Archive for the ‘Concept’ Category
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007
At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.
The V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 litre V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focussed on extreme performance and dynamics.
In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: “Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.
“With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company.”
Although the 600bhp power output of the V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin’s engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 1600kg, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin’s continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance. In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fibre and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.
The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fibre splitter to balance down force.
Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: “Much of Aston Martin’s recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimise form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio.”
The 600bhp 6.0 litre engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads. Peak power is achieved at 6250rpm and peak torque of 690Nm is at 5000rpm.
With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62mph (100km/h) from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100mph (160km/h) in just 8.5 seconds.
The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last 12 months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company’s racing successes at Le Mans and the Nϋrburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company’s Gaydon headquarters.
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Wednesday, December 12th, 2007
Following the launch of its acclaimed fourth world strategic model, the Splash, at the 2007 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, the company is developing the fifth exciting model in its strategy. It will be showing some of the forthcoming model’s design themes at Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi (9-17 January) in the form of the Concept A-Star.
The new model is an A-segment five-door hatchback reflecting a focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort. It will have an all new Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km). And like all new Suzuki world strategic models, it will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy.
SMC attaches great importance to India. Suzuki’s efforts have greatly contributed to the Indian motor industry’s development and have earned Suzuki more than a 50% share of the market there for passenger cars.
Having been early to recognize India’s potential, Suzuki partnered with the Government of India to establish Maruti Udyog Limited (now named Maruti Suzuki India Limited, and an SMC subsidiary) whose Gurgaon plant began producing cars in December 1983.
The production model of the Concept A-Star will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India’s Manesar plant, and will be marketed mainly in Europe and other countries including India. Production is scheduled to start in October 2008.
The new 1.0-litre aluminium engine will be produced by Maruti Suzuki India, and a manual transmission for it will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, another SMC subsidiary that’s based beside Maruti Suzuki India’s Manesar plant.
Suzuki Powertrain India also produces a 1.3-litre diesel engine, but SMC does not plan to use it in the new production car as the new 1.0-litre petrol engine is environmentally superior. SMC is studying options for small diesel engines for production by Suzuki Powertrain India in the future.
Given the importance of India to the Suzuki world strategy, the Corporation is investing substantially in Maruti Suzuki between 2007-2009. It plans to expand production capacity to 960,000 units per year by March 2010.
Concept A-Star is the first concept car in which designers from Maruti Suzuki India’s research and development division have been involved from the initial stage of its styling. As such it is an excellent showcase of Maruti Suzuki India’s capabilities.
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Wednesday, December 12th, 2007
Mazda Motor Corporation has confirmed that it will stage the world premieres of the new Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised version of the Mazda RX-8 sports car in Detroit on press day (Sunday 13 January, 2008), at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Following its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full line-up of production cars for consumers to view for the public days.
All attending media are invited to Mazda’s press conference and the formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand at 13.45 hrs, Monday 14 January 2008.
Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind’
Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda‑powered racing cars in action on circuits across the United States than any other brand, Mazda has created the Mazda Furai. It is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the ‘Soul of a Sports Car’ into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of synthetic fuel (cellulosic ethanol E100) produced by British Petroleum (BP).
Furai takes Mazda’s unique Nagare (Japanese for ‘flow’) design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) sports racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.
“Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from racing cars,” says Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda’s North American director of design. “Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and the sportiest of street-legal production models — commonly called supercars — that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before.
“Mazda’s critically acclaimed Nagare design language describes the flow of water, air, people or things moving in one direction. Mazda Nagare is flow, with an insightful and spirited styling, which, in Mazda Furai, invokes a raw, unfettered desire to possess everything this car represents,” enthuses Holzhausen.
New Mazda RX-8
Sporting a freshened design, improved handling, stronger acceleration, enhanced quality and extra features, the heavily revised new version of the Mazda RX-8 continues to be a ‘Sports Car like no other’ and shows that the rotary engine is still an important part of Mazda’s future.
Since its launch in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 has been hailed as a genuine sports car, but with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that delivers true sports car values and driving pleasure, together with unique passenger comfort.
Powered by the world’s only mass-produced rotary engine, RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world’s first twin-rotor production car. With almost two‑million rotary engines sold, and the company’s legendary win at the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours – the only Japanese brand to ever win the endurance racing classic – the rotary engine is the sole preserve of Mazda.
