Concept Cars
Concorso Italiano: Lamborghini Concept S production version breaks cover
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August 26, 2005 Gizmag's sometime-scribe David Fox ventured down to the Concorso Italiano in Monterey last weekend and posted his report focussed on a dramatic new production Lamborghini seen in public for the first time. Back in February we showed the first images of Lamborghini’s Concept S. Drawing inspiration from the classic single-seat racing cars of the fifties, the modern-day open top car was based on the Gallardo as “an extreme and spectacular expression of the Lamborghini brand.” Created at the Centro Stile Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese by Luc Donckerwolke, Head of Lamborghini Design, the "Concept S" in production form has yet to be named, but Lamborghini gave the first production car a public outing this weekend at the Concorso Italiano in Monterey along with the news that it will produce the machine in limited quantities. It didn't stop there though, because people are posting us links of great photographic coverage of the event, so this article is now linking to an evolving list of Concorso pages. Other Concorso and Pebble Beach links welcome. Read More
Renault Egeus concept car: the elegance of a saloon, the dynamic personality of a coupe
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August 10, 2005 Renault will show a new Egeus concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, a resolutely upmarket 4WD SUV with the seductive elegance and luxurious, comfortable interior of a saloon. Thanks to its SUV size, Egeus offers a spacious interior while its exterior promises solidity and a dynamic personality. The longer bonnet highlights a soft, flowing design worthy of an upper-segment coupe. Egeus is about how Renault sees the high-end SUV segment. Patrick le Quement, Senior VP of Corporate Design at Renault describes the Egeus thus - an SUV for city driving and the open road, a sort of tall coupe that combines driving pleasure with elegance and sportiness. Read More
Citroen's C-SportLounge concept car
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August 10, 2005 It's that wonderful time of year before the major European Auto Show again, and all the heavyweight automotive manufacturers are teasing the automotive world with their next big concept vehicle that will be released at, in this case, this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show (12-25 September). The latest example of cutting-edge styling from the Citroen design team, the C-SportLounge concept car looks set to wow the crowds this year. With its distinctive combination of powerful, sleek lines and 2+2 comfort and refinement, the C-SportLounge captures the true essence of a 21st century Grand Tourer. Read More
NARO Tilting Car Concept Progressing
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UPDATED August 13, 2005 8 NEW IMAGES The NARO vehicle concept we featured in January is progressing and the company is currently undertaking extensive market research prior to the construction of prototypes at the same time as testing public reaction to several new styling themes for the executive commuter, taxi, and light van trade market segments. The NARO vehicle concept is a "free leaning" vehicle that improves the mobility of the commuter and addresses the key issues of congestion, pollution and parking scarcity in urban areas. Read More
Mitsubishi unveils Concept Sportback
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September 9, 2005 UPDATED, NEW IMAGES With less than a week to go before the Frankfurt Motor Show, Mitsubishi has finally released images of the next-generation sports hatchbac "Concept Sportback" it will be exhibiting at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Concept-Sportback is a concept for the 5-door sports hatchback class that is becoming highly popular in Europe. This concept previews a brand new Mitsubishi Motors C-segment platform. The direction Mitsubishi Motors' design is set to take for the near future is readily apparent in the concept's sporty exterior. Read More
Mitsubishi Concept E-boost Wins 2005 Idea Gold Award
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July 4, 2005 Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) has picked up a Gold 2005 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) gong for its E-boost concept vehicle. The Gold Award was given in the category of Design Explorations. Presented for the last 25 years by the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA), this year's IDEA competition is prominently featured on the cover of BusinessWeek and on businessweek.com web site with more images, additional information and an interactive slide show. The Mitsubishi E-boost concept car introduces a new direction for sports car design, demonstrating the possibilities for expanded performance hybrid systems of the future. E-boost combines the look and performance of an exotic car with sport-coupe fuel efficiency. Many of the design innovations in the E-boost are found in its mechanics with the electric motor also doubling as a performance-enhancing device. The car's evocative appearance and soft, athletic lines are a unique departure from the current automotive trend toward heavy, sharp, boxy forms. The exterior color features a specially developed pigment that appears to glow from within to create the effect of molten metal, while the interior styling is forward thinking with a clean, uncluttered instrument panel centered around an LCD screen. Read More
Antarctic Exploration Concept vehicle for two
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June 27, 2005 An innovative concept for an Antarctic Exploration vehicle was unveiled this week at the Royal College of Art’s final year show. Working closely with experts from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), award-winning designer James Moon has come up with a lightweight, compact eco-friendly vehicle for use in one of the Earth’s most extreme environments. The vehicle, called “Ninety Degrees South”, uses novel technology to keep its occupants safe, warm and protected from the high levels of UV exposure that occur under the Antarctic ozone hole. The machine also uses pathfinder technology which travels on a GPS controlled route some 30 metres ahead of the vehicle using ground-penetrating radar to assess the safety of the ground to be travelled. Read More
Suzuki GSX-R/4 Concept update for Tokyo?
