BMW Concept ActiveE Bound for World Debut at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

BMW Concept ActiveE Picture

BMW 1 Series spinsoff, the rear-wheel-drive Concept ActiveE, will make a world debut at Detroit's auto show next month.
The BMW Concept ActiveE will make its world debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January, as the German automaker strives to get an electrically powered vehicle into production under a "sub-brand of BMW in the first half of the next decade," it said in a statement.

The rear-wheel-drive Concept ActiveE, which is based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe, appears to have a lot of promise, judging from the advances spelled out by BMW.

They include remote-control functions that let the driver check the charge status of the vehicle batteries and currently available travel range via mobile phone. "The driver gains additional flexibility in being able to search for public charging stations in the vicinity of any given location," BMW said in a statement.

The electric drive system in the Concept ActiveE has a new, advanced lithium-ion battery pack developed jointly by BMW and partner SB LiMotive. It was designed specifically for the Concept ActiveE. BMW says a new electric motor was also developed for the concept. It has a maximum output of 170 horsepower and maximum torque of 184 pound-feet. The electric vehicle has a range of about 100 miles and accelerates from zero to 60 mph in less than 9 seconds. Maximum speed is pegged at 90 miles per hour.

BMW says the charge time in North America will be about 4.5 hours at a residential wall box.

Practicality appears to be a hallmark of the Concept ActiveE. It has four full-size seats and a luggage compartment volume of 7 cubic feet. BMW said it differentiated the concept from the BMW 1 Series Coupe with "Liquid White" metallic paint and blue graphic touches. The concept has light alloy wheels and blue illuminated touches, including the roof fin. The cabin gets leather seats and interior trim in "Liquid White."

The new concept follows the Mini E and will be the second large-scale electric vehicle test program for the automaker. "The field tests with the Mini E as part of project i in the U.S. and Europe have already provided important insights into the demands required of future production electric vehicles," BMW said. "As a second step, project i has begun development of a second trial fleet of electric vehicles based on the BMW Concept ActiveE. These vehicles are likewise intended for everyday use by private and select fleet customers as part of a large-scale field test.

"The insights gathered in the process will be fed into the development of an electrically powered serial production vehicle, which the BMW Group will put on the market under a sub-brand of BMW in the first half of the next decade."

Mitsubishi crossover spied

From the 2007 Frankfurt motor show, the production version of the CX concept got moved. Moreover, the company is fanatical to get the car into production as soon as possible to put in on the thriving market for small SUVs, with a release planned in the coming year.

And the car will exercise the Lancer platform and has preference for petrol and diesel from 1.8 to 2.2 litres. Also, an Evo-style SST dual-clutch ’box and four-wheel drive will be obtainable.

courtesy: www.autocar.co.uk

Furthermore, a hybrid version will not be offered at release however could be included to the range.

Mitsubishi's innovative SUV

The Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is the latest car to join the MiEV concept hybrid vehicle range – and will be making its world debut at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show, which is held later this month.

The PX-MiEV is a motor that Mitsubishi claims will balance "high environmental performance with running performance", and is powered by the new Mitsubishi Plug-in Hybrid System, which helps the car to deliver impressive fuel economy in excess of 50km/litre. But it's when you get inside that things really start to get interesting.

The SUV's cocochi (Japanese for cosy) interior includes state-of-the-art features such as seating that combats allergens, kills bacteria and destroys offensive odour molecules, which is great if your children are prone to making a mess on the back seat. Other highlights include window glass that reduces UVA radiation levels, and an “oxygen enricher” that enhances comfort levels and reduces fatigue.

And the excitement doesn’t stop there. In terms of safety, there's a camera system that offers the driver a view of the perimeter of the car, while a wireless system detects the proximity of other vehicles, thus reducing the chances of a nasty prang.

While on the outside it's hardly the most glamorous concept we've come across in recent weeks, its simplicity, practicality, and innovative safety technology make the PX-MiEV one of the more likely motors to get the go-ahead for production.

Before Mitsubishi takes the covers off the PX-MiEV in Tokyo, we’ve got hold of some pics of the SUV concept for your viewing pleasure.

Frankfurt: MINI Roadster Concept

MINI has just released images of its new Roadster Concept. It’s the twin to the Coupé Concept, which was revealed a couple of weeks back.

For now, I’m going to have to tease you with just three images. More details to be posted soon (most of which will be covered in the previous Coupé Concept story anyway).

LAMBORGHINI INTRODUCES THE REVENTON ROADSTER

Around this time two years ago, Lamborghini unveiled the Reventon. Although criticized in some corners - including this one - for being comparably overpriced in light of the upgrades over Lamborghini's Murcielago, the Reventon's exclusivity and stop-you-in-your-tracks design led to some success. Now we have the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster. Rather extreme, we must admit, the Reventon in topless form still generates 661 horsepower, accelerates to 60mph in 3.4 seconds as it makes progress toward a 205mph top speed.

