V-Dub iRoc

The Volkswagen Iroc concept's a far cry from its Giugiaro-designed predecessor, the 1973 prototype for VW's 1976 Scirocco coupe. But it's nonetheless that car's modern equivalent. The first Scirocco was introduced at the Paris motor show in 1973, while the Iroc will trod the Parisian boards in 2006. The Iroc also shares some similarities with the Audi Shooting Brake concept, just as the production Scirocco will share underpinnings with the 2007 Audi TT. Powered by VW's 210-hp TSI "twincharger" engine (turbocharger + supercharger = twincharger) linked to the DSG direct-shift gearbox, the Iroc will spawn the long-awaited Scirocco, which will likely appear in showrooms in late 2008. I Love It.

Sidam Xnovo

As gas prices get higher and higher, Europeans build vehicles that are smaller and smaller. This three-wheeled Sidam Xnovo is more motorcycle than car, leaning with the turns and offered in enclosed and open-air versions. The first iteration will run on gas, but there are hybrid and electric models with separate motors on each back wheel in the offing as well. Pretty cool for a mere tricycle.

Toyota iQ

Toyota’s being coy about iQ, its latest pocketcar that just rolled out in its shipping trim at the Geneva Motor Show. Clearly aimed to compete directly with the Mercedes-built Smart Fortwo car, the company’s not saying if iQ will be hybrid-powered, but did mention “low-emission engines” and a specially designed flat gas tank underneath the floor. One thing’s for sure: the 9.75-foot city car is tiny and exceptionally cool-looking. They’re calling its styling “techno-organic.”
The final version of the microcar appears to be a bit more conventional than its bulbous concept version unveiled last year, but it’ll still reportedly be crammed with gadgetry and creative design ideas. Somehow its creators have figured out how to seat three adults and a baby inside the tiny cockpit, calling it “surprisingly spacious.” Check out the big front-and-center screen inside, sure to be packed with techno-goodness such as GPS and more. Production begins at the end of this year, but the company’s mum about pricing.

Freeze Me Now and Thaw Me in 2054

Because if Venezuelan designer Carlos Agell is right, we all could be driving cars with laser gyro-stabilization and liquid metal bodies. Actually, it doesn't seem too far fetched. The best shape for a car would be a circle or a sphere of sorts. After all, it is inherently the strongest shape (provided it's made up of triangles) and offers the best mass : volume ratio. I only have one question for Agell. Please tell me more about this liquid metal you speak of. I'm totally fascinated.

Energy Autonomous > Energy Efficient

The Eclectic is billed as the world's first mass produced energy autonomous vehicle. It's designed for daily driving in urban areas and is powered by electricity via 3 sources; plug-in, solar and wait for it . . . wind. The roof is equipped with advance photovoltaic cells to quickly harness the power of the sun keeping you juiced and ready to go. To support that system is a wind turbine that extends up and out capturing the power of wind should there be a gust and both are augmented with an advance plug-in system for those overnight recharges. The vehicle goes on sale in Europe June 2007 for about $31,000 USD. There are no plans for the Eclectic in the US, but one can only hope something similar is a-brewing but better looking please. At least add some doors!

Hodge's Hawk

Speaking as someone whom has to brave the commutes in Los Angeles, I know for a fact most people here travel alone. I believe the right single occupancy vehicle can create a new niche market for traffic jammed cities like L.A. As of now, you're only option is a motorcycle which by all counts and reasons - are not as safe as a car, not to mention having to obtain a separate license just to drive one.

That's why I like Product Designer Alex Hodge's concept dubbed the "Hawk". It's small, lightweight, fast and good looking too. A Honda 999cc motorcycle engine provides you the power while remaining efficient. The body is made of fiberglass and metal alloys. Although Alex designs it to be a sporty racer, I see real efficiency and economy here. Alex, I want one.

Chevy Volt and The Possibilities

With all the news swirling around the hot concepts at the Detroit Auto Show, only one car grabbed my attention.

