Tag Archives: classic
Peugeot E-Legend Concept Is A Retro-Futuristic Autonomous Car
Autonomous concept cars have been the center of international auto shows in the past couple of years. Peugeot is readying its E-Legend Concept for an introduction at the Paris Motor Show next month. The E-Legend Concept has a forward-looking design that aims to highlight style over practicality.
The concept is a blend of modern Peugeot car design with the 1969 Peugeot 504 Coupe. The result is a retro-futuristic autonomous car that is reminiscent of the never-built Nissan IDx concept. These two concepts—the E-Legend and the IDx concept—were inspired by coupes designed in the late 1960s. The resemblances between these two concepts are therefore attributed to the trends of that decade.
But the closest connection between the E-Legend and the 504 is the roofline. It has the same trapezoidal shape with sharp corners, the same thin pillars, and the same large glass area. The long nose and the shorter rear deck are similar, too.
The concept measures 183 inches long, 76 inches wide, and 53.9 inches tall. It’s close to the size of a BMW M4, though with a shorter 105.9-inch wheelbase.
Inside, the retro design was carried over. It’s upholstered in 60s chic blue silk velvet while the door panels, seat buckets, and steering wheel are made of paldao wood sourced from renewable forests and finished by French furniture design firm Hervet Manufacturier. For a more relaxing drive, there’s also a fragrance diffuser that can fill the cabin with one of two scents crafted specifically for the E-Legend by perfume maker Ex-Nihilo.
But since this is an autonomous vehicle, the steering wheel will be retractable. Once the steering wheel is stowed, the autonomous system can be set to either one of two modes: soft for comfortable cruising or sharp for a more dynamic driving.
The E-Legend Concept will source its power from an electric engine that makes 456 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. These numbers are close to the outputs of Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-Tron, and the larger Teslas.
The Next Volkswagen Beetle is Going Electric
The Volkswagen Beetle is proposed to get an electric power. The next generation of the car will most likely run on the new MEB (Modular Electric Baukasten) platform of the automaker.
According to Autocar , the electric Beetle is planned to serve as a sister model to the latest Microbus, which came out as the ID Buzz concept at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show. The Beetle is one of the number of cars that will be presented to the VW board when they will have a vote on the company’s initial range of electric vehicles.
Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, said that the decision of the board will be based on what kind of “emotional concepts” they need. He explained that “emotional concepts” will include autos like the Microbus, Beetle, Kubelwagen and Buggy. He cleared out that there is no firm decision on the subject yet though.
Further into the interview, the VW exec hinted that they are favoring the Beetle. He stated that if they are going for an electric Beetle, it would be better than its latest model. Instead of its modern design, it would get back to its roots and it will have a rear-wheel drive.
Deiss pointed out that their MEB platform is planned to support up to 15 new electric-powered models. Five of them will be marketed under the VW name.
The rear-wheel drive setup for an EV was previewed under the Volkswagen ID hatchback concept at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The concept was equipped with one electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The output of the auto was 168 bhp.
Although this is not yet conclusive, it definitely gives us something to look forward to. Getting back the retro Beetle design is a cool direction, especially for the die-hard fans of the classic VW.
1917 Mitsubishi Model A Will Get Electric Car Treatment
Mitsubishi Motors, formerly the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, entered the automotive scene when it produced its first passenger vehicle, which is the 1917 Mitsubishi Model A. In celebration of the company’s centennial anniversary, it announced that it will release a plug-in version of the car.
Looking back at the history of the prestigious brand, the Model A was a four-door sedan measuring 103.9 inches in wheelbase, 150.8 inches long, 63.8 inches wide and 81.5 inches high. It has a curb weight of 2,899 lbs. The car carried a 2,765 cc inline-four engine with 35 hp and top speed of up to 97 km/h.
The car was produced from 1917 to 1921 and only 22 of them were made for customers. Due to the expensive production of the vehicle, Mitsubishi halted its production and it was not until 1960 when the company resumed its passenger car production with the Mitsubishi 500.
According to Inside EVs , the 1917 Mitsubishi Model A with plug-in hybrid powertrain is currently being made by West Coast Customs in Burbank, California. It is expected to be launched in summer. The progress of the car specialists will be shown during an episode of Inside West Coast Customs on the Velocity network.
The source said the revived Model A will make use of the automaker’s PHEV platform. Currently, the Mitsubishi Outlander makes use of the platform.
The PHEV platform is an interesting choice for the new Model A as it should be noted that the classic passenger car is actually as big as the common sport utility vehicles of today’s standards. It is worth mentioning that the Outlander is actually 105.1 inches in wheelbase, 184.8 inches long, 71.3 inches wide and 66.1 inches high. The curb weight of the auto is 3,768 lbs.
The integration of the PHEV platform with the 1917 Model A is truly an exciting feat for West Coast Customs as it will highlight both the past and present of the brand in one vehicle.
