Archive for Concepts

Kia’s latest in it’s cee’d series of cars will be revealed at th 2007 Geneva International Motor Show - this time a cabriolet soft top version. The Kia ex_cee’d was based on the Kia pro_cee’d 3-door hatch, and shares the same platform, but the most obvious change is the absence of a roof, instead replaced by a automatic fabric roof.

But why soft top instead of an automatic hard top like all the other car manufacturers are doing? “I’m convinced that the fabric roof will have a renaissance. We’ve all lived with the romantic idea of open-air driving for a long time and for me, the fabric roof is the quintessential element of a truly rewarding cabrio,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia’s new Chief Design Officer.

One more photo after the jump.

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Dodge will be showcasing it’s new 2-seater rear wheel drive roadster concept at the 2007 Geneva International Motor Show next month. The concept aims to create an affordable sports car focusing on driving fun, open air driving, as well as powerful performance. Sounds alot like the Mazda MX-5 doesn’t it?

The Dodge Demon has Dodge’s trademark muscular look and cross grille, 19 inch wheels, and a 2.4 liter engine (likely the same 2.4 liter unit in the Dodge Caliber 2.4), making 172hp at 6,000rpm and 224Nm of torque at 4,400rpm.

Video after the jump.

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A natural progression to the offroader-looking stationwagon Peugeot 206 Escapade and Peugeot Escapade Concept would be a similar version based on the Peugeot 207, and them French guys have done it - here’s the Peugeot 207 SW Outdoor Concept.

Car manufacturers have realised that the market taste for the classic station wagon look is diminishing, thus offroader design elements like the roof rails and wheel arches have been pumped in to take advantage of the current SUV craze. Some of the features of this concept vehicle which gives us a previous of the upcoming SW variant of the Peugeot 207 are a panoramic glass roof, and a split-opening rear hatch. Expect the over the top lamp designs to be gone when the production version is unveiled.

The engine is a 1.6 liter HDi with diesel particulate filter, making 240Nm of torque from as low as 1,750rpm, with an overboost feature which brings torque up to 260Nm. The engine makes roughtly 107 horsepower at 4,000rpm.

More photos after the jump.

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Acura says it’s Advanced Sports Car Concept which made it’s debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show gives a preview of the styling cues of the next generation Honda NSX, designed by it’s Los Angeles-based design team that will be based at the new Acura Design Center. Sleek styling cues include slim and wide LED headlights, a modernized wraparound rear light design and a long pronounced hood.

Technical specs: the car will feature a front engined, rear wheel drive design, with a version of Honda’s SH-AWD modified to be rear-wheel drive only. First appearing on the 2004 Acura RL, SH-AWD, or perhaps SH-RWD as it should be named in this case, can adjust torque delivery 100% to either the left or right wheel. The engine is expected to be a normally aspirated V10. Other specs: a 2763mm wheelbase, 19 inch front and 20 inch rear performance tires mounted to custom billet-machined, polished aluminum wheels that hide powerful, ventilated carbon ceramic brake discs and eight-piston calipers.

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Mazda has created three design concepts for the Mazda CX-7, it’s recently launched crossover 5-seater SUV slotted between the Mazda Tribute and the Mazda CX-9. Unlike the Mazda CX-9, it’s 7-seater older brother, the CX-7 is not built on the Mazda6/Ford CD3 platform but instead is a hybrid platform which borrows from the Mazda MPV and Mazda5, of which the latter is in turn based on the Mazda3/Ford C1 platform.

The three concepts are: “Adrenaline”, “Phobia” and “Wickledly Red”, designed by Mazda together with Rhys Millen, Troy Lee Designs and DG Motorsports respectively. More photos after the jump along with descriptions of the concepts.

Other than offering inspiration and showing off the trick-out-ability of the Mazda CX-7, you could also interpret this as a sign that Mazda is looking into developing a Mazdaspeed CX-7, or Mazda CX-7 MPS, whichever name depending on market.

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The Chevrolet Volt Concept serves two purposes - as a design concept as well as a powertrain concept. The powertrain is so much of a concept that it is simply not possible to produce with current battery technologies. Yes, the Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid car that uses both a gasoline combustion engine and an electric motor, making it’s name very apt indeed - but this particular hybrid technology comes with a twist! More information on the Chevrolet Volt concept after the jump.

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We get another very clear preview on how the final Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will look like, with Mitsubishi’s latest concept vehicle, the Mitsubishi Prototype X. Lucky American visitors were able to have a look at it at the 2007 NAIAS in Detroit which will run until the 21st of this month.

