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Paris Preview: Mini electric concept drives on two wheels

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Mini, Motorcycle

Mini Scooter E concept- Click above for high-res image gallery

Mini has shared plans with its Facebook fans (all 370,702 of them, making the automaker even more popular than David Hasselhoff) to bring its latest electric concept to the Paris Motor Show. Sporting the colors and insignia of the all-electric Mini E, a trio of drawings reveal a scooter with a Vespa-esque rear end following up a somewhat less successful fascia. The Mini-style mirrors are a nice touch while the turn signals remind of the BMW Isetta, which almost saves the design from its bland headlight, but its departure still seems significantly superior to its arrival. Perhaps it will look better when we see it in the metal. Maybe even better than its Smart competition.

More interesting than its aesthetics are hints at the mechanicals. It looks like – and feel free to correct us in the comments if you think differently – that both the front and rear wheels contain motors. This arrangement could also foretell some regenerative braking, though the extra engineering might add too significantly to the price tag should the scooter ever make it to a retail outlet near you (we said outlet, get it?). Also of interest is that little box that would be located between your shins if you were astride the little beastie facing what we hope is a Mini-style speedometer. Radio? GPS? Pedestrian warning system? We’ll let you know in a few weeks.

Gallery: MINI Scooter E concept

[Source: Mini via Motorcycle.com]

Paris Preview: Mini electric concept drives on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini unveiling new concept on September 23 and you can be in attendance… if you live in the UK

Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mini, UK

Mini concept to be unveiled on September 23

Mini is unveiling a new concept on September 23 in London, and you can win exclusive tickets to join select journalists and BMW Group employees at the live unveiling. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is e-mail facebook at mini dot co dot uk with the subject line ‘MINI Design Concept Event’ by Monday, September 13. Excited? Ready to enter? Don’t get too jazzed up – Mini is only offering this contest to folks who live in the United Kingdom.

It’s pretty disappointing that the contest is only available to UK residents (we totally want to go), but we are indeed interested in what lies under the skin-tight body wrap seen here. It appears to be some version of the Mini Countryman, but we can distinctly see the bulge of two door handles on the driver’s side, ruling out any chance that this concept will be the rumored coupe version of the Mini crossover. John Cooper Works treatment, perhaps?

If you live on the English Isle and are interested in attending the event, head over to Mini UK’s Facebook page for more info.

[Source: Mini UK Facebook]

Mini unveiling new concept on September 23 and you can be in attendance… if you live in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan teases Paris-bound Townpod EV concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Paris Motor Show, Nissan, Design/Style, Electric

Nissan Townpod EV concept

As the Paris Motor Show draws closer, automakers are sending out the usual raft of teaser shots. The pictures never reveal much but they definitely get people talking. The image you see above? It’s a glimpse at the zero-emissions, electric concept vehicle called the Nissan Townpod EV.

Nissan has this to say about the Townpod:

It is designed to offer zero-emissions mobility to a future generation of home-based, innovative entrepreneurs who are creative and tech-savvy. It is more than just a car and it’s more than just a van – it heralds a new-era of flexible, stylish vehicles that will bring electric-vehicle mobility to the masses.

So, is it an electric city-car for the techie on the go? Will the Townpod EV be a mobile blogging lair for those both green and lazy? Honestly, we have no clue. It’s not easy to figure out what something looks like from an image that resembles the eye of an Autobot. For now, we’ll just have to let our imaginations run wild.

We do love staring at concept vehicles until our contact lenses dry out, and the Nissan Townpod EV is sure to be no exception. Stay tuned for updates from the Paris Motor Show, and hit the jump to read Nissan’s official press release.

[Source: Nissan]

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Nissan teases Paris-bound Townpod EV concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda Shinari Concept debuts new face of the brand in style

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Mazda, Design/Style

Mazda Shinari Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Mazda invited us to Milan to see its new concept car, we knew it must be something important. Normally concept cars get their 15 minutes of fame at an auto show, and then it’s off to the next press conference to see what the following automaker will introduce. Not so with Mazda’s latest styling endeavor. The Japanese automaker wanted our full and undivided attention, with the center of international design and fashion in Italy as a fitting backdrop.

The Shinari concept, which roughly translates to “resistance to being bent,” will serve as a the basis for Mazda’s new design language, and many of the styling cues will make it to future production vehicles. That means that the Shinari will essentially affect the design of every vehicle coming from the Japanese automaker for the next several years. An important car for Mazda? You bet.

The Shinari was officially unveiled earlier today, and we spent several hours talking with Mazda’s artists about the design and how it will affect the automaker’s forthcoming vehicles. Follow the jump to learn more about the Shinari and what it means for the brand’s future.

Gallery: Mazda Shinari Concept In Detail

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Mazda Shinari Concept debuts new face of the brand in style originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet (convertible) joining Ellure concept in LA

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Convertible, Crossover, Nissan

Yes, the Nissan Murano convertible is going to happen, and not only is it coming to the LA Auto Show, but now it has a name: The Murano CrossCabriolet.

Billed as the world’s first four-seat, all-wheel drive convertible crossover, the chop-top CUV will only sport two doors and – contrary to the renderings floating around – it won’t come with PT Cruiser-style roll hoop.

According to Inside Line, joining the CrossCabriolet at the So. Cal. show this November will be a new Nissan sedan concept that, is said to be “a new dimension to traditional sedan design – a dimension named innovation.” Ridiculous hyperbole aside, the four-door concept has been dubbed Ellure, and hopefully the “new dimension” it creates will swallow the CrossCabriolet into oblivion.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet (convertible) joining Ellure concept in LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai RB concept for Moscow revealed [w/video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Sedan, Hyundai, Russia, Design/Style

Hyundai RB Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai has dropped its new RB concept on the crowd at this year’s Moscow Motor Show, and according to our Spanish-speaking sister site, the car you see above is likely to evolve into a genuine Russian-market production model with one of two engines.

