NAIAS Concepts Thread

[Otto Puzzell]

The 2007 NAIAS will be opening to the public in a couple of weeks, and the online car-buff sites, as well as paper magazines, are rushing to be first to reveal the various concepts on display. After last years thin crop (the Camaro and Challenger being  the only memorable standouts, and each of them were updates or 'inspired by' versions of cars we'd seen before), the 2007 show looks a little more interesting. Here are some of the concepts revealed so far. Please jump in and add your own...



Ford Interceptor:





PRESS RELEASE:

Ford Interceptor Concept
Keeping Mustang momentum accelerating

Ford is committed to deliver fresh Mustang news every year. In 2007, good news comes early as America's favorite muscle car debuts as a grown-up four-door sedan.

The Ford Interceptor concept – based on a stretched Mustang platform – comes equipped with a manual six-speed gearbox mated to a Ford Racing 5.0-liter V-8 Cammer engine that delivers 400 horsepower and runs on E-85 ethanol.

Modern muscle
"The Ford Interceptor concept has the soul of Mustang but combines 'Built Ford Tough' attitude with the sporty elegance of '60s Ford sedans," said Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, The Americas. "This concept celebrates the best of American muscle. And if it looks familiar, it should. That's because we've translated the design language of last year's F-250 Super Chief pickup concept onto a car."

In terms of exterior design, the Ford Interceptor concept features substantial, sometimes brutish, surfaces and sections and the traditional rear-wheel drive proportion that includes a short front overhang, extended dash-to-axle ratio, low cabin and higher beltline.

As a nod to performance purists, the ultimate muscle lies under the powered clamshell "shaker" hood, which caps a thoroughly detailed engine compartment.

Making this a Ford are signature design touches, including the horizontal three-bar grille that is structurally integrated into the bumper beam as well as professionally applied "squircles" – or professionally square circles – inside and out.

Inside, for instance, squircles finished with Titan Metal painted inserts accent the Ford Interceptor concept's instrument panel, door trims, console, floor and four seats.

Its low-back seats, finished in thick black leather with exposed-edge seams and contrasting stitching, modernize muscle car seats through their design – along with clever touches, including headrests that deploy from the roof.
The concept's minimalist interior is sleek, focusing the driver's attention on the speedometer and tachometer, whose needles start at center and move opposite each other.

The audio control panel and climate controls are hidden – but deployable. And the gated six-speed shifter is exposed, just waiting to be thrown into gear.

For safety, the Interceptor concept incorporates Ford's patented four-point "belt and suspenders" safety belt design in all four seats. This showcases a possible next-generation safety belt that is more comfortable and easier to use than traditional three-point belts. Additionally, inflatable belts have been included in the rear seat of the concept.

Legendary performance
The Interceptor concept's 5.0-liter V-8 Cammer engine is an upgraded variant of the 4.6-liter engine under the hood of the current production Mustang GT. The Cammer modular engine has powered Ford Racing's FR500C race car to the top of the Grand Am Cup's GS class, achieving 5 victories on its way to the Drivers, Manufacturers and Team Championships in its first season of competition.

Ford Interceptor concept shows new Mustang-inspired design possibilities – complete with two more doors and a "Built Ford Tough" design attitude.

Powertrain
5.0-liter Cammer V-8

Chassis lengths
Overall length...........................................201.6 in.
Wheelbase.................................................120.8 in.
Overall width..............................................76.4 in.
Overall height at curb..................................54.8 in.

Track width
Front...........................................................66.5 in.
Rear............................................................67.8 in.

Suspension
Front....................... Double wishbone-independent
Rear.........................3-Link Design with Panhard Rod

Headroom
Front...........................................................37.5 in.
Second Row................................................35.9 in.

Legroom
Front...........................................................42.3 in.
Second Row................................................35.6 in.



Lincoln MKR Concept:




From InsideLine.com:

When the Lincoln MKR concept is unwrapped at the 2007 Detroit auto show on January 7, it will foretell the future look and powertrain of Lincoln.

No, the 21-inch chrome wheels will not make it to production. Neither will the four-door, four-seat concept's center console, which is constructed from recycled wood and looks, unfortunately and (we presume) unintentionally like a bowling-ball return. Forget about the MKR's glass roof that's supported by structural elements that form the shape of the Lincoln star logo.

Strip off all of that show-car filigree, however, and what you have is the future of Ford's historic but troubled luxury brand.

New design language
While archrival Cadillac has reinvented itself with a line of distinctive, consistent and not always pretty sharp-edged, "Art & Science" vehicles, Lincoln has been badly lost in the proverbial design woods. For the last decade, the company released a mixed bag of motor vehicles, seemingly unrelated to one another. Meanwhile, the company unveiled a number of retro concepts, all of which looked like a '60s Continental and none of which related to the look of any Lincoln production vehicle.

