Archive for Concepts

The new Hyundai Concept Genesis Coupe is the near-production result of the HCD series of concept coupes and crossovers. It goes into production in Spring 2009, and will most probably be slightly more production friendly, with a more toned down exterior design compared to this concept.

Done up in a bright Sonic Orange and Ballistic Black two-tone design, the Hyundai Concept Genesis Coupe is powered by the 3.8 liter V6 from the Genesis Sedan mounted at the front mated to a 6-speed manual, sending over 300 horsepower to the rear wheels. The FR design, a classic sports car drivetrain configuration. 0-100km/h time is expected to be under 6 seconds, and the car will also have an LSD differential.

Although still a concept car, there is some preliminary info to preview the final production car specifications. The 2+2 coupe has a wheelbase of 2,820mm, a length of 4,666mm, a width of 1,902mm and a height of 1,386mm. It rides on 20 inch wheels wrapped with Hankook 255/35ZR20 wheels at the front and wider 275/35ZR20 wheels at the rear. Disc brakes are Brembos, with sizes 340mm and 330mm with twin calipers for the front and rear discs respectively.

Hyundai has an ambitious dream of delivering an Infiniti G37 experience at Mitsubishi Eclipse prices with the production Hyundai Genesis Coupe, so this will be quite an interesting wait-and-see for Spring 2009.

More photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
A spyshot of the production Genesis coupe interior

Click here to read the rest of Hyundai Concept Genesis Coupe - RWD V6!

Click to enlarge

The new Mitsubishi Concept-ZT was on display at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The Concept-ZT carries the same design language as the new Lancer (called the Galant Fortis in Japan), but looks like an enlarged version. It should point to how the next generation Mitsubishi Galant will look like.

Just a short recap as regular visitors would have already read about the car in a previous post - the Concept-ZT is powered by a 188 horsepower 400Nm 2.2 liter turbodiesel engine with a VGT turbocharger mated to a Twin Clutch SST gearbox. The car also has an electronic LSD differential for the front, and ASC based on Mitsubishi’s AWD system.

More information on the Concept-ZT is available in the previous post I wrote about the concept car, linked below.

Check out more live photos from the show after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mitsubishi Concept-ZT to be unveiled at Tokyo 2007

Click here to read the rest of TOKYO LIVE 2007: Mitsubishi Concept-ZT

Click to enlarge

The new Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept (done up in white) shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show is an evolution of the Suzuki Kizashi Concept (this is the red-coloured car) shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.

While the Kizashi had a 2.0 liter turbodiesel under the hood, very apt for its European motor show unveiling, the new Kizashi 2 concept uses a more Japanese-oriented 3.6 liter V6, the largest Suzuki has ever put in a car, mated to a six-speed auto.

More photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
More about the Suzuki Concept Kizashi

Click here to read the rest of TOKYO LIVE 2007: Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

This is the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro concept, which previews the upcoming Audi Q5 mid-sized SUV. While the idea of an open top SUV echoes the classic post-WW2 Willys Jeepster model, there is not likely to be an open top production Audi Q5.

Instead, the production Audi Q5 will likely be a proper roofed SUV like the Audi Cross Coupe Quattro Concept which made its public debut at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year and share styling cues of both the Cross Coupe and the Cross Cabriolet.

While Volkswagen’s new Tiguan is based off a Golf platform, the new Audi Q5 will be based off a new MLP platform which underpins the new A4 and the A5. The Golf platform itself will be replaced by the Audi MQB platform in the future, which uses a transverse engine layout instead of the MLP’s longtitudinal layout.

Related Posts:
Audi Cross Coupe Quattro Concept hints at future Audi Q5
Some details on Audi’s MQB platform
Volkswagen to adopt Audi’s MLP platform strategy
Audi A5 to feature new flexible MLP platform

Click here to read the rest of Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept

Click to enlarge

The Suzuki X-HEAD Concept looks like it could be one of the Constructicons from an upcoming Transformers Movie sequel, and Suzuki has given the concept SUV decent off-road and load carrying capacity.