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Tuesday, December 11th, 2007
The massive fan in GM’s aero lab wind tunnel has been cranked up to full blast as GM’s designers and engineers work to optimise the aerodynamics of the Chevrolet Volt as part of the quest to make the breakthrough concept car a production reality. Aerodynamic improvement is a critical step in meeting the range targets necessary for moving the vehicle to a final production decision.
The design team, now with its own studio dedicated to the development of vehicles powered by the E-flex propulsion system, has been working with engineering, aerodynamicists and other scientists to develop an energy efficient Chevrolet Volt by optimising aerodynamics.
“One of the ways design can contribute to the efficiency of any vehicle is through the aerodynamics of the body shape,” says Ed Welburn, VP, GM Global Design. “The collaboration between a designer and an aerodynamicist can not only contribute to improved fuel economy or extended range, but can produce beautiful and different body shapes.”
Frank Weber, Global Vehicle Line Executive and Global Vehicle Chief Engineer for the E-Flex System, agrees. “The electric range of the Chevrolet Volt is most sensitive to improvements in aero, which is in contrast to a traditional vehicle programme in which mass typically plays a larger role.”
Reducing drag
Aerodynamic drag accounts for approximately 20 percent of the energy consumed in an average vehicle, directly impacting vehicle fuel efficiency. GM designers apply their expertise to address the opportunity to improve the fuel economy of all GM vehicles. In fact, GM offers more fuel efficient vehicles than any other manufacturer, in part due to vehicle design and GM’s aerodynamic development capabilities.
GM’s aerodynamics laboratory, located at the technical centre in Warren, Mich., is the centre of expertise for optimising the impact of airflow. In addition to fuel economy, range, emissions, and acceleration are all affected by wind resistance, or aerodynamic ® drag. The cooling of components such as radiators and brakes are affected by airflow, as is cornering capability, crosswind response, directional stability and on-centre handling. GM’s aero lab allows for the testing and development of each of these characteristics.
Aerodynamics development begins with a 1/3-scale model where basic shape and major features are defined. The model includes a highly detailed underbody and engine compartment. Radiator and under hood cooling flow is developed with computational fluid dynamic models. Simultaneously, computation development takes place to determine aerodynamic drag of design alternatives. Development continues with full-scale models, where shape is refined and optimised for low wind noise. The development process concludes with a vehicle prototype validation of the math-based analysis and physical testing.
“I’m proud to say that after extensive aero development of the Volt, and more to come, we have achieved a vehicle that had a coefficient of drag that is more than 30% lower in drag than the original concept,” said Welburn. “It’s not easy, but it is a necessity.”
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Tuesday, December 11th, 2007
Scheduled for introduction at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the HUMMER HX concept reflects the innovative minds of three new GM designers - David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski - whose first assignment was to provide a vision for the future design of off-road vehicles.
Fresh out of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., the designers’ first test in GM was to design a fun, nimble and innovative HUMMER concept.
“HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first assignment for our newest talent,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of global design and product planning. “Today’s graduates from top design schools are ready to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge gave our newest designers an opportunity to sprint.”
The task presented numerous challenges to the new designers, from creating a vehicle for a brand that is known around the globe for its iconic design, to ensuring that the model would live up to the market’s expectation of HUMMER off-road capability.
To help ensure the designs were true to the HUMMER brand, the designers were given limited design direction by Carl Zipfel, an ex-professional motocross racer and director of the HUMMER design studio.
“Carl definitely set the tone,” said Rojas. “While he gave us creative liberty and challenged us to develop innovative ideas, he also defined three Hummer proportions – wheelbase, approach and departure angles, and stance – and assigned one to each of us. It gave us a chance to collaborate, but also take our own direction.”
While sketching and sculpting together in the HUMMER studio, these recent graduates drew upon the creative energy of each other, further improving their individual designs, as well as that of the final concept.
“We drew inspiration from one another,” said Kang. “As you’re designing and sketching you try to absorb what the other designer is doing and try to make it better.”
David, Min Young and Robert’s collaboration inspired the HUMMER HX concept, which presents extraordinary efficiency without sacrificing the unique essence of the HUMMER brand, the world’s most capable off-road vehicles.
“While we took inspiration from the HUMMER heritage and DNA, we each wanted to evolve it in a new way” said Jablonski. “We agreed it should be contemporary, compact and definitely open air. It came out great.”
After three months of sketching and sculpting theme work for the new HUMMER concept, each designer had the opportunity to present scale clay models to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and Ed Welburn, who chose which design would ultimately become the HX concept.
