Archive for Concepts

Automotive News reports that the upcoming MINI “Crossman” SUV will come in two variants - one using the 175 horsepower turbocharged direct injected 1.6 liter engine from the Cooper S, and the other using a diesel engine from the MINI Cooper D.

The same report mentions that the BMW X1 will come in 3.0 liter normally aspirated and 3.0 liter twin turbocharged variants (from the 130i and 135i respectively), as well as two diesel engines which include the new twin turbocharged inline-4 in the 123d. The two new compact SUVs will appear in concept form at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The “Crossman” will be in near-to-production form, while the X1 will appear as an early concept.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (BMW’s subsidiary that makes Rolls-Royces since 1998) has released preliminary sketches of its upcoming smaller car to be slotted under the Phantom range, debuting in 2010. The car is called the RR4 at the moment, but the production car may get another name.

Under the Rolls-Royce RR4’s engine hood is said to be a new engine unique to Rolls-Royce, but because of the many ways one can define unique, you can expect this to be a derivative of a BMW engine, perhaps a higher displacement version of BMW’s new twin turbocharged 4.4 liter V8. The underlying platform will likely be an adaptation of the new F01 platform that the next generation BMW 7-Series will use.

“Effortless performance and standard-setting levels of comfort and efficiency, executed with the utmost care and attention, remain fundamentals of Rolls-Royce design. The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense,” says chief designer Ian Cameron.

Look after the jump for one more sketch.

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The SEAT Tango Concept was a 2001 Frankfurt concept car that featured an open top, two seats, and a 1.8 liter turbocharged engine. The seats in the SEAT were fixed, adjustment for different driver sizes was done via a steering column and an adjustable foot pedal box, which can move to suit the length of the driver’s legs.

Theophilus Chin borrows the Tango name for his latest creation depicting a SEAT badge-engineered version of the Volkswagen Scirocco coupe. It looks like a larger, 3-door version of the 4th generation SEAT Ibiza actually, which was in turn based on the 3-door SEAT Bocanegra Concept.

One more rear three quarter angle shot after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Artist’s Impression: SEAT Tango, Spanish Scirocco?

Volkswagen has unveiled a “road-going” concept version of the race-prepared Volkswagen Scirocco entering in the Nurburging 24-hour race this weekend. The concept Scirocco is called the Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 Concept, and is powered by a 300 horsepower version of Volkswagen’s 2.0 liter TFSI engine.

All 300 horses are sent to the Scirocco GT24’s front wheels via a 6-speed twin clutch gearbox with uprated clutches, revised gear ratios, and a lightened flywheel. The GT24 also has an LSD differential lock. Overall weight has dropped to 1120kg, down 178kg from the production Scirocco.

The new Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 is 227mm longer and 61mm wider than the standard road-going Scirocco. Ride height is also 75mm lower thanks to lowered adjustable race dampers. Brakes are large 362mm discs with 6-piston calipers, peeking out from behind large 18 inch lightweight racing wheels.

On the interior, the driver and front passenger sits snug in lightweight Recaro bucket seats equipped with five-point racing harnesses. The interior also has a rollcage, a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel, an electronic display, and a fire extinguisher. Looks like despite this being a “road-going” version, its still pretty much ready for the track.

Two more images after the jump.

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Subaru will be launching the production version of its 2007 Tokyo concept car, the Subaru Exiga. The Subaru Exiga is a 7-seater low-rider MPV that is 4780mm long, 1775mm wide and 1630mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2750mm.

Although many reports the production Exiga to be Impreza-based, the concept version’s wheelbase and dimensions are more similiar to the Camry-based Toyota Mark X Zio (2776mm wheelbase) and the Honda Odyssey (2830mm wheelbase).

In fact, the Exiga may have the next generation Legacy’s platform under its skin; the current fourth generation Legacy has a 2670mm wheelbase, so an increase to about 2750mm sounds logical.

Otherwise, the production Exiga could end up being a smaller car than the concept version if it is based on the Impreza. One thing’s quite likely - parts from the Impreza/Forester parts bin will be used, including the 5-speed Sportshift automatic and the 2.0 liter (or 2.5 liter) turbocharged horizontally opposed engine.

