Will The Lobini H1 Ever Make It To The US? [New Cars]

Will The Lobini H1 Ever Make It To The US? [New Cars]

It's been a while since we mentioned the Brazilian-made Lobini H1, especially since a fluctuation in currency has meant that it's not as economically viable to export the car to the US. Since we last spoke of this car it has received a slight redesign and, unlike the new Interlagos, the H1 is a car that's in production and features design from an ex-Lotus engineer, a 1.8T engine sources from Audi and a tax-induced price tag of about $96,000.

If the car ever does make it to export to the United States, the price will likely come down (original estimates were around $25,000 a pop). A cheap, Brazilian made sports car? Why not?

(Via Jalopnik.)

Rumormill: Suzuki to unveil V8-powered Kizashi 3 at NY show

Rumormill: Suzuki to unveil V8-powered Kizashi 3 at NY show

Click image for hi-res gallery of the Suzuki Kizashi

Hyundai is quickly proving with its Genesis luxury sedan that a lower-end Asian automaker can play in the V8-powered big leagues, and if the reports are to be believed, Suzuki wants in. The Japanese carmaker's Kizashi concepts, unveiled in Frankfurt and Tokyo last year, proved popular enough for Suzuki to move ahead with production plans and target a late 2009 roll-out. But before it settles on what form the production version will take, Suzuki is reportedly preparing a third iteration to show at the New York Auto Show in March, and this one will be powered by a V8 driving all four wheels, compared to its turbodiesel and V6 predecessors. Whether there's any truth to the reports will become evident as we weave through Manhattan traffic towards the Javits Center, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi Concept

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

(Via Autoblog.)

HumanCar coming in April with a $15,000 price tag

HumanCar coming in April with a $15,000 price tag

The HumanCar just might be an eco-loving carpooler's dream come true. Four seats and four rowing handles (for human-powered battery charging). The unique human-powered/electric hybrid vehicle will be available this coming Earth Day for a paltry $15,000.

I say this vehicle might be a dream come true because it's a little difficult to actually understand what this vehicle is. Look at the way the company describes the HumanCar:

Fine Print: Base price $15k of Imagine[TM] LMV exotic super-human hybrid electric vehicle with BodySteer[TM] chassis..: Above concept 'ideations' of Imagine[TM] by Mr. Stephen Brand. All elements subject to change. Earth Day 2008 Roll Out. The Imagine[TM] LMV will rock the world. Get involved. Imagine[TM] Electric Hybrid Pre-Order Information - The HumanCar(R) Imagine[TM] features an exoskeletal safety cage chassis, dual electric motors, variable human power input, Body-Steering[TM] patented chassis and SyncGuideway[TM] compatibility as standard equipment. It retails for $15k base.

Huh? 'Ideations'? Trademarking the word 'Imagine'? Is all this is too clear for you, feel free to download a confusingly-laid-out PDF brochure about the HumanCar.

(Via AutoblogGreen.)

HUMMER H2 450 scooter makes our head hurt

HUMMER H2 450 scooter makes our head hurt
click above to enlarge

The Hummer brand is all about strength and capability, but for some reason the smaller and less capable the Hummer, the better it sells. Talented motorcycle sketch artist Oberdan Bezzi must have had this in mind when he penned the Hummer H2 450 scooter, because the mini-cycle would likely fit in the pickup bed of the upcoming H3T. Bezzi borrowed several Hummer design queues for his moped, including the Hummer gas cap, chunky sheet metal, and we're guessing the seven bar grille. In this instance, the 2 in H2 stands for the amount of wheels and the 450 stands for Bezzi's imaginary 450 cc powerplant.

While we love Bezzi's imaginitive drawings, we're afraid his Hummer-branded scooter made some of our neurons misfire. We don't care how knobby the tires are, scooters and mud just don't mix. Hummer doesn't make scooters for the same reason we don't see Harley Davidson-branded roller skates. Jeep did make the Compass, but we digress. We'd change that opinion, however, if Governor Schwarzenegger drove the two-wheeler to all of his public speaking engagements.

(Via Autoblog.)

Lexus looking for successor to L-Finesse design

Lexus looking for successor to L-Finesse design
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A roadster concept.