With the MKR, Lincoln says it now has defined seven exterior design cues or characteristics that define the look of Lincoln. According to Peter Horbury, Ford's head of design for the Americas, Lincoln designers will choose from these seven defining Lincoln characteristics to create a family resemblance among the brand's vehicles. Sometimes, designers will use three of the magic seven elements. Sometimes they will use five. Or more. Or less. The 415-horsepower, rear-drive Lincoln MKR show car uses all seven of 'em.

They are: 1. clean and uncluttered body surfaces; 2. a powerful, dynamic beltline; 3. a chamfered surface running parallel to the beltline; 4. a twin-port "bow-wave" front grille inspired by the 1941 Continental Cabriolet; 5. thin, horizontal headlamps; 6. a substantial C-pillar that smoothly transitions into the roof; and 7. a pronounced roof rail.

That's a lot of styling for a sedan that's only about an inch longer than the departed Lincoln LS sedan, yet the MKR looks remarkably neat and tidy. And the chopped roof (the MKR is about 4 inches lower than an LS) gives the rear-driver a decidedly sporty appearance. The wheelbase measures 112.9 inches.

Sophisticated and modern
"The Lincoln MKR Concept is sophisticated and modern, resembling an athlete — extremely strong and fit but looks elegant in a tuxedo," said Horbury. "This concept is the ultimate expression of elegant simplicity consistent with the world's best Lincolns, and this new design language will lead us forward in the growing premium segment."

In other words, Peter thinks his new car looks pretty cool. And it does. Notice the lack of door handles; instead a button concealed in the chrome door trim springs open front-hinged "winged" doors, which Ford says are slightly inclined for additional sophistication and a touch of drama.

Later, Horbury described the MKR as looking, "like the train of an elegant gown." Why? We have no idea. Sometimes, designers just say things like that.

Once inside you're greeted with what Lincoln calls "cool, soothing Ice Blue lighting" which illuminates the gauges. Soothing? We figure it's there to take your mind off cashmere-covered soy-foam-based seats and Mohair carpets.

Twin-turbo V6
The powertrain is unexpectedly sporty, too. It's a twin-turbo version of Ford's recently introduced 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection. Ford claims the MKR's motor makes 415 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque and runs on E85 ethanol. A version of this motor, called the TwinForce, will make it to production, but the double-throwdown chrome treatment it has received for auto show duty will not. Lincoln even went so far as to carry some of the sedan's cranberry red metallic paint under the hood. The MKR's engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

A fully independent suspension, with MacPherson struts up front, and Brembo four-wheel disc brakes, also jump off the MKR's spec sheet. Other interesting bits include 13 cubic feet of trunk space and 36.9 inches of rear headroom, similar to the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

See more in 2008
Lincoln's next flagship sedan, which the company has said will be out in 2008, will borrow heavily from the MKR. The TwinForce engine and six-speed automatic transmission are sure to make it to production, but so will much of the MKR's silhouette and its athletic proportions.

Henry Leland would approve.



Toyota FT-HS Concept:




From InsideLine.com:

The Detroit auto show is a huge theater, a Las Vegas-like stage where carmakers do their best to thrill and amaze a world audience. Toyota will step up this year and present its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept, a futuristic sports car that would be powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain.

Of course, the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept is just a concept, little more than a container for the overheated dreams of a bunch of designers at Calty Design Research, Toyota's design studio in Newport Beach, California. In fact, what you see here is only a two-dimensional animation, a computer-generated image of the show car that Toyota will roll out at the Detroit auto show on Sunday, January 7, 2007.

Whatever, it's enough to get us thinking about the next Toyota Supra, which the automaker feels it needs to compete with Nissan's one-two high-performance punch of the 350Z and the coming Skyline GT-R.

Introducing a Prius on steroids
"We feel there's a hole in our lineup," says Kevin Hunter, the vice president of Calty Design Research. "Toyota hasn't had a sports car since the Supra was dropped in 1997. We need some emotional punch in our lineup, a halo product."

Toyota envisions that punch to be a rear-wheel-drive Hybrid Sports Concept (HSC) that develops 400 horsepower. "It's a new kind of sports car for the 21st century," adds Hunter. "Eco and emotion in a sports car concept with a performance target of 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range."

A 3.5-liter V6 engine would deliver most of the thrust, and it doesn't require too much brainpower to connect the dots to the DOHC 3.5-liter V6 in the Lexus GS 450h, which already makes 292 hp at 6,500 rpm. You wouldn't have to look too far to find an electric motor to deliver the rest, because the water-cooled, 650V electric motor used in the GS 450h makes 197 hp at peak output, though this is just for seconds at a time.

The Calty designers, who have been working on the FT-HS for an entire year, are even willing to suggest that once the future arrives, a hybrid powertrain will be necessary to achieve the feeling of ultrahigh-performance that you want in a sports car. In a fuel-efficient future, a jolt of acceleration from an electric motor might become the equivalent of an injection of nitrous oxide into your gas-powered engine.