On the base side of things, buyers can opt for a 1.4-liter four-cylinder with around 109 horsepower, while those looking for a bit more grunt will be able to snap up a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with around 124 ponies. Both engines should be available with either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.

The mechanicals aren’t the kind of hardware we typically get excited about, but we do like the compact sedan’s lines. The design borrows plenty of cues from the similarly sultry Sonata, and the look wears well on a smaller craft. So far, it looks like the RB will stick to its Russian borders, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see a similarly handsome mug on our shores. From what we can gather, the next-generation Accent will be very similar to what you see above. Small things like fascias and tail lights may change, but the overall car is the successor to the Hyundai compact throne. Hit the jump for a look at a video of the concept as well as the full press release.

Gallery: Hyundai RB Concept

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

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Hyundai RB concept for Moscow revealed [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are we witnessing the end of the far-reaching concept car?

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Design/Style

Cadillac Sixteen Concept – Click above for high-res image

It certainly feels that way. Whereas our show halls were once a glittering homage to what could be if pesky things like cost, physics and safety were no object, automakers are beginning to shy away from overtly wild concepts. Byron Pope from Wards Auto has taken the time to interview a slew of designers from companies like Ford, Toyota and Honda to figure out why manufacturers are abandoning their whimsical concepts. Not surprisingly, the answer has a lot to do with the financial times we live in. With most concepts costing millions of dollars to produce, few automakers are willing to expend those kind of resources on something that won’t do much for public perception.

But fear not, all is not lost. According to Pope, the industry goes through cycles of wild design boom and bust. In the years following the great depression, concepts took a turn for the realistic, followed by an explosion of design that would eventually lead to the likes of Motorama. Likewise, concepts disappeared once again when the fuel crisis of the ’70s hit, only to be resurrected in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Our guess is that if futuristic design studies are your cup of tea, give the industry some time. They’ll surface again.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Are we witnessing the end of the far-reaching concept car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept marks 75 years of The Cat [w/Video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Videos, Jaguar, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style, Luxury

Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery. Follow the jump to watch video.

The Jaguar XKR175 isn’t the only special kitty making its debut out in Monterey. Jag’s new limited-production coupe is joined by the one-off XJ75 Platinum concept created to honor of the brand’s 75th anniversary. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance attendees will find it parked on the Concept Car Lawn.

Pearlescent white paint provides a stark contrast to the big saloon’s blacked-out grille, D-pillar, and custom 22-inch wheels. Inside, black leather seats get quilted, diamond-stitch suede inserts. The same material also adorns the headliner. Additional glitz comes courtesy of the Bremont Watch Company, which is responsible for the bespoke clock installed in the XJ75’s console.

If the 470-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 doesn’t provide enough entertainment, the XJ75 Platinum also features a 1,200-watt, 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Check out both the official photos and live pictures in high-res galleries below or follow the jump for video walkaround by Jaguar design Boss Ian Callum.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept

Gallery: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept

Continue reading Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept marks 75 years of The Cat [w/Video]

Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept marks 75 years of The Cat [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota to replace Yaris in U.S., concept coming to Detroit?

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Toyota

2010 Toyota Yaris – Click above for high-res image gallery

B-segment cars have been getting a whole lot of attention lately, what with super-good offerings like the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Honda Fit setting the bar high for the class. Toyota has its friendly little Yaris, but that model hasn’t seen any sort of real update since its debut in late 2006, but large changes are in the works.

Toyota’s North American operations have reportedly been pushing for the Yaris to grow in size, and we should get a conceptual preview of what to expect at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Toyota is also working on a hybrid powertrain for the Yaris in Europe, though reports state that this engine isn’t slated for the United States. Odd, especially since Toyota has always talked about expanding its Prius nameplate to include a range of hybrid vehicles.

For now, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more rumors, and we’ll wait to see what Toyota has in store for a Detroit Show debut next January.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Yaris 5 Door

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Toyota to replace Yaris in U.S., concept coming to Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercury Messenger Concept up on the block at RM Auctions

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Auctions, Mercury

2003 Mercury Messenger Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

“Mercury is a brand sending a message that modern design will lead its rejuvenation. Mercury is returning to its roots as a design leader introducing the Messenger concept, a distinctive and energetic high-performance two-seat sports coupe.” So said Ford’s former interplanetary brand when it introduced the Mercury Messenger at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Needless to say, that hoped-for rejuvenation never actually panned out.

As much as we’d like to say that Ford spent a few hundred million giving Mercury a much-needed halo car instead of shuttering the brand entirely, it didn’t happen and the reality is that the eight generation of the Mercury Cougar went on to be the last non-Ford-based automobile ever to roll off the showroom floor. Sad, no?

Perhaps all is not lost, however. According to Automotive Traveler, the 2003 Mercury Messenger Concept is about to go under the gavel at the RM Auction during the festivities at Pebble Beach on August 13 and 14. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Because the car was nothing more than a styling exercise, there’s no drivetrain in the Messenger… but we’d like to think that some willing participant will find a way to make it all go down the road with a brand spankin’ new 5.0-liter V8 underhood.

Gallery: 2003 Mercury Messenger Concept

[Source: Automotive Traveler via Hooniverse]

Mercury Messenger Concept up on the block at RM Auctions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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