BMW i8 Concept. The most progressive sportscar electro car

BMW i8 Concept.
The most progressive sportscar.

Sometimes it is time to leave the city. Escape the restrictions of everyday life. The BMW i8 is an icon of progress. It combines the energizing performance of a sports car with benchmark efficiency.

BMW i8 Concept – emotional, dynamic and efficient.

The concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics created excitement and very positive feedback at the IAA 2009. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics made ​​it clear that an emotional sports car with the fuel economy of a small car is no contradiction, but could soon be reality.
After successful initial testing of the vehicle concept, the decision for a series-production vehicle was quickly made. The BMW i8 Concept is the next step in the evolution of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The result: The most progressive and innovative sports car of its time. Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept – fitted over its front axle – with a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW/220 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. Working in tandem, they allow the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the full, delivering the performance of a sports car but the fuel consumption of a small car.
Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 94 mpg imp) are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Thanks to the eDrive technology with its large lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometres (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. Added to which, the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality.
The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 Concept has been carefully adapted to enhance the vehicle's sports car character, and therefore to deliver unbeatable performance and excellent driving dynamics. The motor in the front axle module and combustion engine at the rear are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the high-voltage battery. This gives the car a low centre of gravity – and the dynamic benefits that come with it. The positioning of the electric motor and engine over their respective axles and the space-saving and well-balanced packaging of all components result in an optimum 50/50 weight distribution.

An Icon of Progress – the BMW i8 Concept.

The emotional design of the BMW i8 Concept ensures its qualities are clear for all to see. Its dynamic proportions give the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of surging forward before it even turns a wheel and lend visual form to its extraordinary performance.

The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable.
The design of the BMW i8 Concept is as special as the car's overall concept embodying the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic allure. Its sweeping lines and flat silhouette lend the vehicle a strikingly dynamic appearance even when standing still. A large, transparent greenhouse lends the exterior an extraordinary feeling of lightness and highlights the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle concept. Short front and rear overhangs round off the sporting overall impression. Despite its dynamic appearance, the 2+2-seater can accommodate four people, giving it a high degree of everyday practicality.
As with the BMW i3 Concept, layering again serves as the central design element of the interior and exterior. The individual vehicle components are also clearly visible from the outside, the black and transparent Life module clearly setting itself apart from the silver-coloured body components around it. This layering approach lends the BMW i8 Concept an extremely technical and cutting-edge appeal.

View Gallery The BMW i8 Concept's Exterior

Dynamic side view.
Taut surfaces and precise edges form an extremely sculptural and organic surface structure. The precise lines along its flanks and BMW i "stream flow" also give the BMW i8 Concept a strong sense of powering forward even when it is standing still. The BMW i8 Concept's doors swing upwards like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporting allure. Below the doors, the silver-coloured layer moulds the car's flanks into a powerful wedge shape, opening out from the door sills towards the rear. A blue flourish accentuates the dynamic presence of the sills. Together, the bonnet and door sill sculpting emphasise the BMW i8 Concept's forward-surging stance, and their smooth lines imbue the car with a touch of lightness.
Striking front end.
The BMW i8 Concept also displays its dynamic sports car persona when viewed from the front. A number of different levels interact with one another in the design of the front end, while the expressive surface treatment exudes dynamic verve and advertises the car's sporting potential. The full-LED headlights of the BMW i8 Concept are designed as two U-shaped configurations.

A black, semi-transparent "V" rises out of the bonnet just behind the kidney grille, opening out towards the windscreen and guiding the eye to the electric motor below. The "V" also offers the first glimpse of the CFRP module and extends back towards the rear like a black band to provide a visual connection between the different sections of the car.
Sporty rear end.
Similarly to the front end, the rear of the car is also very low, horizontal and sculptural in design. The silver-coloured side sections form a striking vertical frame around the rear of the car, with a precise line extending out to the sides enjoying particular prominence. In its centre the silver-coloured and blue-framed rear diffuser is a wider and lower interpretation of the version on the BMW i3 Concept, adding a distinct sporting flavour to its relationship with its stablemate.
At the rear, the car's exceptional sporting credentials are also expressed in width-accentuating lines, three-dimensional air outlets and "floating" tail lights with air through-flow. The tail lights, which also have a distinct horizontal design, are integrated into the upper layer of the rear and share the signature U-shape of the BMW i light concept.

