Concept Car: February 2011

sports cars pics n wallpapers Sports cars

There are a huge variety of sports cars in the automobile industry today. Different automobile manufacturers produce different types of sports cars and other cars. The following are the pictures of some of the sports cars.

sports car

stylish sports car

new sports car

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sports car wallpaper

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2011 Land Rover Defender Limited Edition

(from Land Rover Press Release)

LAND ROVER ANNOUNCES THE NEW 2011 DEFENDER LIMITED EDITION

•Class-leading all-terrain capability with a raw and edgy style.
•Two striking exterior colours - either Zermatt Silver or for the first time on a Defender, Nara Bronze, both with contrast Santorini Black finish to the roof and wheel arches.
•Introduction of 16 inch Saw Tooth alloy wheels.
•A choice of two interior colourways in either Ebony or a unique duo-tone Ebony and Almond interior.

2011 Renault CAPTUR Concept

(from Renault Press Release)

Renault CAPTUR: on the adventure trail!

* Unveiled today by Carlos Ghosn, CAPTUR is the new concept car to demonstrate Renault’s new design strategy.
* A sporty crossover with a flowing and athletic body language, it conjures up visions of two people exploring the world and previews a forthcoming road car.
* Its Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo engine-concept combines driving fun, enjoyable performance and low CO2 emissions.

1956 Volvo Custom by Vizualtech

Engine: Volvo T6
Transmission: Richmond 6 spd
Disc Brakes: Volvo V70 R
Ferrari 1965 gauges
Custom chassis and interior.
19´special billet wheels.

2011 Novitec Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia

(from Novitec Press Release)

World Debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2011: NOVITEC ROSSO Refines the Ferrari 458 Italia 609 hp / 448 kW, more than 330 km/h and a Sporty Designer Suit

Growler E 2011 by Vizualtech

(from Vizualtech Press Release)

Growler E 2011 - Rebirth of a legend

In 2011, the legendary Jaguar E-Type will celebrate its 50th anniversary, as it was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961.

On the occasion of this anniversary and upon the request of a Swiss businessman who wishes to stay anonymous, the designers Bo Zolland from Vizualtech and Robert Palm have developed an exceptional sports car inspired by the legend.

First Drive: 2012 Toyota Yaris Japanese

Sales of the Toyota Yaris (called Vitz in Japan) took a header last year in the American market, dropping almost 40 percent over 2009, which was one of the worst sales years in forever. To say that Toyota needs to give its small car some love is an understatement, and that makes the U.S. debut of the new 2012 Toyota Yaris all the more important .

“We need to stand out more,” says deputy chief engineer Yoshinari Toyomura. “That is one reason why the new Yaris has grown in size and taken on an edgier look compared to its predecessor.”

Recently, we had a chance to check out the Japanese-spec version of the new car, and we immediately saw what Toyomura meant. The new B-segment bigwig is 3.5 inches longer with a wheelbase that gains 2 inches. Toyota is hoping the new car’s more aggressive edges will appeal to a larger audience (read: males). The car does feel bigger, but the company’s efforts to minimize costs while improving packaging are met with mixed results.

2012 toyota yaris

2012 toyota yaris

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The engine lineup gets new versions of the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter gas variants as well as a revised 1.4-liter diesel for Europe (expect the 1.5-liter version to continue as the base engine for the U.S., although a 1.8-liter and a hybrid model are also rumored). The highlight of the lineup is undoubtedly the car we tested: the 1.3-liter Smart-Stop Package. Taking just 0.35 seconds to restart after seamlessly cutting the engine at idle, the smart-stop works to improve fuel economy by some 2 mpg, thus achieving 61.5 mpg in the Japanese mpg cycle. But the start-stop is only offered on the 1.3-liter due to its hefty $700 price tag. More strikingly, VSC and TRC traction controls, which are standard on the 1.3-liter version, are not even offered as options on other models, although we’re guessing that will change for the U.S. market version.

Tuned for optimum fuel economy and CO2 emissions, the 1.3-liter was adequate but by no means quick. Mated to a revised CVT, it pulled sufficiently from around 2000 rpm and stayed strong enough through the mid-ranges — we think, because our car did not have a tachometer. We expect the five-speed manual and a tach to continue to be offered in the U.S. Although it’s unclear if the CVT will come stateside, we wouldn’t bet against it, especially given the aging four-speed automatic on the present car. To keep up with rivals, the Yaris has stiffened body rigidity, a more compliant ride, and a better weighted, more responsive steering feel.

