Tag Archives: concept
BMW i4 Teased Before the 2020 Geneva Motor Show
BMW is set to launch its new green car at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show next month. The electric vehicle will be called the BMW i4 Concept and it boasts more than 300 miles of electric range at full charge.
Many have been eagerly anticipating a barrage of EVs from BMW starting with the i4 and i5 after the i3 made its debut seven years ago. However, it’s only now that the luxury brand has released a follow-up to its electric car.
BMW still refers to the i4 as a concept but it should be noted that the car is already due for release in the market next year. Therefore, what we will be seeing in Geneva will most probably embody all the things that the production version will offer.
The automaker claims that the i4 will be equipped with an 80 kW battery. The unit will allow the EV to reach up to 373 miles in full charge. The figures were derived from the more lenient WLTP cycle used outside the US, so it’s EPA estimate will still be somewhere above the 300-mile mark. That makes the electric car a worthy adversary to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 in the market. The company said that the battery of the i4 can be charged up to 80 percent in only 35 minutes using a 150 kW fast charger.
The electric motor located at each axle of the i4 will let it produce a total of 523 hp, which is enough to propel the auto from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds. Meanwhile, its top speed will likely be limited to 120 mph.
Aston Martin Vanquish Will Have The Last Manual Transmission
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer is making sure to fulfill his promise that the brand will be the last car manufacturer in the world to offer a manual transmission. The Aston Martin Vanquish sports car will be offered with a manual gearbox.
That should be enough for those who are waiting for the retail versions of the Valkyrie and the Valhalla. Palmer said he wants to honor that commitment through the Vanquish.
The only problem with this is that the seven-speed manual transmission released for the Vantage AMR forced a reduction in power and speed. Developed with transmission engine maker Graziano, the gearbox was paired with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that’s used in the Mercedes-AMG.
The engine produces 461 pound-feet of torque compared to the 505 pound-feet in the automatic-equipped coupe. The detune made the car slower by 0.3 seconds, adding to the 0-60 mph start time.
To reach this speed, the Vanquish will use an electrified, twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder developed in-house at Aston Martin. The Vanquish will need to produce more power and torque to be better than the Vantage and compete with the Ferrari F8 Tributo, McLaren 720 S, and Lamborghini Huracan.
Though Aston Martin has yet to release official figures, it looks like the Vanquish will give more power than the current 700 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque for the F8 and the 720 S. The Valkyrie and the Valhalla, which will use the same engine to produce around 1,000 horsepower, will likely forego the manual transmission.
According to Palmer, the Valhalla will come with a paddle-shift transmission. It will also get a bonded aluminum tub instead of carbon.
The Vanquish will be unveiled in 2022 with prices to start at around $450,000. That should be a $300,000 difference from the Vantage. To follow are variants Volante convertible and the AMR model.
Mercedes-Benz GLB Concept and Mercedes-AMG A35 L 4MATIC Launched in China
Mercedes-Benz stole the show again at the Shanghai Auto Show this year. The German automaker unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz GLB Concept sport utility vehicle and the Mercedes-AMG A35 L. Six other vehicles from the company also marked their entry into the Chinese market.
Mercedes-Benz GLB Concept
The concept vehicle for the Mercedes-Benz GLB showcases a muscular compact SUV with a long wheelbase measuring 2,829 millimeters. The auto features clean surfaces that use minimal body lines and with curvaceous corners.
The vehicle is highlighted by its white magno paint finish with high-gloss black accents. The exterior features headlights with Multibeam LED technology, front grille with orange highlights, roof rails, roof box at the rear, roof lights, chrome underguard with large air intakes, and set 17-inch wheels.
Inside, the GLB can carry up to seven occupants. The middle row can be adjusted to free more legroom for either middle or rear passengers; whichever needs more space.
The Concept GLB is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 224 hp and 350 Nm of torque. All that power is distributed to an all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Mercedes-AMG A35 L 4MATIC
The Chinese market exclusive Mercedes-AMG A35 L 4MATIC is very much like the Mercedes-AMG A35 Sedan. The AMG A35 L only has a longer wheelbase as indicated by the “L” in its name. The AMG A35 L is longer by 60 mm in terms of wheelbase size compared to its AMG A35 Sedan brother.
The extra wheelbase size gives the rear passenger of the AMG A35 L more legroom. Meanwhile, its cockpit gets the same treatment found in the AMG A35 Sedan model such as the twin widescreen displays, sporty steering wheel, turbine-looking air vents and the MBUX multimedia system that can be operated via voice commands.
