Concept – Page 16 – Automobiles Review

Nissan Pathfinder Concept with Family Focused Interior

Nissan Pathfinder is probably the perfect family vehicle. Now, Pathfinder Concept adds an unprecedented level of premium style, comfort and thoughtful technology. The new concept vehicle includes new aerodynamic exterior design and innovative, flexible interior. It is going to make its debut this autumn. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder Concept is a big-size, 3-row/7-passenger SUV with the seating and cargo capacity that growing families need. Moreover it brings now enhanced comfort, innovative technology, increased fuel efficiency, and most importantly, more flexibility for the family.

First of all one of the biggest changes to the upcoming Pathfinder design is the return to a unibody platform. It now offers many advantages, including a flat floor for enhanced interior packaging flexibility. Its premium features in the interior include quiet, comfortable interior with rich leather-appointed seating surfaces, heated and cooled front seats, heated second row seats, heated steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, Nissan Intelligent Key™ with Push Button Start and multiple user memory settings, and an advanced Bose® Audio System with thirteen speakers. Furthermore the Pathfinder Concept’s unique versatility is all about the design of the second and third row. The third row is possible due to the large rear door openings, 5.5 inches of second row seat travel, and forward folding seat design for ease of entry and exit. Next, the second row also features “child seat mode” which allows forward movement and access to the third row with a child safety seat remaining securely in place. The third row seat is a 50/50 split folding design, which also offers added cargo flexibility and reclines for greater passenger comfort. Both the second row and third row seats fold flat for optimal cargo capacity. In addition to that there is an under floor storage in the rear cargo area.

Innovative technology is also included in the Pathfinder Concept interior: instrument panel, which includes an advanced drive-assist display directly in front of the driver – along with a large multifunction IT display in the center of the dash; Nissan Navigation System with real-time traffic and weather information and Zagat Survey® restaurant guide; Bluetooth® Streaming Audio; and at last a RearView Monitor. What is special here is that the concept features Nissan’s advanced Around View™ Monitor, which shows the driver a virtual 360-degree image of the area around the vehicle. Other technology includes a tri-zone climate control system, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, power rear liftgate, iPod® integration, and tri-zone entertainment system with 2nd row headrest-mounted DVD display screens. There is also the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It provides both visual and audible signals to help customers conveniently maintain correct tire pressures without the use of a gauge. Of course here to be mentioned is the remote engine start function as well, which allows the climate control system to warm up or cool down the interior prior to driving.

In other words the new Pathfinder Concept offers a lot of interior flexibility. At the same time it also includes brilliant new exterior. The new unibody platform shines bright with more aerodynamic exterior, without compromising headroom or cargo capacity. Moving upscale in look, the new exterior styling presents a smart fusion of signature Nissan styling cues and dynamic strength. Furthermore the exterior is adventure-ready with wheel-oriented muscular fenders and a strong, stable stance. The upper body features an open cabin with a low beltline and thin A- and D-pillars. They flow into the rugged, durable-looking lower body. The front and rear spoilers, rear tire deflectors and rear suspension fairings are helping the vehicle to achieve excellent aerodynamic performance. More importantly the new Pathfinder is expected to weigh significantly less than the previous body-on-frame design. This of course helps contribute to the enhanced fuel economy performance. Moreover, other exterior details feature a wide chrome grille and large aerodynamic headlights, recessed front windshield wipers, chrome door handles, large rear combination lights and panoramic dual-panel moonroof.

Furthermore the Pathfinder powertrain uses a refined V6 engine mated to a next-generation Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which provides an expected 25 percent increase in combined City/Highway fuel economy in comparison to the previous V6-equipped model. In addition the Pathfinder Concept also includes an intuitive four-wheel drive system and a towing capacity comparable to the leaders in the segment. More importantly, the new engine and CVT combination offers enhanced efficiency, while maintaining nearly the same horsepower as the previous generation’s larger displacement V6. It also delivers responsive acceleration in a variety of conditions. The vehicle, of course, retains its ability to tow boats, jet skis, trailers and a variety of other recreational gear. The new Pathfinder stays an excellent vehicle for unfavorable driving conditions with four-wheel drive.

