The 2015 BMW i8 looks as though it's actually moving closer to production. Even more shocking is the fact that it appears as though the i8 will keep the wild styling of the concept.
It might look like a downsized 6 Series from this angle, but the rear end has the same "wings" that gave the concept such an interesting profile. Other details are hard to make out, but it's clear that BMW is taking a much different path when it comes to the styling of its new "i" series of cars. Set to be on the road in 2014, it's still a long way from finished.
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Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Hybrids,Sports Cars
At some point during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show ( 10:25am Wednesday) Kia will show off a Soul concept described as being "the ultimate Soul." Kia's U.S. design team will be on hand (as will Peter Schreyer) to discuss the new design language.
Unfortunately, there are no plans to ever produce this ultimate three-door Soul. Too bad, 247-horsepower, a de-cubed design and a stance like this could really help us get behind the Soul.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Kia
Those of you who are into murdered-out SUVs but aren't keen on aftermarket parts can rest a little easier now that Jeep will be building a Stealth Edition Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The special edition truck features a platinum-chrome grill, black gloss 20-inch wheels, black gloss grille surround, headlamp bezels and lift-gate light bar. It will be available in this lovely all-black scheme, or a slightly less awesome Deep Cherry red.
According to Chrysler, this concept has "production intent" but for that, they'll need a name and that's where you come in. Suggest a name for the new version of the Grand Cherokee over at Jeep's Name My Ride website and you could win one of your very own. Keep in mind, though, that this is a brand that likes names like Nitro, Shock, Avenger and Viper. Surely there are some American Gladiator names they haven't used. Lace? Sunny? Titan? Thunder? Storm? Hawk? Rebel?
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Jeep,SUVs
In March, Mitsubishi is set to do something they've never done before: Debut a new car in Europe. That's right, at this year's Geneva Motor Show, Mitsubishi will not just be in attendance hoping to catch a glimpse of Lapo Elkann patroling the uber-stylish show, they will be showing off the all new...well, whatever this concept turns out to be.
And whatever it turns out to be will be the first car in Mitsubishi's "Jump 2013" business plan for a "greener and more global Mitsubishi." This includes i-MiEV, 4N1 Clean diesels, Green Plastics and a PHEV.
Not that we can tell any of that from this teaser. What we do know is that it features Mitsu's re-focused design language and is "envisaged as an open design concept, meant to be flexible enough to suit specific vehicle requirements whilst staging Mitsubishi's famous Three Diamond logo accordingly."
It sort of looks like a more masculine Forte which isn't a bad thing. We'll know more in Geneva.
Categories: Concept Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Mitsubishi
There has been an intriguing lack of information accompanying Chrysler concept vehicles since the tie-up with Fiat. And so it is with the Chrysler 700C, the minivan concept that just showed up at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show with no further explanation. There's no record of it on Chrysler's media website.
But a placard in its license plate holder does identify its origin in the Chrysler Design Studio, and sure enough, as soon as we began taking photos of it, a researcher from the design team strode up and began peppering us with questions. We were incredibly wishy-washy, so if the next Chrysler Town and Country (which outsells the Dodge Grand Caravan, by the way, and is likely to come back solo for the next generation) ends up looking like a strange pastiche of design elements, well, maybe we had something infinitesimal to do with it.
For reference, we've included a couple shots of the current T&C.
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Categories: Chrysler,Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Minivans
Recently there's been some talk on the Internet that scientists have figured out that, due to mass-specific resting metabolic rate and mass-specific energy per lifespan, the average animal has +- a billion heartbeats until the clock stops. Little scampering critters that panic a lot (mice, rabbits) have quick heartbeats and die soon. Big things that are kind of chill and not terribly reactionary have slow heartbeats and live for a long time (tortoises, whales).
Similarly, I'm convinced (I have no empirical or anecdotal evidence) that my keyboard has a finite number of keystrokes in its serviceable life and I'd hate to see it die on an electric Smart "truck" concept with a top speed of 75 mph, an electric bicycle as a backup plan and quoted 0-37 mph time of 5 seconds.
More pics after the jump.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Electric Vehicles,SMART
This is the future of Lincoln, or at least part of it. Revealed for the first time this morning in Detroit, the Lincoln MKZ concept is the latest in a long line of "revival" vehicles designed to bring the luxury car company back from the dead.
