Tag Archives: concept
Top 3 Things About The 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron Concept
The prototype for the 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron concept was revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The concept car blended both functionality and a dynamic style that’s nothing like we saw in an Audi. The best thing about the E-Tron concept, at least for traditional car enthusiasts, is that there is no hint of autonomous tech assistance here.
Exterior
The exterior design is a mixture of the layout of a coupe, the shape of a hatchback, and the profile of an exotic vehicle. Up front, you might see some similarities with Audi’s current supercar, the R8. The Singleframe grille was made prominent because of its hexagon shape. The headlights are made of ultra-thin units that has laser-high beams and are integrated with digital matrix technology.
The PB18 measures 4.53 meters (14.5 feet) long, 2 meters (6.4 feet) wide, and 1.15 meters (4.6 tall), so it’s not exactly a small car.
Interior
The cabin of the PB18 concept car can either be a two-person layout or a single-passenger layout, the latter will likely put the driver in the middle of the cockpit, much like the Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow concept. The windshield is not just a simple glass. It’s an augmented reality system that displays information about the road ahead. Because of the hatchback layout of the concept car, it actually has quite a reasonable amount of cabin space—16.6 cubic feet to be exact.
Drivetrain
The concept car uses three different electric motors—one in the front axle and two in the rear axle. Each of the electric motors can produce 201 horsepower. Combining all three will amount to a whopping 604 horsepower, which can increase to 671 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque during normal driving sessions. There’s a temporary boost that allows the engine to make 764 horsepower, which is enough to help the PB18 accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just over two seconds.
Examining the Beauty of the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQ Silver Arrow
Mercedes-Benz has plenty of history from which they can pull out a concept so beautiful and ethereal that it can make our eyes water. And that’s exactly what they have done when they pulled back the sheet from the Vision EQ Silver Arrow at the Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California.
The concept is a forward-looking take on the legendary streamliners of the 1930s, particularly the W125 Rekordwagen which set the world record for the highest speed on a public road. It held that record for 79 years until the Koenigsegg Agera RS went 8 mph faster last fall. For added context, the Rekordwagen is scheduled to appear alongside this Vision EQ Silver Arrow concept.
The difference would be what’s under the hood. The W125 made its 275 horsepower from a twin-supercharged 5.6-liter V-12 engine while the Vision EQ Silver Arrow will produce 750 horsepower using two electric motors (one per axle) and an 80kWh battery. The W125 can comfortably exceed 250 miles per hour while the Vision EQ is built to produce 250 miles per charge.
The exterior is made of carbon fiber, and to achieve that Silver Arrow appearance, the top layer of the exterior was painted in Alubeam Silver. This is a reference to the unpainted metal of old cars. The liquid-like finish is matched by the very fluid surfacing. You can find not a single crease on the Vision EQ. The only “imperfections” found on the smooth surface were the place where the top surface meets the unpainted front mask and the protruding side skirts.
The 168-spoke wheels are half-covered and they are painted in “rose gold” to loosely resemble the copper wire inside an electric motor. Since this is a concept car, the wheels are naturally so big it’s almost impossible to imagine what tires could fit them.
According to Mercedes, the Vision EQ Silver Arrow is intended to draw on the brand’s legacy of unmatched acceleration and driving pleasure. It “provides an insight into the future of our design.”
Noble M500 Gets Introduced With 550HP
Since 2010, British sports car manufacturer Noble has been making one car only—the M600. But at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the automaker has introduced an all-new concept in the form of the Noble M500. It has a fiberglass body and packs in the powerful twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine.
The M500 is only a concept car for now, and the car that was showcased during the festival is still in early development, so the actual production car might not be launched until 2019. It was reported that the M500 will have a rear-wheel-drive system with a fiberglass body and a direct-shift dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Under the hood, the powerful twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine can produce 550 horsepower. The engine comes from the same family of engines that are in the Radical RXC Turbo, Ford F-150 and Ford GT. There’s a difference in power, though, since the GT produces 647 horses. The figure also leaves a 110hp gap between the M500 and the M600.