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June 22, 2005 Rumours emanating from Japan suggest Suzuki might be ready to put the GSX-R/4 concept machine it first showed four years ago into production with an announcement due that this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The multi-featured GSX-R/4 concept car combined Suzuki's automotive and motorcycle technologies to create a one-of-a-kind high-performance vehicle using the 1.3-liter 173 horsepower engine of the GSX1300R Hayabusa motorcycle to create a high-tech, aluminium-framed, light weight 640 kilogram two-seater sportscar capable of 140 mph and motorcycle-like acceleration. With the rumours already strong that a production version of the outrageous B-King concept motorcycle will be announced at the show with a 1500cc motor, use of the same motor would see the GSX-R/4 with more than 200 horses plus the same array of intelligent electronics that adjust the car to the driver’s style. Read More
Volvo YCC Concept Car wins major design award
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May 6, 2005 The Volvo Cars' YCC team has received the Torsten och Wanja Soderbergs Pris (Torsten and Wanja Soderbergs Prize), one of Scandinavia's most prestigious design awards. The YCC is a Volvo concept car with unique features designed exclusively by women and it impressed the judging jury. "For their solutions for storage, accessibility, vision and the possibility to personalize the interior, the group has in a convincing way shown possible solutions for future cars," wrote the jury. Read More
Honda’s Fuya-jo Party-on-wheels Concept
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History has produced some wonderful concept cars that became significant production models. It has also produced many that were somewhat less than well received. Japan in particular, has an automotive culture which takes significant chances with its concept vehicles, and is often prepared to go well beyond the traditional to explore new niche markets. One such long shot was the Fuya Jo from Honda – the vehicle whose name means "Sleepless City", was designed specifically to transport “party animals who demand the full excitement of night life.” Read More
REVA Electric Vehicle Concept
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April 15, 2005 The REVA-NXG, a “next generation Electric Vehicle” concept was shown for the first time earlier this month at the EV21 Electric Vehicle Symposium in Monaco. Created by the Indian REVA Electric Car Company (RECC), the new concept car is the result of a collaborative effort between RECC, automobile designer Dilip Chhabria and Simputer developer Encore Software. The REVA-NXG is a two-seater roadster with a range of 200 kilometres and a top speed of 120 kmh. The car is powered by a high performance 37 kW AC induction motor that drives the front wheels, and uses Sodium Nickel Chloride batteries in lieu of conventional lead acid batteries for extended life. The REVA-NXG has four-wheel independent suspension with an integrated regenerative and hydraulic braking system and the company claims excellent handling and braking. Read More
Scion t2B Concept Vehicle
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March 26, 2005 Toyota’s Scion brand debuted a new t2B (Tall Two-Box) concept vehicle at the 2005 New York International Auto Show yesterday. The t2B concept reflects Scion's key product philosophies of style, versatility, and surprise. It encompasses bold exterior styling, innovative features, and a passenger-friendly interior, all packaged with a fun-to-drive factor. Read More
Suzuki Compact SUV Concept X2
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March 25, 2005 Building on its considerable SUV heritage and borrowing from its recreational lifestyle roots, Suzuki revealed its compact SUV concept - Suzuki Concept-X2 - at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) yesterday. The Concept-X2 is a customer-focused SUV for "adventure-seekers unwilling to sacrifice capability, power, performance, safety or style in a right-sized sport-utility package." The Concept-X2 was unveiled as the second embodiment of the automaker's new customer-focused "Way of Life" philosophy - a new brand vision for Suzuki that was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with the Concept-X. Read More
Toyot'a I-UNIT Personal Mobility Concept shown in New York
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March 26, 2005 Toyota's i-unit concept was debuted outside Japan for the first time at the 2005 New York International Auto Show yesterday indicating the "personal mobility" is gathering momentum as a production possibility. One of the most radical automotive concepts ever publicly shown, the single passenger i-unit is a radical new form of "personal mobility" that was first shown as the PM Concept at the 2003 Tokyo Show but continues to evolve and with this concerted push towards public awareness of the concept, Toyota is clearly seeking to commercialise this exciting cross between a miniature electric car and a robot in the near future. Toyota is also showing an even more radical personal mobility "i-foot" unit at the EXPO 2005 in Aichi which is similar to the i-unit but features bipedal motive power (i.e. robotic legs). Read More
Dodge Reveals Global Concept Car
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March 10, 2005 Dodge is going global in 2005 and chose the 75th Annual Geneva International Motor Show to debut its Caliber Global Concept Car, hinting at the direction of the next-generation Dodge C-segment vehicle. With a global stage in the centre of a European marketplace it intends to conquer, Dodge designers aimed their sketch pads at the global car market and the result is a five-door vehicle that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV. Read More
Ford Focus Vignale Concept
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March 3, 2005 A surprise star headlined the Focus collection at the Ford Australia 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show stand today - a concept car inspired by the all-new Ford Focus. Sitting alongside the all-new Ford Focus production range making its Australian debut in Melbourne, the Focus Vignale Concept explores the potential for future Focus derivatives. The overwhelming positive response to the Vignale Concept at the Paris Motor Show led to the early confirmation of a production model, due in late 2006. "We'll be watching closely to see if it receives a similar reaction here in Melbourne." ," said Ford Australia President Tom Gorman. Read More