Based on the same platform that underpins the new 2013 Ford Fusion shown yesterday, the MKZ concept will arrive in production form later this year with only minor changes. Lincoln officials didn't say much about the specifications of the new sedan; instead they talked about where they hope to take the brand.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Lincoln,Luxury Cars,Sedans
It may look like a regular XC60, but the Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept is more of a statement of intent than a production-ready car. The automaker is getting ready to sell a plug-in diesel-hybrid V60 in Europe (to go with the electric C30), but a plug-in hybrid for the U.S. is still 2-4 years out, Volvo's Geno Effler told Inside Line, and it wouldn't necessarily be XC60-based.
Keep in mind that the United States is absolutely not the company's biggest market -- it sold 67,240 vehicles here in 2011 compared to 449,225 worldwide. So exporting a niche hybrid model here is not a top priority.
What makes the XC60 concept interesting to us is that it purportedly uses a turbocharged and direct-injected, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder -- part of a new family of D.I. gasoline and diesel engines that can be built on the same production line. The engine would reportedly make about 280 horsepower, and with another 70 hp from a rear-axle electric motor, combined output would be 350 hp. That heady horsepower figure, we're told, justifies the unexpected T8 badge on the back of this concept crossover; the S60 T6 R-Design makes just 325.
Juice for the rear electric motor comes from a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack. For comparison, a Chevy Volt has a 16kWh battery pack, so we'd guess Volvo's claimed 35-mile electric driving range for the XC60 concept would be right at the upper limit.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Hybrids,Volvo
Informally, this may be our favorite car of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show so far. Indeed, the Lexus LF-LC concept looks every bit as good in the metal as in the photos, and after listening to Mark Templin gush over it, we'd be shocked if it hasn't already been given the nod for production -- though undoubtedly with a different name.
Not only does it preview the new iteration of the Lexus design language, the LF-LC has an all-new hybrid drivetrain, Mark Templin, group vice president, told the crowd. We might get a glimpse of what that will entail if the automaker is able to pull off its new LMP1 car in time for 2012 Le Mans.
Also, it turns out that the Lexus Remote Touch Interface (which uses a somewhat clunky mouse-style controller) will have a short lifespan. The LF-LC features an iPad-like controller mounted on the console that allows the driver to interact with a 12-inch navigation display. The gauge pack in this concept car is also a 12-inch LCD.
A few years ago, such hardware would have seemed far-fetched; now Lexus will have to come up with something at least that slick and cutting-edge for the eventual production car.
As an aside, Lexus announced it will release two more factory F-Sport models -- like the GS 350 F-Sport, as opposed to piecemeal accessories catalog stuff. A teaser video that played before the LF-LC unveiling (but which appears at the end of our casually shot video after the jump) suggests those new models will be CT- and IS-based. It also suggests the flagship LS will get a much-needed restyling.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Lexus
After taking the wraps off its "affordable exotic," Chevrolet proceeded to unveil its other show-stopper, the Code 130R concept. The big news here? Rear-wheel drive.
Unlike the Delta-platformed FWD Tru 140S, Chevrolet didn't mention what kind of architecture underpins the Code 130R coupe. We're guessing this means that the 140S is more of a true concept in the traditional sense. In other words, it looks good, but it's not anything more than a styling exercise.
For power, Chevrolet said it was meant to work with one of GM's small turbocharged engines and the new eAssist system seen in the various Chevy sedans. It'll help the 140S "balance turbocharged performance and fuel economy," says Chevrolet.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show
This is Chevrolet's attempt to appease the kids. Or at least some of them. The oddly named Tru 140S concept is the company's idea for an "affordable exotic." It's trying to get millennials interested in cars, so it figured something exotic was as good an idea as any.
The Tru 140S is built on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the Cruze, so it's technically a buildable car. Chevrolet says the car would likely feature direct injection and start-stop technology in a quest for the all-important 40-mpg mark.
There's no interior on it, but that's part of Chevrolet's engagement plan. It will display setups at the auto show where consumers can give their input as to what features and design elements they would like to see if the car were to go into production. We'll see how far Chevrolet takes the idea, but it's something a little different. And let's face it, that's what Chevrolet needs to get the attention of the under-25 crowd. More pics after the jump.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show
We've been hearing a lot about a new concept Chevy is bringing to the Detroit auto show. Will it be a Chevelle? Will it be a sport coupe? Will it be retro? Will it be a Chevy ATS? Will it be a Volt Coupe? New Camaro concept?
And honestly we don't know. Chevy's being very tight-lipped about this one, but what we can tell you is that it won't be alone: Chevy's bringing two different concepts to the Detroit show. As you can expect, we don't know much about that other one either. Any rumor that's good for the first concept is valid for the second, too.
