Section: Concept Cars
Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 6th, 2008 12:00 PM
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Detroit’s own D Business magazine featured a recent interview and photo session with Cadillac boss Jim Taylor, in which the executive talks about the CTS Coupe that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year, as well as a pair of very interesting theme motorcycles.
A motorcycle enthusiast himself, Taylor commissioned the Cadillac chopper in the photo above from Great American Chopper of Clawson, Michigan. More interesting still is a second bike that’s still in the works, which will feature a hybrid engine capable of running on ethanol or in a pure electric mode.
The hybrid Cadillac bike is being built by V20 Consulting of New York City, and has been tasked with displaying “GM’s strength in science and technology.” The bike is purported to be capable of a 0 to 60 sprint of 4.5 seconds, and should be unveiled for the public at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
+ D Business
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 5th, 2008 3:00 PM
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The BMW M1 Homage concept is still fresh in our minds and automotively-inclined photochoppers are already reskinning the concept in “production” trim.
Web space FreshTarmac.com recently ran this photo, saying that the image was legit and taken in a hangar somewhere in Spain. The image-maker has done a fairly convincing job of incorporating many of the current M elements into the design, but little details, like the hood bulge on what’s supposed to be a mid-engine car, have us thinking the M1 is less than genuine.
Still, the car looks damn good, and we’d be more than happy if it helped turn BMW toward the direction of building the real thing. Give us your opinion of this “spy” shot, in comments.
+ Autoblog: Spied? BMW M1 Prototype caught undisguised (maybe)
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Written By: Winding Road Staff
April 28th, 2008 11:00 AM
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We celebrate spring break driving the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans. Will they build it? Can the South Beach mob stop looking at itself long enough to care?
Continue –>
Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 27th, 2008 4:40 PM
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BMW has officially released some images of its new super car concept that draws on the heritage of the legendary M1, appropriately dubbed the M1 Homage.
The Homage trades heavily on the iconic features of the original M1, while still incorporating enough new shapes and modern hotness to avoid looking even a bit “retro” (okay, maybe the louvered rear window is a little bit of a throwback, but you get the idea). BMW has done an especially nice job with the translation of the double kidney grille, incorporating it with the headlights and front intake in a blacked-out fascia that looks decidedly evil. We’re also huge fans of the new wave “cheese grater” wheels and the double roundels at the rear corners.
Have a look at the M1 Homage below and leave us your thoughts, in comments.
+ Autoblog: Modern Retro: BMW M1 Homage officially revealed
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 23rd, 2008 11:00 AM
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Mattel invited automakers to submit designs for Hot Wheels cars as a part of a design challenge set to celebrate the brand’s 40th anniversary.
Honda’ s entry into the contest, the striking race car seen above, was created as a throwback to the Formula One racing Honda’s of the past, and especially the 1967 RA 273. The toy car’s basic layout is designed around the Honda H logo, which provides nicely for a stripped down two-pod concept. Between the driver and navigator cockpits lies a massive V-10 VTEC engine that would displace a massive 2.0-liters per cylinder. Don’t get any ideas though; Honda takes special pains to point out that the 20.0-liter racing engine is “theoretical, too bad.
In reality, the super sweet Honda Racer Hot Wheels car will be able to be found on toy store shelves sometime in May and this writer’s desk shortly thereafter. Check out the design in our gallery below or click through the jump to read the press release.
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Written By: David Yang
April 21st, 2008 5:00 PM
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It’s been a long wait since the first sketch came out at the New York Auto Show. The Buick Invicta concept was placed beside the Riviera concept, which bowed at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show. The cover of the Invicta was unexpectly unveiled by Beijing’s refreshing evening breeze, which, for a moment, nearly made our correspondent and fellow media forget their cameras.
“I’m really excited not just about the design of the car, but the fact that this brought together two teams in China and the U.S. to develop the design. They worked together like one seamless virtual design team developing that car,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design.
It’s no secret that Buick sells more cars in China than in the States. Shanghai General Motors, GM’s flagship joint venture, posted sales growth of 13.6 percent for the year, with 128,649 units sold in the first quarter. SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM’s mini-vehicle joint venture, had first quarter sales of 182,564 units, which represented year-on-year growth of 3.8 percent.