Source: Nissan

February 9, 2012

2012 Kia Track’ster Concept

Thumb Kia has just unveiled their new concept. As you can see it is powerful, dynamic and very stylish. Moreover it shows distinctive design which shows the direction that the South Korean manufacturer is taking. The concept bears the name Track’ster and is intended to be the ultimate sporting representation of Kia’s Soul B– segment SUV. The extremely successful and innovative crossover “Soul” gave even more ideas for concepts, such as Soul’ster for example. This is a convertible concept, which now is at preparation stage for production. The “Soul” model made a big breakthrough in the 2011 in the United Stades, where over 102,000 units were sold. In addition, now Kia is launching this brand new Track’ster concept, which also has the relationship with the “Soul”s rebellious, individual and urban style.

Source: KIA

February 3, 2012

LF-LC Sport Coupe Concept Big Hit in Detroit

Some news from the NAIAS – Designers at the Lexus studio in Calty, California can take a much deserved vacation now as the much anticipated Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sport Coupe Concept is proving itself a big success with an ‘EyesOn Design Award’ for a best concept. Innovative approach has been kept in mind when designing the 2+2 Hybrid which incorporates a certain emotive charge combined with cold blooded technology.

Elements of the new Lexus way, seen in the new GS 450h, can be encountered in the concept, particularly the “spindle“-like grille form and the rear architecture.

Kevin Hunter, Calty President, said: “The LF-LC was a dream car to design and a true collaborative effort at Calty. It is an honour to have that work recognised by our peers and to receive the award.“

In the mean time, Mark Templin, Lexus US Group Vice President and General Manager, commented: “The LF-LC is a striking design and breathtaking in its beauty. The team at Lexus quickly fell in love with this concept vehicle and it’s rewarding to see that the industry agreed. Receiving the EyesOn Design Award is a great start to what promises to be a fantastic year for Lexus.”

Both concept and production vehicles can be honored with the ‘EyesOn Design Award’ which is given after a group of world leading automotive designers and design academics approve the product. Creativity in different areas of design is appreciated which includes aesthetics and innovation, concept implementation, functionality and the spirit of industrial design.

Source: Lexus

January 13, 2012

Cambiano Concept by Pininfarina – Beauty Has a Name

While the Detroit NAIAS is running its course, there seems to be a lot of hubbub around the 2012 Geneva Motor Show which is due to start in March this year. Here we have a teaser of Pininfarina‘s future concept, the “luxury environmentally friendly sport sedan”. It will be revealed at their show stand in Geneva and undoubtedly, it will be gorgeous.

Named after Pininfarina‘s home town, the Cambiano is said to have been consciously constructed with a selection of efficient materials and powered by a an eco-friendly power plant.

Pininfarina is a design company which has given the automotive industry some of the finest aesthetically charged profiles out there. The Ferrari 458 Italia, the Enzo, Alfa Romeo GTV, Jaguar XJ6, Alfa Romeo Spider and many, many more – all love children of the Pininfarina company. And this year the small town of Cambiano has two anniversaries to celebrate: 30 years with the Styling Centre (called, back in1982, the “Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche/Pininfarina Study and Research”) and 10 years of development with the Engineering Center which serves to prove that finely crafted technology and design go hand-in-hand. We personally hope to see many more anniversaries to come for Pininfarina as they bring beauty to the eye with every single project.

Pininfirina Cambiano Concept — Pininfarina Cambiano Concept

Source: Pininfarina

January 12, 2012

Infiniti Hint Their Latest Product

Infiniti intends to pursue the ultimate driving experience delivered from electricity. They have already proven themselves apt in that field with the Infiniti M hybrid but now they are looking towards the Geneva Motor Show 2012. There they will reveal a yet to be named sports concept that will “minimize the traditional compromise between thrilling performance and sustainable mobility”.

Information is scarce really. All we have is Infiniti’s promise that we are talking about an efficient, sharp, low-emission vehicle with an even greater urban mobility. Infiniti say also that, despite an overall truthfulness to the company’s image and spirit, a new mid-ship design will provide better weight distribution. In other words most of the mechanical bits will be placed somewhere where it is least damaging to the performance of the car.

For more information supposedly, we will have to wait for the Geneva Motor Show which kicks off on the 8th of March this year.

Source: Infiniti

January 11, 2012

Lincoln MKZ Concept Debuts at NAIAS

Lincoln have revealed their latest concept (the MKZ) on the NAIAS to give voice to their intentions for the future design path they are willing to take. The MKZ Concept showcases “elegant simplicity” and unconventional luxury.