Lexus' L-finesse design language was meant to stand for 'Seamless Anticipation,' 'Intriguing Elegance,' and 'Incisive Simplicity.' If we put aside the marketing speak for a moment, the point of L-f was to give Lexus design a greater emotional connection with consumers. While it certainly didn't stop Lexus from selling more cars, we have a feeling that the increased number of wavy lines simply didn't resonate with the public quite like it was meant to.

Now Lexus is looking for a successor to L-finesse. Emotional connection from a purely design standpoint -- not 'I just love my Toyota!' -- has been a weak point for Japanese cars in this country. Even the GT-R, the LF-A and the last Supra, technological tour-de-forces that they are (or were or will be), and for as much emotion as they inspire, are not pretty cars. The LS is a good looking car, but we wouldn't call it inspiring. Yet Lexus has a pretty good grasp on what its customers are looking for, so while we can't imagine that whatever's coming is going to be outrageous, we can hope that it will be a little less birds and clouds and a little more visceral.

Gallery: Lexus LF-A Roadster

(Via Autoblog.)

Volkswagen Advanced Activity Concept: New Taro?

Volkswagen Advanced Activity Concept: New Taro?

Volkswagen used to have a pickup truck called the Volkswagen Taro back in 1989, which was essentially a badge engineered Toyota Hilux. The project was discontinued in 1996. Now Volkswagen is developing the second generation Volkswagen Taro, and it is expected to be unveiled at the end of 2009.

Volkswagen had exhibited a pickup truck concept in the early 2000s called the Volkswagen Advanced Activity Concept. It looks pretty much like the Touareg but with a pickup body form. It had an adjustable air suspension which at its highest point allows for 390mm of ground clearance, and at its lowest, 280mm.

The original Taro used a 2.4 liter Toyota diesel engine but the Volkswagen AAC used the big twin turbodiesel direct injection V10 also found in the Touareg, mated to a 6-speed Tiptronic auto and a permanent all-wheel drive system.

More photos after the jump.

(Via Paul Tan's Raves and Rants on the Automotive Industry.)

Dragonslayer: Renault rolls out the Twingo Extreme

Dragonslayer: Renault rolls out the Twingo Extreme

The Twingo still won't take you to mythical Silene, but the UK gets its own specially pimped version of the entry-level Twingo called the 'Extreme.' Think of it as a Tercel Blackhawk en français, s'il vous plaît. The Twingo Extreme consists of mostly graphics for the exterior, though there's a few extra bits of gear thrown in, too.

Power is provided by a 1.2-liter engine, and Renault throws in specially trimmed wheels, a tachometer, and foglights. Soccer Football fans will undoubtedly choose the flag of St. George graphics for the exterior, and there's also Union Jacks for the door handles and stripes or checkered flags can adorn the outside, too, all for a modest price. MINI has already shown that customization at the dealer level is a popular activity, and we hope that the rest of the driving public soon becomes as smitten with small hatchy-things as we are. If we create enough clamor, they might send us a Jerry Lewis edition or something.

Press release after the jump

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Dragonslayer: Renault rolls out the Twingo Extreme

(Via Autoblog.)

Ferrari F460 Tifosi Concept Car

Ferrari F460 Tifosi Concept Car

Ferrari F460 Tifosi concept car was created by Atilla Tay - a Transport Design graduate from the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena.

Ferrari F460 Tifosi concept is a proposal for a successor to the current Ferrari F430. Based on the F460 name, Ferrari F460 Tifosi concept would be powered from a 4.6 litre, mid-mounted V8. And, like the F430, the Tifosi’s engine is visible through a glass rear hatch. The ‘Tifosi’ part of the name is taken from the Italian word for ‘fan’, and in Italy the word Tifosi is often used to describe the supporters of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One.

Ferrari F460 Tifosi concept is similar in size, proportion and layout to the F430, but with perhaps a slightly more slippery profile. The exterior design of the concept is inspired by the shape of DNA, using continuous flowing lines to define the surfaces. The matt black color of the concept helps to emphasize style lines of the concept.