The Chevy Volt stands to be GM's answer to Japanese electric and hybrid vehicles squarely aiming for a market dominated by Prius' and Hybrid Civics. Throw in some American muscle into the design coupled with new battery tech means the Volt not only meets Japanese hybrids but also, in the words of Steve Jobs, "leap frogs beyond our competition".

Let's see, the Volt is technically a hybrid, but not in the traditional sense. The gas engine never powers the car. The only time it turns on is to recharge the batteries which are the primary source of propulsion. On top of that, GM seems to have solved a problem plaguing current hybrid batteries; power generated vs. consumption. Right now, the Prius can only travel under 10 miles on electric at below average speeds before it's completely discharged. The Volt manages 40 miles per charge at normal driving speeds. That's more than enough for us to go to and from work without the gas engine ever turning on. The Volt can be plugged into an ordinary wall socket for quick recharging and the batteries seem to be next-gen tech since it can be discharged and recharged hundreds of thousands of times without losing hold or charge capacity.

The only downside is it's concept status. Undoubtedly this vehicle is probably very expensive to build but as GM further consolidates it's manufacturing processes, the prospect of future vehicles with this tech can't be very far away.

Land Rover

Sexy ain't she? Yes I "genderize" my cars as females. The LRX made its public debut at Detroit's auto show.

It's based on the Freelander, Land Rover's smallest SUV but this one is lower, sleeker, and IMO a whole lot sexier. However it's not just looks on the outside. The interior is studded in technology galore with color coded drive modes and an integrated spot for your iPhone! I'm not sure what the iPhone does when docked but the interface is augmented with a big drive button. Hmmm.

Rover purists will probably say the design moves too far left from the boxy lines most of us are familiar with but I think it's a nice balance between the two. For now it's just a concept but the company did say they're exploring a possible production version. YAY!

Smart Fortwo USA

Well there he is kiddies. The Smart Fortwo designed specifically for American shores will be showing up on American roads January of next year. The new Fortwo has slightly more aggressive lines to suit American tastes with a huge upgrade in safety features like four airbags, ABS and stability control. The American Fortwo grows slightly larger in size for increased cabin and trunk space and will come with an all new 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine good enough for 84 bhp. That may sound like very little power but remember this car is very small. It doesn't take much to move it but don't worry. I'm sure the tuner market will release all sorts of goodies to make this baby go faster while still maintaining its 40 mpg rating. The base model rings in at $11,000 with the top of the line convertible asking for $15,000. Smartusa plans on taking pre-orders this April so start saving now!

Donkelvoort Cars 30th Anniversary

Anyone serious about race cars knows Donkelvoort is synonymous with high-performance roadsters. This Lelystad-based Dutch automaker uses Audi engines in its custom racers—one of which holds the lap record for a street-legal car in Germany. Bottom line: You can't get a faster street legal car.

Next Gen Prius To Be Accompanied By Siblings

The 2008 Prius due to be released sometime in 2008 won't be coming alone. It'll be accompanied by two other hybrids, one smaller and one larger than the current model. No other details were given except all three will use Toyota's next generation Synergy Drive system.

Mazda Furai

Wind inspired Mazda Furai is a thing of beauty. Like it's brothers the Taiki, Hakaze, Ryuga, and Nagare; the Furai has a wind carved body but injects a HUGE load of performance with a 450 horsepower rotary engine. You'd be amiss to think it's just another gas guzzler because this beauty runs on pure E100 ethanol - clean burning and Earth friendly.

I'm Really Interested In This Car

Mitsubishi Concept-RA, At-A-Glance

The MITSUBISHI Concept-RA offers a unique interpretation of the sporty coupe. This two-seat pure coupe concept explores the transversely mounted, front engine packaging theme. Generous helpings of technology create a vehicle that combines exotic appeal, outstanding, fun-to-drive dynamics and heightened sensitivity for the environment.