View Gallery The BMW i8 Concept's Interior

Purpose-built interior.
The transparent surfaces in the doors and roof give the exterior and interior design of the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of merging into one another. The colour concept and underlying structure of the BMW i8 Concept interior closely mimic those of the BMW i3 Concept. Here again, the Porcelain White support structure, black technical level and comfort section with Mocha Brown leather are split into three different layers. The arrangement of the air vents, control panels and displays also betrays the car's family ties to its BMW i3 Concept sibling. Overall, however, these features have a more sporting character and are geared much more clearly towards the driver. Indeed, a level of driver focus beyond that of any BMW Group vehicle before it allows the BMW i8 Concept to immerse the driver fully in the unique experience behind the wheel. Driver-relevant functions such as the gearshift lever, start-stop button and parking brake are arranged around the driver on the centre console and are graphically strongly geared towards the driving seat as well. The three-dimensional displays are extremely clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. At the same time, occupants in the BMW i8 Concept sit in a highly integrated position low down in the car and are separated by the battery running lengthways through the interior. This longitudinal bisection of the cabin underlines the sporting and forward-looking character of the BMW i8 Concept interior.
Optimum information.
The freestanding information display in the dash is joined by an equally large display taking the role of the instrument cluster. Designing the central instruments in this way enables driver-relevant information to be conveyed in a three-dimensional and high-resolution format. In keeping with BMW i style, the displays are premium, modern and purist. Depending on the driving mode, the two drive systems are depicted by a pair of ellipses, which supply information on their operation at any given time. Other information – such as the available range and fuel level – can be found here, too.

The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 Concept.

The BMW i8 Concept sees the LifeDrive architecture concept adapted to suit the vehicle's sports car character – i.e. primed to deliver leading performance and sharp dynamics.

In a departure from the purely horizontal configuration favoured for the BMW i3 Concept, the LifeDrive architecture of its BMW i8 Concept sibling also features vertical layering. The drive systems powering the BMW i8 Concept are integrated into the front and rear axle modules, with the CFRP Life module providing the bridge between the two. As a plug-in hybrid, the BMW i8 Concept is designed for all-electric and combustion engine propulsion, and therefore carries fewer battery cells than the BMW i3 Concept. These are stored in the Life module inside the energy tunnel, a structure similar to a central transmission tunnel.

The front and rear axle modules therefore combine with the passenger cell and battery to form a functional unit, which adopts not only load-bearing responsibilities but also extensive crash functions. The location of the high-voltage battery in the energy tunnel gives the vehicle a low centre of gravity, and this enhances its dynamics. Together with the positioning of the motor and engine over the axles, the result is optimum 50/50 weight distribution. Intelligent lightweight design and the innovative use of materials produce extremely low unsprung and rotating masses, which is good news for the car's driving dynamics, acceleration, range and fuel economy. All in all, the BMW i8 Concept offers the ideal environment in which to experience the special drive concept and distinctive sports car character of the BMW i8 Concept on the road.

The axles are also designed to deliver optimum handling properties, in keeping with the car's sporting profile. Thus the multi-link front axle makes for an extremely flat and aerodynamically efficient silhouette while also eliminating any drive forces which may otherwise affect the steering, ensuring optimum handling in every situation.

Best of both worlds – the BMW i8 Concept.

The i8 Concept combines the advantages of two different drive systems. As a plug-in hybrid it reaps the benefits of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine for maximum efficiency with maximum dynamics.

At the front axle is the electric motor adopted from the BMW i3 Concept and modified for use in the BMW i8 Concept's hybrid power train, while a 164 kW/220 hp turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine developing up to 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque drives the rear axle. Together, the two drive units take the vehicle to a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Like the electric motor, the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine was developed entirely in-house by the BMW Group and represents the latest state of the art in conventional engine design. Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 94 mpg imp) are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Depending on charging habits and the nature of the route, it is even possible to improve on these figures.
The hybrid concept means that the BMW i8 Concept can also run purely on electric power. The energy supplied by the application-designed battery system installed between the front and rear axle modules to the electric motor at the front axle gives the BMW i8 Concept an all-electric driving range of approximately 35 kilometres (20 miles). The battery can be fully recharged in two hours at a standard power socket.
Driving dynamics.
Thanks to the two drive systems, all four wheels of the BMW i8 Concept can be driven at the same time, similarly to an all-wheel-drive vehicle. This solution combines the advantages of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive to ensure the optimal dynamic drive configuration as required. Depending on traction conditions and driving situation, intelligent dynamic driving systems ensure maximum energy recuperation without compromising dynamics and stability. This allows very high levels of energy recuperation even in the wet or in snow.

back to top

Laser Light. Leading the way to the future.