Unlike the M600 which is made with a carbon fiber body, the M500 will use fiberglass for its frame. It will put it at par with the M600’s 2,756 pounds of weight, though the M500 will likely be heavier as it focuses on being more of a comfortable daily car.
Noble is positioning the M500 to be more of a daily car than the M600. It will also be priced lower so that it can bring in more volume and customers.
Noble company director Peter Boutwood was responsible for the design of the M500, which is really a step up from the M600. The company moved away from the squarer design of the M600 and follows other modern supercars with a slippery shape and flying buttresses.
The car isn’t expected to be in production until well into 2019 and pricing hasn’t even been set yet. But based on Noble’s decision to lower the price of the M500, it should be way below the M600’s $272,000 price.
The Kia Telluride Spy Shots Look A Lot Like the SUV’s 2016 Concept Model
We first saw the concept for the larger sport utility vehicle Kia Telluride back in 2016. These spy shots prove that the Telluride is on its way to production form, thanks largely to the uncovered front grille and headlights.
The spy shots from Autoblog reveal that the Telluride uses much of the same design shown in the 2016 concept. It has the same square and blocky design that features a tall, sheer, slightly upturned nose. The grille is broader but it curves a bit backward towards the headlights, allowing for a softer facade. The grille also has a slightly upward angle and the headlights have increased in size compared with the concept. And instead of being an inset, the headlights wrap around the fender.
The sides and the rear of the Telluride have more camouflage but that didn’t stop us from having a look at what this new SUV from Kia will offer. The details are taken straight out from the concept and that includes the chrome trim that surrounds the windows. It has a little extension that leads to the B-Pillar.
The rear taillights feature the concept’s inverted L-shaped lights, though the lights on the production model span the full width of the rear hatch.
There is no word yet on the powertrains that will be available for the Telluride. But seeing that this is a mid-sized SUV, we should probably look at the engines available in the Sorrento. Back when it was first introduced as a concept, reports indicated that it would have a 3.5-liter gasoline direct injected V-6 machine that produces 270 horsepower combined with an electric motor that can produce 130 horsepower.
The Telluride should be ready for production in about a year. A report earlier this year said that the announcement will be coming in the near future. The latest spy shots we got here might look exactly like the production version, so we already have a good sense of how the Telluride will look in our garages.
A Look Back at the 2016 Kia Telluride Concept
Let’s revisit the 2016 concept of the Kia Telluride in the video below that comes with a cool remix of Ennio Morricone’s masterpiece:
Is The Grandmaster Hyundai’s New Three-Row Crossover?
Hyundai is finally ready to make its mark in the crossover segment. It is now filling its lineup with the new Kona, as well as updated versions of the Tucson and the Santa Fe. But aside from these models, Hyundai also introduced a possible new three-row crossover at the Busan Auto Show.
Dubbed as the “HDC-2 Grandmaster”, the concept might be a preview to Hyundai’s plan of designing a new three-row crossover. The model should slot right above the Santa Fe and will have seats available for a total for eight passengers.
The design cues of the Grandmaster are based on the Santa Fe, which was previously called the Santa Fe Sport. But don’t think that this new model would be very similar to the smaller Santa Fe. The Grandmaster will have newly designed wheels, taillights, and side windows never before seen in another Hyundai model.
The name of this new model, if the Grandmaster name will stick, is quite cool and it comes the game of chess, wherein the winner is called the grandmaster. In a statement, the South Korean automaker said that the name is indicative of the company’s plan to create a uniform vehicle line-up that would demonstrate the Hyundai look without necessarily being too similar with each other. Each model, though following a specific design cue, should still have a distinctive character and role.
From what we understand, Hyundai is planning to overhaul the design direction of the company’s fleet. The new design will affect more than just one Hyundai model. Along with the Le Fil Rouge concept car, the new Grandmaster will feature the “Sensuous Sportiness” that Hyundai wants to highlight as its new design theme. This will apply on the automaker’s future sedans and SUVs.
The Grandmaster should be available in the market by 2019.