In its final concept form, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HUMMER HX embodies the off road spirit of HUMMER in a fully customisable package. The HX offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle SUT. It also features a slant back assembly, removable doors and fender flares.
“Working as a team, you realise it’s more than one person influencing the vehicle,” said Rojas. “You can see the inspiration from each of our designs in the final concept vehicle. We’re all proud to have the chance to see our sketches become reality.”
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Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Round the world in 14 weeks: before their group appearance at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show, Volkswagen sent the New Small Family on a whistle-stop tour around the world. Today it’s showdown in Italy as the three Up! concept vehicles are revealed side by side for the first time as ambassadors of a new range and as a family.
“For both my team and for me, it was a dream to design these concept vehicles” confirmed Walter de Silva, Chief Designer of Volkswagen Group, at the start of the press conference, “because these cars embody the emergence of a new era. Anyone looking at the New Small Family will immediately see how friendly and neat these Volkswagens are. Cars of this sort are fun. No explanation is needed - they speak for themselves.”
Before their joint debut in Bologna, Volkswagen sent the New Small Family on a whistle-stop tour around the world, starting at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt on 10 September with the two-door Up!. Just six weeks later, the larger Space Up! microvan made its debut in Tokyo – they impressively demonstrate how every millimetre of space can be exploited using intelligent packaging while at the same time creating an emotional design. Twenty days later and 9,000 air kilometres further eastwards, Los Angeles was presented with the third variant of the New Small Family – the zero-emission Space Up! Blue van. The response was extremely positive all around the globe.
That was perhaps also “because every Up! also demonstrates commitment to protecting our environment” according to Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member with responsibility for Technical Development at Volkswagen. “After all, extremely clean petrol and diesel engines and electric motors will be working in the backs of these cars.”
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Friday, November 16th, 2007
Porsche is presenting innovative drive concepts at the Los Angeles Auto Show - starting on November 16, 2007 - that demonstrate its commitment to alternative power sources, with the highlight being the first appearance in the USA of the Cayenne Hybrid prototype.
At the same time, Porsche is also displaying an earlier milestone in automobile development at the show; the electric-drive Lohner-Porsche from over a century ago, one of the world’s first zero emission vehicles and, accordingly, a forerunner of hybrid drive.
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Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Hyundai has revealed its highly anticipated Concept Genesis Coupe at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.
The concept car heralds the introduction of an all-new, rear-wheel drive 2+2 sports coupe, which will go on sale in the US in the spring of 2009. It is currently being evaluated for possible sale in the UK.
The Genesis Coupe signals that Hyundai is broadening its appeal to hardcore driving enthusiasts by offering high performance and rear-wheel drive handling in addition to stunning styling.
When the production version arrives, it is set to be the most affordable 300+ horsepower car on the market, and offer the most dynamic performance yet from Hyundai.
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Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
Sun-drenched Los Angeles and snow-carpeted alpine Bavaria provide the inspiration for the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept car, which makes its debut on Press Day at the 2007 L.A Auto Show (November 16-25, 2007). Powered by the world’s cleanest diesel engine, and combining the sun worshipping potential of a classic cabriolet with the mountain-scaling agility of a quattro-equipped ‘off-roader’, the Cross Cabriolet quattro could form the basis of a future SUV model from Audi.
Deriving its fundamental chassis and drivetrain architecture from the modules used by the A5 coupe and new A4 saloon, and covering a similar ‘footprint’ on the road, the 4.62-metre long Cross Cabriolet quattro is powered by an even more efficient version of the 3.0-litre, 240PS V6 TDI engine incorporating a new ultra low emission system. Mounted longitudinally, the world’s cleanest diesel unit combines the benefits of state-of-the-art common rail injection with piezo crystal technology, exhaust gas recirculation and an exhaust after-treatment system. Using a special AdBlue additive, this new system reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 per cent.
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Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
The next generation Chevrolet city car will be based on the popular Beat concept, after 1.9 million online voters elected it their favourite of a trio of minicar styling studies shown at the 2007 New York Auto Show.
Designed to appeal to urban customers, the three-door Beat will significantly inspire Chevrolet’s next generation city car, due to make its debut in 2010.
Speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where the production announcement was made, Chevrolet General Manager, Ed Peper, said: “The people have spoken. The vote count tripled all previous GM online consumer surveys, telling us Beat resonated with customers all around the world. Chevrolet was overwhelmed by the positive reaction to each of the three mini concept cars, but Beat was a sound winner.”
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