The BMW i8 Concept is not only fast and extremely fuel efficient, it also leads the way in innovative vehicle light technology.. For the first time BMW introduces as part of the BMW i8 Concept the newly developed Laser Light. Headlights that are more efficient than LED lights, highly flexible, ten times smaller, pleasant to the eye and absolutely safe.

By definition, laser lighting is radically different from sunlight, and also from the various types of artificial lighting in common use today. Laser lighting is monochromatic and it is also a "coherent" light source. As a result, laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with an intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs. Also, the high inherent efficiency of laser lighting means that laser headlights have less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights. Simply put, laser make the BMW i8 Concept even more efficient.
The intensity of laser light poses no possible risks to humans, animals or wildlife when used in car lighting. Amongst other things, this is because the light is not emitted directly, but is first converted into a form that is suitable for use in road traffic. The resulting light is very bright and white. It is also very pleasant to the eye and has a very low energy consumption.
A further feature of laser technology, which has important implications, is the size of the individual diodes. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities when integrating the light source into the vehicle. These size advantages could be used to reduce the depth of the headlight unit, and so open up new possibilities for headlight positioning and body styling.

Status report: VISA and MasterCard processing

Status report: VISA and MasterCard processing

Audi A1 Octobeer 2011 Car

The A1 is designed to compete with the Mini, and Alfa Romeo MiTo.


The A1 is produced at Audi's Belgium factory in Forest, near Brussels. The A1 is based on the Volkswagen Group PQ25 platform, the same platform used in the SEAT Ibiza Mk4 and the VW Polo Mk5, and in its development Audi has collaborated with SEAT. The A1 uses a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension.

All engines will include a start-stop system and energy recuperation system.

In the UK, A1 trim level comprise of SE, Sport and S line. SE is the base specification, while Sport and S line models also have sport seats, sports suspension and larger wheels, amongst other features. In 2011 Audi introduced a series of new trim levels, including Black Edition and a series of limited editions, including Competition Line and Contrast Edition. These are based on the Sport trim level with distinctive styling features.

The UK launch of the Audi A1 was held on 13 November 2010. The national launch took place from Battersea Power Station, where up to 300 Audi A1s left London. This event was invitation only, with every Audi dealer being allowed to invite just one customer.

Audi has announced several Audi A1 concept vehicles, most of which are of the hybrid vehicle and PHEV variety.
The A1 was previewed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the Audi metroproject quattro concept car.The concept seats four and features a new hybrid powertrain. With this powertrain, a 1.4 L (85.4 cu in) 148 bhp (110.4 kW) Turbo FSI engine drives the front wheels via a 6-speed S-Tronic, while a 40 bhp (29.8 kW; 40.6 PS) electric motor provides power to the rear wheels. The electric motor is also capable of producing 148 lb·ft (201 N·m) of torque.

The metroproject quattro is able to travel 62 miles (100 km) at up to 62 mph (100 km/h) on one charge of its lithium-ion batteries, which reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%. Both power sources are available to use simultaneously, with the driver then benefiting from McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension configuration, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with a low energy draw, Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping technology, and 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 7.8 seconds.
At the 2008 Leipzig Auto Mobil International show, Audi again presented the metroproject quattro, renamed the A1 project quattro. The vehicle was designed by Audi AG Project Designer in Exterior Design Dany Garand, who also presented the design during the car's Hong Kong debut.

Audi unveiled a second A1 concept car at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. The A1 Sportback concept is a restyled 5-door development of the metroproject quattro. Like the earlier concept, the A1 Sportback has a hybrid powertrain, with the same 1.4 L petrol engine and S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, plus a 20 kW (27 bhp), 150 N•m electric motor. However the electric motor drives the front wheels, rather than the rear. Quoted 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration is 7.9 seconds and average CO2 emissions are given as 92 g/km. The A1 Sportback retains the dimensions of the Metroproject quattro, except for a slightly greater length, at 3.99 m (157 in).
The Audi A1 e-tron concept car is an electric variant of the A1, first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.[23] The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid (PHEV), powered by an electric motor with a continuous output of 45 kW (61 PS; 60 bhp), and a peak output of 75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp). A fully charged 12 kWh lithium-ion battery gives a maximum range of 50 kilometres (31 mi), after which a 254 cc Wankel engine is used to power a 15 kW (20 PS; 20 bhp) generator with a 12 l (3.2 USgal) fuel tank. This is estimated to provide an additional range of 124 mi (200 km).