All this has overtones of ecological friendliness, of course, but as the buzz about global warming and greenhouse gases becomes a part of daily life, Calty's designers remind us that a hybrid powertrain will have a certain quotient of respectability that you won't find in a supercharged big-block V8. The FT-HS is even painted white because white is not only a pure motorsports color, but it's clean which, Hunter tell us, supports the car's hybrid message.

Putting it in a package
The FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept that Toyota will roll out at the Detroit auto show is about the size of the Lexus SC 430. The HSC measures 170.3 inches from tip to tail, and it has a wheelbase of 104.3 inches. It's 73.2 inches wide and 50.8 inches high. Much like the SC 430, the front track is narrowly wider at 63 inches, while the rear track measures 61.2 inches.

This is meant to be a 2+2-style car, large enough for occasional backseat passengers. We probably shouldn't be surprised that it's nearly as big as a Corvette, since it's going to take a lot of space to package an engine, a fuel tank, an electric motor and a battery pack. The restrictive trunk volume of the Lexus GS 430h shows us just how difficult this task can be.

The HSC's long wheelbase should help balance the weight of the sizable battery pack that will be required. In fact, the HSC's weight distribution might even approach the magic mean of 50-percent front/50-percent rear as a result.

Shaping the future
The HSC has a hyperaggressive triangular profile, and this theme is repeated throughout the design. Meanwhile, much of the mass has been subtracted beneath the surface to create a shape that looks like an insect's exoskeleton.

Apparently the design has been inspired by the look of a downhill speed skier, in which individual aerodynamic elements are more important than overall streamlining. "Vibrant clarity is our new Toyota design language," Hunter tells us. "And the car is packing plenty of J-Factor, which is the local and global acceptance of Japanese design."

As envisioned by the Calty team, the engine will be visible through a hole in the hood to emphasize its hybrid nature. That dark portion in the middle of the hood is actually the engine cover poking through, much like a shaker hood scoop from the 1960s.

"We were thinking about the Formula 1 aesthetic," Hunter tells us. "An aesthetic driven by function. The hard edges all over the FT-HS are aerodynamically functional. We also wanted to boil down the shape of the car to its minimum requirements. We wanted it to look lightweight. We call that 'Subtractive Mass.'"

Also functional are the large air intakes ahead of the rear wheelwells, which will direct cooling air to the rear-mounted battery pack. A full belly pan enhances aerodynamic slipperiness. The car rides on carbon-fiber wheels that carry 245/35ZR-21 tires in front and 285/30ZR-21 tires in the rear and according to Hunter were very difficult to make.

Solo space
Toyota's designers also postulate a unique retractable roof, which will slide and then lie down inside the car covering the backseat, rendering the car a two-seater. Thanks to the tiny servo-motors we see in motorized hardtops these days, perhaps anything is possible, and the top is functional on the concept car.

The interior has the same aggressive style as the exterior, and the sharp edges look to us like the work of Edward Scissorhands. Toyota calls it "Solo Space." "The interior is all about the driver," says Hunter. The seats are little more than thin pads attached to the surrounding structure, and the driver is meant to hold a hubless steering wheel, an ever popular feature of design renderings since the 1960s. There are also paddle shifters on the unique steering wheel, which has a unique outer red ring that turns around an inner ring.

If Toyota builds it, will they come?
There's a lot about the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept that reminds us of the far-fetched sketches that production designers create for bad sci-fi movies. It's pretty unlikely that the muscle-car fanatics within Cobo Hall at the Detroit auto show will spare it a second glance. But we still think there's a glimmer of a good idea in this concept.

The Toyota Supra left these shores 10 years ago and Lexus took over the prestige role for the whole company. But as Toyota has crafted generation after generation of reliable yet uninspiring automobiles, the family of Toyota buyers has begun to look a little old. A sports car might be the right thing to wake up a new generation, especially since Toyota has a relevant performance heritage thanks to ownership of a Formula 1 team since 2002, a piece of victory at the 2003 Indianapolis 500, and a new fleet of cars in NASCAR's Nextel Cup for 2007.

The technical challenge presented by a hybrid sports car isn't small. Lithium-ion batteries are about half the weight of nickel-metal-hydride cells, but they are extremely sensitive to temperature and burst into flames when overheated. In addition, lithium-ion batteries don't like to be recharged quickly.

Yet efficiency is a cool thing in our culture these days. It's even about to become cooler, because the power structure in Formula 1 is talking about regenerative braking for the racing cars by the 2009 season and the reuse of waste engine heat by 2010. Since Toyota's F1 team will be on the leading edge of this development, the technology should find its way into its street cars like the HSC.

There's a lot about the look of the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept that might seem awfully speculative to the crowd at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, but it's probably a mistake to dismiss it. Inside this computer-generated image is a dream of a Toyota Supra for the future.