Beneath the hood of the AMG A35 4MATIC lies a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with exhaust gas turbocharger. It produces 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque distributed to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The AMG A35 L can go from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds while its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
2021 BMW i4 EV Electric Car Shows Influence From Vision Dynamics Concept
Spy photos of the 2021 BMW i4 electric car showed that it did follow last year’s i Vision Dynamics concept as can be seen from its four-door coupe silhouette, angular c-pillar, a decklid with a slight ducktail spoiler lip, and a front end with a sloping roof.
The i4 was confirmed by BMW chairman Harald Krüger at the Paris Auto Show in October last year. Dubbed as the i4, this will be the group’s fifth fully electric “core” model. This is also the fourth EV that BMW produced between now and 2021.
According to the i Vision Dynamics concept, the i4 will have an electric range of 373 miles, a top speed of 125 mph, and a 0-to-62 mph time of 4.0 seconds. But unlike the current i3 and i8, the i4 won’t be made with a carbon-fiber structure.
The spy shots , which showed the i4 in camouflage while riding on the back of a car carrier, hinted of small kidney grilles out front though it is also possible the production model will carry the concept’s burly and massive conjoined kidney grilles. It’s hard to see anything else with all that camouflage but the headlights and the taillights are not production units yet. Similar to the 4-Series Gran Coupe, the i4 might be a liftback with a large hatchback opening perfect for outdoor adventure.
The BMW Group is expected to release three other new EVs over the next three years. This year, it will be the Mini Electric, which was previewed as a concept last year. The production car will sit close to the concept and will share the powertrain of the refreshed i3, which has a range of 153 miles.
Up next is the iX3 in 2020, which was also previewed as a concept. This is the electronic version of the X3 crossover. It carries a 70.0-kWh battery pack with a range of 249 miles on the European cycle.
Finally, the iNext should arrive in 2021. Previewed through the Vision iNext concept, this will be BMW’s tech flagship and will have a range of 373 miles, reaching 60 mph in less than four seconds.
3 Major Stuff You Should Know About The 911 Speedster Concept II
What started as a concept from the folks from Stuttgart has evolved into the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept II that was introduced at the Paris Motor Show. Now, Porsche will develop the 911 Speedster Concept II as a special edition model that will be limited only to 1,948 units.
The production of the 911 Speedster Concept II starts in the first half of 2019. Porsche has not released the pricing details yet but we expect that to be revealed in the next few months.
Exterior
The exterior of the 911 Speedster Concept II is the same as the concept the German automaker first introduced back in June 2018, the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. Both versions are based on the 911 Cabriolet 4 Carrera with elements of the 911 GT3 on the chassis and the carbon fiber composite.
The 911 Speedster Concept II has a shorter and more rakish windscreen, closely resembling the 356 1500 Speedster. There’s a carbon fiber rear cover with double bubble design and a floating third brake with “Porsche” lettering.
The car showed at the Paris Motor Show bears the Guards Red paint finish, which has a historical significance to Porsche. It also comes with 21-inch center-lock wheels with a cross-spoke design, tinted daytime running lights, a lightweight tonneau cover, and mirror caps made with black chrome and platinum.
Interior
The 911 Speedster Concept II has similar elements with its predecessor. There are carbon fiber bucket seats that are wrapped in black leather with eye-catching red accents. To save on weight, there will be no infotainment system. There’ll be just an empty space in the center stack. There are air-conditioning vents in the cabin but it remains unclear if there will be an A/C system in the production version.
Drivetrain
The 911 Speedster Concept II will arrive with a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that produces 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission that Porsche received from its own GT division responsible for engineering the special edition Speedster’s exhaust system and titanium tailpipes.
Infiniti Project Black S is a Dual Hybrid Car
The Infiniti Project Black S just made its way at the 2018 Paris Auto Show. The car is unique in a way that it features a dual hybrid system.
A Look at the Dual Hybrid System
Before we proceed further, let’s discuss what Infiniti refers to as “dual hybrid”. Actually, it is derived from the system used by Formula 1 cars.
The dual hybrid system lets the Infiniti Project Black S recover electricity when it is braking and accelerating. There is a motor generator that is dedicated to that task. It also includes two electric motors that work hand-in-hand with the V6 engine of the car to collect heat from the dual turbo system. This, in turn, allows the turbines to spin faster and reduce turbo lag. The setup adds 120 kW to the drivetrain of the auto.