A field testing programme of twenty A1 e-tron vehicles began in Munich in late 2010


In May 2011, the A1 clubsport quattro concept car was shown at the Wörthersee event. This car has a modified version of the Audi RS 3's 5-cylinder 2.5 L engine tuned to 503 PS (370 kW) and 660 N·m (487 lb·ft). Capable of 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 3.7 seconds, the car also features a restyled exterior including "blister"-style extended wheelarches reminiscent of the Audi Quattro and minimal, lightweight interior trim.


The Audi A1 has been promoted using a viral internet video release entitled "The Next Big Thing". The campaign stars Justin Timberlake and is comparable to the BMW film series "The Hire". Six episodes have been created and are available to view online. Each episode is around 3 minutes long, and shorter versions are featuring as television advertisements worldwide.

The A1 is the first car from Audi to have a tablet based brochure, called the "Audi A1 eKatalog". The brochure works on the Apple iPad and allows the viewer to change the color of the car on almost every page. It also includes a 3D driving simulation.

2011 Chrysler 300 / 300C - First Drive Review

Although we may rhapsodize over the beauty of our favorite cars, precious few of them could be considered art. Whistler didn’t refresh his painting of his mom four years after completing it. Nor did he completely redo it every seven years for the rest of his life. And as much as the 300 might have looked like Chrysler’s chef-d’oeuvre in 2004, the company couldn’t just sit back and let it be. For 2011, the 300 receives a refresh rather than the redesign for which it is due, but the update addresses the most important things.
Much of the money allotted to the 300 rework went to the interior. Like the rejuvenated interiors in other recent Chrysler redesigns, virtually everything you can see or touch inside is improved by an order of magnitude: the dash, the center stack, the steering wheel, the door panels and seats—the list goes on. And the materials are light-years better, too. The dash is soft, the buttons on the new steering wheel actuate with a satisfying click, and the HVAC knobs slip from detent to detent as if lubricated by a film of oil.
Nestled in that updated dash, the new tach and speedometer are stunning, highly readable, and not overly ornamental. A new touchscreen navigation/infotainment display rides atop the center stack, beneath the classy trapezoidal clock that is emerging as a signature of Chrysler interiors. The optional Garmin-based nav system’s bold colors and large graphics make it easy to use, but they lend it an almost juvenile appearance. Still, we prefer basic and useful to elegant and stupefying.





The Importance of Being Consistent
Our only complaint about the 300’s new interior is that it is a strong testimony to the importance of matching material qualities. In a space that is among the best executed in its class, the 300’s few remaining dull spots—the window switch panels and the plain black plastic surrounds for the HVAC controls and nav screen are a few examples—call an inordinate amount of attention to themselves.
The seatbacks offer enough support to keep occupants in place during extreme maneuvers, but the bottom cushion offers so little support it might as well be crowned.
Chrysler also refined the exterior styling. Although more elegant and mature than the brash shape of the designed-with-a-T-square original, the 2011 car nonetheless looks a bit less cohesive. Still, it doesn’t take a sharp eye to recognize the silhouette, and the softer detailing hides the 300’s musculature about as well as a tuxedo disguises a buffalo. Naturally, Chrysler has added LEDs to the headlight clusters as is required by current styling convention.
114 Additional HP? Well, Certainly!
Underhood, the headlining 5.7-liter Hemi is only slightly changed (it carries over with modest upgrades of 3 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque), but the new base 3.6-liter six-cylinder effectively replaces two V-6s (an anemic 2.7-liter and a more capable 3.5) and betters the old 3.5’s 250 hp by 42. (It tops the 2.7 by 114 hp.) Along with its 292 horses, the Pentastar V-6 offers 260 lb-ft of torque. Both hp and torque peak late (6350 and 4800 rpm, respectively), so downshifts are necessary for meaningful acceleration while rolling. It sounds a bit coarse at idle, but the Pentastar finds its voice as the revs—and output—climb. Although not the thrill ride of the V-8, the six is more than competent, something we could almost say about the old 3.5 but never about the 2.7.
The same five-speed automatic pulls duty behind both engines, but an eight-speed will begin to spread across the lineup later this year. Chrysler is aiming for a 30-mpg highway rating with the new transmission, which is a ZF design (the best the Pentastar manages with the old five-speed is 27 mpg). Although the five-speed automatic does allow for manual shifting, it has no dedicated manual shift gate. As in the previous-generation 300, the driver taps the lever left and right from its resting place in D to shift, but the new 300’s taller center console gets in the way—not that using the function is particularly satisfying anyhow.
Similar Suspension
With most of the redesign budget invested in the interior, chassis changes are limited—mostly tweaks to spring and damper rates and alignment adjustments. Once again, there are two available suspension tunes: base (or “Comfort”) and Touring. Both provide exceptionally smooth rides and switchback competence, although the base suspenders allow a bit more body roll than the Touring setup does. Opt for the 20-inch wheels or all-wheel drive, and the upgrade to Touring is included. Caution is recommended, though, as pairing the stiffer legs with 20-inch wheels results in untoward crashing over large pavement pocks.