Chrysler Nassau:






PRESS RELEASE:

CHRYSLER NASSAU CONCEPT
Artistic, refined definition of "what it is to be a Chrysler"

Combining refinement, function and style, the Chrysler Nassau concept explores a new expression of the Chrysler brand. The four-door, four-passenger Chrysler Nassau luxury coupe is, as Alan Barrington, principal exterior designer of the concept said, "a more emotional and artistic articulation of what it means to be a Chrysler."

Though built on a full-size 120-inch wheelbase, the Nassau appears more visually compact than a comparable Chrysler 300C.

"Traditional exterior proportions have been enhanced with a silhouette that recalls the classic English 'shooting brake,'" said Barrington. "This provides SUV-like interior volume with a lower, more roadworthy physique."
Barrington said the exterior design vocabulary is fluid and sophisticated with special attention paid to wheel placement relative to the body surface for a sleek, toned stance.

"In order to attain a more compact appearance," explained Barrington, "the Nassau has deliberately concise front and rear overhangs, with the body surface wrapped around the large 10-spoke 21-inch wheels."

Accenting the Mystic Blue Pearl color of the body, the sill and the lower portions of the front and rear fascias are finished in Starbright Silver. The lower surface of the body is defined by a subtle undercut that rises slightly toward the rear wheel.

Though the arc of the roof resembles that of a coupe, the Chrysler Nassau concept is in fact a four-door hard top with front and rear side glass that retracts fully, revealing the absence of an above-the-belt B-pillar. The crisp but fluid A-line that closes slightly against the rising belt is also of particular note.

"We sought to capture the effect of a classic sculpture – an artistic approach with a shapely flowing of lines that give the impression of movement even while standing still," Barrington said. "The line in the profile draws down and into the taillamp, leading the eye of the observer toward to the dramatic back end which creates its unexpected 'shooting brake' appearance."

In side view, the upper portion of the rear hatch is steeply raked, with the back light swept cleanly around to the C-pillars. The lower portion of the tapering back light glass is pulled emphatically rearward, a treatment repeated in the near vertical surface of the lower hatch. The flanking taillamps are graphically the reverse of the headlamps, with the lenses growing wider as they sweep around to the side, with the bright accent along the bottom of the lens. Much of the lens is populated by rows of bright rectangles set in a red field, the rectangles helping to delineate the surface of the rear quarters when the lamps are unlit. All exterior lighting is visually distinctive with the use of atypical textures, colors and LED technology.

Fronting the long hood is a new interpretation of the eggcrate Chrysler grille, rendered in chrome and satin aluminum. Bracketing the grille and sweeping rearward nearly to the wheel openings, the long, narrowing headlamps and their upper chrome brows combine with the rising sculptured line of the upper fascia to subliminally evoke the uplifted wings of the Chrysler badge.

The Chrysler Nassau's lower fascia is accented by the long chrome brows of the tapering left and right fog lamps, a detail replicated in the "repeater lamps" of the slim, door-mounted side view mirrors. The plan view of the Nassau highlights the dramatic swept-back curves that define both the front and rear fascias.

Stepping into the Chrysler Nassau, one enters a new world of luxury specially designed to a younger, aspiring audience. The presiding interior theme is one of flowing seamless sculpture composed of leathers and fabrics derived from futuristic architectural interiors.

"We looked carefully at space efficiency," said Ben Chang, principal designer of the Nassau's luxurious interior. "We pushed the interior surfaces outboard to increase the space inside while individual bucket seating provides each of the four occupants personal space.

"The look of various components inside the vehicle was inspired by the design of contemporary cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players," Chang added. "We paid close attention to the graphics and finishes of these technologically advanced products, seeking to make controls in the Nassau's interior that the driver interfaces with similar to what you'd find in the office or among personal electronic devices. We strived to achieve a seamless interface between your car and the rest of your electronic world."

The instrument panel is a showcase for new technologies in data display, personal control interface, and home theater-inspired entertainment. Gear selection is accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel while the steering wheel incorporates auxiliary paddle shifters.

"The look of the instrument cluster was based on an expensive watch, again because we sought to create a visible connection with what people have and use," Chang said.

While the instrument cluster has its own taut brow, the shape of the forward portion of the instrument panel is sensuously sculpted. Housing the main cluster, the upper surface of the panel includes a wide asymmetrical elliptical opening.

The shape was inspired and reminiscent of Constantin Brancusi's famous Bird in Space sculptures. Brancusi, an artist based in Paris from the 1920s to the 1940s, was preoccupied by physical attributes of birds in flight, or more specifically, the essence of flight. The theme fits perfectly with the vehicle's goal of giving the constant impression of smooth, slender movement.

Within the housing of the instrument panel (I/P) is a three-layer screen, which allows the simultaneous display of the navigation, passenger entertainment and vehicle function displays.

As they move toward the doors, the left and right side lower portions of the two-tone I/P rise upward, again subtly reprising the Chrysler wings. Sandwiched between the upper and lower surfaces of the instrument panel are partially-concealed horizontal vents that direct cool air into the cabin.

