Tag: concept

Official: Kia teases B-segment concept headed to Frankfurt

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Kia, Design/Style

Kia Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

It’s not uncommon to see an automaker go a little outside of its comfort zone when creating a concept car, but Kia seems to be going all out for a new small concept it plans to unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Although there is not much information to go on about this unnamed concept, Kia does say that it “hints at a possible future B-segment contender.”

With headlights that would look at home on a C7 Corvette or Jaguar F-Type and door cut lines reminiscent of a Ford GT, we can only imagine how sporty this car will look in the flesh. The wide door openings also give a good glimpse inside the car revealing details deep, flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters and the peculiar rotary-style shifter, but our attention is on the instrument panel switches. If you look closely, the second switch from the left seems to be for a center differential possibly hinting at a future sporty all-wheel-drive Kia. Yes, please! Scroll down for the brief press release on the car, and stay tuned for more info as we’ll be on hand covering the show next month.

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Kia teases B-segment concept headed to Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Toyota promises Hybrid-R concept for Frankfurt

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Technology, Toyota

Toyota Hybrid-R Concept badge

Toyota will be bringing a new concept car to the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Dubbed Hybrid-R, Toyota says the concept will feature the same Toyota Hybrid System-Racing tech found in the automaker’s latest endurance car, the TS030 Hybrid.

That car took second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a gas-powered, 3.4-liter, naturally aspirated V8 and a capacitor-based hybrid system. The result was 530 ponies from the engine and an extra 300 horsepower from the electric motor and batteries.

Toyota’s press release came with but one image, a new Hybrid badge which is a far cry from the Hybrid Synergy Drive label found on the automaker’s other offerings. There’s really not much else to go on yet, but the news that Toyota is already adapting its racing tech for a concept bodes well for the future of exciting, hybridized offerings from the automaker. We’ll be at Frankfurt live, and will be sure to bring you all the news on this new concept as it becomes available.

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Toyota promises Hybrid-R concept for Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Infiniti Q30 premium compact concept teased ahead of Frankfurt debut

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Design/Style, Luxury

This year’s Frankfurt Motor Show is certainly shaping up to be an exciting (and busy) event, and now we have one more car to add to the list of unveilings. The Infiniti Q30 Concept will make its global debut in Frankfurt, giving a glimpse at a future premium small car for the brand, and the automaker has released the teaser sketch you see above to grab our interest before we see the real thing in person next month.

Seemingly headed in a much different direction than the 2012 LE Concept, the Q30 has even more aggressive styling to go with its two-box design. The Q30 is the not only the first Infiniti concept to come out under the company’s new design director, Alfonso Albaisa, it’s the first car that Sebastian Vettel, Infiniti’s Director of Performance, will help develop from the very beginning, and it could be the small car that Infiniti plans to build at its Sunderland, UK assembly plant.

Scroll down for the preliminary press release for this upcoming concept.

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Infiniti Q30 premium compact concept teased ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Aug 2013 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Mazda and Clemson collaborate on Deep Orange 3 concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Wagon, Technology, Mazda, Design/Style

Mazda Clemson Deep Orange 3 Concept Car

There are school projects, and then there’s the Mazda Deep Orange 3 Concept Car, a one-off built by Clemson University automotive engineering students and designed by Frederick Naaman from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Clemson students unveiled the chassis at the 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas, although this is the first showing of the car fully clothed.

Sporting a unique hybrid powertrain that can automatically switch between front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive. A gas-powered engine handles the fronts, while the rears are powered by an electric motor and a battery pack. The Deep Orange 3 also has an unusual three-plus-three layout, making it a much cooler version of your parent’s old Vista Cruiser. The exterior sheetmetal clearly follows Mazda’s established design language, and looks like it could easily pass for a five-door version of the Shinari Concept. It really is a great looking vehicle.

The Deep Orange 3 was part of Clemson’s graduate-level auto engineering program, and is a regular partnership between the east coast school and the Pasadena-based design college’s students. Clemson, Art Center and Mazda will be showing the Deep Orange 3 at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, from August 5 to August 8. Click through for a press release from Clemson University.