Designed to exude a luxurious environment, the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedans cast-skin instrument and door panels offer three-dimensional double gloss grain for a premium appearance and smoothness. Liquid chrome, polished chrome accents contrast with the Chrysler’s flagship sedan, the look of machined aluminum. For more details, offers a new instrument cluster gauge faces with two large sapphire blue lights and chrome ring accents. The provision of a premium and modern environment is a new sapphire blue LED-lit interior.Built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario. (Canada), is the 2011 Chrysler 300 in showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

The new electrohydraulic steering possesses only slightly more feeling than an ant-burning adolescent sociopath, but it has a satisfying heft and precision and an unwavering sense of straight-ahead. At triple-digit speeds, the 300 is superbly steady and surprisingly serene, thanks to increased sound insulation throughout the car.
Pricing Progression
The base car, with its greatly improved interior and V-6, starts at $27,995, $15 less than last year’s base model. A high level of equipment is standard, including Chrysler’s Uconnect Touch entertainment system—with Sirius satellite radio as well as iPod and SD-card inputs—a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and keyless entry and ignition. The 300 Limited tacks four grand onto the sticker, starting at $31,995, and adds leather upholstery with heated front seats, Bluetooth, a backup camera, a 276-watt amp for the audio system, 18-inch wheels, and chrome trim for the mirror caps and door handles.
For another $7000, the 300C adds the 363-hp Hemi V-8, the Touring suspension, navigation, and bigger brakes, as well as the Luxury package, which includes nappa leather, real wood trim, auto-dimming mirrors, heated rear seats, and heated and cooled cup holders. On the 300 Limited, this bundle costs $3250. All-wheel drive, once available on some V-6 and V-8 300 models, is now reserved for the top-of-the-line 300C AWD, which starts at $41,145. Chrysler says an all-wheel-drive option could return to the V-6 model down the road. In either case, the tippy-toes stance of the all-wheel-drive car is lessened a bit by a 0.2-inch ride-height reduction and a tire-to-fender gap that is tighter by 0.5 inch compared with last year’s car, but the all-wheel-driver still sits higher than the rear-drive cars.

Some fans might have been hoping for something more thorough than this update, but Chrysler spent its money in the right places. The new interior improves on the old one to a degree that is nearly impossible to overstate, and the new V-6 does something similar for the engine lineup. The refreshed 300 may not be a work of art, but it is considerably less dour than Whistler’s mom.

Ford Evos Concept The Ultimate Expression of Ford's

Pay attention, internet. This fastback four-door has been built as an early example of Ford's new design after its current crop of Kinetic-themed cars are consigned to history.  

Alas, it won't reach production. And it resolutely isn't the new Capri, despite some internet correspondents wishing it was. It does, however, allow us some early theorising on the look of the manufacturer's international output over the next five years.

One thought: more of the same with some added Citroen? The inverted trapezoidal front grille thing, which is hangs off the front of Fiestas and Focii has been hoiked higher up, the blue oval's a bit smaller, and the lights are thinner. Though we're not holding our breath for a begullwinged C-Max.

Ford's been pretty vocal about its use of technology since last year's Paris Motor Show, and its researchers have been busy since. There's something called "driver wellness", which monitors the pilot's heart rate through the seat and adjusts the driving experience accordingly.
 
