This neat city car concept hides a secret under the skin, which could help automakers develop lighter and more compact electric cars.
The WILL hatchback is the first car to feature Michelin’s new Active Wheel, which integrates electric motor, brakes and suspension functions inside the wheel. The car is now under test in France. It has been developed by contract manufacturer Heuliez, and also acts as a showcase for the company’s capabilities. (more…)
At the 2009 Geneva motor show this week, Jaguar revealed its new 503 horsepower XKR and XFR models fitted for the first time with the company’s new Active Differential Control system (ADC). At the heart of Jaguar’s ADC system is GKN Driveline’s ETM® electronic limited slip differential (eLSD).
The ETM® is a rear axle differential with an integrated active coupling that provides unsurpassed vehicle traction and stability through high speed optimal torque allocation to the powered wheels. Its integrated electronically controlled direct actuation makes it a highly suited module for improving dynamic performance in sports cars such as the new XKR and XFR. (more…)
Protoscar SA unveiled LAMPO – a full size sport cabriolet – at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 . LAMPO is powered by two BRUSA electric motors (one rear and one front), optimized for maximizing acceleration and regenerative braking respectively. (more…)
Swedish supercar marque Koenigsegg and NLV Solar AG, a pioneer in photovoltaics and accumulator technology, have joined forces to create the Quant. (more…)
Spyker Cars, manufacturer of exclusive premium sports cars since 2000, today proudly introduces the production version of its all-new second-generation sports car: the Spyker C8 Aileron, the prototype of which was shown at Geneva in 2008. (more…)
Duster – Dacia’s first concept crossover – is proud to be different. Seen from the driver’s side, it is visibly a sporting coupé, yet passengers entering from the other side will see it as an MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) with a traditionally opening front door and rear-hinged rear door which suggest plush travelling refinement. (more…)
Designed and developed by auto industry veterans Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler, the Fisker Karma proves environmentally friendly cars do not have to sacrifice performance, style or function. (more…)
The High Luxury SUV built by RUF is named Dakara and is based on the Porsche Cayenne. The exterior and interior is able to embrace the most ambitious wishes. Because of the 911-headlights, the Dakara affects like a sports car. (more…)
The research organization of Siemens (Corporate Technology) is working intensively on the topic of electro mobility, which could become part of its environment portfolio, with 19 billion Euros already contributing a mere 25% of total revenue. The demands made on the electric vehicle and the design of the power network infrastructure play a decisive role. (more…)
Tata is preparing for a full-scale European launch – including the UK – in 2010, with both the tiny Nano city car and a fully-revised Indica B-segment hatchback – including an electric version.
But the launch will not use the Rover brand – which Tata acquired through its purchase of Jaguar and Land-Rover. Instead, the Tata brand will be used worldwide for small cars. (more…)
This odd-looking vehicle might struggle to meet crash testing rules – but it contains technology that could lead to a range of zero-emissions vehicles that don’t rely on electricity.
How? The clue’s in the name. The Moteur Development International (MDI) AIRPod runs on compressed air. It’s a tiny two-seater, with three wheels and a total weight of just 220kg – but it has a range of 180-220km, a top speed of about 40mph and it can be fully recharged in just 90 seconds – the time it takes to refill its carbon-fibre air tank. (more…)
It seems almost every brand from the automotive industry’s past is ripe for revival – no matter how long ago cars bearing the brand last rolled off the production line.
The latest candidate is Frazer-Nash, a British sports and racing car maker whose roots date back to the 1920s – but which last made a car in the late 1950s. The company doing the reviving is none other than Italdesign-Giugiaro, and the new Frazer-Nash is a radical hybrid electric car, the fastest of its type in the world. (more…)