(Click on the images below to launch a gallery of live Invicta images or through the jump to read the official press release.)
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Written By: David Yang
April 21st, 2008 4:00 PM
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Our early arrival to the Beijing Auto Show this morning was greeted by an unexpected downpour. Yet the visit to the Geely showroom was well worth the effort. Though some might argue their cues looked familiar, from the Geely Panda, to the CE, to the GT concept, their whole lineup is so eye-catching that it even seemed to outshine the other carmakers in the room.
Take a look at Geely’s Beijing offerings in our gallery below.
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 19th, 2008 12:00 PM
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Buick is making good on a promise it made at the New York Auto Show, unveiling details and renderings today for the Invicta concept car ahead of its unveiling in Beijing.
Invicta, Latin for “Invincible,” is said to draw its inspiration from the recent Buick Riviera and Velite concepts, as well as the rich Riviera history of design. The concept’s power meanwhile is courtesy a turbocharged direct-injection four making 250 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque, and hooked up to a six-speed automatic.
Look for something along the lines of Invicta to show up as the next generation LaCrosse sometime around 2010. Until then, have a browse in our Invicta concept gallery below or check out the Buick press release below the fold.
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 15th, 2008 1:00 PM
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British buff book Car has gone to some lengths to puzzle out what they believe the future of BMW sports cars will look like.
The magazine has created an elaborate rendering of a concept it calls the Vision Z Hybrid, based it says on research projects and interviews with “leading engineers,” and taking into account the environmental track BMW seems to have set itself upon.
Car envisions BMW offering a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with optional engines ranging from gas and diesel four-cylinders, to a likely twin-turbocharged inline-six making over 400 horsepower. Further economy gains could be found in wind-cheating movable body panels, foam-filled low-drag tires, and lightweight composite wheels.
(Click through the jump to read on.)
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Written By: David Yang
April 14th, 2008 10:00 AM
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Haima Auto, a sub-brand of First Automobile Works (FAW) based in Haikou, will debut its self-designed MPV concept Haima H2 at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show.
The model will be powered by Haima’s own 1.8-liter HA-VIS engine and has a wheelbase of 105 inches. According to a technician from the company the MPV is set to go into production in the fourth quarter of this year. The prices will likely range from RMB 100,000 to 130,000 (roughly $14,285 to $18,571).
The new concept is tagged as new Mazda Premacy by the local media for the company’s connection with Mazda. Haima Auto has been involved in a joint venture with Mazda since 1992 under the name of Hainan Mazda Motor & Stamping Co., Ltd. Its new name “Haima” is derived from the Chinese initials of “Hainan Mazda,” which also happens to mean “sea horse” in Chinese.
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 3rd, 2008 12:00 PM
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A teaser picture has surfaced that could very well be a look at the production version of Nissan’s Intima sedan, shown as a concept at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.
Rumor has it that Nissan is planning to unwrap its newest flagship sedan at the fast-approaching Beijing Auto Show, and that it will likely bear the Intima name. If the automaker chooses to stay true to the Intima concept, we can expect a four-door sedan with coupe-like lines, as well as a bevy of techie toys in the cabin. More interesting (and unlikely) is the question of whether or not Nissan will keep any portion of the innovative seating arrangement shown on the concept car.
Refresh your memories with our gallery of the Nissan Intima concept below.
+ CarScoop: Nissan Releases Teaser Picture of Intima Flagship Sedan
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 26th, 2008 2:00 PM
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Chinese automaker Geely has got a striking concept prepared for the 2008 Beijing Motor Show, a GT car that looks to be a welcome surprise from the company.
The Geely GT seems to be drawing a large portion of its inspiration from Ferrari’s 612, though the familiar form has been given a darkly complex makeover in the Chinese application. Unfortunately we don’t have any information to relate yet in regards to powertrain or specifications, but we’ll certainly be keeping our ears to the ground for more details on this one.
+ Autoblog: Beijing ‘08 Preview: Geeley GT concept to debut
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