The four handsomely-formed bucket seats are covered in cream-colored leather, with the suede accents in a fine bamboo texture, a theme repeated on the door trim panels. Occupants can gaze upward through twin "Picture View" skylights, longitudinal blue-tinted glass panels that run the length of the roof panel. Those in the rear seats can enjoy a movie displayed on the flush video screens incorporated into the rear-facing portion of each of the front seat headrests.

Running fore-aft between the seats is a center console with a satin silver trim strip that travels from the I/P center stack to the upper rear seat backs. Set within the console are the front and rear "joy stick" controls designed to function much like the "mouse" control of a home or office computer. Power window switches and flush-mounted pop-up cup holders are also contained in the console.

Among the more interesting visual details within the Deep Mystic Blue and Cream interior are the refined-yet-simple chrome accents and textures used on the silver speaker grilles on the doors, seat back monitors, headliner and foot pedals.

Behind the passenger cabin, the surface of the boat tail-shaped cargo cover is accented with five stainless steel accent strips, while panels in the carpeted cargo area below offer additional storage.

"With its sculptural artistry and technological sophistication, the interior of the Chrysler Nassau is the perfect complement to its visually-arresting exterior," said Chang.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Weight and Dimensions
Weight 4500 lbs (est)
Length 196.1" (4981 mm)
Wheelbase 120" (3050 mm)
Front overhang 37" (940mm)
Rear overhang 39" (991 mm)
Width 74.2" (1885 mm)
Height 58.9" (1496 mm)
Track front/rear 63.8"/65.5"
Turn circle 38.7 ft (11.8m)
Couple 35.5" (755 mm)

Powertrain and suspension
Engine 6.1L HEMI, 425 hp @ 6200 rpm,
420 ft. lb @ 4800 rpm
Drivetrain RWD, A580 5-speed automatic
Suspension Front/SLA, Rear/5-Link Independent

Wheels and tires
Tire size front/rear P245/40R22 29.7" (755mm)
Wheel size front/rear 22" x 8.5"

Color scheme
Exterior Mystic Pearl Blue
Interior Deep Mystic Blue and Cream,
Leather and Ultra Suede

Key Performance Attributes
0-60 mph 5 seconds
Standing 1/4 Mile 13.5 seconds
Top speed 165 mph
Range 380 miles

[MG]

The Ford ideas strike me as more of the same "In Your FACE, Asshole!" designs that are currently so hot in the marketplace as car makers return to bulging, muscular fenders, gun ports for windows and any other visual cue they can dream up to make the driver feel like the biggest, baddest sumbitch on the road. Today's rolling stock looks more like stylized armored cars than real vehicles for real people.

But Americans eat this shit up.  Makes ME think that most people see themselves as more and more powerless and so need to drive a "powerful" Oedipus wagon to make up for their own perceived short comings.  Although Rich would be more qualified to speak to that, our current political ethos makes it plain that qualifications are largely unnecessary in today's world of "magical realism", where illusion is reality and we CAN fool ourselves all the time.

But I digress......

[Ultra]

our current political ethos makes it plain that qualifications are largely unnecessary in today's world of "magical realism", where illusion is reality and we CAN fool ourselves all the time.

But I digress......

This is a man who considers automotive stylings to be representative of the political and social climate of the times.  I think the idea deserves consideration and discussion.  Seriously, what do you base these ideas upon?  Do you have examples from other eras? 

Inquiring minds and all......

[MG]

Well, NO, actually, I do NOT have examples from other times, other than the "tail fin" era and rocket themes of the 50's and early 60's that were clearly influenced by America's new found muscles and feeling that "The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades" mentality.

I am just an observer of the circus passing by my door.  It seems painfully obvious that the SUV/truck craze is indicative of a society that wants protection and feels threatened.  But that's just my opinion, based upon nothing but my powers of observation.  Make of my ideas what you will.

(Making FUN of them may spring to mind as a first response...... )

[Ultra]

It seems painfully obvious that the SUV/truck craze is indicative of a society that wants protection and feels threatened. But that's just my opinion

I am not disputing it.  I do find the link you refer to as obvious closer to tenuous, however, extrapolated as you have wtiihout qualifying your reasoning.

[MG]

Reasons? I have to have REASONS??   

WTF?  Why was I not informed?!?!?!?

Oh, well. "I yam what I yam", said Tom, groundlessly.   

[Jagman]

The top one looks more like an answer to the Chrysler 300, with it's squared off front end............

With such pretty designs like the 49 in their portfolio, I can't believe they choose to go this way.

[Ultra]

The top one looks more like an answer to the Chrysler 300, with it's squared off front end............

With such pretty designs like the 49 in their portfolio, I can't believe they choose to go this way.

'xactly.

[Otto Puzzell]

The top one looks more like an answer to the Chrysler 300, with it's squared off front end............

With such pretty designs like the 49 in their portfolio, I can't believe they choose to go this way.