There's also lots of talk of cloud-connected lifestyles. This new, fancypants tech plumbs into all of your iThings, local news networks and your driving habits to provide "a personalised and seamless experience as the driver transitions in and out of the car."


Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president of Ford Research and Innovation, says: "The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute. It could automatically play the same music or news program that was just streaming at home, or heat or cool the interior to an ideal temperature before the driver gets in without having to be requested by predicting departure time based on his calendar."


How long we'll have to wait for this to reach production remains to be seen, though...

Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development, adds: "With its compelling design and innovative technology experience, this is a clear demonstration of the exciting vision we have for the Ford brand. While you will never see this car on the road, the next generation of Ford products around the world will display many of the distinctive design ideas and advanced technologies it showcases."

“One Ford” is increasingly being put into action, and it is paying dividends to Ford with increased profits and sales. For the first time since its introduction, the Focus is the same car in the United States as Europe.”One Ford” is realigning models and designing core models to be sold in all international markets. This has made introducing a unifying global design theme important.
The Iosis Concept from a few years back was introduced to preview Ford’s “Kinetic” design language. However, implementation of design strategies was haphazard; Ford North America pursued a divergent design centered around a bold, brash look and a three-bar grille. That look won’t work everywhere, and the Ford Evos Concept premieres Ford’s “first truly new global design language.”
Evos is the new face of Ford. Like Kinetic, the look is toned down in comparison to North American Ford design; goodbye to the three bar grille. A trapezoidal grille features instead
The Evos is meant to evoke a more premium appearance. It isn’t particularly innovative or groundbreaking; we see hints of Aston Martin (and that is no bad thing). On the Evos Concept the look works beautifully; everything flows and surfaces are done very well with a simplistic purity.
Simply put, we like the Evos. The question is how this will translate over to Ford production models. No doubt the details and lines work on the Evos, but we’ll see if production cars designed in the mould of the Evos will manage to pull it off as effectively. It is a tall order. Hopefully Ford will be able to create the right balance of beauty and distinctiveness.
Summing it up, J Mays, Ford group vice president and Design and Creative officer, says that “We wanted the Ford Evos Concept to give a clear message about where Ford design is heading – shaping vehicles that are fun to drive, have a strong premium visual appeal, and above all, are stunningly beautiful.”
Ford has been pushing the envelope with technology recently, and the company looks to continue that leading technology position. The Evos Concept explores the possibilities that can be had with a vehicle that is connected to the cloud, the driver’s smartphone, and therefore the driver’s habits. There is no information on when the first vehicle inspired by the Evos Concept will debut. There is word however that the Evos could be a pretty close (minus fanciful elements) preview of a new Ford coupe on its way. Stay tuned!

Mercedes-Benz BIOME: an Ultralight Vehicle at One with Nature

Each year the LA Auto Show plays host to the Los Angeles Design Challenge, where aspiring designers partner with automakers to envision the future of mobility. This year's theme was to create the 1,000-pound car, and Mercedes-Benz' three designs – one from the U.S., another from Germany and yet another from Japan – are predictably out there.

The entrant from Mercedes' U.S. design arm in Carlsbad, CA was not only rendered but built into a full-scale model. The basis for the Biome Concept is a vehicle that "grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery." Not only that, but it's powered by a combination of the sun and a chemical bond from an imaginary liquid dubbed BioNectar4534. It's all natural, all organic and all science fiction. Size-wise, the Biome comes in at a theoretical 875 pounds, but it's massively wide, slightly shorter than a CL and about as tall as a Vector.

M-B's German design team created the Smart Weight-Watch, an ultra-compact dunebuggy with removable and recyclable plastic and cloth panels, a carbon fiber tub and tires (you read that last part right) and a lithium-ion battery powering two 15 kW motors. Total weight: exactly 1,000 pounds.

Finally there's the Maybach eRikscha from Japan, a four-passenger, two-wheeled "amalgamation of organic intelligence and biomechanical engineering artistry." Ummm... sure.

You can bone up on all three concepts in the press release after the jump and check out live images and design sketches below.
Get ready to have your concept of how a car is manufactured flipped upside-down and turned inside-out. Picture a production process that has plenty in common with agar jelly (used to culture organic materials in laboratories) and little in common with what we would normally think of as production-line automotive manufacturing. You are starting to get close to what the people at Mercedes-Benz have spawned with the BIOME – one of the most outlandish and ambitious concepts in this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge.
In short, the BIOME would be grown in a lab rather than built on a production line.
"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" Hubert Lee, head of the Mercedes-Benz advanced design studios said.
This vision includes growing a material called BioFibre which would be lighter than metal or plastic, yet stronger than steel. The resulting car would weighs in at 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). The entire vehicle would also be completely biodegradable.
 

