Cool Concept Cars

Aptera Concept Car

The Aptera is one hell of a cool car. Always love it when style and philosophy come together. The future’s definitely bright if it’ll make such kinds of designs common.

The Aptera (Greek for “wingless”) is an environmentally-friendly car that’s as clean and green as it is fantastically futuristic. The three-wheeled hybrid, which offers an all-electric or plug-in hybrid option, isn’t just a concept- you can reserve your own with just a $500 deposit.

Seating 2.5 with plenty of room for luggage, the Aptera can get up to 230 miles per gallon at 55 miles per hour, and has an (electronically limited) top speed of 95 mph. Plus, it’s just so darn cool looking, we can’t resist the arthropod automobile aesthetic.

Lamborghini Estoque 4 door

Pictures and Video of the Lamborghini Estoque four-door.


The Estoque - the name refers to the sword matadors use to kill bulls, is the first four-door to roll out of Sant'Agata since the company built the abominable Portofino for the Frankfurt auto show in 1987. Whereas the Porotfino looked like a Chrysler with scissor doors, the Estoque looks like a Murcielago or Reventon with four doors.


It's all sharp angles and long lines, coming in at almost 17 feet long. Those 23-inch wheels are nearly 10 feet apart. Unlike the Gallardo and Murcielago, the all-wheel-drive Estoque carries its engine just behind the front axle. Lamborghini claims the car's weight distribution approaches 50-50, providing "unparalleled agility and handling precision."

Video showcasing the Lamborghini Estoque


So what about that engine? Sant'Agata says "a range of drivelines is conceivable." Topping the list of possibilities is the 520-horsepower V10 from the Gallardo or a twin-turbo V8 derived from it. But then things get interesting, with Lamborghini saying, "a particularly economical, but nevertheless dynamic, variation would be a V8 with a hybrid module or an extremely high-performance TDI."

Both options not only make sense, they're entirely feasible. Lamborghini is owned by Audi, which is actively pursuing hybrid drivetrains in vehicles like the Q5 SUV and the A1 concept it's bringing to Paris. Audi also has loads of experience with diesels, dominating LeMans with the R10 racer and wowing the crowd in Detroit with the 500-horsepower R8 TDI.


Winkelmann says the Estoque is a running prototype and the company could sell 2,000 to 3,000 of them if it goes into production in 2010. That would double the number of cars Lamborghini sold last year and let it compete against the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera. Which, by the way, may come with a hybrid drivetrain.

BMW M1 Hommage Concept Car

BMW M1 Hommage concept car based on the on the good old M1 BMW supercar. Aggressive lines and HUGE alloys. A great way of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the M1.

MINI Crossover Concept

At first glance the little hatch above may look like the Infiniti FX. It is actually BMW MINI’s third variant in its line-up of “New MINIs” and it will be an all-wheel drive type of vehicle.



MINI will be previewing the upcoming MINI crossover “softroader” SUV (reportedly going to be called the “Crossman”) at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

The MINI Crossover Concept rides on a 2606mm wheelbase (longer than the Cooper’s 2466mm and Clubman’s 2547.6mm) and has a conventional four doors with two on each side of the car. The driver’s side has no B-pillar so that particular door is of a sliding type that slides to the rear to open. The rear hatch once again opens with a split in the middle, so I suppose you could call this a 6-door hatchback?

The focus of the interior is the “MINI Centre Globe” which is installed in the place of where you’d typically expect the giant speedometer to be. The 3D sphere uses laser projection to display two different views if viewed from different positions. This allows the front passenger and front driver to view different displays from the same MINI Centre Globe.

It’s quite obvious that BMW ConnectedDrive will come to the MINI brand soon enough because the press release also indicates the ability for the front passenger to surf the web from the MINI Centre Globe display, and ease of data input is facilitated by a keyboard that can slide out from the front dashboard on the passenger side. Steering-wheel controls typically use buttons or scrollwheels but in the MINI Crossover Concept, a trackball is used.