The rear bed can be configured a few ways. One configuration holds a unit called the Camper, which provides sleeping space for 2 adults. The other is called Fashion - I’m not exactly sure what this is but Suzuki says it “provides stylish urban mobility” - I think it’s nothing more than some sort of stylish cover for the rear. Finally, there is Rescue, which includes basic excavator capabilities.

Of course, the rear bed can also be left like a normal pickup bed, which is the version you see in these live photos. There is a little scrambler bike loaded at the back.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of TOKYO LIVE 2007: Suzuki X-HEAD Concept

Since the 2009 Toyota Corolla for the US domestic market was launched at the SEMA show, Toyota decided to follow the whole tuning convention theme and display a tuned up Toyota Corolla at the show called the Toyota Corolla S3.

The Toyota Corolla S3 is fitted with a rather showy bodykit complete with a matching paint job. Underneath the hood, the 2.4 liter VVT-i engine that makes a paltry 158 horsepower in stock form is supercharged and intercooled, with the huge intercooler mounted at the front.

Toyota has released no figures on how much power this concept car makes, but you can check out more photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Corolla S3 Concept: supercharged Corolla

Some of you may be wondering what exactly a Landaulet is. Its basically a term for a simulated convertible, carried over from the days of carriage coachbuilding.

Basically, a simulated convertible landaulet has fixed roof rails, with a convertible top for the back seats only. The Maybach Landaulet concept based on the Maybach 62 S features a landaulet-style black soft top roof which exposes the rear passengers to the open air while the chauffeur compartment remains completely enclosed.

When the black soft top is closed, it rests on the frame formed by the roof bows and is wind and weather proof. When open, it is deposited on the parcel shelf in the rear together with its rear window made of single layer safety glass. Opening and closing takes 16 seconds.

The car’s automatic climate control systems have also had their parameters tuned to ensure open air travel remains a comfort in adverse climatic conditions.

Under the hood is an AMG-tuned version of the engine in the Maybach 57 S and 62 S. The 6.0 liter V12 is twin turbocharged to make 612 horsepower between 4,800rpm and 5,100rpm, and 1000Nm of torque between 2,000rpm and 4,000rpm, rather turbodiesel-like performance stats.

Click here to read the rest of Maybach Landaulet Concept

Click to enlarge

The Toyota Hi-CT is a small hybrid car concept with 3,330m x 1,695mm x 1,780mm dimensions. It uses plug-in hybrid technology, allowing it to be charged with an external power source. Power from the on-board battery can also be used to power devices through an on board 100V AC socket.

Looks like it dropped on us from the future, but rather boring at the same time… most of the concepts at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show were of this genre. Apparently everything started going this way in the past few years, boring “green” concepts that looked pretty much the same - small and light with tiny engines or motors.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Hi-CT Concept

Click to enlarge

While the earlier HFP Accord Coupe we saw was done up by American Honda, this Honda Accord Coupe HF-S Concept was done by Honda Access America Inc, Honda’s U.S. accessory development team. It conceptually includes both design and powertrain upgrades - which basically means while the prototype shown is a purely cosmetic do-up, Honda Access promises powertrain upgrade in the future.

The Honda Accord HF-S Concept has a new front bumper design that incorporates LED driving lights. It is also shaped in order to create a vortex effect, enhancing high-speed aerodynamics and engine cooling. On the sides, specially shaped panels made of carbon fiber decrease negative speed force around the wheel arches.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Honda Accord Coupe HF-S Concept

Click to enlarge

The Honda Factory Performance Accord Coupe was showcased at the 2007 SEMA motor show, and showcases the HFP set of dealer-installed factory accessories developed by American Honda Motor Co.

Ride height of the Accord Coupe is reduced by 25mm with a sports suspension package, and the car rides on larger 19 inch 10 spoke alloy wheels wrapped with high performance 245/40R19 tyres.

The HFP Accord Coupe bodykit includes new front and rear bumper designs as well as side skirts. This kit including wheels and suspension carry the same 3 year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty as the Honda Accord Coupe.

Three more photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
2008 Honda Accord Coupe details and photos

Click here to read the rest of Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Accord Coupe