Lamborghini's boss, Stephan Winkelmann, says the Reventon Roadster "adds an extra emotional component" to the most extreme car in the brand's history. Yeah, as if the buyers of the regular Reventon weren't a bit emotional over the whole thing anyway.

Lambo Reventon Roadster buyers will be asked to pony up €1,100,000, today's equal of $1,601,431 USD. That's way too much money to pay for a car with the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster's capabilities. However, there will be about 20 of Lamborghini's "friends and collectors" willing to shell out.

Bugatti 16 C Galibier Concept Revealed

Bugatti 16 C Galibier Concept - 1600

They wanted to call it the Caliber, but Dodge stole that name for its smallish hatchback. So Bugatti changed a couple letters around and got Galibier.

Okay, it's not a funny joke. And anybody with an ounce of French language training knows that the more appropriate pronunciation for this car is Gal-ib-err but Gahl-eeb-yay. Why so much talk about the name?

Well, we don't know much else about this four-door Bugatti. Its proportions are kind of; a little bit; sort of similar to the Lamborghini Estoque concept. But those very same proportions aren't unlike those of the Aston Martin Rapide. Perhaps this is just the nature of ultra-expensive sedans.

The Galibier was introduced to the elite in Bugatti's home of Molsheim in the Alsace region of France. An 8-litre sixteen-cylinder engine uses two-stage supercharging (a la VW's twin-charged Golf?) and can run on E85 fuel. Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani created a removable clock that can be worn on the owner's wrist. Rather gaudily, Ettore Bugatti's signature sits on a panel atop the glovebox. Oh, and about that name: Galibier is the name of a stage in the Tour de France as well as a particular version of Bugatti's old Type 57.

2009 Lorinser Mercedes GLK 280 V6 Collection

Sportservice Lorinser consciously chose the fiery opal colour for the paintwork of its latest GLK with the 280 V6 petrol engine. With its pervasive radiance the eponymous gem is one of the most coveted and exclusive opals in the world - and it is the only one with which you can uncover the full shine with a facet cut. As a result the traditional tuner from Winnenden has worked on all the corners and edges, in order to create an exclusive piece of work with incomparable brilliance out of the SUV. As a special optical highlight, the Lorinser front spoiler reflects the radiator grille of the GLK on the horizontal axis and thereby provides an expressive front design. The dark recessed insert is flanked on the left and right by the fog lights.

While precious stones loose volume through polishing, the GLK actually gains substance due to the work of Lorinser. The ribbed side sills in particular provide the 170kW / 231 HP strong SUV with more volume, and thanks to the Lorinser lowering set it hugs the tarmac in a bold sporty manner. The rear view of the four-wheeler is presented as a perfect piece of jewellery and appears to be made of incomparable fire. The Lorinser rear apron with the pronounced indentations definitely flirts with a degree of martiality - an impression which the dark insert with the sports grille and implied underride guard further intensify. On its flanks it sports a pair of sonorous double-pipes of the Lorinser stainless steel exhaust unit. In connection with the smooth six-cylinder engine under the bonnet the compact SUV thereby also proves to be an acoustic jewel. Real high-carats are, of course, not missing in the wheel arches: with their special varnish - matt black combined with a polished rim flange - the huge 9 x 22 inch Lorinser RS 9 light-alloy wheels provide real highlights. They are enclosed by the 265 millimetre wide Yokohama tyres. The contrast with the red outer colour of the vehicle is increased by the dark recessed wheel arches. With it the designers have succeeded in creating a real piece of jewellery, which constantly attracts attention to its owner.

2009 Lorinser Mercedes GLK 280 V6 Edition

Sportservice Lorinser consciously chose the fiery opal colour for the paintwork of its latest GLK with the 280 V6 petrol engine. With its pervasive radiance the eponymous gem is one of the most coveted and exclusive opals in the world - and it is the only one with which you can uncover the full shine with a facet cut. As a result the traditional tuner from Winnenden has worked on all the corners and edges, in order to create an exclusive piece of work with incomparable brilliance out of the SUV. As a special optical highlight, the Lorinser front spoiler reflects the radiator grille of the GLK on the horizontal axis and thereby provides an expressive front design. The dark recessed insert is flanked on the left and right by the fog lights.