The starter system gimmick is also integrated into the MINI Centre Globe. Instead of a keyfob, a Keyball is used. The Keyball is inserted into an opening in the upper edge of the globe. It will then roll down towards the driver along the middle of the globe.



The driver can then press the Keyball to start the engine. When the engine needs to be turned off, the ball is pressed again and it will then roll down into its housing bay where it can be removed.

Peugeot RC Concept Car

Peugeot has unveiled a hybrid concept car called the Peugeot RC Concept Car.

The cool RC concept car is the first vehicle designed by Peugeot's new design boss Jerome Gallix and will debut at October's Paris motor show with design cues that will first feature on the all-new 408 large car due in 2010.

Peugeot's Lion badge has been supersized for the sleek-looking RC concept, a four-door GT coupe that joins the likes of the VW Passat CC and forthcoming Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide in mimicking the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

The Cool RC Concept Car evolves styling of previous Peugeot concepts - 2002's RC Spade and RC Diamond, and 2006's 908 RC - as well as using the two capital letters that signify the company's sports models in mainland Europe (instead of GTI as in markets such as Australia and UK).

A toned-down version of the new, four-seat RC's aggressive-looking front end is set to form the French brand's new corporate face, replacing the gaping-grille design first introduced on Peugeot production models with the 2004 407.

The rear-three-quarter view of the RC - called the ‘RC...' by Peugeot because it will adopt a more complete name at its Paris unveiling - is also said to provide a strong clue to the appearance of the 407's replacement, the 408.


Peugeot is so far being vague about the RC's engine, saying only that it is a "highly innovative" hybrid system capable of generating a potential power output of 230kW yet only emitting 109 grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide (CO2). The car maker says the RC is also capable of zero emissions when running in electric mode.

Peugeot has previously used the 307CC Hybride concept to preview a diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain the company said it planned to put into production by 2010.

Ondelios Flax Car

Ondelios Flax Renault Concept Car, revealed today as a new eco concept car partly made from flax.

The Ondelios is a 6-seater diesel hybrid that Renault says represents the "medium term future" of motoring. It'll be on show at next month's Paris Motor Show. Renault claims the flax bodywork is there for "for greater recyclability." Flax is certainly a renewable resource - unlike oil-based plastic - but I'm sceptical it has great potential for recycling in the car industry.

A more credible eco claim is the use of carbon fibre and polycarbonate in the car's bodywork, which should reduce its weight and fuel consumption (like, say, the Axon).

Renault reckons the car will manage 120g/km CO2, thanks to its aerodynamic design, light body, low resistance tyres and stop-start technology that saves fuel when you stop at lights. 120g would be pretty impressive for a car this size.

The hybrid tech inside is of the 'mild' variety, meaning it'll assist your diesel driving for fuel efficiency. You can't, however, run on 100 per cent electric alone. The lithium-ion battery recharges when you brake, and the car has electric motors front and back.

The Ondelios certainly looks nice for a concept car -- I'm a sucker for roof-hinge doors -- but the eco claims are a tad oversold. It's basically a luxury concept with decent fuel economy and okay performance of 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds.

My favourite 'eco' element is the promise of a Samsung multimedia gaming gadget for every passenger. Maybe Renault didn't notice, but people already one iPhones and PSPs. If a son of the Ondelios ever sees the light of day, let's hope the Samsung gadgets are an optional extra.

Proxima Car Bike

Proxima have answered my dreams! I have been jealous of motor bikes for so many years when stuck in traffic jam, they wizz past. However, i'm not that brave to be flying at 75mph without being surrounded by something comforting like airbags! Alvino Design has heard my prayers and combined both these elements into the Proxima, aka the Car-Bike. Check out this cool car...motorbike!

The perfect mid-point between a motorbike and a car, the Proxima tapers from the front to the back, giving it the sleek maneuvarability of your traditional Harley motorcycle. The seating arrangement also mimics that of a motorcyle with the passenger sitting in tandem to the driver, enhancing that back-of-the-bike thrill.