The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will be built on Mitsubishi’s new GS Platform, which also underpines the latest Mitsubishi Outlander as well as the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and other Chrysler Group vehicles. The engine is of a new family, not the venerable turbocharged 4G63T series which has been gracing the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution since it’s first incarnation. The new engine is a 2.0 turbocharged unit with MIVEC variable valve timing codenamed 4B11, and is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automated clutch manual transmission with paddle shifters. It’s not known whether the Evo X’s automated manual will feature a single clutch or dual clutches. Final output figures of the 4B11 have not been stated, but Mitsubishi promises it will have the highest output of a stock Evo to date.

The new engine block is aluminum instead of the iron used in the 4G63T block, and is 20 kg lighter. The exhaust is located on the bulkhead side, allowing for improved placement that helps to lower the center of gravity. High inherent strength has been achieved partly through over-engineering of the open deck block, and the use of large water jackets and metal areas around each siamesed cylinder bore. All in all, the engine was designed to withstand high levels of boost.

The new Lancer is built on a longer wheelbase and wider track – but with a slightly shorter overall length than the previous model. The new Prototype X takes the sexy Lancer design further with widened wheel arches and sportier trim all round. The intercooler remains front mounted, and you have that trademark huge wing at the back - something that might just look silly on all cars except Evos and Imprezas. You also get the customary LED turn signals on the wing mirrors. Wheels are 20 inchers, which hide huge brake discs behind them.

More photos and a video after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mitsubishi Prototype X - future Evolution X
New 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer specs and photos revealed
Mitsubishi Lancer to be unveiled at 2007 NAIAS

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After teasing us with concept drawings back in early December 2006, Honda unveiled it’s Honda Accord Coupe Concept at the Detroit Motor Show 2006. The Honda Accord Coupe Concept carries Honda’s new trapezoidal grille on it’s nose. This new grille style first appeared on the new Honda Stream, and then a variation of it appeared on the new 3rd generation Honda CR-V. Concept drawings of the upcoming Honda Jazz/Honda Fit also show this new grille, and with the Honda Accord Coupe Concept, it makes it’s first appearance on a sedan.

I’m not sure about you, but to me the new Honda Accord Coupe Concept reeks of Audi design language in it’s styling, which isn’t a bad thing at all as I think Audis look really really good. The concept does not have an overly busy design that concepts usually have, indicating that the production version of the 8th generation Honda Accord Coupe might look very much like this, with toned down light cluster designs perhaps.

For this concept, Honda employed a 3.0 liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology which shuts off 3 cylinders during low load operations. It also has an ACE body structure - Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM), a front-end structure that helps absorb and disperse crash energy over a large area in frontal impact.

Enjoy more photos and a video after the jump.

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Toyota’s FT-HS Concept is a separate vehicle from the Lexus LF-A, ending talk that the Lexus LF-A will be a Supra-replacement. Now it’s clear that Toyota’s replacement for the Supra is separate from the new Lexus supercar . The Toyota FT-HS Concept is about the size of a Lexus SC430 and is a rear wheel drive vehicle that employs an uprated version of the hybrid powertrain found in the Lexus GS450h. The hybrid power train is a combination of a 3.5 liter DOHC V6 petrol engine making 292hp mated to a 650V water-cooled electric motor making 197hp peak output.

The engineers of the Toyota FT-HS Concept had a few reasons for putting that hybrid power train in there. They had more than just environmental and fuel efficiency reasons for adding an electric motor to a conventional big displacement engine sports car formula. The sudden burst of power from an electric motor which runs at peak torque at all times can provide the driver a feeling of power boost similar to nitrous oxide.

The body style of the Toyota FT-HS Concept is a 2+2, and has a relatively long wheelbase for a sports car. It isn’t a bad thing, that way the battery pack can be positioned more strategically along the wheelbase, helping to achieve that magical 50:50 weight balance. Some of the styling cues are pretty funky, for example the dark thing you see on the front hood is actually the 3.5 liter V6’s engine cover poking out through the front hood. There is also a targa-style retractable roof, but retracting it renders the rear seats unusable.

More photos after the jump.

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A prototype version of the upcoming Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will be shown at the upcoming North American International Auto Show to be held in Detroit during January 2007. The prototype will be called the Mitsubishi Prototype X, and will give us a clear vision of how the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will look like.

One more photo after the jump.

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