“The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle grows when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds,” Mercedes-Benz explained.
Once on the road the vehicle would run on "BioNectar4534" stored in the car's BioFibre, of which the only by-product is oxygen.
Wildly ambitious? Yes. Completely implausible? Maybe. But the whole point of the Design Challenge is to think outside the square ... the BIOME certainly does that.
Press Release:

At this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge, the designers from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California, surprised everyone with a revolutionary vision. Taking their inspiration from nature, they designed a vehicle which is fully integrated into the ecosystem, from the moment of its creation right through to the end of its service life. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material.

"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" according to Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad. This year the competition had called for the creation of a vision of a safe and comfortable 2+2 compact car featuring good handling and a first-class design, and weighing only 1,000 lbs (around 454 kg/kerb weight).

Mercedes-Benz symbiosis – a partnership with nature
The Mercedes-Benz BIOME symbiosis vehicle is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre and tips the scales at just 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). This material is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust than steel. BioFibre is grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery, where it collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534. As part of this process, the vehicle is created from two seeds: The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle "grows" when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds.

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is powered by BioNectar4534, which is stored in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In addition, Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with special receptors which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it into BioNectar4534. This creates a direct link with nature's energy sources and acts as an incentive to cover mobility energy requirements through more trees and at the same time maintain natural resources. Like plants, the Mercedes-Benz symbiosis vehicle also produces oxygen, thereby contributing to improving air quality. At the end of its service life, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME can be fully composted or used as building material. Thanks to the exclusive use of green technologies, the BIOME vehicle thus blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.

The "Knitted" smart 454 – Weight Watch Technologies from Germany

Stuttgart/Los Angeles – American West Coast zest for life meets German technology, design art, and granny's hand-knitted woollen socks. The designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Sindelfingen based their design for an unusual smart with four seats for this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge on these principles. The smart 454 is produced by "Smart Granny Robots" (SGR) using weight watch technologies (WWT). These incredible high-tech robots are equipped with huge knitting needles. Like our grandmothers used to knit, they knit the smart's tridion cell from carbon fibres. This knitting creates complex shapes and structures which enable the vehicle geometry to be optimised in terms of weight and strength. When empty, the visionary small car weighs in at just 454 kilogrammes.

For the Los Angeles Design Challenge international car design studios were invited to design a visionary car weighing 1,000 American pounds (approx. 454 kilogrammes). The four-seater small car had to be safe and comfortable, offer good handling performance and first-class design. Steffen Köhl, Head of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design says: "As the prototype of the lightweight and environmentally friendly city car smart is predestined for this challenge. It met all the basic requirements. We just had to further optimise the lightweight construction coupled with a distinctive and individual design."

Lightweight design with different materials for an individual look

Every single component of the smart 454 is made of different materials to give it characteristic features and a specific look. Every part is manufactured with the precise materials necessary for a perfect balance between weight and function. The windows, fenders, and bumpers are made of recyclable, coloured plastic. The roof is made of thin yet highly durable recycled textile fabric in various printed and woven patterns. The WWT carbon fibre tyres with integrated suspension have an extremely lightweight design and rule out the risk of a flat tyre. The unique SGR technology is the best lightweight design technology for rims and enables truly unique rims to be produced.
The smart 454 is driven by two 15 kW electric motors which are powered by a replaceable lithium-ion battery. The motors are housed between the rear wheels. In the interior the city runabout does not need an instrument panel at all. All functions are controlled and managed via an iPad, for example speedometer and battery charge indicator, navigation system, or air conditioning.

The modular "clip-on" design principle familiar from smart enables a sheer endless spectrum of customer wishes to be easily realised. Doors, roof, engine, and transmission are simple to exchange – for an individual look and driving fun and the best possible vehicle configuration for every occasion.