While the new Yaris is more spacious, handles better than the old model, and looks considerably smarter, it’s been shortchanged on a few interior elements, and performance is middling at best. It’ll need those missing toys to stand out from the crowd when it arrives here, reportedly later this year.

2012 Toyota Yaris Japanese Spec Price $13,000 (MT est) Vehicle layout Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatchback Engine 1.3L/94-hp/89-lb-ft DOHC I-4 Transmission Continuously variable auto Curb weight 2250 lb (mfr) Wheelbase N/A Length x width x height N/A 0-60 mph 9.3 sec (MT est) EPA city/hwy fuel econ N/A On sale in U.S. Late 2011

AFS Trinity and 150 MPG Car Pull Out of LA Auto Show

In a fight over claims on the 150 mpg car, AFS Trinity has decided to pull out of the LA Auto Show. But they promise to show up somewhere in LA if you want to stop by and see what all the fuss is about.

AFS Trinity had been finalizing their demonstration when they found out the banner they had would not be acceptable to the Auto Show. Specifically, their claim to 150 mpg, unverified by the EPA, was not allowable.

In an e-mail from LA Auto Show Assistant General Manager, Scott Webb had this to say “We cannot approve this content . . . the mileage claim is of primary concern to us. Manufacturers are forced to quote EPA verified mpg numbers in their advertising, and . . . [your] 150-MPG figure is an estimation. A banner like this one in the lobby is likely to generate unfavorable reactions from manufacturers, which is something we will take action to avoid.”

Given the 150 mpg claim is central to AFS Trinity and their plug-in hybrid car image, they were understandably upset about this. They offered to change the wording to indicate this was an estimate and not EPA verified, but the idea was rejected. AFS Trinity decided to back out of the show at that point.

While I understand their natural frustration, I'm surprised they backed out. I would think any exposure is critical for a small car company like this and to back out of a large auto show like LA is a drastic step.

But then, they're probably getting more notice right now for pulling out.

The LA Auto Show opinion is also understandable, since the 150 mpg claim is based on a particular driving habit: a typical week of driving: 40 miles, 6 days per week and 80 miles on one weekend day each week. The first 40 miles of every day are electric, with gasoline being used only for distances beyond 40 miles. For this driving profile, the XH-150 uses up to 2 gallons of gas to travel 320 miles, which works out to 160 mpg, which the company rounds down to 150 miles per gallon.

While that looks reasonable, the 'standard' for measuring mpg for a plug-in hybrid just doesn't exist , yet. GM has been fighting with the EPA about how to rate the Volt. The sooner the EPA makes a decision and lets everyone know about what their rule is, the better everyone will be. Without any guidelines, even larger car companies are going to keep getting into situations like this.

Read more about the XH-150, the 150 MPG plug-in hybrid.

Read the Press Release from AFS Trinity below to get more details about their spat with the LA Auto Show.

LOS ANGELES, November 7, 2008 . . . AFS Trinity Power Corporation today announced it pulled its 150 MPG plug-in hybrid SUV prototypes out of the LA Auto Show but will independently exhibit and demonstrate the super fuel-efficient vehicles on their own elsewhere in downtown LA during the show.

The company's decision followed actions by the LA Auto Show to muzzle AFS Trinity from highlighting the 150 miles per gallon fuel economy of its XH150 prototype vehicles. "The suppression by the automakers of information about technologies such as this raises serious questions about the judgment, vision, intentions and capabilities of the leadership of these companies,” said Edward W. Furia, Chairman and CEO of AFS Trinity. “Such conduct by the automakers, who are currently seeking tens of billions of taxpayer dollars, ostensibly to develop fuel efficient vehicle technologies, is evidence they are reluctant to embrace solutions they didn’t invent.”

First shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January, 2008, two XH150 prototypes have toured the country for the last ten months and received positive reactions from the American public, national media (see coverage at http://www.afstrinity.com/press-coverage.htm), public officials, Governors, Senators and Members of Congress as well as automotive fleet managers and engineers in Austin, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Seattle, Livermore and Sacramento. (Images available for download at http://www.afstrinity.com/press-images.htm).