Design.
Developed as a technological showcase for Mitsubishi Motors, the Concept-RA displays athletic sport coupe proportions wrapped in dynamic flowing lines that provide a powerful and compelling showpiece for the car's advanced, high technology features. Broad, muscular wheel arches house 21-inch wheels and lend graphic expression to the high degree of road control and tenacious grip afforded by the next generation S-AWC system. Meanwhile, an exposed engine cover highlights the presence of the car's high output, efficient, clean diesel engine design. The Concept-RA's inverted-slant nose and trapezoidal grille fascia reinforce Mitsubishi Motors' new design identity, albeit suitably revised to reflect the concept's sporty coupe attributes.

Concept-RA's deep red exterior hue graphically accentuates the coupe's fluid, muscular body lines, and offsets a matte black engine hood that helps impart the vehicle's strong mechanical flavor. The interior has been developed to show a fusion of tradition with leading-edge touches. The cockpit's wraparound control layout uses minimal visual instrumentation and optimizes the switch and control layout. This reduces the driver's physical and mental workload, allowing full concentration on driving. The interior also makes extensive use of fine-quality natural materials in a design that delivers the utmost control, confidence, and vehicle involvement to the driver.

Mechanical.

The MITSUBISHI Concept-RA's Super-All Wheel Control driveline is a next generation all-wheel-drive system that adds Active Steering and Active Suspension control to the ACD¹, AYC², ASC³, and Sport ABS components that comprise the highly capable system used on the 2008 Lancer Evolution. Concept RA's S-AWC system integrally manages these components to realize advanced levels of control over drive torque, steering input, vehicle roll, and braking at each wheel, thereby raising traction, cornering and vehicle stability levels. Such capability affords Concept-RA intuitive, on-demand vehicle behavior that faithfully reflects driver intent by reacting instantly, under a variety of driving conditions, from everyday use to emergency avoidance situations.

MITSUBISHI Concept-RA is powered by a new, high output, high-efficiency 2.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbo diesel engine with MIVEC4. This clean diesel's MIVEC system incorporates valve lift control with low and high-speed cam profiles actuating the intake valves. A Piezoelectric injector, common-rail direct fuel injection system allows the engine to use of a lower static compression ratio. The new diesel showcases a VD/VG (Variable Diffuser / Variable Geometry) turbocharger whose internal vanes can control airflow over the turbine and compressor surfaces to produce optimum boost characteristics at all times. The efficient, low emissions diesel unit delivers a maximum output of 201 hp (150 kW) and maximum torque of 310 ft. lbs. (42.8 kg-m). For compliance with Tier 2 Bin 5 emission regulations in the United States, the clean diesel powerplant relies on a new catalytic converter system that combines a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), NOx trap catalyst (NTC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) technologies.

In an effort to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy, vehicle performance and safety, MITSUBISHI Concept-RA features a new, rigid body structure using an aluminum space frame made from extruded aluminum sections and die-cast aluminum components. In addition, the engine hood, fenders and other outer panels made from lightweight, impact-resistant and easily recyclable plastic resin.

1: Active Center Differential
2: Active Yaw Control
3: Active Stability Control
4: Mitsubishi Innovative Valve lift and timing with Electronic Control

MITSUBISHI Concept-RA specifications
Overall length (mm) 175 inches (4,445 mm)
Overall width (mm) 74.6 inches (1,895 mm)
Overall height (mm) 51.8 inches (1,315 mm)
Wheelbase (mm) 103.7 inches (2,635 mm)
F/R track (mm) 63.2 inches (1,605 mm)
Occupants 2
Engine 2.2-liter in-line four cylinder Clean Diesel
Max. output 201 hp (150 kW)
Max torque. 310 ft. lbs. (42.8 kg-m)
Driveline Full-time 4WD (S-AWC)Transmission
Twin Clutch SST
Tires 285/30R21

Nice Beamer

Nice yes? :)