mitsubishi and the Linde Group. Read More
Rinspeed's Senso: the car that senses the driver
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Automotive innovator Rinspeed has done it again. Each year Rinspeed releases one or more prototypes that push the edge of the automotive design envelope. This year, the company delved into the future again, with a car that senses the driver and reacts accordingly. The "Senso" actually "senses" the driver by measuring his (or her) biometric data, and then exerts a positive effect on him with the help of patterns, colors, music and fragrances. A person who is relaxed and wide-awake simply drives better and more safely. Read More
Diesel/Electric Ford Transit Hytrans
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February 17, 2005 - Visitors to the opening of the Green by Design exhibition at Gaydon Heritage Centre in Warwickshire UK got more than they expected on the weekend when they were among some of the first to see Ford's latest low carbon technology on display. The Ford Transit HyTrans is the first medium commercial vehicle in Europe featuring stop/start technology for greater fuel economy and reduced emissions. Read More
Ford's new performance RS model
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Ford didn't need any persuading to announce the next generation Ford Focus ST performance model on Tuesday when Toni Gardemeister drove the Focus RS WRC into the lead of the World Rally Championships in Sweden over the weekend. Ford will show the car to the public at the 75 th Salon International de L'Automobile in Geneva. God was smiling on Ford when the short-priced Citroen of Sebastien Loeb didn't make the finish and Gardmeister's third place snared both the driver and manufacturer leads in the title chase. The WRC Team has been contributing to the Ford 'shared technologies' global engineering strategy which is designed to bring technologies to market quicker than ever before. Read More
Peugeot Design Competition Winners
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February 16, 2005 The 3800 contestants in the third Peugeot Design Competition all gave shape to the Peugeot of their dreams. The winning "Moovie" concept of a small 2 seat electric city car was the vision of young Portuguese designer, Andre Costa. Costa's winning project will now be built into a concept car and exhibited at the next Frankfurt Motor Show. Australian based Englishman, David Dewitt took second place with the 607 Arabesque and 21 year old Zhonghuayi of China placed third in the competition for his ZCC project. Read More
Mercedes premieres new B-Class Sports Tourer
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February 15, 2005 The Mercedes-Benz Sports Tourer concept is to begin production as the new B-Class, beginning a new vehicle segment. The hallmarks of the Sports Tourer are generous space, exemplary comfort, excellent practicality, an exciting design and a high level of driving pleasure. The new B-Class takes the advantages of different vehicle concepts and combines them into an interesting and distinctive profile of its own: as a Compact Sports Tourer, the B-Class is a touring, family and recreational vehicle. Read More
Ford and Gardemeister Lead World Rally Championship
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February 14, 2005 The World Rally Championship took an interesting turn at the Rally of Sweden this weekend with WRC favourite Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) and Swedish event favourite Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot) were both forced into retirement while battling for podium positions. Subaru's Petter Solberg sealed his first victory in the event by 2min 11.1sec but the big news was that Ford's Toni Gardemeister took the World Rally Championship lead with a third place finish and Ford now leads both the drivers' and manufacturers' standings in the World Rally Championship. Read More
Dodge Mega Cab - The Largest Pickup Cab Ever
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February 12, 2005 Bigger isn't always better. Unless it's your working truck and you need to carry a large crew and a bunch of stuff. Accordingly, Dodge set out to build the biggest pickup truck possible - more spacious, more comfortable and more practical. The all-new 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab is the result - it's more spacious, more comfortable and more practical, the all-new 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab. It's vital statistics are pretty spesh, and include: the largest, longest cab, the largest interior cargo volume, the largest cargo volume behind the rear seat and the largest flat floor load area. The Mega Cab's large interior can seat six adults in comfort with their gear. Read More
