12 May 2008, 03:25 PM
Mazda’s design DNA
To come up with a new design identity for Mazda, Laurens van den Acker and his design team had to condense and refine important heritage and brand identifiers into future design DNA. But what is design DNA?
As its name would suggest, it’s not so different from a human genome. Design DNA is a name for the basic building blocks that makes a car recognisable. It’s a design element that ensures a car shares visual characteristics with other vehicles in the same family, w
09 May 2008, 03:13 PM
Sporty and superlative, progressive and emotive – the A4 takes Audi into a new dimension in the midsize car segment. The two FSI direct injection gasoline engines provide supreme performance with fuel consumption that is more than 10 percent lower than the previous model. The highly efficient engines are clear evidence of Audi’s outstanding technical expertise. The dynamic suspension and many other technologies have been adopted directly from the large luxury class. The Audi A4 reaches the U.S.
14 April 2008, 02:16 PM
ELECTRO-SOLAR HYBRID
With 3.6 sqm of photovoltaic cells giving an exceptional yield of 21%, and covered by a film composed of nano-prisms enabling denser concentration of solar energy, Astrolab is the first high-performance solar vehicle to be commercialized in the world.
Capable of working with very little energy (16 kWc engine) and of recharging even when in motion, this vehicle of another era does not need to be permanently exposed to the sun in order to move. Its last-generation NiMH V
03 April 2008, 04:44 PM
Renault has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to take the wraps off its Mégane Coupé Concept show car which foreshadows a compact production coupe to be released at a later date. Like New Laguna, it points to an evolution towards more fluid, sportier styling from Renault. Mégane Coupé Concept targets drivers who are not only drawn by the notion of driving pleasure but who also seek to express their personality through their vehicle. Mégane Coupé Concept symbolizes Renault's vision of what a genuine c
04 March 2008, 02:10 PM
Three Kia SOUL concept cars unveiled by the Kia Motors Corporation at the 78th Salon de l’Automobiles this week in Geneva, Switzerland, reveal a whole new ‘fun’ side to the Korean brand.
The concept cars – SOUL Diva, SOUL Burner and SOUL Searcher – were created by Kia’s European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Kia Motors Europe, under the guidance of Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. Following Kia’s recently established tradition, the trio of concept cars are cl
16 November 2007, 03:41 PM
Hyundai unveiled its highly anticipated Concept Genesis Coupe during a press conference at the Los Angeles International Auto Show today. The concept car heralds the introduction of an all-new, rear-wheel drive 2 + 2 sports coupe scheduled to join the Hyundai lineup in the spring of 2009. Following the introduction earlier this year of the Concept Genesis sedan, Concept Genesis Coupe signals Hyundai’s second step in broadening its appeal to driving enthusiasts.
The Sonic Orange concept is
11 September 2007, 04:17 PM
Clearly a Lamborghini, but nothing quite like it. A super car without equals: the Lamborghini Reventón is a road vehicle with an extreme specification and, at the same time, a limited edition masterpiece – a coherent style, angular with sharp lines, inspired by the very latest aeronautics.
With just 20 produced, each 1 Million Euro (without taxes) Lamborghini Reventón is a symbol of extreme exclusivity, yet still offering the extraordinary performance that makes the Reventón so unrivalled: un
11 September 2007, 03:55 PM
The Toyota iQ concept, unveiled today at the Frankfurt Motor Show, marks a step change in small car design, challenging conventional thinking by being small, yet spacious and high in premium quality features. It’s an ultra-compact vehicle that achieves exceptional space efficiency and is perfectly tailored to the lifestyle needs and environmental concerns of Europe’s modern metropolitans. The iQ concept was created at ED2, Toyota’s European design studio in the South of France, following the pri
11 September 2007, 03:43 PM
Renault has chosen the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil Laguna Coupé Concept, its vision of a top-of-the-range grand tourer Coupé. Intended for the discerning motorist, who understands performance, driving pleasure, and refinement, Laguna Coupé Concept successfully marries high-tech with high cool. Underpinned by the Four-wheel Active Drive chassis, its boasts a brand new V6 dCi powertrain developed as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.Built on the same platform as New Laguna, Laguna Coupé Conce
11 September 2007, 03:32 PM
Kangoo Compact Concept is a compact, robust leisure utility vehicle that boasts an original design and unprecedented proportions. Its affable style is straight out of the fresh, modular world of Kangoo. What really sets it apart is its two-tone, three-door body, and extraordinary glazed surface area, while its unique Fireball Orange and Brushed Aluminium colour scheme highlight its generous curves.Less than four metres long, Kangoo Compact Concept is in its element in towns and cities. Yet it is
10 September 2007, 04:28 PM
There are cars that endure for all times. They are icons of their type, masterpieces of craftsmanship and technology; they put ideas into motion, make progress tangible and sometimes quite simply make everyday life better, more practical and enjoyable. Many of these cars carry the VW logo. “Bug, Beetle, New Beetle”, “T1, Bulli, Samba bus, California”, “Golf, GTI”.
Now Volkswagen is presenting – as a world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt – a concept car that onc
07 September 2007, 03:31 PM
The Concept-ZT showcases an advanced level of driving pleasure, safety and environmental responsibility — Mitsubishi Motor's vehicle strategy — wrapped in a realistic package. Under the hood, a newly developed fuel-efficient, 2.2-liter clean diesel engine is mated to the new Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission). Concept-ZT also features advanced active safety as well as passive safety technology, such as its pop-up hood.
Design
The basic exterior form, simple and flowing with a lo