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

Crash Landing: 2009 Honda Pilot design deemed boring

Crash Landing: 2009 Honda Pilot design deemed boring
click above to view more high-res pics of the Honda Pilot Prototype

We were there when Honda trotted out its Pilot Prototype in Detroit, and our snoozy first impression is apparently what the public at large is feeling, too. Sales of the current Pilot have dropped off by nearly 25 percent, so Honda's feeling the pressure with this redesign. It doesn't bode well, then, that the Pilot's new duds leave the buying public unmoved. CNW Research polled several hundred drivers from LA, Chicago and Detroit, and many respondents found the 2009 Pilot a yawn to behold. Nothing about the newly-squared off exterior struck a chord, which is unusual for a new design. Usually, something distinctive garners attention, but the exterior design only earned a 7.5 point score on CNW's 12-point scale, off at least a point and a half from what most new vehicles do. We found the Pilot's freshening a little boring, but mainly the headlights leave us very unnerved, like trying to stare down a bird of prey.

Gallery: 2008 Detroit: Honda Pilot Prototype

(Via Autoblog.)

Ducati 1098 R: 180 horsepower, 364 pounds, traction control... il più bello

Ducati 1098 R: 180 horsepower, 364 pounds, traction control... il più bello

click above for a full gallery of Ducati 1098 R images

This is truly the best Ducati bike that you are likely to get your hands on, considering that the Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica is probably out of reach and certainly sold out. Don't feel bad, though, 'cause the 1098 R is a most excellent consolation prize. We never did hate on the 999 like many Ducati loyalists seemed to, but we still recognize the 1098 R as a vast improvement. The details read as you might expect, such as the bigger bore, bigger stroke, bigger valves, and bigger throttle bodies housed inside the sand-cast engine cases that ought to adequately hurtle the Öhlins TTXR single rear shock and fully adjustable 43 mm Öhlins fork with low friction Titanium Nitride towards the next apex. Keeping up appearances is the carbon fiber bodywork, tri-colored color scheme (plus natural carbon fiber finish) and gold Marchesini Y-shaped forged wheels. Bello indeed.

Leading the list of electronic goodies is the traction control system, which is enabled with the included track-only ECU tuning. We imagine, however, that many riders will run the upgraded programming on the street regardless. Can't blame 'em if they do, and they'll be rewarded with a boost from 180 horsepower to 186. Every little bit counts, right?

Gallery: Ducati 1098 R

Continue reading Ducati 1098 R: 180 horsepower, 364 pounds, traction control... il più bello

(Via Autoblog.)

Geneva '08 Preview: IED Maserarti Chicane concept

Geneva '08 Preview: IED Maserarti Chicane concept

Any regular reader of Autoblog should know that the major automakers aren't the only ones unveiling striking new concept cars. In fact, independent designers tend to create even more exciting concepts than the big boys. All the more so for design students who give us a preview of what the future holds for creative automotive design. This year the graduate students at the Instituto Europeo di Design (we'll let you decipher the translation yourself) are coming to Geneva with a full-size concept Maserati.

The Chicane concept you see above is a take on what the anticipated upcoming entry-level Maserati sports coupe could look like. Like the GranTurismo, the Chicane is a 2+2 with a front-mounted V8 driving the rear wheels, but while it retains certain Maserati design elements, the IED students have done away with some of the elegance of the GranTurismo in favor of more sportiness: at 4.4 meters long, it's some 400mm shorter than the Pininfarina-designed GT, and it ditches the chrome for a more menacing look. We particularly like the recessed headlights.

(Via Autoblog.)

Geneva '08 Preview: Pininfarina releases sketch of Sintesi Concept

Geneva '08 Preview: Pininfarina releases sketch of Sintesi Concept

As we promised last month, Pininfarina has hit us with a teaser sketch of the upcoming Sintesi concept car. The show car, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March, is the first concept the famous Italian design house will have shown in three years.

Sintesi is Italian for 'summary', and the concept ties together themes from its last two design studies: the Maserati Birdcage 75th that stopped the Geneva show in 2005, and the Nido city-car from Paris '04. The design for the new Sintesi was directed by Lowie Vermeersch, head of the company's design department. We'll look forward to bringing you more as Pininfarina doles it out, but you can check out their nifty cyber-mag in the meantime by following the link below.

Gallery: 2005 Pininfarina Maserati Birdcage Concept

Gallery: 2004 Pininfarina Nido Concept

(Via Autoblog.)