Auto Design

Mercedes-Benz designers have dreamed of a car that combines a number of sophisticated features. Their Formula Zero goes beyond today’s Formula One racers adding to its thrill a clear touch of luxury, the dynamics of the bobsled integrated into the track, and the grace and efficiency of yacht racing.Reminiscent of the Mercedes Benz racing heritage of the 1930’s, the Formula Zero Racer is loaded with technology designed to extract the maximum thrust from the electric hub motors, aero-efficient solar skin and high-tech rigid sail.Each team is allocated the same amount of stored energy and it is left to the teams and drivers to manage the variables to win the race. The winner is determined by total elapsed time combined with the energy efficiency factor. Spectators at the Mercedes Benz Formula Zero racing Series are treated to a new dimension of racing as the transparent track is visible from all perspectives – even from below!Designers:

·        Alan Barrington;

·        George Yoo;

·        Kevin Verduyn

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The MAZDA KAAN is an electric racecar designed to compete in the E1 races, the pinnacle of international motorsports in terms of technology and popularity. Mazda designer have assumed that by 2025, California freeways have been rebuilt with a sub-level electro-conductive polymer that powers the electric cars of the modern world. Mazda’s patented electronic tire system uses this technology to power the KAAN to reach 250 mph with no harmful emissions!Individual drivers race the vehicles but teams are made up of thirty cars each, all on the track together. Using strategies similar to those in cycling pelotons, the tighter the group sticks together, the more aerodynamic and powerful it becomes.Inspiration for the KAAN comes from electric fields and textures seen in nature, particularly those in a lightning bolt. The unique design of this car is created around its powerful electric wheels while the cockpit acts as a capsule to host the driver in a safe environment, allowing for tighter peloton formations and a team victory.

Designers:

• Jacques Flynn;
• Carlos Salaff;
• Minyong Lee;
• Greg Lee;
• Tim Brown;
• Jordan Meadows

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In 1908, 17 men dared to take on the “toughest race ever devised.” Spanning six months, the Great Race brought these men over 22,000 miles, through three continents and around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Designed for the 2025 revival of the LA Times Grand Prix, the Chaparral Volt uses advanced EREV propulsion, energy collection, generation and management system to create an entirely new category of racing – the eco-triathlon.

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“Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.” -Jean Paul Richter. Read the rest of this entry »

Audi introduces the R25, the latest prototype in its legendary race- car line-up.

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Comes November 20^th and we will know the winner of the 5^th Design Challenge.

Nine Southern California design studios of the top carmakers have presented their own concept and design of what the Race Car of the future will be in 2025.

The Design Challenge is held within the frame of the Los Angeles Auto Show that opens its gate to the public on November 21^st.

This year theme for the challenge was to «Visualize Auto Racing in the Year 2025» along the following guidelines: «Today’s race cars have ground-breaking technology to improve speed, power, performance and safety but what a difference 17 years into the future can make. Imagine race cars that go beyond the expectations and challenges of racing today, such as never needing to stop for re-fuelling or collision avoidance assistance technology for enhanced safety».

According to Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. «Automotive designers have always been fascinated with Motor Sports and this year’s Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches”.

Works by Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen are pitted against each other to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design.

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Entries will be judged by Tom Matano of San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, Imre Molner of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and Stewart Reed of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. Daniel Simon, an established car designer and founder of Cosmic Motors, is the special guest judge this year. Simon began his design career at Volkswagen and recently published his first book: Cosmic Motors-Spaceships, Cars and Pilots of Another Galaxy. His book seems to have suggested the theme of this year challenge and the flavour of some of the works presented, whereas other works have inspired themselves to the superlative illustration technique of Syd Mead.

Starting today I am sharing with you their works. One per day. And in alphabetic order. Go to AUDI R25.

Brought to you, non-stop from the company design centre and press office.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words. However, here some news you might light to read.

The GT by Citroen is a real dream car built from a virtual first designed for Polyphony’s simulation game Gran Turismo to be plaid on the Playstation 3. As such is the first ever prototype that million of “players” can drive in their virtual world. Somehow, the GT by Citroen seen at the Paris Motor Show is a replica of a car that has never been built. As such, it can be anything. In our case, the engineers of both the virtual and the real car companies have opted for an electric sports car powered by fuel cell and delivery no emission. A real dream car. At least for the time being. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini.

Anyone with a couple of hours to spend at the right time, when the all-new (but with a 35 years old success story) BMW Museum in Munich is open, should not miss the opportunity to be among the first ones to look at the past and future of BMW cars and motorcycle.

The BMW Museum open today, the first Summer day of 2008, 21 June and is open

Tuesday–Friday: 09:00–18:00

Saturdays, Sundays,

public holidays: 10:00–20:00

Closed: 24, 25, 26 December, 31 December 2008, and 1 January 2009.

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500 Abarth ASSETTO CORSE – Official Technical specifications

Engine

• 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc.

• Power output: 200 bhp (147 KW) at 6500 rpm.

• Peak torque 300 Nm at 3000 rpm.

• Garrett GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger.

• Special reinforced water and air sleeves.

Transmission

• M32 6-speed gearbox

Suspension

• McPherson layout at front, special racing shock absorbers,

coaxial spring with nut for adjusting height of car.

• Rear : inter-connected arms, special racing shock absorbers,

springs with nut for adjusting height of car.

Steering

• Electric power steering with racing tuning.

Brakes

• Brembo radial front calliper with four pistons M4X40.

• Perforated, self-ventilating front brake disc, ø 305 mm x 28 mm.

• Rear calliper with ø 36 mm piston.

• Rear brake disc, ø 264 mm x 11 mm.

• High-performance Racing brake pads.

Body

• Rear spoiler and front bumper splitter.

Chassis

• Reinforced cage structure, welded to the bodyshell.

• Lightened interiors, Sabelt Racing safety setup.

• Optimised driving position, shifted towards the centre of the car.

Wheels

• Painted, forged aluminium wheels, 7” x 17”.

• Tyres:205/50 ZR17.t

Weight

• 930 Kg.

see my first report

Complete Photo Gallery