The BMW iNext Is A Crossover And We Are Not Surprised
The BMW iNext is set to debut as a concept vehicle later this year, but we already received a teaser photo courtesy of the German automaker. There’s so much to look for, including the fact that the iNext is going to become a crossover rather than a sedan. No surprise there, huh?
Many expected the iNext to be a sedan because it will be inspired by the Vision Next 100 concept, but there is a big demand for SUVs in the auto industry, particularly in China, now the world’s largest market for automobiles. In 2017, the market share of SUVs in China exceeded that of sedans. So, it only makes sense for BMW to slot the iNext above the iX3 and have it sized the same as the X5. For comparison, the iX3 is just an X3 with mild design modifications.
Similar to the iX3, the iNext will feature BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology. This drivetrain separates the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics, and features a more powerful set of batteries. The eDrive technology in the iX3 can produce 270 horsepower and can go 400 kilometers (about 249 miles) in the iX3 concept. Since the iNext is slotted above the iX3, we can expect a more powerful iteration of the eDrive powertrain.
The iNext is expected to be the German automaker’s first vehicle to feature autonomous driving technology. BMW is working with a number of big companies such as Mobileye, Intel, Continental, and Magna.
The iNext will start production sometimes in 2021, and is set to become the brand’s flagship electric vehicle. The much-discussed and highly-anticipated iNext should be catching the attention of SUV lovers worldwide, especially those who have made the transition to electrically-charged vehicles. It should be competing with Tesla’s Model X, which is also an electric SUV.
3 Things To Know About The 2018 Subaru Viziv Tourer Concept
It has been years since we last saw Subaru come up with a new model as it has been busy showcasing new design features under the Viziv name. After introducing the first concept in 2013, Subaru has launched a new one every year since then. This latest concept is called the Subaru Viziv Tourer and it was introduced during the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
1. Exterior
Just like its predecessor, the Viziv Tourer will use the company’s new Dynamic X Solid design language, though this one is a bit more aggressive than past concepts. In front, there’s the same hexagonal grille but the headlamps are sharper and the fender vents have muscular surrounds. There’s an aggressive splitter on the lower bumper that’s made from carbon fiber, as well as the wheel arch inserts and the side skirts.
There are no door handles and the side mirrors have been replaced by cameras. The overall profile is that of a sporty hatchback with a sloping roofline and quarter windows.
2. Interior
We don’t know anything yet about the interior of this new concept from Subaru, though we heard that it has a four-seat layout for maximum comfort. This configuration, of course, will remain with the concept as this could not be carried over to a production model. We all know that wagons and hatchbacks must provide seating for five passengers, at the very least.
Tech features include the EyeSight system, a new radar system, and a new GPS and navigation system. All of these would work to give the car semi-autonomous driving assistance and eliminate accidents.
3. Drivetrain
The Tourer will be a gasoline-only vehicle. It will be powered by a boxer engine, but that’s as far as we’re able to know. The Japanese automaker has yet to reveal output details of that said engine. Interestingly enough, Subaru chose to keep hybrids and electric engines out of this concept. Some Viziv concepts were hybrids, but the Tourer will only be running on gasoline.
Honda Introduces Everus Concept At Beijing Auto Show
Those of you who think that Honda is simply dwindling their thumbs while everyone is jumping on the electrification bandwagon will soon be proven wrong. At the 2018 Beijing International Motor Show, the Japanese automaker unveiled the Everus concept, a HR-V-looking electric vehicle that signals Honda’s entrance into a market dominated by the likes of Tesla.
Even though it is still a concept, the Everus looks like it’s ready to roll out of the production line. Details are still scant and we barely know any information about the Everus, but looking at the photos showed the same size and proportions as the Honda HR-V. It even has the weird rear door handles that are placed at the C-pillar.
If this is how Honda’s new EV will look like, it will definitely draw a lot of praise from enthusiasts and Honda fans. Unlike other concept cars that are too far off from the actual production unit, the Everus has a promising future to look like the concept. We can probably surmise that development of the EV is underway and near to being finalized since the Japanese carmaker claims it will start manufacturing the Everus later this year.