Perhaps it went something like this: Enthusiasts raved, but Lee Iacocca Alan Mulally carefully watched general reaction and shrugged. "All the car buffs said, Hey what a car!' but when I look at who's saying it - the offbeat crowd, the real buffs .... I said "That's sure not the car we want to build, because it can't be a volume car. It's too far out".

[Ultra]

Anyone wanna meet up at NAIAS?

[Otto Puzzell]

Jaguar C-XF Concept






Press Release:

THE ALL-NEW JAGUAR C-XF REVEALED

All-New Jaguar Concept Car Reveals Dramatic New Design Direction for Future Sport Sedans

IRVINE, Calif. January 3, 2007 – The all-new Jaguar C-XF concept car, a stunning four-door sedan that blends dynamic, modern features with classic, heritage cues, will make its debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich. This concept, which boasts a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, signifies a new era for the company and is a clear indication of the design direction for the company's next-generation of sport sedans.

Headed by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum and Head of Advanced Design Julian Thomson, the concept was designed by the same team that produced the award-winning 2007 Jaguar XK Coupe and Convertible. The team looked to create a vehicle that presents a confident statement of design purity. In doing so, the C-XF possesses a sense of latent power through a look that is dynamic and athletic.

"The Jaguar C-XF concept is the most dynamic and modern four-door car that Jaguar has ever created, a design showcase heralding the next generations of our sports saloon models," says Ian Callum. "It signals a future for Jaguar that is as exciting as the C-XF itself."

The concept sedan features single, slim-wedged headlamps which have evolved from the twin-lamp motif seen on past Jaguars. The lights are thin and angular, producing an aggressive look for the car's front profile. Running from the headlamps to the rear wheel haunch is an unbroken, main feature line that gives the car a sense of power and movement. Furthering the vehicles aggressive appearance are the muscular bonnet, side power vents, tapered tail and deeply recessed front grille.

The vehicle's modern, sports design philosophy is applied to the cabin as well, with the emphasis tailored toward performance as opposed to luxury. Inside are lightweight, sculpted bucket-style front seats and twin individual rear bucket seats. Running in between the seats is a tall, central transmission tunnel that gives the occupants a sense of sitting deep within a futuristic cockpit. In addition, a brushed aluminum fascia wraps around the cabin, producing a dynamic linear graphic that instills a sense of velocity. Design Director Ian Callum describes the cabin of the all-new C-XF concept car as "one of the most exciting interiors Jaguar has ever done."

Enhancing the cabin experience is the introduction of the vehicle's new technologies that blend simplicity of design with practical innovation. JaguarSense, a prototype technology which employs motion detecting sensors to activate certain vehicle features, reacts to the sweep of a hand, making it advance yet intuitive. Also, the C-XF has a jewel-like Power button that pulses like a heartbeat on the center console and once pushed, aluminum rings lower from the center console to reveal the gear shift knob. As the engine starts, a blue light sweeps around the cabin, the entire roofline illuminates with a muted blue light and a final blue light shines from the front grille, signifying the car's ignition.

The C-XF is not just another concept car – it is much more than that. Its dynamic styling and modern design offer a glimpse to the future for Jaguar. The exterior is pure and athletic, the interior striking and contemporary while the technology innovative and practical. The C-XF is the new direction of Jaguar design.

From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world's premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company's vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.

[Jagman]

Petra and Dan Speed are talking about going on Sat, FYI

[Otto Puzzell]

SOME IDIOT FORGET TO SHRINK THOSE PICS!!!!! 

Edit: fixed now.

[Otto Puzzell]

Chevrolet Volt





Press Release:

The Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, powered by the E-flex System – GM's next-generation electric propulsion system – could nearly eliminate trips to the gas station.

The Chevrolet Volt is a battery-powered, four-passenger electric vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The Volt draws from GM's previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market when it launched the EV1 in 1996, according to GM Vice Chairman Robert A. Lutz.

"The EV1 was the benchmark in battery technology and was a tremendous achievement," Lutz said. "Even so, electric vehicles, in general, had limitations. They had limited range, limited room for passengers or luggage, couldn't climb a hill or run the air conditioning without depleting the battery, and had no device to get you home when the battery's charge ran low.

The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1L, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish the battery. According to Lutz, this increases the fuel economy and range.

"If you lived within 30 miles from work (60 miles round trip) and charged your vehicle every night when you came home or during the day at work, you would get 150 miles per gallon," Lutz said. "More than half of all Americans live within 20 miles of where they work (40 miles round trip). In that case, you might never burn a drop of gas during the life of the car."

In addition, the Chevrolet Volt is designed to run on E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Using E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg would translate into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon.

In the event a driver forgets to charge the vehicle or goes on a vacation far away, the Volt would still get 50 mpg by using the engine to convert gasoline into electricity and extending its range up to 640 miles, more than double that of today's conventional vehicles.

A technological breakthrough required to make this concept a reality is a large lithium-ion battery. This type of electric car, which the technical community calls an "EV range-extender," would require a battery pack that weighs nearly 400 pounds (181 kg). Some experts predict that such a battery – or a similar battery – could be production-ready by 2010 to 2012.

