World Concept Cars

*Be Warned: The ass-end of this car looks positively divine.

Ugur Sahin Design, the firm behind the (still upcoming?) Z03 which was to be built by Mallett, decided to update Aston's lineup with a design study called the Gauntlet.

The intent was "to design a car which is technically almost identical to the existing production Aston Martins while defining a design character that outmost respects the impressive history of the brand and combine the timeless lines of the past Aston Martins with the modern interpretation of the existing styling."

Here's how I see it: a car like the DB9, but with a coach-built look and feel.

Trying not to be too retro or futuristic, the look comes off as clean and really appealing to the eye. Key features include those sexy, organic headlights, a new take on Aston's wide-mouth grill (previewed on the One-77 hypercar), and - claimed to be cribbed from the DB3S - "high rear and front fenders".

Personal favorites include:

1) brake-heat extractor vents' lines flowing into the tail spoiler
2) mirrors emulating the sharp shape of the window surrounds
3) rear windscreen that's been molded to flow with the roof's lines (we've already seen it's possible with Peugeot's RCZ)
4) creased line down the side (in some pics) which makes the car look like it's wearing an opera mask.

And, last but not least, the artsy/design PR speak: "The name 'Gauntlet' refers to the way lines and surfaces overlap or complement each other, not literally but rather emotionally. This visually suggests the feel of wearing a protective armor which its full power and potential is in control of the driver."

Whatever guys, it looks great.

Source: Carscoop

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For the second time since its introduction in 2003 and four years after the presentation of the revised model in 2006, the Volkswagen Touran 7-seater MPV has yet again been facelifted.

Due to make its world premiere at this month's Auto Mobil International (AMI) motor show, which runs from 10 to 18 April in Leipzig, Germany, the 2011 Touran features a refreshed styling inspired by the new Polo, Golf and Touareg models.

At the front, the Touran gets VW's latest corporate grille along with new headlamp and bumper designs. The rear section of the Touran was also restyled featuring two-piece tail lamps that extend from the wing into the tailgate, while VW's designers also modified the MPV's profile by adding an upwards kink on the rear window section.

Completing the revisions are a set of new alloy wheels and chrome-edged rubbing strips running down the side of the vehicle as well as new exterior mirrors.

Inside the Touran, fresh new trim finishes are joined by a three-spoke steering wheel, a new set of dials featuring subtle white backlighting and a large electronic display plus a revised centre console with chrome highlights that houses new controls for the ventilation system.

The Touran continues to be fitted with seven seats as standard. The third row of can be folded down into the floor leaving a 695 lt loadspace that can be increased to 1,913 lt when the centre row of seats is folded. A total of 39 storage compartments can be found around the new Touran.

Power for the 2011 Touran comes from a range of diesel and gasoline engines, all turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder units.

The new entry-level 1.2-liter TSI gasoline unit with 105HP is joined by a 140HP 1.4-liter TSI offered with 140HP and 170HP, the latter paired with a standard seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

The diesel-lineup includes a 1.6-liter TDI with 90HP and 105HP, and a 2.0-liter TDI with 140HP and 170HP.

In addition, the 1.6-litre 140HP and 105HP diesel engines can be specified in BlueMotion Technology trim complete with Start/Stop and, in the case of the latter, the ability to return 4.6lt/100km (58.8mpg US or 70.6mpg UK) on the combined cycle.

Aside from the models that come with standard DSG, all other variants of the Touran are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Carscoop

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This is the new Ferrari 599 GTO, a very special limited-edition Italian supercar that takes inspiration from the track-only, £1.3m 599XX. Just 599 will be built (appropriately enough) and Ferrari is claiming this 661bhp beast is its fastest ever road car.

Ferrari 599 GTO? I think I’m rather keen…

And you should be. The Enzo-derived 6.0-litre V12 has gained some 599XX-spec pipework to push peak power up from 612bhp to 661bhp. It’s still a little down on the 720bhp produced by the 599XX, but it’s the same headline figure as the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV…

More importantly, a crash diet that size-zero supermodels would be proud of has cut 195kg from the 599’s kerbweight – the 599 GTO tips the scales at 1495kg.

Match that to the extra power, plus a F1 sequential manual gearbox that shifts cogs in 60ms, and the 599 GTO will hit 62mph in 3.35 seconds. And if you’re worrying about the environment, despite the extra grunt the reduction in kilos means the 599 GTO is actually 4g/km cleaner than the regular 599.

What other tweaks has Ferrari made to the 599 to turn it into a 599 GTO?

The aero-efficient body is most obvious. A new front spoiler, different sills, a bigger diffuser and a larger lip on the bootlid all contribute to extra downforce, while vents behind the rear wheels reduce pressure in the wheelarches. There’s a heavily contoured and vented bonnet too, and a contrasting roof (though it isn’t actually carbonfibre).

Michelin supplies a new set of 20-inch rubber, and nestling behind the 10-spoke alloys are the latest Brembo brakes with F1-inspired wheel doughnuts to help cool the carbon discs.

And inside the new Ferrari 599 GTO?

Inside the GTO isn't quite race-car spartan but the sat-nav and radio are absent (you should know the way to your local track and the V12 will provide the soundtrack) and the 599 GTO has the same Virtual Race Engineer system as the 458 Italia which lets you know when the car's systems, coolant and tyres are still cold, and when you’ve absolutely cooked it.

The price for all this Italian engineering? £300,000.

The Ferrari 599 GTO will shown to a few of Ferrari’s most valued customers at Maranello on 14 April, before being unveiled to us mere mortals at the Beijing motor show at the end of April 2010.

Does it deserve the GTO badge? We’ll find out when we drive it in the next few months.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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Andrei Avarvarii, a student getting his Master's degree at Milan's Scuola Politecnica di Design, designed this tasty electric Lamborghini concept. With assistance from Lamborghini Design head Filippo Perini, he used a "soft design language" in penning the Minotauro.

The concept would use four electric motors and split the power 30%/70% front to rear. A Li-Tec flat-cell battery out back and a KERS system in the front would be providing the power.

The press release goes on to explain the bonus of no big, bad V12 out back: "The absence of a big V12 engine in the rear creates enough room for a third passenger in a central position." That's right, seating for three.

While the driver's door would be normal, the passenger side's would be bigger to provide access to the back seat.

But the coolest design idea of all? Look no further than those triangular intakes/exhausts. "[They] serve for battery cooling and visually replace the traditional exhausts...[and] also act like the tubes of a subwoofer, channeling the sound of the electric motors, placed behind them."

Then there's the fact that owner's would theoretically be able to upload their own track ghosts to an online community.

If a real racetrack has been / is being covered, the GPS would record car placement / track time, allowing people worldwide to challenge an owner's record.

Good job, Andrei.

Source: Carscoop

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