More photos of the Subaru Exiga Concept after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Production Subaru Exiga 7-seater MPV coming soon

Mazda will be unveiling two concept cars this year that will make it to the production lines. First will be the Mazda 1, a small city car that will be the first production Mazda to use design cues that Mazda showcased with its alien-like Nagare line of concept cars last year. The Mazda 1 concept will be displayed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, with perhaps a 2010 model year production version.

Next is a Mazda small crossover SUV, most likely based on the Ford Kuga. It will likely be built on a jacked up Mazda 3 platform - perhaps called the Mazda CX-5? This concept will be displayed at the 2008 Moscow Motor Show, and will also take styling cues from the Nagare Concepts.

A world premiere at Moscow is interesting, but not surprising since analysts say Russia will soon overtake Germany as the biggest passenger vehicle market in Europe.

The Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro is currently only a showcar, but it previews what could be possible with the 2.0 liter TDI-engined version of the A3. Under the hood is a 224 PS and 450Nm of torque version of Audi’s 2.0 liter common rail fuel injected TDI engine, which takes the car up to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, on to a top speed of 240km/h. The car uses a 6-speed manual and sends power to all four wheels via quattro.

The concept gets a flashy exterior with 20 inch wheels, bolt on wheel arches and a tailgate spoiler. The inside the interior gets racing bucket seats and an aluminium open gate gear lever. The 20 inch wheels do not make the brake discs look lost in a void as they have been suitably uprated to large ceramic discs with 6-piston calipers.

The car also gets the Audi drive select system with magnetic ride dampers. The driver is able to select the driving mode he wants, and this will vary the car’s throttle response, exhaust sound, electric power steering assistance, ESP cut-in thresholds, and magnetic damper operating mode.

Four more photos after the jump.

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Skoda has confirmed that it will be putting the Skoda Yeti into production, after the Skoda Yeti Design Study displayed at the Geneva Motor Show was quite well received by the public. After the success of the Yeti concept, Skoda also produced a two-seater pick-up version that used a hard top that could be removed for an open top driving experience.

The name for the new car has not been decided yet, so the production version could use the Yeti name again, or an entirely different name could be used. The production Skoda Yeti will be a unique Skoda in the sense that will use some parts from the Volkswagen family parts bin much like how the Skoda Roomster was developed - it used the Polo chassis front and the Mk4 Golf chassis rear.

You may think why bother when the Volkswagen Tiguan is there for Skoda to use, but the concept Yeti was a little SUV-like thing smaller than the Tiguan. Think of it as something positioned somewhere between a CrossPolo and a Tiguan.

Three more images after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Skoda to put Skoda Yeti into production

Sime Darby’s Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd displayed its Land Rover Defender 6X4 Puma concept at the Defence Services Asia 2008 exhibition this month, and Land Rover Malaysia says the concept attracted a high level of interest from the Malaysian Armed Forces and numerous foreign visitors.

The Land Rover Defender 6X4 Puma Concept was developed in Malaysia by Land Rover Malaysia and Sasbilt Technologies Malaysia. It features a long wheelbase of 3302mm and the 6-wheeler can run on either 4 wheels (6X4) or all 6 wheels (6X6).

The long wheelbase enables the use of a custom body which can accommodate an electric generator in the rear compartment and a spacious cabin for radio and satellite equipment and at least four crew members. The cabin doors are wider to enable easy access and loading of radio equipment. A full-size antenna can be mounted on the roof for the 6X4 Puma Concept to be used as a VSAT satellite vehicle in the battlefield.

It is powered by Land Rover’s Ford Duratorq “Puma” 2.4 liter common rail turbodiesel engine. Depending on tuning, it can produce between 74hp to 135hp and between 185Nm to 285Nm of torque.

One more rear shot after the jump.

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The Proton Satria Neo already fills the “2-door fun car” segment in Proton’s model line-up, but what if Proton created a lightweight coupe from the Proton Saga chassis powered by a 1.6 liter Campro CPS engine?

Apparently something like this or other was what went through Theophilus Chin’s thoughts when he decided to come up with this artist’s impression of a Proton Putra replacement car, which he has decided to call the “Pooterror”.

The front of the artist’s impression Putra replacement concept takes cues from the recently launched Volkswagen Scirocco, the side and wheelbase from a Saga, and its rear end is from the Suzuki Kizashi 3.