Looking at the pictures we can see what they mean. First impressions come from the brandy-colored exterior which, Lincoln say, consists of a dense base coating and a multitude of clear-coat varnish. The MKZ‘s superstructure comprises of materials such as baron and aluminum. The overlaying, smooth roofline (which houses a panoramic window trough and trough) sort of conceals the fact that this is in fact a sedan which normally consists of three boxes. The seemingly organic profile takes an aerodynamic feel with ease. Recognizable Lincoln features however, do not go unnoticed – the grille, although very conceptual, still retains the image of a split-wing-like entity first seen on the 1938 Lincoln Zephyr.

Inside, a blend of poplar wood, aluminum and leather complements the bold outer design. The beverage themed hues continue as ‘champagne-colored’ seats show off their ‘champagne perforation patterns’ (something about the stitching that makes them look fizzy with bubbles just like a champagne glass). The four-seated saloon is airy and inviting that makes use of some cleverness – push-button transmission gear selection, a 10-inch MyLincoln Touch screen for the driver as well as an 8-inched one in the middle.

For power, the MKZ will most probably utilize the MKS and MKT EcoBoost engines, which come with Drive Control. The suspension will also make use of Lincoln’s Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) system. Drivetrains setups include both FWD and AWD.

Source: Lincoln

January 11, 2012

Maserati Kubang SUV Concept

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show, Maserati has unveiled their new SUV concept vehicle named Kubang. The concept demonstrates the power of the modern Maserati. The idea of this sport luxury SUV is not new to Maserati. To remind you, the first Kubang concept was presented in the distant 2003 again at NAIAS. While the project starts with firm fundamentals and capability, the model eventually produced will unquestionably be a Maserati. All major system components will be fully produced by Maserati in picture-perfect continuity with the brand’s core values of sportiness, elegance, glamour, luxury, performance and craftsmanship. There will also be included a new generation of Maserati high-tech proprietary engines. Interesting information is that they were designed in Modena, Italy at Maserati Headquarters. More importantly the production of the new Maserati engines will be performed by Ferrari in Maranello, Italy and they will be mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission! In addition there are also components with specific performance settings: suspension, brakes, steering and electronics, which will be exclusively developed by Maserati engineers.

As you already know, Maserati brand is a founder of the modern granturismo. Long ago Maserati broke the boundaries of the original GT concept and made it from two to four doors. The result was Quattroporte, which now is considered by many to be the first modern super sedan. Moreover it maintained not only the brands core values of style and luxury, but also delivered genuine performance thanks to components and design.

Nowadays Maserati again provokes with innovation by giving more sportiness and luxury to an SUV and thus giving the form of a very dynamic looking, incredibly elegant and high performing sport luxury vehicle with the capability of getting its passengers through all types of climates over a variety of surfaces on and off the road.

Source: Maserati

January 11, 2012

Smart For-us Concept Grants Mobility For-us

It is rare to hear from Smart (the Daimler AG microcar subsidiary) but today we have big news. Well, small actually but either way – A Smart For-us concept will premiere at the NAIAS at it is a pickup… sort of.

With 3547mm in overall length and 1506mm in width it wont fit much farming equipment, will it? Yes, it does have a cargo bay but even that is crammed with two clever or rather “Smart ebikes” which sit docked at the back and keep their charges up by using the batteries from the For-us.

Did we mention that the For-us is all-electric? Because it is. It has a 55 kW ‘magneto-electric’ motor which delivers a torquey punch of 130 Newton metres. Top speed, Smart say, will be more than 120 km/h which is understandable because as we said it’s not very big really.

But one cannot be cross at Smart for this is what they do. The “mobility-concept” is Smart’s answer to congested city districts, impassable trails and general urban havoc. In terms of aesthetics, the For-us is in a category of its own – the two seats, wrapped in their yellow fabric, keep it stylish and simple, the cabin design has aerodynamics in mind and there’s a familiar face smiling at us from the grille.

Source: Smart

January 10, 2012

Toyota NS4 Advanced Plug-in Hybrid Concept

Toyota has revealed the NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The new vehicle exemplifies Toyota’s vision for future mobility, with a focus on next generation connectivity and safety.

“In this digital age, cars are becoming another spoke in the wheel of our electronic connectivity. NS4 demonstrates Toyota’s take on the human connection to the car with technology that considers both emotional and rational relationships, person-to-car and car-to-society.”, commented Jim Lentz, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Sales US (Inc.).

The NS4 boasts advanced in-car connectivity, next evolution of Toyota safety systems and Glass Technology.

The NS4 concept’s human-machine interface (HMI) is centred around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. The simple, intuitive operation conveys information quickly while minimizing distractions and maximizing driver awareness. The multimedia and vehicle-controls enhancement will also direct air conditioning, audio, battery-charge and navigation functions. The HMI system is even capable of “learning” driver preferences to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations.