Jon Lauckner, GM vice president of Global Program Management, said the Volt is uniquely built to accommodate a number of advanced technology propulsion solutions that can give GM a competitive advantage.

"Today's vehicles were designed around mechanical propulsion systems that use petroleum as their primary source of fuel." Lauckner said. Tomorrow's vehicles need to be developed around a new propulsion architecture with electricity in mind. The Volt is the first vehicle designed around GM's E-flex System.

"That's why we are also showing a variant of the Chevrolet Volt with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell, instead of a gasoline engine EV range-extender," said Lauckner. "Or, you might have a diesel engine driving the generator to create electricity, using bio-diesel. Finally, an engine using 100-percent ethanol might be factored into the mix. The point is, all of these alternatives are possible with the E-Flex System."

The Volt concept car is built on a modified future architecture, Lauckner said, similar to the one GM uses for current small cars, such as the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR.

According to Larry Burns, GM vice president for research and development and strategic planning, the world's growing demand for energy and its dependence on oil for transportation is the common theme behind today's headlines.

"Whether your concern is energy security, global climate change, natural disasters, the high price of gas, the volatile pricing of a barrel of oil and the effect that unpredictability has on Wall Street – all of these issues point to a need for energy diversity," said Burns. "Today, there are more than 800 million cars and trucks in the world. In 15 years, that will grow to 1.1 billion vehicles. We can't continue to be 98-percent dependent on oil to meet our transportation needs. Something has to give. We think the Chevrolet Volt helps bring about the diversity that is needed. If electricity met only 10 percent of the world's transportation needs, the impact would be huge."

GM's E-flex System moves automobile toward new electric age
GM's E-flex System enables multiple propulsion systems to fit into a common chassis, using electric drive to help the world diversify energy sources and establish electricity from the grid as one of those sources.

"The DNA of the automobile has not changed in more than 100 years," said Burns. "Vehicles still operate in pretty much the same fashion as when Karl Benz introduced the 'horseless carriage' in 1886.

"While mechanical propulsion will be with us for many decades to come, GM sees a market for various forms of electric vehicles, including fuel cells and electric vehicles using gas and diesel engines to extend the range. With our new E-flex concept, we can produce electricity from gasoline, ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen.

"We can tailor the propulsion to meet the specific needs and infrastructure of a given market. For example, somebody in Brazil might use 100-percent ethanol (E100)

to power an engine generator and battery. A customer in Shanghai might get hydrogen from the sun and create electricity in a fuel cell. Meanwhile, a customer in Sweden might use wood to create bio-diesel."

The Chevrolet Volt is just the first variant of the E-flex System. The Volt uses a large battery and a small, 1L turbocharged gasoline engine to produce enough electricity to go up to 640 miles and provide triple-digit fuel economy. GM will show other variations of the propulsion systems at future auto shows.

"GM is building a fuel cell variant that mirrors the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Sequel (fuel cell concept)," Burns said. "Instead of a big battery and a small engine generator used in the Volt, we would use a fuel cell propulsion system with a small battery to capture energy when the vehicle brakes. Because the Volt is so small and lightweight, we would need only about half of the hydrogen storage as the Sequel to get 300 miles of range."

Future concepts might incorporate diesel generators, bio-diesel and E-100.

Environmentally conscious vehicles can be aesthetically appealing
With exterior proportions associated more with classic sports cars, the Chevrolet Volt conveys an immediate message of agility and sophistication. Twenty-one-inch wheels and sheer, taut surface relationships reiterate the statement. The Volt's athletic design challenges the notion that an environmentally conscious vehicle can't be beautiful and possess an aesthetic spirit that matches its driving characteristics.

True to the heritage of its Chevrolet bowtie, the Volt's exterior design suggests spirited performance and is wrapped in a stylish package, with classic Chevrolet performance cues that hint at both Camaro and Corvette. On the inside, near-term technologies and innovative materials combine with ingenious use of ambient light for an interior environment that's light, airy and thoughtful.

"We wanted a size that connected with everyone, so we designed a small car," said Asensio. "In the end, the interior design team from England inspired the final interior execution, and the exterior is the work of the Michigan advanced design team.

(sourced from GlobalAutoindex.com)

[Otto Puzzell]

Ford Airstream





PRESS RELEASE:

FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT

Expanding the future of crossovers
Playing to win in the growing crossover segment, Ford has partnered with another iconic company to showcase how it could further expand its lineup of expressive crossovers.

The Ford Airstream Concept is influenced by Airstream's iconic design and the optimism for the future that Stanley Kubrick captured in his 1960s cult film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The concept is powered by a plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell drivetrain that operates under electric power at all times. This advanced fuel cell system is half the weight and cost of today's fuel cells and can operate in the dead of winter. That's a major step forward because today's fuel cells don't do well when the mercury dips below freezing.

