Graphic artist and automotive aficionado Idries Noah wows us yet again with the T2 Concept: an eco-friendly hybrid electric supercar. The South African designer, whose previous creations include the Audi R8-rivalling BMW M Sports Coupe and Dodge Viper-esque Project Fireblade, envisions the T2 Concept as, the “world’s fastest environmentally-friendly car”.
Kudos must be given to Noah for creating something that doesn’t look like a mere hodgepodge of other supercars like so many other artists’ work. I especially like the mix of sharp corners and harsh curves that make up the design.
Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to two electric motors for a theoretical total output of 469 hp (350 kw), Noah estimates that the T2 Concept is good for a (imagined?) 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) time of 4 seconds. This is roughly the same as a W211 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG.
And yes, I realize how silly it is to be talking power and performance figures for a car that is, in actual fact, non-existent. But just look at it and tell me you wouldn’t like one of these things in your garage in five to ten years.
You can check out more of Idries Noah’s work at his website and check out the T2 Concept in our gallery below.
By Tristan Hankins
Source: IDI3D
These are the first teaser renderings of Hyundai's new competitor in the European market D-segment, the i40 that will take on the likes of the VW Passat, Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna and Toyota Avensis from next year. It is based on a modified version of the North American Sonata's platform and aside from the estate model seen here, it will also be offered in a four-door sedan version, which will enter the market later towards the end of 2011.
Designed and developed by Hyundai’s German R&D centre in Russelsheim with European buyers in mind, the station wagon's exterior styling is heavily influenced by the South Korean automaker's Genus Concept model from 2006 (scroll down for photos).Hyundai's mid-sizer will be available in Europe with the same range of petrol and diesel engines as its sister model, the new [EU-spec] Kia Optima.
At launch, the palette of engines will include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and an output of 170-horsepower, and two variants of the firm's 1.7-liter turbo-diesel with 115 HP and 136 HP. The South Korean firm will further enhance the i40's engine range with a more powerful diesel unit starting from 2012.
The new i40 in estate form will make its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March and go on sale across Europe before summer of the same year.
Source: Hyundai , Via: Hyundai-blog
What you see pictured above is an official rendering of the Honda Civic Concept, which will be revealed in the flesh at the upcoming 2011 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2011. According to the Japanese automaker, the concept is more of a pre-production study that will preview the actual, ninth-generation 2012 Civic, which will go on-sale in North America in spring next year.
The illustration depicts a coupe model with possible styling influences from the European market Civic hatchback (front) and the North American Accord Coupe (profile). Honda did not release any specific details on the car, but we suspect that we'll learn more within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.
Saab UK has announced some specification upgrades for its new 9-5 saloon series and more specifically, the Vector SE models. To sweeten the deal for buyers, the Swedish automaker has equipped the Vector SE with full leather upholstery, instead of a leather and textile mix, and larger 18-inch Carve wheels, which replace the 17-inch Blade alloys, without increasing the price.
The Swedish maker also offers a revised chassis for the 160 hp 2.0-liter diesel variant equipped with a manual transmission. According to Saab, the new setup, combined with the bigger wheels, improves handling compared to the previous sport chassis.
Jonathan Nash, Saab GB Managing Director, commented: “These improvements are the result of feedback from the UK automotive media. The improved driving characteristics address issues related to ride comfort on UK roads. The fact that the engineering team have managed to make the changes without affecting the impressive CO2 emissions of just 139g/km for the manual 2.0-litre TiD 160PS car show that the small independent Saab engineering team can respond very quickly to market requirements”.
By Csaba Daradics
Ford Motor Corp.'s Australian division has released a teaser illustration of its new-look 2011 Territory, some six months ahead of the crossover's market launch. The current Territory is based on the underpinnings of the local market Falcon sedan and was first introduced in Australia in 2004 having received some subtle updates throughout its production life.
It is believed that the 2011 Territory will continue to make use of current model's platform adding fresh styling inside and out, plus a number of technology highlights, including the introduction of turbo-diesel power. "The Ford Territory set a new benchmark when it was first released and it is set to achieve this again – and more," said Bob Graziano, President and CEO of Ford Australia. "This is an exceptional SUV. It wears an exciting new look and will boast an extensive list of technical highlights. The Ford Australia team is taking the Territory to an all-new level of performance, refinement and quality, and customers will definitely experience these advancements when they drive it."
Although Ford did not get into any details on the powertrain options in the press release, the company had previously announced that the updated Territory would benefit from the introduction of the Ford and Peugeot-Citroen PSA co-developed 2.7-liter V6 turbo diesel engine.
There's also a strong possibility that Ford may add its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine to the range, as the new powerplant has already been confirmed for the Australian market Falcon.
The company also noted that in the next 18-months, approximately 85 percent of the entire Ford Australia new-model catalog will either be replaced or updated. New models planned for Australia include the latest iteration of the Focus and the Aussie-designed Ranger pickup truck, which was recently revealed at the Sydney Motor Show.