The sleek chrome and alloy exterior is so cool and the discreet side door complete the transition from bike-into-car. And thus my fantasy is complete: all the joy of zipping between lanes of traffic, with none of the attending helmet hair (or spinal injuries).

Forget the traffic in this cool car...cool bike...thing! As cool cars go, this is one of the coolest I have seen for a fair few months!

Cool Eco Friendly Cars

Eco friendly cars are all the rage at the moment but this trned is only going to get bighger and bigger. Here are some cool concept cars that we could be driving in a decade from now, when hopefully gas-guzzlers are a thing of the past and our robotic butlers will have to plug our cars into the mains overnight.

The Aptera
A car that gets 230 miles per gallon? Cool! The vision of steve fambro, who wanted to create a car that was safe, comfortable, and more fuel-efficient than anything ever produced, the aptera (from greek for ‘flight without wings’) draws much of its design from aircraft and aerodynamics. it seats two, has three wheels, and its first operating protype achieved an amazing 230 miles per gallon.

Car Specification

• Top Speed of 85mph
• 2 to 4 hours to charge - it’ll cost about $2 to charge it overnight
• You must be 6 ft 5 or under in height so this car aint no good for most basketball players!
• Room for a childs seat
• Only available in white
• Cost: under $30k.
• the aptera typ-1 is now available for reservations (only in california for now), and will start production in late 2008.

NMG
NMG stands for no more gas! These cool electric cars are smaller than smart cars and use no gasoline at all. They are really small - you can fit four of them into one parking space
It only seats one but a cool car for driving to work..unless you car share!

Charge it for eight hours and you’ll get about 30 miles of driving, which is more than the average driver does in a day, plus you can drive it in the car pool lane, and park it in a motorcycle space between two cars. With gas hitting record highs every day and its consumption contributing so heavily to global warming, surely the nmg is a no-brainer?

Oil companies are supposidly holding back information about electric cars for obvious reasons...so spread this around...electric cars are cool!


HONDA PUYO
This little bubble car is another futuristic concept that threatens to blow gas guzzlers out of the water - or at least off our streets.


The word ‘puyo’ is japanese onomatopoeia for the sensation of touching the vehicle’s soft body.
The car itself was designed to bring together clean, safe and fun functionality in a minimalist, environmentally-friendly way.

On the outside it’s a seamless, curvy box that’s supposed to remind you of a favorite pet.
It has a soft gel body and is luminescent to reflect the vehicle’s state of being, thereby promoting a more intimate relationship between car and owner

The interior is designed to be people-friendly. driving is controlled by a joystick, the control panels rise up when the vehicle starts, and the roof is transparent.


NISSAN PIVO 2
Talk about a cute cool concept car. This eco friendly electric urban car has a built-in robotic interface and rotates 360 degrees on its axis.

By getting rid of traditional mechanical linkages like shafts and hydraulic cylinders and using drive by wire electrical technology instead, it’s infinitely more flexible than most cars we’re
used to.

What's cool about this car is unlike most eco cars, it fits 3 people! I can see this car going places!


THE MAGNET CAR
This car overcomes the force of gravity through the strategic use of an electric engine…and magnets. Winner of the unseen technology award at the interior motives design awards 2007, the mag magnetic vehicle concept (designed by matúš procháczka) finds an unusual
solution to the problem of, expending fuel to get somewhere.

Rather than finding a different fuel source, or building a smaller car, procháczka ingeniously reduces the weight of the car by using an electric engine with magnets the same polarity as the roads. the resulting upward force lightens the vehicle’s weight by 50%. another innovative touch is the desing of the seats: two outer layers, pile yarn, and a soft construction foam make it possible to adjust the final hardness and spring characteristics of the seat. this lightweight, adaptable seating not only cuts down on waste during construction and the overall weight of the vehicle while being driven, it also sounds pretty darn comfy.