Continuous CUV growth
Crossovers are at the intersection of trends in the economy and society and have been brewing for years. Couples are starting families later in life, while baby boomers are downsizing their lives and their vehicles. Fuel prices and intense competition are influencing vehicle choices as well.

The crossover segment is expected to hit 3 million units by the end of the decade, vying to be the largest U.S. vehicle segment.

Bold designs will allow Ford to reach the customers in this competitive and fragmenting segment that already includes Ford Freestyle, Ford Edge and, in time, the full-size crossover based on the Fairlane concept.
See the future today

The Ford Airstream Concept captures the sense of optimism and adventure conveyed in American aircraft and spacecraft, right down to its organic, fuselage-inspired form language, the Ford-first unique reflective paint and 12 ceremonial rivets, which pay homage to Airstream's iconic construction.

The concept's bold, futuristic front-end explores a new look for Ford, encapsulating the single-surface grille and headlamps into the same graphic.

Each of the concept's bold orange-trimmed window graphics is a unique shape, reflecting the purpose of the vehicle: looking out and remembering that the journey – not the destination – matters most.

The Ford Airstream Concept's doors are asymmetric as well, allowing for easy loading of passengers and cargo. In addition to the driver's side hatch, the passenger side features a power clamshell door that runs two-thirds the length of the vehicle. A three-door hatch finishes the rear of the crossover.

Futuristic interior
The futuristic theme carries through to the interior, as well.

The Ford Airstream Concept features a floating instrument panel with flush-mounted, touch-sensitive controls. A multi-function single gauge display provides the driver all primary information. A Sharp¨ dual-view screen centrally mounted on the instrument panel provides a camera view and secondary driver-oriented information, while allowing the front-seat passenger to view DVDs and post mobile blogs.

Modern, pod-shaped swiveling captain's chairs rotate so the driver and front-seat passenger can easily socialize.
Ford Airstream Concept is a futuristic crossover capturing the sense of optimism and adventure conveyed in American aircraft and spacecraft.

In the rear, lounge-like seating is sculptural, creating a continuous cocoon-like environment wrapped in bold red B&B Italia fabric. The focal point of the rear seating area is a 360-degree screen for entertainment and games.
The unique screen not only creates ambient mood settings including a modern lava lamp and virtual fire, but it also is an entertainment source featuring games and a live camera feed.

Safer journeys
Safety belts remain the most important safety technology in vehicles.

Ford is researching several new safety belt designs for the future, including four-point safety belts aiming to help further reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

One of Ford's possible next-generation safety belts incorporates a four-point "belt and suspenders" design in lieu of the familiar three-point safety belt, which is featured on the Ford Airstream Concept.

The rubber meets the road
The new plug-in hydrogen fuel cell featured in the Ford Airstream Concept is much more than a concept. It is already on the road and driving in a Ford Edge prototype, created by scientists and engineers at Ford's Research & Innovation Center with partial funding from the United States Department of Energy.

In this application, the fuel cell's sole function is to recharge the vehicle's lithium-ion battery pack as needed.This allows it to work like a portable generator, instead of an engine, as had been the case in previous Ford fuel cell vehicles. The new fuel cell, supplied by Ford partner Ballard, operates in a steady state, allowing a significantly smaller, less expensive fuel cell and drastically improving the durability of the fuel cell. With this system, the fuel cell delivers the power needed to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, rather than to be the primary power source to drive the wheels, as in a typical fuel cell-powered vehicle.

Celebrating wanderlust
On the heels of Airstream's 75th birthday, Ford and Airstream have teamed up to deliver a futuristic crossover concept that could be used to navigate America's highways and byways.

Much like Ford, Airstream began because of one man's vision.

In 1931, Wally Byam began leveraging aircraft-construction methods to make trailers aimed at feeding Americans' surging desire to travel.

FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT
Inspired by American spacecraft, the Ford Airstream Concept features a unique 360-degree screen for entertainment and games.

Powertrain
Ford's new plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell
Chassis lengths
Overall length .......................185.0 in.
Wheelbase .............................125.9 in.
Overall width ..........................78.9 in.
Overall height at curb ..............70.6 in.
Track width
Front .......................................67.6 in.
Rear ........................................69.2 in.
Suspension
Front ................. Double wishbone-independent suspension
Rear ..................Multi-link independent
Headroom
Front .......................................37.5 in.
Second Row ............................36.2 in.
Legroom
Front .......................................39.6 in.
Second Row ............................33.1 in.
These specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

[GRAYWOLF]

The interceptor looks better in person, but needs work on the grill.

The MKR looks better in pictures.

As far as people going for the more aggressive appearance, I think they are craving something stylish and different than the bland look alike styling of all the sub $40K (as well as the overpriced badge engineered luxury brands) cars from around the globe.

The Magnum/300/Charger is the first to break the mold and people are eating them up. The only other ones out there that are outside the norm are the electric, but most of them are so ugly, only those that want to be "in your face" abotu driving electric are buying them.