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The BMW 1-Series M Coupe is pretty fast on paper. Reaching the 60 mph (96 km/h) mark in just 4.7 seconds is no small feat, but nowadays, it seems that performance cars need to have a respectable “Ring” time under there belt to command respect. Now, a forum member of the 1Addicts fan site who calls himself "SteveD" claims that the Ring time for the 335-horsepower strong M model is 8 minutes and 12 seconds.
If true (and according to the Nürburgring lap times list posted on Wikipedia), this means the entry-level M model is 10 seconds faster than the E46 M3, on par with the E86 Z4 M Coupe, but 7 seconds slower than the E92 M3 .
Of course, just because something is posted on a forum, doesn’t necessarily make it true. However, it seems that “SteveD” is none other than Steve Davies, a UK journalist who writes for Skiddmark. When asked where did he received the info, "SteveD" wrote “directly from BMW when we filmed the car”.
And indeed, Skiddmark does feature a piece about the 1-Series M Coupe and it contains the information posted on 1addicts. Still, we’re going to take this one with a grain of salt until we have the official confirmation.
You can see how the 1 Series M Coupe's alleged 'Ring lap time compares with other models from BMW and other makers in the list below.
By Csaba Daradics
Nurburgring Lap Times as Posted on Wikipedia:
• E46 M3 CSL - 7:50
• E90/E92 M3 - 8:05
• E63 M6 - 8:09
• 1 series M coupe - 8:12
• Z4 M-Coupe - 8:12
• E60 M5 - 8:13
• Alpina B3 Biturbo - 8:14
• Z4 M-Roadster - 8:15
• Alpina Roadster S (Z4) - 8:15
• E46 M3 - 8:22
• 335i E92 Coupe - 8:26
Other Models Compared:
• 911 Carrera S PDK (997.5) - 7:50
• Audi R8 4.2 - 8:04
• Cayman S - 8:04 (by Walter Röhrl)
• Audi RS4 - 8:09
• Audi TT-RS - 8:09
• BMW 1 series M coupe - 8:12
• Aston Martin V8 Vantage - 8:13
• Mercedes C63 AMG PP - 8:13
• Corvette C6 - 8:15
• Cayman S - 8:16 (Sport Auto)
• Porsche Boxter S (987.5) - 8:18
• Lexus IS-F - 8:18
• 2010 VW Golf R - 8:23
• Audi S5 (2007) - 8:26
• Audi TT-S (2008) - 8:29
Source: Skiddmark , Via: 1Addicts
Over the decades, the London Taxi has become a British icon, just like the double-decker bus or the red telephone booth. However, this might change in the future, as stricter emissions regulations could threaten the aging diesel cabs. Volkswagen’s EV Taxi Concept, which is based on the forthcoming Up! supermini, could offer a solution to this problem, should it ever make it into production.
Motivated by a 115 hp (86 kW) electric motor that draws energy from a set of lithium-ion batteries, the Taxi Concept can reach a top speed of 74 mph (121 km/h) and has driving range of 186 miles (300 km). According to the German automaker, an 80 per cent charge of the batteries takes approximately one hour to complete.
It’s clear that, performance-wise, the EV is more than suited for taxi duty, but Volkswagen didn’t stop there. Designing a body with minimal overhangs, the automaker was able to create a roomy cabin, albeit for only two passengers at the back along with their luggage. Still, that’s pretty impressive if we take into consideration that the concept measures just 3.7 meters (146 inches) in length.
The cabin has a simple, clutter-free design with the most important functions, such as fare information, climate control and entertainment, controlled through a touchscreen display mounted next to the driver. A second display provides information for the passengers.
The Taxi Concept doesn’t fulfill current London taxi regulations, but it does offer an insight into future possibilities, which, in our opinion, are worth considering.
Motivated by a 115 hp (86 kW) electric motor that draws energy from a set of lithium-ion batteries, the Taxi Concept can reach a top speed of 74 mph (121 km/h) and has driving range of 186 miles (300 km). According to the German automaker, an 80 per cent charge of the batteries takes approximately one hour to complete.It’s clear that, performance-wise, the EV is more than suited for taxi duty, but Volkswagen didn’t stop there. Designing a body with minimal overhangs, the automaker was able to create a roomy cabin, albeit for only two passengers at the back along with their luggage. Still, that’s pretty impressive if we take into consideration that the concept measures just 3.7 meters (146 inches) in length.
The cabin has a simple, clutter-free design with the most important functions, such as fare information, climate control and entertainment, controlled through a touchscreen display mounted next to the driver. A second display provides information for the passengers.
The Taxi Concept doesn’t fulfill current London taxi regulations, but it does offer an insight into future possibilities, which, in our opinion, are worth considering.
By Csaba Daradics