Toyota NS4 Advanced Plug-in Hybrid Concept

The NS4 features Toyota’s latest safety system developments, including next generation pre-collision system (PCS), adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights, and blind spot monitor (BSM). PCS features lane departure and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies designed to predict collisions under certain circumstances and help avoid them. Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlights help to prevent vision-impairing glare to oncoming drivers and pedestrians. Using sub-millimeter wave radar, the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane and visually alerts the driver using visual indicators placed in the upper dash.

Four new glass technologies are integrated into the windscreen, front and rear windows to improve driver visibility, fuel economy and electric driving mode mileage efficiency:

•   Rain-resistant ‘hydrophobic’ coating – Fluorine coated glass causes rain drops to form intosemispherical shapes for improved visibility and rain drop elimination.
•   ‘Anti-fog’ coating – High performance resin material with anti-fogging characteristics and increased durability.
•   High ultraviolet (UV) absorbing inner-layer – Removes 99 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays
•   Anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency – Reduces the internal vehicle temperature and improves electronic device functionality

Source: Toyota

January 10, 2012

Chevrolet Sail and MPV Concept Debut at the Auto Expo New Delhi

The Chevrolet Sail and the Chevrolet MPV Concept are the products of GM India and SAIC working together. The debut stand was at the eleventh Auto Expo in New Delhi.

The Sail is built by engineers at the GM Technical Center in Bangalore and is targeted at people from the emerging economies.

“The Chevrolet Sail hatchback will be a strong addition to GM’s mini-car portfolio in India,” said GM India President and Managing Director Lowell Paddock. “It will bring a new sense of vitality to the biggest, fastest-growing and most competitive segment in the domestic passenger car market.”

It is a dynamic looking hatchback with typically Chevrolet-ish front split front grille and the golden emblem of the brand in between. The hood has some distinguishing curves and lines that give it a 3D feel while the profile of the car (lower at the front, jumpy at the back) sends some sporty vibes.

Because of the noticeably high roof, there’s plenty of headroom and, with the fuel tank being in the middle, five people can easily seat themselves inside. Boot space is not sacrificed for any of this The center console houses a CD-player with AUX port while chromy motives complete the picture.

As powertrains, both diesel and petrol Smarttech engines will be offered which provide respectable power, efficiency and emissions within the accepted range.

Safety has also been addressed with a steel cage-like body construction and extra protection for the fuel-tank.

The Chevrolet MPV Concept is based on the MPV B segment in India and it is designed to accommodate large families with ease. The seats are up to eight and offer a good degree of flexibility. Best part of all is that chassis experts, Lotus have worked on developing the platform to get the most out of the materials.

“The Chevrolet MPV Concept is designed for those who want a spacious, comfortable and well-styled vehicle to enjoy life with their loved ones,” said Paddock.

Both cars have great challenges in ahead because India (where they will be tested) has the roughest terrain and climate to offer

Source: Chevrolet

January 9, 2012

Lexus LF-LC Sports Coupe Concept New Pictures

We have had one or two teasers about the Lexus LF-LC but now, a week before its debut, two new official, real-life pictures are on the loose. We still cannot report on any technical data except that it will bring “driving performance and fuel efficiency” to the world because we are talking about a hybrid. Even the branding on the sides suggests so.

Other than that, it just looks amazing, and slippery, and sleek. The front grille is big enough to pass as an industrial fishing net while various air inlets (for cooling the brakes presumably) shyly peak out from the curves of the body. Inside the squiggly lines of the interior are overwhelming and so are the seats which look like leather coated battle droids borrowed from the set of Star Wars.

It’s nice to see Lexus trying to break away from their well established image of boring-luxury-Toyota-producers. With that futuristic piece of art they are sure to freshen up next week’s NAIAS in Detroit.

Source: Lexus

January 5, 2012

Pathfinder Concept Update – New Videos

We talked about this near the end of last year. It’s the Nissan Pathfinder Concept set to appear on the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit next week. Now, new videos have been posted to keep the excitement alive.

Design is the focus of the Pathfinder Concept, Nissan say – sleek and slippery exterior with a roomy and clever interior that has seating for seven and more-than-enough cargo space. The idea of it is to predispose us to the forthcoming next generation Pathfinder which is set to enter production in Autumn this year.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNtk5Vxc1IU

Source: Nissan

January 4, 2012

Tag: Concept