The Maybach eRikscha – The Luxury Model for Tomorrow's Urban Mobility

Maybach unveils its draft for an electrically driven luxury rickshaw at the Los Angeles Design Challenge
Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" – combining ultralight design with a uniquely luxurious exterior and interior
The world's first naturally manufactured luxury vehicle

Stuttgart/Los Angeles. As it presents its draft design for an electrically powered luxury rickshaw, Stuttgart's Maybach Manufaktur automotive hand-finishing section is exploring radical new avenues for the urban mobility of tomorrow as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge. The Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" (= electrically driven rickshaw) – blends the very latest automotive technology, luxurious comfort, and the highest safety levels with the needs of an environmentally aware world and the traditional values of the classic "Jin-Riki-Sha" (human-powered rickshaw). The futuristic four-seater is created through metamorphosis from a DNA cocoon, making it the world's first naturally manufactured vehicle. The rickshaw was developed by the designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Tokyo – participating in the Los Angeles Design Challenge for the first time.

The design competition had invited international automotive design studios to draw up their vision of a car that weighs 1,000 American pounds (around 454 kilogrammes) (kerb weight). The remit was to create a four-seater small car that is safe and comfortable, offering good handling and first-class design. "This was a major challenge – in particular for a brand such as Maybach, whose luxury has thus far manifested itself not least in the vehicles' size. This is why, when building the Maybach DRS, we combined the European concept of luxury with the Asian feel for optimum use of space, so we were able to create a vehicle which blends both in an intelligent manner. Thereby we have shortly undermatched the weight limit", explained Holger Hutzenlaub, who heads the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Tokyo.

The amalgamation of organic intelligence and biomechanical engineering artistry

Breathtaking looks, polished luxury, and technical brilliance characterise the ambitious development of the Maybach DRS. The design is reminiscent of a butterfly's cocoon, light and elegant as it floats between two oversized wheels. The rickshaw is made in a unique, natural production process. Through a complex and perfect metamorphosis a finished vehicle is developed from a DNA cocoon: Organic intelligence blends with advanced biomechanical engineering. The result is a futuristic combination of an ultralight structure and an unparalleled luxury exterior and interior – for a limited number of exclusive vehicles.

The vehicle frame consists of carbon fibres and organic composite materials, whilst the doors and windows are made of injection-moulded polycarbonate and the panoramic roof of flexible organic composite materials. The Maybach DRS is powered by two 20 kW electric motors which are positioned in the wheel hubs and are self-balancing. The energy required is produced by a lithium-ion battery in the tail end. An on-board computer ensures optimum control, communicating with the metropolis's transport infrastructure, and thus guaranteeing a smooth, luxurious ride through the city. In order to increase the vehicle's range, the human/electric hybrid also allows additional pedal force, which is produced by the driver.

Totally true to the grand Maybach tradition of luxurious mobility, the Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" – is carrying forward this heritage, paying homage to the roads of tomorrow.


Los Angeles Design Challenge
The Los Angeles Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles conference, taking place from 17 to 18 November 2010 as part of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The winner of the competition will be announced on 18 November 2010.

Now, what on earth, or for that matter not from earth have we got here? It's the Mercedes Biome concept supercar.
It's a product of Merc's Los Angeles design studio, and they prefer to describe it as an 'Ultralight vehicle at one with nature.' The Biome was produced as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge, taking part alongside the 2010 LA auto show.

Tell me more about the Mercedes Biome concept car...

In a nutshell, the concept is designed to integrate fully in to the ecosystem from 'dust to dust.' So they've concentrated on cleaning up the Biome's act, during production, over its lifespan, and at the time of its eventual disposal or recycling.
The Merc Biome is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre. It's an organic matter, which Mercedes claims is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet is supposedly more robust than steel. Testament to this is that the Biome weighs just 394kg, says Merc.
Mercedes also says that at the end of its serviceable life it can simply be composted or even used as building material. Imagine one of these doubling up as your downstairs loo.

What does the Biome run on then, moon-juice? 

It is powered by a strain of biofuel called BioNectar4534, which the car stores in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior and wheels. Mercedes claims the fuel emits nothing but pure oxygen. Which sounds completely at odds with conventional biofuels and the combustion process.

So, what to make of the Biome's design?  

A little bit of a departure from the E240 CDI taxi that ferries you home on a Friday night, that's for sure.
We see a great similarity to the 2005 Maserati Birdcage concept or perhaps a successor to Will Smith's Audi in iRobot. Or perhaps a new mouse design for your next Apple computer.

When can we expect to see the Mercedes Biome in our nearest showroom?

While the technology and research in the Biome is fascinating, we don't really need to tell you that nothing like this will seen in the near future. Do we?