While precious stones loose volume through polishing, the GLK actually gains substance due to the work of Lorinser. The ribbed side sills in particular provide the 170kW / 231 HP strong SUV with more volume, and thanks to the Lorinser lowering set it hugs the tarmac in a bold sporty manner. The rear view of the four-wheeler is presented as a perfect piece of jewellery and appears to be made of incomparable fire. The Lorinser rear apron with the pronounced indentations definitely flirts with a degree of martiality - an impression which the dark insert with the sports grille and implied underride guard further intensify. On its flanks it sports a pair of sonorous double-pipes of the Lorinser stainless steel exhaust unit. In connection with the smooth six-cylinder engine under the bonnet the compact SUV thereby also proves to be an acoustic jewel. Real high-carats are, of course, not missing in the wheel arches: with their special varnish - matt black combined with a polished rim flange - the huge 9 x 22 inch Lorinser RS 9 light-alloy wheels provide real highlights. They are enclosed by the 265 millimetre wide Yokohama tyres. The contrast with the red outer colour of the vehicle is increased by the dark recessed wheel arches. With it the designers have succeeded in creating a real piece of jewellery, which constantly attracts attention to its owner.

Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer

Lotus have turned their “luxury” tourer, the Evora, into an out and out racer. The Type 124 (one twenty four) meets full FIA racing specifications and has been designed for endurance racing. There is a reasonably extensive factory backed calendar of races in line for the 124, starting with next year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race (15-16 May 2010). Sepang, Silverstone and Dubai are also on the endurance race calendar for the Evora.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, “Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year.”

Power from the Toyota sourced 3.5 litre V6 will be upped by as much as 100kW, from 206kW to 300kW (400bhp). While the target racing weight is somewhere below 1200kg, down from the road car’s 1350kg. Should be quite a rocket ship, then.

There’s a six-speed sequential transmission (with paddle shifts), six piston AP Racing brakes and race tuned Bosch ABS. Helping grip the racetrack will be 18 inch wheels with Pirelli racing rubber, 9 1/2″ wide on the front and 11″ wide at the rear.

More detail and pics after the jump.

Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora’s performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).

Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18” rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 ½ J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, “Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year.”

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, “Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora’s lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season.”

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.
About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Limited, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany.

Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party ‘niche vehicle’ engineering and manufacture worldwide.

Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, Exige, Europa and the new award winning Lotus Evora. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

Bentley Brooklands Coupe

Bentley Brooklands Coupe

Bentley Brooklands Coupe

Bentley Brooklands Coupe

Audi R8 GT3

Audi R8 GT3

Audi R8 GT3

Audi R8 GT3

2010 Bentley Continental GT and GTC Series 51 Official Revealed

Bentley Motors will preview an exciting new design direction for the company’s Continental GT and GTC models at the 2009 Frankfurt Show. The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the peg’ from an exclusive range created by Dirk van Braeckel’s renowned team of Crewe-based designers.

Series 51 is named after the year that the first official styling department was established in Crewe by the gifted John Blatchley, who shaped the original and iconic 1950s Bentley Continentals. Every Series 51 car will feature a highly-distinctive interior colour palette and unique exterior design cues.

Bentley’s Colour and Trim team, managed by Melinda - June Jenkins, have designed some bespoke three-tone interiors which demonstrate the full potential of leather hide colours and showcase the creative application of contrast stitching and piping. The first example of their work will be the Continental GTC displayed at Frankfurt which features Imperial Blue as a main and secondary hide, Linen seat and door inserts and Newmarket Tan as the accent colour.

Series 51 cars will also feature several unique interior details including the use of non-indented hide for diamond quilting, contrast piping for the seats and doors as well as bespoke Series 51 treadplates.

Bentley’s designers have selected a range of premium-quality materials for the dashboard and centre console to complement the three-tone interiors. The Dark and Bright ‘Engine Spin’ aluminium options provide a striking contrast with darker and lighter hide colour choices and a special, limited-edition Amboyna veneer reserved for Series 51.

A belief that even the smallest detail presents an opportunity to delight and surprise customers has always be a key element of the Bentley design story. Series 51 follows this principle, where even the overmats and boot carpets are now colour matched and given contrast binding.

Both the Continental GT and GTC offer a powerful road presence and the Series 51 cars further accentuate these sporting credentials with some eye-catching exterior styling. A 20” 14-spoke polished Diamond wheel with a dark centre cap provides Series 51 cars with a purposeful and stylish appearance. The cars will be further distinguished by a signature ‘51’ badge on the front wings.

To further enhance and personalise the Continental GT a new two-tone paint can be commissioned which complements the contrasting interior configuration. This highly distinctive colour split (with one colour running over the bonnet, roof and flowing down to the boot) is a classic design used on many sporting Bentleys of the past.

Detailed information about all of the available three-tone interior designs and further additional options and accessories are available at www.bentleymotors.com. The new Series 51 models can be ordered from 1st September 2009.