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Mazda and Clemson collaborate on Deep Orange 3 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Volvo C30 Polestar Concept hits the ‘Ring

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Volvo, Luxury

Scandinavian Touring Car Championship driver Robert Dahlgren drives C30 Polestar concept on the Nurburgring.

It’s been over three years since the Volvo C30 Polestar Concept was unveiled, driven by journalists and, as it turns out, lapped around the Nürburgring with Scandinavian Touring Car Championship driver Robert Dahlgren behind the wheel. For whatever reason, the video of the ‘Ring track session was only published by the tuning company yesterday. (Another discrepancy: Did Polestar’s C30 lose 46 horsepower somewhere along the line? Because the video states that it has 405 hp, while the company’s website quotes 451 hp…)

Whatever the case, the tuned Volvo is a beast, much more so than the similar-looking, 250-hp 2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition that was sold last year. With 451 hp (sounds better than 405 hp, doesn’t it?), all-wheel drive, limited-slip differentials front and rear and Öhlins dampers, the Polestar Concept checks all of the right boxes for us.

For some reason, the video, which you can watch below, seems a bit vanilla to us. Perhaps the overly dramatic music takes away from the action and the beautiful sounds of the turbocharged five-cylinder engine?

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Volvo C30 Polestar Concept hits the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctions: Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept to be auctioned in Monterey

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Racing

2010 Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept - front three-quarter view

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro GS Racecar Concept, built for the SEMA show back in 2008 by Riley Technologies with assistance from GM’s High Performance Vehicle Operations, will be offered for sale at the Mecum Auctions during Monterey Car Week next month.

The prototype motorsports Camaro was painted to resemble Mark Donohue’s 1969 Camaro Trans-Am racecar, and it had a few performance modifications done to make it eligible to compete in Grand Am’s Koni Challenge GS class. The production Camaro body-in-white was seam welded, the fenders, doors, hood and trunk were replaced with carbon-fiber pieces, a three-inch exhaust system with aftermarket mufflers was swapped in and engine, transmission and differential oil coolers were added. The stock Chevrolet LS3 V8 was dropped onto solid engine mounts and paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox, with upgraded brakes completing the package.

Mecum Auctions estimates this track-oriented prototype will bring in between $110,000 and $200,000 at the auction block.

Chevy Camaro GS Racecar Concept to be auctioned in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Mini Vision concept presages next-gen Cooper Hardtop

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchback, Mini, Design/Style

Mini Vision Concept front three-quarter

Mini is preparing to launch the third-generation of its trademark three-door hatch, and while we’ve already shown you that car mostly devoid of camouflage in spy shots, the BMW-owned brand has still seen fit to release a concept that previews the new design. Called the Mini Vision, it looks broadly similar to the cars we showed you at the beginning of the month, aside from a few concepty styling pieces.

The Vision is a well-balanced blend of the stylish hatch that rebooted the Mini brand in 2002 and the more bloated model that arrived in 2007. It’s more rounded than the 2002, but seems decidedly more muscular than the 2007, and features modern accents like full LED headlights inspired by the sadly not-for-production Rocketman concept. Mini’s traditional floating roof soldiers on, while the concept wears side grilles that seem borrowed from the Countryman and Paceman. Based on what we’ve seen in the spy shots, however, that treatment isn’t going to make production, at least not on the models we’ve seen.

It’s safe to say that the interior on this concept bears only a slight resemblance to what we’ll see on the production car. The integrated Union Jack straps in the door panels are a cool touch, but the Vision’s cabin looks like something out of a flying saucer. We’d expect only inspirational traces to arrive on the production model.

Mini revealed the Vision Concept at something called the Mini Design@Home event earlier today. We expect to see it trotted out on the auto show circuit before the production third-gen F56 Mini Cooper Hardtop makes its official debut later this year or early next year.