Toyota's radical Compact Sports & Specialty Concept
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March 3, 2005 A radical Toyota sports car featuring a hybrid petrol-electric drive-train and a host of innovative interior features was one of the stars of the media day at the 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show. The CS&S (Compact Sports & Specialty) concept was designed to demonstrate the sporting potential of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, as featured in the second-generation Prius production car. With its midship-mounted next-generation Toyota Hybrid System THS II based on the Hybrid Synergy Drive concept and an E-Four (electric 4-wheel drive) system, the CS&S is designed to provide outstanding environmental performance and driving exhilaration. 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
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
Toyota's FJ Cruiser SUV goes from concept to production model at 2005 Chicago Auto Show
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February 12, 2005 Toyota unveiled the all-new FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show this week. Like so many other concept vehicles greeted by a positive response, the FJ Cruiser concept of two years ago has catalysed a production version. The all-new production model retains much of the design details of the original concept. "The FJ Cruiser effectively fills a gap in the Toyota lineup which was once our core heritage - capable, affordable and durable vehicles that are youthful, fun-to-drive, aggressive and tough," said a Toyota spokesperson. "The FJ Cruiser will deliver true off-road ruggedness, image and performance at a very low price, making it highly accessible for a large volume of young buyers." Read More
Renault Z17 Urban Concept car for Geneva Show
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February 11, 2005 Renault has released a photo of its upcoming concept car due for release at the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed the Z17, the concept is based around a premium vehicle for the urban environment so common in Europe, with the accent on "genuine motoring pleasure." Apart from being as cute as a button, not much more is known as Renault intend releasing the details when the Geneva Auto Show opens on March 3. Renault's only released statement on the Z17 reads as follows: "Z17 is a vehicle designed for city life. It has been shown that cars carry only 1.4 people on average, but two seat interiors are perceived as a constraint. Z17 is therefore a genuine three-seater complete with a boot located behind the driver's seat, all built into a compact architecture."
Alfa's 2003 Concept Car of the Year to go into production
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February 9, 2005 In 2002 the Alfa Romeo Brera, a concept car designed by the Italian design maestro, Giorgetto Giugiaro, stole all the limelight at the Geneva International Motor Show and in January 2003 it was awarded the 2003 Concept Car of the Year Award. That's a hard act to follow, but the Brera will have an encore performance at the 2005 Geneva Show in the first week of March when the show-stopping concept car finally surfaces in production form. Read More
Nissan previews Gullwing SUV concept at 2005 Geneva Motor Show
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February 3, 2005 The evolving shape of the automobile took an interesting turn today when Nissan revealed a preview of their 2005 Geneva Motor Show line-up, including the Zaroot SUV concept car. The Zaroot is Nissan's vision of how sporty SUVs could look in the future. It combines traditional SUV values and serious off-road ability with futuristic, sports oriented styling. Retaining the traditional design cues of an SUV, the Zaroot's appearance is squared-off, solid and tough looking. It implies strength and security, yet combines these familiar themes with something a little different - a pair of gullwing doors. Read More
Naro tilting car concept
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January 29, 2005 Global automotive technology developer Prodrive has developed an exciting vehicle concept that can best be described as a four wheel motorcycle. The "Naro" is just 2.5 metres long, the same as a Smart car, but the width of a motorbike and the height of an MPV. Its high centre of gravity means that it must be leaned like a bike to go round corners, but unlike a bike it has four wheels and the two occupants (one driver and one passenger) sit enclosed within a body with all the comforts of a car. Read More
World Premiere of Suzuki's First-Ever Midsize SUV Concept at 2005 North American International Auto Show
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January 10, 2005 Representing the next chapter in its ongoing SUV success story, American Suzuki today unveiled its first-ever midsize SUV concept vehicle - Concept-X - a daring sport-utility possibility intended to put a fresh perspective on the midsize SUV segment at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Commissioning its designers to immerse themselves in the lives of Suzuki's spirited SUV customers in order to re-evaluate the sport-utility market from the ground up, the automaker took the wraps off a bold new concept incorporating the five key ingredients buyers say they really want in a midsize SUV: versatility; functionality; safety; "infotainment," a seamless blend of navigation, music, news and information; and performance. Read More
Lexus Unveils 500-Plus Horsepower, 200 MPH Sports Car Concept
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Detroit January 10, 2005 Lexus unveiled the LF-A sports car concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) today. The two-seat concept blends the performance of an exotic sports car with the luxury refinements of a Lexus. Designed to express a bold new direction in styling for the Lexus brand, the LF-A concept is a vision closely aligned with the company's Formula One commitment to achieving superiority among its rivals in speed, quickness, agility and reliability. Read More