Here comes the obvious disadvantage - in order for the magnetic engine to properly polarize, the roads on which it’s driven also have to be magnetized, which of course there aren't any...yet!


SOLAR RICKSHAW
The new solar powered rickshaw by solarlab makes rickshaw's cool, bringing them into the 21st century.

75% of the total power needed to drive the vehicle will come from the photovoltaic solar generator on the roof, while the remaining 25% will be provided by the driver’s own pedal power.

With the addition of solar power, you don’t have have to be a superhero on steroids to drive yourself around. The modular design of the rickshaw makes it easy to convert to load-bearing
vehicles required for inner city logistics, and supply chain requirements. in other words, not only can you cart yourself around, you can also add in a couple of tourists, and all their
groceries too.

Launching next year, solarlab hopes to reduce CO2 emissions in london by up to 2 tons per rickshaw.

From prehistoric transportation, to the transportation of the future: making transportation eco-friendly is closer to the past then we think. then again, there’s always walking.
This is a guest post courtesy of been seen, a great site that ‘approaches travel from a creative and visually artistic point of view’.

Scuderia Bizzarrini Livorno p538 Barchetta

Futuristic Scuderia Bizzarrini p538 Barchetta Car Concept. This stunning design from Stefan Schulze is what he calls Scuderia Bizzarrini Livorno p538 Barchetta. Schulze working in conjunction with Alan Mertens, who is a race-car engineer, along with Giotto Bizzarrini and Kevin Gallahan of Arbitrage Cars.

The Arbitrage Cars are manufacturing a small series production for both the Barchetta and GT (hardtop) version. This version is based on their Arbitrage GT chassis. This design was approved by Giotto Bizzarrini.

Bizzarrini for long has been associated with exclusive performance cars, and with their name being used in this 2008 concept, it adds a sense of history to the vehicle. While the ‘Livorno’ is taken from the Italian city in which Bizzarrini is residing currently.

P538 in the car name is picked to pay homage to a limited race car which was built by Bizzarinni built in 1960’s.

It’s the lattice framework in which the engine is placed. This is directly behind the driver thus 8 race-like intake trumpets highlight the location of this powerful engine. This pokes through the engine cover just behind the cockpit.

The manufacturers are planning a small series production for both the Barchetta and GT (Hardtop) version.

BMW GINA Pics and Video

The BMW Gina light visionary model is a concept car made from fabric instead of sheet metal. See these pictures to believe it.

BMW has unveiled its GINA Light Visionary Model concept car on June 10, 2008. The BMW Gina Light Visionary concept car showcases the direction that BMW’s designs may take, and new materials and technologies that BMW plans to adopt in the future.

The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car uses fabric as the skin that allows drivers to change the shape of the car at will, unlike rigid structures.

The fabric skin of the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car is used to cover metal wires, which can be moved to achieve different shapes using electro-hydraulic devices. How does it all hang together? Well, wire mesh and carbon fiber.


The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car allows the driver to change both the exterior and interior of the car for as many number of times as desired. So you want a low-slung skirt - you got it. Want a spoiler, you got that too! The headlights are revealed when the fabric moves apart, and the engine is accessed when the bonnet seemingly splits to reveal its innards.

Another plus for the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car is that its lighter and can be made out of materials that require less energy to make them. In a video on BMW-web.tv, titled BMW GINA Light Visionary Model: Premiere , Chris Bangles, Director of Design BMW Group, says GINA is an acronym that stands for Geometry (shapes), function (how things work), N for Infinite number of Adaptations. He adds, “The GINA philosophy is about flexibility. Thinking flexible. Acting Flexible.”

Earlier, BMW had also revealed a teaser video that shows the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car being transported to the BMW museum in Munich.

Watch the video here


The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car may or may not find its way into production, but it may be the precursor of new material alternatives that are lighter and more fluid. The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car may also provide new design inputs because of its shape-changing abilities.