Sadly, the hybrid system of the auto was not made to please the tree-huggers out there. It’s only designed to boost the performance of the car.
The resulting output of the petrol-fed engine and electric motors is 563 hp. The numbers propel the 1,776 kg car from 0 to 62 mph in less than four seconds.
Appearance
The Infiniti Project Black S uses the Q60 as a base car. The special model features a custom bonnet, bumpers, wheel arches, rear diffuser, and roof. These elements make use of carbon fiber materials to optimize the vehicle’s weight. Renault F1 livery-inspired lines adorn the bumpers, rear wing rims too.
Although not visible in the photos, the rear suspension and underfloor of the car were reworked as well. Meanwhile, carbon fiber brake discs and 21-inch forged wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli tires help improve the performance of the auto.
Going inside, the Infiniti Project Black S comes with sports seats covered in black leather with yellow accents. There is also a control for the three driving modes of the car, namely the “Road”, “Quali” and “Race”.
Market Release
Those who are looking towards buying the Infiniti Project Black S in the market should not get their hopes up for now. Currently, the car is in its concept form. It is only a result of Infiniti and Renault Sport F1’s technical exercise.
Infiniti ensured that they will continue developing the car though.
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.
Top 3 Things About The 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron Concept
The prototype for the 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron concept was revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The concept car blended both functionality and a dynamic style that’s nothing like we saw in an Audi. The best thing about the E-Tron concept, at least for traditional car enthusiasts, is that there is no hint of autonomous tech assistance here.
Exterior
The exterior design is a mixture of the layout of a coupe, the shape of a hatchback, and the profile of an exotic vehicle. Up front, you might see some similarities with Audi’s current supercar, the R8. The Singleframe grille was made prominent because of its hexagon shape. The headlights are made of ultra-thin units that has laser-high beams and are integrated with digital matrix technology.
The PB18 measures 4.53 meters (14.5 feet) long, 2 meters (6.4 feet) wide, and 1.15 meters (4.6 tall), so it’s not exactly a small car.
Interior
The cabin of the PB18 concept car can either be a two-person layout or a single-passenger layout, the latter will likely put the driver in the middle of the cockpit, much like the Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow concept . The windshield is not just a simple glass. It’s an augmented reality system that displays information about the road ahead. Because of the hatchback layout of the concept car, it actually has quite a reasonable amount of cabin space—16.6 cubic feet to be exact.
Drivetrain
The concept car uses three different electric motors—one in the front axle and two in the rear axle. Each of the electric motors can produce 201 horsepower. Combining all three will amount to a whopping 604 horsepower, which can increase to 671 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque during normal driving sessions. There’s a temporary boost that allows the engine to make 764 horsepower, which is enough to help the PB18 accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just over two seconds.
Examining the Beauty of the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQ Silver Arrow
Mercedes-Benz has plenty of history from which they can pull out a concept so beautiful and ethereal that it can make our eyes water. And that’s exactly what they have done when they pulled back the sheet from the Vision EQ Silver Arrow at the Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California.
The concept is a forward-looking take on the legendary streamliners of the 1930s, particularly the W125 Rekordwagen which set the world record for the highest speed on a public road. It held that record for 79 years until the Koenigsegg Agera RS went 8 mph faster last fall. For added context, the Rekordwagen is scheduled to appear alongside this Vision EQ Silver Arrow concept.
The difference would be what’s under the hood. The W125 made its 275 horsepower from a twin-supercharged 5.6-liter V-12 engine while the Vision EQ Silver Arrow will produce 750 horsepower using two electric motors (one per axle) and an 80kWh battery. The W125 can comfortably exceed 250 miles per hour while the Vision EQ is built to produce 250 miles per charge.
The exterior is made of carbon fiber, and to achieve that Silver Arrow appearance, the top layer of the exterior was painted in Alubeam Silver. This is a reference to the unpainted metal of old cars. The liquid-like finish is matched by the very fluid surfacing. You can find not a single crease on the Vision EQ. The only “imperfections” found on the smooth surface were the place where the top surface meets the unpainted front mask and the protruding side skirts.
The 168-spoke wheels are half-covered and they are painted in “rose gold” to loosely resemble the copper wire inside an electric motor. Since this is a concept car, the wheels are naturally so big it’s almost impossible to imagine what tires could fit them.
According to Mercedes, the Vision EQ Silver Arrow is intended to draw on the brand’s legacy of unmatched acceleration and driving pleasure. It “provides an insight into the future of our design.”