Of course, we can look at it from the business angle: Honda has just partnered with Chinese automaker GAC, so it’s entirely plausible that the Japanese company is rushing the development of the first model of its EV line.
Considering the competitions we have in the EV market, it’s not surprising that Honda is working fast to get the Everus out there. Not only will this be available to the Chinese market, Honda also plans to roll out the model through a car-sharing service offered by Reachstar, a Chinese company that specializes in providing car share services.
What we’re sure is that this will welcome a new generation for Honda; a generation that will tap into the endless possibilities of a more electrified auto industry.
2018 Jeep Sandstorm Will Set Your Racing Hearts Ablaze
Jeep is looking at introducing seven new concept cars, one of which is the Jeep Sandstorm. It drew inspiration from the Baja racing trucks, and this is most noticeable with the V-8 under the hood and the upgraded suspension.
Exterior
The designers gave the Sandstorm an appearance that is no doubt influenced and inspired by the Baja racers. It has a carbon fiber for a hood with square intakes and several rows of vents. The flared-out fenders out front feature more vents while the top sees an additional matte black roll cage and rear lay-down spare tire carrier. The body panels are finished in bright orange paint.
The rear side has a cleaner and more streamlined appearance, thanks to the removal of the door handles, the swing gate, and the aft doors. Other race-truck-inspired additions are the tube bumpers in front and back, the beefed-up rock rails, the racing-style fuel filler, and the KC Carbon series for the auxiliary lights and chase light.
The Sandstorm is mounted on 17-inch wheels in copper-colored inner framework. These are wrapped in 39.5-inch Krawler rubber from BG Goodrich.
Interior
The front seats are wrapped in leather upholstery while the rear has low-back racing buckets. Tech instruments include a racing-spec gauge cluster, a seven-inch off-road GPS, and an onboard air compressor. There are also independent rocker switches for the electronics, the axle lockers, and the air compressor.
Drivetrain
The Sandstorm is being powered by a 6.4-liter V-8 engine with heavy-duty components such as the Dynatrac 60 axles and a 5.68 gear ratio. Jeep did not say what the outputs were for the engine, but it’s likely to be 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, making the off-road journey nore enjoyable.
The 2018 Jeep Sandstorm is perfect not just for the off-road or the race truck experience, but for everyday activities, too.
3 Things Got Us Hyped About the Toyota Subcompact Urban Crossover
We’ve heard it again and again: Toyota, the Japanese carmaker, is planning on adding a small urban crossover SUV to its line. At the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, we saw the third preview of the vehicle in the form of the FT-AC Concept.
There is no coincidence in this after the Japanese automaker confirmed that it will bring something new to the market in the next years. Toyota Motor North America General Manager Jack Hollis said that the Japanese carmaker plans to have more than one vehicle in each segment, especially if they differ enough in features.
1. Subcompact Lineup Teases With Third Preview Of New Concept
The FT-AC Concept is the third time Toyota teased us with the concept for a new subcompact urban crossover. Currently, the Japanese automaker has a slew of subcompacts such as the C-HR, the compact RAV4, the midsize 4Runner, the full-size Highlander and Sequioa, and of course, the Land Cruiser. All of these are worlds apart in features, performance, and driving experience. The Land Cruiser remains at the top of the range.
2. Toyota Is Testing The Water With New Concepts
The FT-AC Concept may be the third one we have seen, but the earlier two concepts can hold a candle on their own. The FT-4X Concept and the TJ Cruiser Concept, as well as the third concept, the FT-AC, all have distinct characters and attitudes. Hollis said that this was specifically done to “test the waters in the market” and see the feedback from Toyota’s loyal followers.
3. New Concepts Will Have A New Platform
Many of the features of the three new concepts are different, but they will most probably share the same platform—the TNGA platform. This means that the new urban subcompact crossover will be a unibody vehicle instead of a hardcore body-on-frame vehicle. The size would be similar to the C-HR and powered by an inline-4. It will have a front-wheel-drive system, but it will also offer an option for an all-wheel drive.