Furia explained that, when AFS Trinity sought exhibition space on the main floor of the LA Auto Show, the only space that show management offered was the Kentia Hall basement (Note: the LA Auto Show is “owned” by the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association, which, in turn, is closely associated with the major auto makers in Detroit). To address AFS Trinity's concern that the Kentia Hall basement space was much less likely to attract visitors to the XH150 exhibit, show management offered the company a package of floor space in Kentia, advertising space in the auto show program and billboard space on the main floor of the convention center, suggesting that AFS Trinity could use the ad and billboard to attract visitors to the basement exhibit.

“There was just one hitch,” Furia said. “Before we could proceed, the content of our ad and billboard had to be submitted to auto show management for approval. When we told them that the ad and billboard content would essentially be the same as what the company has used in its web site for the past ten months and which we used at the Detroit Auto Show in January, they responded that our mileage claim of 150 miles per gallon would not be permitted.”

Furia quoted an email from LA Auto Show management that said, “We cannot approve this content . . . the mileage claim is of primary concern to us. Manufacturers are forced to quote EPA verified mpg numbers in their advertising, and . . . [your] 150-MPG figure is an estimation. A banner like this one in the lobby is likely to generate unfavorable reactions from manufacturers, which is something we will take action to avoid.” (Email from LA Auto Show Assistant General Manager, Scott Webb).

In response, AFS Trinity observed that EPA does not certify mileage estimates of show cars and prototypes, but nevertheless offered to modify its billboard and ad content with new text, stating, “150-MPG is an estimate, not EPA-certified . . .your mileage may vary.”

The email AFS Trinity received in response from LA Auto Show management, according to Furia, reads: ‘We will not accept any billboard or program advertising that mentions AFS Trinity's 150-MPG claim, including references as part of the graphics on the vehicle. This is no longer a topic for further discussion."

Explaining AFS Trinity’s decision to pull out of the LA Auto show completely, Furia said, “We had no choice but to pull out of the show when they refused to let us state our 150-MPG mileage estimate, as it is the most important and popular feature of our technology. Indeed, I believe our fuel economy would be the main reason that people would go to the trouble to find us at the auto show,” he said. “Being in the basement was bad enough. Forcing us to be silent about our key benefit was simply unacceptable.”

Ignoring the solution

Furia said, “No one questions the sales potential of a 150-MPG SUV that can carry a whole family and provide better acceleration than similar gasoline models. Every single person who has driven these cars loves them and wants one. We have built two XH150 prototypes and demonstrated them across the country. Yet, none of the major automakers has accepted our invitation to see and drive them, let alone license the technology and mass produce them. They usually claim that they are going to come up with something of their own in the future. In other words, they reject breakthroughs they didn't invent.”

“In the meantime,” Furia said, “American auto plants are closing, men and women who are among the best trained, most productive auto workers in the world are losing their jobs in record numbers, and America is in danger of losing the last vestiges of its heartland heavy industrial base altogether. We want people to know that a super fuel-efficient automotive solution to our dependence on oil already exists, which the driving public enthusiastically supports and that major automakers can license and mass-produce within an estimated three years.”

Furia said, “Our desire to deliver this message in spite of the effort to muzzle us is why we decided to bring our exhibit trailer and prototypes to downtown L.A., the American city that, probably more than any other, understands the environmental, energy and economic implications of this technology. The anticompetitive behavior by the automakers is troubling because Americans still appear willing to buy new cars if they are offered the right ones. Now is the time to embrace new fuel efficient vehicle technologies, not stifle them.”

EPA and prototypes

According to Furia, “The reason the LA Auto Show gave for prohibiting our 150 mile per gallon estimate—which we have widely used in other auto shows and which has been broadly reported by the media worldwide—is that EPA has not certified this mileage, but this is a weak and transparent excuse, as EPA does not certify mileage for show cars or prototypes. Certification does not happen until a car is much closer to being commercially produced.”

AFS Trinity’s 150-MPG mileage estimate is based on a typical week of driving: 40 miles, 6 days per week and 80 miles on one weekend day each week. The first 40 miles of every day are electric, with gasoline being used only for distances beyond 40 miles. For this driving profile, the XH-150 uses up to 2 gallons of gas to travel 320 miles, which works out to 160 mpg, which the company rounds down to 150 miles per gallon.

Battery issue

Furia explained that the difference between the AFS Trinity approach to energy storage in a plugin hybrid and that of other developers is the use of ultracapacitors and proprietary control electronics to solve the power and life cycle limitations of batteries. AFS Trinity has been developing sophisticated energy storage and delivery technologies for 18 years working with a variety of private and government entities, including DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Transportation, California State agencies, Oak Ridge National Labs, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Lockheed, Honeywell, Mercedes, Ricardo and others.

