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

0 comentarii

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

1 comentarii

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

0 comentarii

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

0 comentarii

Along with the updated 2011 TT Coupe and Roadster, and Q7 SUV, Audi also announced model year changes for its A3 range that includes the three door hatchback, five-door Sportback, Cabriolet and the sporty S3 hot hatch.

You'll probably have a hard time noticing the differences, but Audi says that on the 2011 A3s, the single-frame grille element and trims on the B-columns are painted in high-gloss black, the lower air inlets have chrome struts, the exterior mirrors are revised and there are chrome strips in the door handles (except on the S3).

A new rear diffuser insert, the tinted tail lamps on the three-door version, an updated line of alloy wheel designs and the addition of four new paint finishes (Volcano Red, Dakota Gray, Amethyst Gray and Scuba Blue) complete the exterior upgrades.

Inside, key changes are limited to the gray background of the dials, the revised flat-bottomed leather sports steering wheel with trim ring, a new selector lever for the S tronic gearbox, the black rings on the air vents and a high-gloss trim for the optional navigation system plus.

Engine options remains the same and include five gasoline and four diesel units, all turbocharged with direct-injection technology, ranging in output from the 90HP 1.6 TDI and 105HP 1.2 TFSI to the S3's 265HP 2.0 TFSI.

The modestly refined A3 range goes on sale in Europe this summer.

Source: Carscoop

0 comentarii

Volvo's new owner and China's top private automaker, Geely Automobile, has revealed a reworked version of its GE limousine prototype that drew attention last year for its... passing resemblance to the Rolls Royce Phantom.

For whatever reasons, Geely decided to modify the design of the 5.29 meter or about 17.3-foot long executive limo making it look more Chinese and less British.

The car now features a more bloated front end and a redesigned rear end while the Chinese maker also replaced the single throne at the rear with a more plebian seat bench for two.

The revised Geely GE limo will make its world debut at this month's Beijing Auto Show.

Source: Carscoop

0 comentarii

Audi released its facelifted Audi TT in Leipzig recently. For those who need it spelled out, the 2011 model year TT gets a 211-horse 2.0 TFSI 4-banger as en entry-level engine, and the following styling updates: LED daytime running lights, fresh front- and rear-end treatments, new shades of blue/gray/red, and an extra 2 cm in length on the outside.

Inside, customers can opt for "aluminum-look" trim and a few new colors of leather. The TTS and TTRS power trains remain the same. For the full shebang, check out our previous post here. Otherwise, go a little lower...little lower...little lower...and check out the live pics from the show.

Source: Carscoop

0 comentarii

This is Audi's facelifted TT Coupé and Roadster, though rather than referring to the tweaks as full-blown changes (which they're not), Ingolstadt is taking a more subtle approach and merely calling the revisions '2011 Model Year' tweaks.

I really can’t tell what’s new on this ‘new’ Audi TT!

Well it’s an Audi, so all TTs now come with a set of LED daytime running lights. As for the rest of the car, come on, can’t you see the changes?

Er, no...

Oh, well Audi says the interior and exterior have been 'revised with great attention to detail'. By now you must have spotted the 'imposing new bumper design' that adds 20mm to the length, the chrome trim surround on the foglights, the revised lattice of the single-frame grille, and the new diffuser-style rear bumper? No? Clearly you’re not looking hard enough...

Other visual tweaks are predominantly limited to new colours inside (three) and out (four), and some trim changes that bring a few more lashing of aluminium to the interior. It's not stunning stuff, but it is probably enough to get your average TT customer frothing over their frothy coffee.

Anything else new on the 2010 Audi TT range?

This is more like it - there's a completely new engine. The old 2.0-litre turbo and naturally aspirated 3.2 FSI have been junked for the same 2.0 TFSI found in the Mk6 Golf GTI. Power goes up from 197bhp to 208bhp, the 0-62mph time tumbles half a second to 6.1sec, the top speed climbs three notches and the engine is more efficient (42.8mpg and 154g/km against 36.7mpg and 183g/km).

The 158bhp 1.8 TFSI and 168bhp 2.0 TDI are unchanged, but Audi promises they're up to 14% more efficient than before thanks in part to a clever decoupling alternator that recharges the battery only under braking and coasting.

The hotter TTS gets a new grille, but otherwise it and the TT RS remain unchanged, the former with a 268bhp 2.0T, and the latter with a blown 2.5 five-pot producing 335bhp and 331lb ft.

The only dynamic tweak of note is the addition of a Sport button. Available (for a little more cash) on cars fitted with magnetic shock absorbers (which are standard on the TTS, an option on lesser models) the Sport button tweaks the steering and engine noise appropriately.

The revised Audi TT range will be unveiled at the 2010 Leipzig motor show this week. It's available to order now in the UK, and first deliveries to customers commence in summer 2010.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

0 comentarii

Aston Martin has shown off the new race-spec version of its Rapide sports saloon. It's bound to make its competition debut at the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring on 15-16 May 2010.

The Rapide will be driven by Aston CEO Ulrich Bez, who has a history of competing at the Nordschleife in his part-time role as a gentleman racer. It's in virtually road-car spec, upgraded merely to strip out weight (bye bye snug rear seats), retune the suspension and meet FIA race rules with cut-out, cages and fire extinguishers. Slick tyres are fitted too to help this four-door grip like a limpet.0

Dr Bez's pet project

Bez explained the rationale behind entering a saloon into the gruelling 24-hour race in Germany. 'This race represents the ultimate final engineering durability test for any sports car – it subjects the car to the toughest possible assessment under public scrutiny,' he said.

'The Rapide has the capability to carry four people in comfort but first and foremost it is a sports car and we will subject it to the same tests we would our other sports cars. We already have a proven track record at the Nurburgring, racing our road cars with limited modification and in recent years we have enjoyed success in winning the SP8 class both in 2008 and 2009.'

Seems a strange choice of race car... why not enter a Vantage again?

Good point! Gaydon will enter a V12 Vantage at the Nurburgring event. The coupé won its SP8 class in 2009's race debut and finished 21st overall.

Is entering a Rapide merely a gimmick? Probably. But the Nordschleife race is a usefully low-cost billboard to announce the arrival of its first four-door for a generation – and will attract some useful publicity on television and among enthusiasts worldwide.

The first customer Rapides land in Aston's 125 showrooms worldwide later in April 2010.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

0 comentarii