Auto Design

By Giancarlo Perini ©

There is more than just a beautiful body to make the Jaguar EX-75 concept car the “Star of the Show”. It comes with four 143 kW electric motors (one for each wheel) pumping out a total of 572 kW, which take the energy from a energy-intense pack of lithium-ion batteries to be recharged from a standard 220v outlet. Read the rest of this entry »

Most probably, the ultimate sports car of the future was presented at the Paris Motor Show and went unnoticed. This is despite it presented for the first time a revolutionary innovation developed by century old Michelin: the active (electric) wheel.The car we are talking about, actually a concept-car, is the Venturi Volage designed by the talented and renowned Sasha Lakic. The Volage is an electric 4 wheel drive sports car that is powered by four active wheels, one per wheel, banks on 220 kW of power, only weights 1075 kg and is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kph in less than 5 seconds. These specifications are based on the assumption that the Lithium-polymer battery pack weights some 350 kg. Read the rest of this entry »

Brought to you from the company design centre.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words.

However, here some news you might light to read, in addition to what I reported before the Paris Motor Show.

The Mini Crossover Concept is said to be anticipating a significant – and to some extent revolutionary – addition to the range. The Crossover contains the seeds of the new generation “down-sized” SUV that will be anything but a SUV. This explains why it is called “Crossover”.

Read the rest of this entry »

It has been long coming but now it is official: after the Mini Clubman, we are going to be able to invest our money in a new MINI that comes with the stance of a miniature SUV and the convenience of an additional door. At this time it is called Crossover Concept but it will get a proper name when its production derivative reach the dealers’ show-rooms in the second quarter 0f 2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

The rendering released by Peugeot to tease the public looking for the opening of the Paris Motor Show on October 4^th is attractive but does not show much of the forthcoming concept car, neither for its architecture neither for its powertrain. The company wants to keep our interest alive and for the time being only says what it is.

First: it will be called RC something, much like its recent predecessors, the RC ♠ et ♦ concept cars revealed in 2002, and the 908 RC (2006 Paris Show). Perhaps RC § “fleurs” (flowers), for its eco-friendly nature? Peugeot says their latest Research Concept is a show-case of future ideas, combining many design, engineering and technology ideas in a single vehicle.

Even more relevant is the fact that the new show-car aims at anticipating a feasible, affordable and versatile car, “with four doors, four seater and a highly innovative hybrid architecture” that aims at a very high level of efficiency both in terms of performance (with its potential 230 kW/313 HP) and minimal impact on the environment (CO2 emissions of 109 g/km in the combined cycle or ZERO in electric mode). Clearly a high performance and emotional car that match with the spirit of the time and capable of combining environment friendliness with driving pleasure.

PREMIERE AT THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW IN OCTOBER.

As the count down to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in China is coming to a close, the automotive industry – just back from the London Motor Show – has launched its count-down for the introduction of a wave of new cars at the Paris “Mondial de l’Automobile” Motor Show opening its gates to the public at large on October 4^th.

First on August 1^st to unveil its new baby is Ford.

The look of its new KA developed and engineered with the co-operation of Fiat and Italdesign-Giugiaro can now be seen in the first official pictures. The car is build in Poland on the industrial platform of the Fiat Panda and Cinquecento but its looks share nothing with the Italian rivals. The new KA looks charming and  attractive, a sort of miniature Fiesta but with a design and a personality of its own. Read the rest of this entry »

Eager to see and comment on the all-new Ford Ka, made in Poland by Fiat? Come back after midnight CET.