“We applaud attempts by carmakers and others to develop a new battery that might be able to overcome the inherent reliability and durability problems related to the duty cycle demanded of a plugin hybrid, but waiting for it – especially as it may never emerge or may emerge at an impossibly high cost – is risky business, particularly when the auto industry needs an energy storage and power management solution for plug ins now,” Furia said. “We have a solution today that we have demonstrated and that only requires mass production engineering in order to be put into commercial production in a wide range of cars, trucks and SUVs.”

Implications for Auto Industry Stimulus (aka “Bail-out”) Package

Furia noted that the Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday that Detroit automakers are once again on Capital Hall in Washington, D.C. seeking a bail-out and forecasting their own demise if they don’t get it. “This is certain to be a major issue that the new U.S. Congress and President-Elect Obama will consider. An emergency bail-out could even become an issue in the remaining days of 2008 for the current U.S. Congress,” he said.

"The action that the LA Auto Show took to muzzle AFS Trinity has implications for such a bailout," Furia said. "The idea that the Detroit automakers, through their LA Auto Show agents, would seek to suppress interest in a super-efficient vehicle technology developed by a small company such as AFS Trinity truly challenges the imagination, particularly given the global energy security landscape through which America must navigate in the next several decades,” Furia said.

Whether the behavior of the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers, and, by implication and association, the carmakers they serve, is based on NIH ("not-invented-here") considerations, or something else, it raises questions about whether the current leadership of the American auto industry possesses the perspective, character, capability and vision to escape the death march in which they currently appear to be locked, no matter how large a bailout the next Congress and President-Elect Obama are willing to support.

“As dangerous as Detroit's problems may be, they also represent an enormous opportunity to reject antiquated attitudes and behaviors and create millions of new jobs and feed unprecedented economic growth, precisely because these problems are so large and so critical to address. Simply put,” Furia concluded, “a stimulus package that allows current auto industry leadership to remain in control of the destiny of this critically important industry as it confronts this unprecedented crisis—and opportunity— is something that the new Congress and President-Elect Obama should really think twice about."

Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid

Suzuki will be presenting the Swift plug-in hybrid at the Tokyo Auto Show. The Swift is not available in the US.

The plug-in is an electric range extended vehicle (E-REV), which drives on all electric power for a given range powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. After the battery gets low, the small 660cc gas engine recharges the battery pack until you can get back to a plug.

The battery pack runs down the center center of the car and the electric motor can produce 55kW, while the gas engine can produce 40 kW.

The small K-car (mini-car or 660cc) is targeted at city commuters and shoppers. But really, not a lot of details are floating around, yet. The all electric range, size of the battery pack, etc...

Get Four Free Price Quotes From Yahoo! Autos Hybrid Research and Pricing at Edmunds.com

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ford and GM Give Drivers at NY Auto Show $50 Just to Test Drive

GM and Ford are handing out $50 to anyone attending the NY International Auto Show if they head to a local dealer and test drive a vehicle.

Now that's really working hard to get customers into the showroom.

The thought here is to 1) get the attention of high potential customers and 2) get those same customers to test drive a vehicle of theirs and 3) show they are willing to put their money where there mouth is. In other words, if you would just give us a chance, we can show you our cars are quality.

The $50 is in the form of gift cards. Ford gift cards can be spent anywhere. The GM gift card is only good for purchases on restaurants.com.

"Auto shows provide a perfect opportunity for buyers to see, touch and feel the latest new cars under one roof," said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the organization that owns and produces the New York Auto Show.

"Programs like the $50 gift card offered by GM and Ford help continue conversations between auto show visitors and new car dealers. This is a great way to get engage customers and gets them behind the wheel of some amazing new vehicles," concluded Schienberg.

The $50 offer is available to New York International Auto Show visitors, which runs at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, until Sunday, April 19. For more information, visit www.autoshowNY.com.

Hyundai Nuvis Hybrid

Hyundai presented their Nuvis Hybrid Concept, a small 'future-generation' crossover. Hyundai tried to blend in motion as in a living machine, with lots of blue.

The hybrid engine is a 2.4-liter Theta II engine to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW (205 N-m) electric motor, and is used to showcase Hyundai's parallel hybrid system. The electric motor or gas motor or both can move the car at any time, depending on the situation. This is the basis of the hybrid motor Hyundai will be using in their future cars.

In the rear, a high trunk floor houses the Nuvis' lithium polymer battery pack.

