Friday, October 30, 2009
Volkswagen NMS: preview sketches
Volkswagen has released a new design sketch of the upcoming sedan model, currently known as NMS (New Midsize Sedan), which could replace the Passat and go on sale in the US market as a 2012 model.
The new official design sketch follows the first one which was unveiled back in February 2009 and shows less squared-shapes and the VW's familiar front end with the horizontal grille. The cabin is expected to be larger than in the current Passat.
The new model, targeted to the US market, will be built in about 100,000 units per year at VW's new Chattanooga, Tenn. plant from spring 2011 and will be launched as a 2012 model.
(Car Body Design's news)
Fiat-Chrysler Concepts by IED
Turin-based IED has presented the results of a project developed in partnership with Fiat Styling Center. The second year students were asked to create cars that would combine the core values of the Fiat and Chrysler brands.
The Biov Concept by Roberto Testolin is an eco-friendly A-segment vehicle aimed at the reduction of production costs and targeted to young customers.
The Jeep PYGMY by Vasiliy Kurkov is based on the Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 platform and features an European style deeply influenced by the off-road American spirit and culture.
(Car Body Design's news)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Audi A5 wins Germany's Design Award
The Audi A5 Coupé has won the 2010 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ceremony will take place in Frankfurt on February 2010. We take this occasion to publish a number of exterior and interior design sketches of the model.
"The A5 Coupé boasts the genes of a design icon, and it’s great that the judges also see it that way,” says Stefan Sielaff, Head of Audi Design.
Wolfgang Egger, Head of Audi Group Design, adds: “The Audi A5 Coupé continues the tradition of the classic two-door sport/touring coupé: executed powerfully and boldly via elements of Audi’s progressive design language.
(Car Body Design's news)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Lexus LFA
Lexus has unveiled the production version of its LFA supercar, which is powered by a mid-front 4.8 liter V10 engine with 560 hp and is based on a hybrid CFRP/aluminum structure. First deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2010.
Presented at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the Lexus LFA is powered by a new 4.8 liter V10 engine which delivers 560 hp / 480Nm and makes extensive use of lightweight materials(aluminium alloy, magnesium alloy and titanium alloy) and is very compact in size.
The structure comprises front and rear aluminium subframes which are mounted on to an advanced Carbon Fibre reinforced Plastic (CFrP) cabin section.
The main dimensions are a length/width/height of 4,505/1,895/1,220 mm, while the weight is limited to 1,480 kg.
The design is characterized by many of the styling cues introduced by Lexus with the LF-A Concept unveiled at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show and the LF-A Roadster Concept (2008).
The two-seater interior is designed around the driver and features a remote touch system for quick control of the satellite navigation and infotainment systems.
The Lexus LFA will be produced in a limited series of just 500 units starting from December 2010, while the pre-sales are already started. Racetrack-specific versions will be available from early 2012. The announced price is 375,000 Euros.
(Car Body Design's news)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Suzusho Supasse V
At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show Japanese kit car maker Suzusho is presenting the Supasse V, a lightweight 2-seater coupé powered by a Mazda-derived 2.3 turbo engine delivering 270 hp. The design is inspired by British and Italian sportscars.
Japanese company Suzusho, specialized in kit cars such as Lotus Seven replicas - has released the first details on the Supasse V sportscar, a two-seater coupé with a weight of just 850 kg and dimensions similar to the Lotus Exige/Elise.
The design - created by Kenji Mimura - mixes elements from reknown sportscar: from the Lotus Exige (basic proportions and layout) to the Ferrari Enzo (side windows design, door opening system) and the Pagani Zonda (rear end).
The structure comprises an aluminium monocoque chassis with a steel tube sub frame. The in-house developed suspensionsystem adopts double wishbones both at the front and at the rear.
According to the first unofficial information the Suzusho Supasse V will go on sale in middle 2010 with a price between 50 and 80,000 US dollars.
(Car Body Design's news)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Chrysler at SEMA 2009
At the 2009 SEMA Show Chrysler will showcase four Mopar image vehicles, including a 556-hp Dodge Challenger, a Jeep Wrangler that transforms into a mobile campsite, a luxury Dodge Ram 1500 and an extreme Jeep Wrangler with 40-inch tires.
(Car Body Design's news)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
2010 Audi R4
Based on the e-Tron, the new Audi R4 will be smaller than the sexy R8 supercar, but larger than the TT, and will headline an electric version above regular gas models. As part of the VW Group, the R4 will share architecture with the next-generation Porsche Boxster and Cayman, and both a coupe and a targa-top will be available.
As in the e-Tron, the electric R4 Tesla fighter will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack with four electric motors, one for each wheel. In lieu of a traditional power plant, the 1,036-pound lithium-ion battery will be placed in the middle of the car. The entire e-Tron concept weighs just 3,527 pounds and delivers a range of about 150 miles on a full charge, specifications that could change slightly as the production model moves into the prototype stage.
Gas-powered R4s will offer the same engines currently offered in the TT, including the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo that's standard in the European TT-RS, a model not available in the U.S. The American-spec TT tops out with the 2.0-liter inline-4 turbo TT-S, and it's not yet clear whether the 2.5-liter turbo will make it to the States or if we'll again make do with the smaller engine.
The Audi R4 is expected to enter the market in 2012.
(InsideLine's news)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
BMW Simple Concept
The BMW Simple Concept is a three-wheeler leaning personal commuter with a tandem seating layout focused on maximizing enery efficiency. Among the technical features are a drag coefficient of 0.18, a total weight of 450 kg and 36 kW hybrid powertrain.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Toyota FT-EV II Concept
Unveiled by Toyota at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the FT-EV II Concept is a study of an ultra-compact four-seater urban electric vehicle characterized by electric sliding doors, drive-by-wire technology and a retro-futuristic interior.
The distinctive, compact body has bright colors designed in accordance with Vibrant Clarity, Toyota-brand design philosophy. The compact exterior and retro-futuristic interior feature designs that evoke images of the future.
Electric sliding doors were designed with easy boarding and exiting in mind within a limited space; at the touch of a button, an LED turns on and the doors open and close.
Drive-by-wire technology allows all the vehicle functions to be controlled using a joystick, including the accelerator, brakes and steering.
(Car Body Design's news)
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