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Mini Vision concept presages next-gen Cooper Hardtop originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Renault promises new concept car and Dacia Duster in Frankfurt

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault

Dacia Duster front three-quarter

Renault and Dacia will be headed to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in a big way, with a new concept car from the French company and an all-new Duster from its Romanian budget brand. The new concept is particularly exciting, as Renault’s press release mentions a “new brand identity.” We can also count on this car being a bit higher on the luxury scale than Renault’s traditional offerings.

Dacia’s new Duster will have big shoes to fill when it hits the spotlights of Frankfurt. The current Duster (pictured), a small, handsomely rugged CUV, was introduced in 2010, and has been a critical hit in Great Britain, Russia, and India (where it’s called the Renault Duster). It’s also been a smash with customers, becoming Renault’s best-selling global model.

Both the new Duster and Renault’s latest concept will hit the stage in Frankfurt on September 10.

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Renault promises new concept car and Dacia Duster in Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW M4 Concept headed for Pebble Beach?

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, LA Auto Show, Performance, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows

If a report from AutoExpress is to be believed, BMW will have a surprise in store for August’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The sleuths on the other side of The Pond are expecting to see a production-ready concept of the M3 Coupe-replacing BMW M4. The near-production showcar move is something we’ve seen from BMW, particularly when it comes to M products, over the years.

From the report, AE is expecting production versions of both the M4 and M3 sedan to be shown at the North American International Auto Show in January. We’ve covered the M4 rather obsessively, reporting on the company’s efforts to reduce the new car’s curb weight just last week.

AutoExpress dives deeper, though, speaking to BMW Group’s Senior VP Brand and Product Strategies, Klaus Froehlich. According to Froehlich, the M3/4 only shares about 20 percent of its parts with the 335i/435i. The engine is expected to be a bespoke unit, and will be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There should be plenty of carbon fiber to cut weight, as well. The report gets even more explosive, though, as the British outfit has revealed that the M3 and M4 will be joined by a 4 Series Convertible and the new BMW 2 Series in Detroit.

Now, this all seems fantastic, and we’re inclined to believe that an M4 Concept could arrive at Pebble. But debuting four (four!) models, especially two M cars, at one auto show just doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. What seems more likely, though, is for the two M cars to arrive in Detroit, having been preceded by the 4 Series Convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Why? Well, LA isn’t covered in snow for half the year, making it a much bigger convertible market than Detroit. As for the 2 Series, that’s a toss up. We could see it being shown at any of the big American shows, or it could be held until Geneva. We’ll be sure to update when we know more.

BMW M4 Concept headed for Pebble Beach? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Design/Style, Luxury, Off-Road

Coachbuilt Italian Finery Rides High In The Mediterranean

Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept

Apparently, the appropriate gift to give for the 45th anniversary of almost anything is a blue sapphire stone. I cannot imagine Autoblog readers craving a story about that, so I’m glad that Italdesign Giugiaro spared me that gig and instead created this truly interesting Parcour concept to mark its 45th anniversary.

Parcour is named after the generally urban activity of French origin (spelled “parkour”), of throwing one’s (presumably) agile body off walls and railings in an anti-gravity freestyle momentum ballet. This sometimes ends up being broadcast on YouTube, particularly to show a parkour session gone horribly wrong, with the star taking a metal banister in the cojones or receiving a fetching bouquet of twisted fingers. Clearly design boss at Giugiaro, Fabrizio Giugiaro (son of legend Giorgetto), and his squad had more coordinated good parkour-ing in mind when they let me drive their cool creation on the island of Sardinia. (I live not far away, so it’s a one-hour flight with the herds on a low-cost airline.)

It’s been a while since a traditional Turin house created a million-dollar running prototype or showcar that it felt like entrusting to a journalist or two. Recent years have been distracting, to say the least, for the likes of Bertone, Pininfarina and Giugiaro, as the global crisis threatened to suck them under for good. Italdesign-Giugiaro did a very wise thing in May 2010 and allowed longtime partner Volkswagen Group to buy a majority stake, thus securing the future of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s dream factory. But all of these dealings have put drives like this on hold for a bit while all t’s were crossed and i’s dotted.

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Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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