Toyota Presents at the Tokyo Auto Show

Toyota will be bringing along two concept vehicles of interest to the Tokyo Auto Show. The first, we've seen before is the Prius plug-in hybrid, which may be arriving in the US by 2012. The second is a compact EV designed for urban driving over short distances, the FT-EV II.

Plug-in Prius Concept

The plug-in Prius concept to be on display in Tokyo is based on the third-generation Prius. It can be plugged in and recharged in about 180 minutes at 100V and 100 minutes at 200V.

The plug-in Prius aimed to have 55 km/l or better, CO2 emissions of 42g/km or less and an EV cruising range of 20 km or more on a fully charged battery. The battery is a lithium-ion battery pack, unlike the third generation Prius which uses nickel metal hydride still.

Specs:
Length: 4,460 m
Width: 1,745 mm
Height: 1,490 mm
Wheelbase: 2,700 mm
Seating: 5

FT-EV II

The other concept is the world premier of the Future Toyota Electric Vehicle II (FT-EV II). It's a compact EV designed for short distances. 'It is based on the idea of a future mobility society in which EVs are common, and means of transport are divided according to purpose, the characteristics of the energy to be used and the status of the supply infrastructure.'

Features include:

Ultra-efficient package with body more compact than ultra-compact "iQ", but still with seating for four
Drive-by-wire technology enables joystick operation of all functions including accelerator, brakes and steering wheel; ample legroom provided by elimination of accelerator and brake pedals
Vehicle designed with low front cowl and auxiliary window below windshield for outstanding forward visibility; further consideration paid to safety around vehicle led to see-through LED rear combination taillights
Electric sliding doors on both sides facilitate ingress and egress, particularly in narrow spaces
Top-speed of over 100km/h
Easy coverage of over 90km on fully charged battery—ample for everyday use
Extremely quiet and comfortable ride with smooth acceleration, thanks to TMC-cultivated motor-control technology, which is part of the hybrid system at core of TMC's environmental technologies

Specs:
Length: 2,730 m
Width: 1,680 mm
Height: 1,490 mm
Wheelbase: 1,900 mm
Seating: 4

Subaru Hybrid Tourer

Subaru will be bringing their gull-winged Hybrid Tourer concept to the Tokyo Auto Show. The 2-liter, direct injected, turbocharged 'Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine' is mated to two electric motors for all wheel drive fun.

The two electric motors will be used in different situations as needed. The rear motor is used in acceleration situations and to run the vehicle at 'extremely low speeds' in all electric power.

The front electric motor serves as a power generator and in accelerating uphiill, assisting the gas engine which does most of the powering.

Subaru has said they are planning on a hybrid vehicle, maybe as early as 2011, but are planning on licensing the hybrid synergy drive from Toyota. So it's unclear how much of what you see in the Tourer will show up in a production vehicle.

The gas engine shuts off when the vehicle comes to a stop, and regenerative braking helps to recharge the battery pack. The lithium-ion battery pack is derived from the Subaru Stella EV which just launched in Japan.

Some Features of the Tourer

The top of the dashboard is movable up and down to provide an optimal driving environment for the driver according to driving conditions.
A flat floor in the rear seat was achieved even with the implementation of AWD, for improved use and movement inside the cabin.
Specialized shielding is incorporated in the windshield to reduce eyestrain on the driver.
New leather covering developed with superior breathability and a ventilation function is used in the seats for improved comfort and texture.
Lineartronic, Subaru’s new generation automatic transmission, achieves further improvements in both fuel efficiency and driving performance by reinforcing parts for use with the high-power output of a turbo engine.

Specifications

Length x Width x Height: 4,630 x 1,890 x 1,420mm
Engine type: 2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine
Max output of Motor: 10kW (Front) / 20kW (Rear)
Transmission type: Lineartronic
Drive train: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with 2 motors assist
Battery type: Lithium-ion battery

Top Gear is Back for Season 13

Top Gear is back for Season 13 on January 25 and to celebrate, they are hosting a week long DVD giveaway at BBCAmerica.com/TopGear. If you want to catch up on Season 12 for free, this may be your best chance. Otherwise, you can look to buy starting Season 12 (or prior seasons) starting today at the BBC store.

For full disclosure: as part of the new season launch, I was asked if I would talk about the new season, plus the Season 12 sale. I agreed (because I like the show even though they really don't talk all that much about hybrid cars) and may be receiving a screener of Season 13.