Your guess is as good as ours here: What do you hope/think Chevy will bring to Detroit?
Categories: Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show
Toyota's on a tear today with the Detroit releases. First we saw official images of the LF-LC concept and now we've got this teaser video of the new Toyota NS4!
The NS4 concept is expected to be Toyota's showpiece for their next-gen plug-in hybrid technology and this video gives us...well, very little. It does give some flashes of the style and the interior features, but it's a pure concept so there's not much to actually learn from it at this point.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Hybrids,Toyota
"Conceived as a design exercise, the LF-LC is envisioned as offering Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive to deliver both driving performance and fuel efficiency."
And that bit of information pulled from this morning's press release is all we know about the LF-LC hybrid that Lexus is bringing to Detroit this year. Once again, Road and Track forced Lexus' hand here by publishing a full article on the car's design. R&T doesn't have any more real information about the car, but they do have some (small) interior shots that are pretty slick.
So the question is: Should Lexus build a hybrid, 2+2 LFA?
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Hybrids,Lexus
This should be shocking news for anyone who hasn't seen the internet in the past 12 hours, but Lexus will be bringing this stunner of a Sport Coupe to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The new concept is "crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine. The clean lines of the vehicle emphasize motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic sport coupe." said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
The LF-LC was designed at Calty in Newport Beach.
Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Lexus
We've seen teasers for this one for the past week and now, thanks to a slip-up by the good folks at Road and Track, we've got our first look at the new Lexus concept headed to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The leak happened via R&T's YouTube page and it shows the entire car from multiple angles and previews the next cover of R&T. The video will surely be pulled down, but we've pulled the best stills and provided them (and the video) after the jump.
We weren't lucky enough to have an information break to go along with the unauthorized images so we have to go with name and what we see. Visually this is part LFA with an LF-Gh grille mounted to the front and some totally bitchin' Nike-swoop style accent lights. Then there's the name LF-Lc. We can follow the pattern of LF-Gh to GS 350 and drop the LF prefix and drop the lowercase c, too -- it could stand for concept or coupe at this point or nothing at all. What we're left with is a telltale L. It's easy to forget about the Lexus LS 460 and 600h, but a flagship coupe a-la SL-class could bring some new attention to them.
That or this is all just conjecture and this is the new SC (which, really, would be fantastic) or simply a hint at a refreshed LFA.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Lexus
Toyota is following in the footsteps of big bro Lexus releasing a small teaser image of the concept they'll be bringing to the Detroit Auto Show next month. In it we see...a headlight. We can safely assume that this concept, if it has any production intention, will have the same plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the Toyota Plug-in Prius-- a 98-horsepower 1.8-liter I4 and an 80 hp electric motor. If it's a pure concept, the gloves are off and this could be some sort of radical AWD, double-engined design. We'll know soon enough, until then we focus on the design.
Toyota is also going to bring the production version of the Prius c to the Detroit show. But we already knew that.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Hybrids,Toyota
(Another day in auto show season, another teaser image. Stop me if you've heard this one before. )
This is the EcoSport Concept that Ford will be showing at the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi, India next month. The EcoSport is an all new vehicle "planned for introduction in India and other global markets in the near future." The current EcoSport is built on the B3 platform that held up the Fiesta before that car moved to the new global platform in '08. There's no reason that this EcoSport won't follow the same path. It also won't be sold in America.
Ford is estimating that some 1.4 million people will go to the Auto Expo. In 2011, 735,000 people went to the Detroit Auto Show.
Categories: Concept Vehicles,Crossovers,Ford,Future Vehicles
We've seen spy photos of the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder but this teaser is the first official image we have of the new Pathfinder concept bound for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The assumption on this next-gen Pathfinder is that it would switch to a unibody design instead of carrying on with the body-on-frame chassis it employs currently. The press release that came with this photo did nothing to refute that belief...
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Crossovers,Detroit Auto Show,Nissan
Last week Lexus teased the first image of a new concept vehicle that the luxury arm of Toyota will be bringing to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The image didn't show much; some tires that appear to be 265/35R21, headlights, and some neat accent lights that aren't the same-old row-o'-LEDs that's getting slightly boring. It was an interesting concept that had a lot of people speculating. This interior shot should spark that debate again.
It sort of looks like the inside of a whale's mouth. Or a fig cut in half. It's a fantastic design and the stitch work looks stunning. Chance of it making production this way: 0%.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Lexus,Luxury Cars
