Detroit 2008 leak: Saab's 9-4X BioPower CUV concept

Detroit 2008 leak: Saab's 9-4X BioPower CUV concept
It sure gets leaky before an auto show, doesn't it? While GM and Saab would like to keep a lid on the news of the Saab 9-4X BioPower concept CUV, the word is out, thanks to Automotive News (subs req'd). The full details of this eathnol-ready CUV will be coming on Sunday at the Detroit Auto Show, but we do know that the concept is powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo engine that, when burning E85, can produce 300hp at 5,400 rpm as well as 295 pounds-feet of torque at anywhere between 2,600 to 5,100 rpm. The 9-4X BioPower also features amenities like a place to store your skis (what, no Segway?), a panoramic glass roof and flush-mounted starter button. There will be more details on Sunday - at the latest.

Gallery: Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept leaked photos

(Via AutoblogGreen.)

Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

Well, there's another embargo blown. HUMMERForums dropped all the images they had of the HUMMER HX concept that was due to be officially unveiled in a scant five days, and Jalopnik followed suit. So here it is, HUMMER's Wrangler-competitor in concept form, complete with a 3.6-liter SIDI E85 FlexFuel engine which sends power to all four wheels via a six-speed auto 'box. The HX is technically a convertible, meaning that the roof panels and modular rear can open or be stowed, while the interior instruments can be reconfigured depending on the type of driving you'll be doing. All the details are available in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

Continue reading Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

(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.)

Plymouth Cuda Concept Car

Plymouth Cuda Concept Car

The Plymouth ‘Cuda concept car is the work of a digital designer from São Paulo, Brazil - Rafael Reston.

Inspired by the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, the Plymouth ‘Cuda concept car follows the recent trend of reviving legendary muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger.

Based on the platform from the Chrysler 300C, The Plymouth ‘Cuda concept propose power source with a 5.4 litre bio-fueled HEMI V8.

Purposeful looking body of the Plymouth ‘Cuda is formed from aluminium with the 22″ wheels and aggressive. While the spoilers, hood, and side panels are made from lightweight carbon fibre.

Rafael Reston created the Plymouth ‘Cuda concept using Alias Studio Tools 2008. For the interior, Reston using Rhinoceros 4.0, with Bunkspeed Hypershot for final rendering.

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

Lamborghini Ferruccio Concept Car

Lamborghini Ferruccio Concept Car

The Lamborghini Ferruccio is a concept for supercar, created independently from Lamborghini by Pule Magau of Magvisio.

The concept is named after the founder of Automobile Lamborghini, Ferruccio Lamborghini. Based on the drivetrain of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, The Lamborghini Ferruccio powered by a 6.5 litre V12 producing 640 horsepower and 660Nm of torque.

Although this supercar using early lamborghini’s for design inspiration but The Lamborghini Ferruccio come with a modern twist. The ‘eyelash’ headlight clusters are a contemporary interpretation of the units found on the Lamborghini Miura, while the fixed rear elevated haunches are similar to those on the Countach, these also help to channel air into the engine bay. The ‘recessed’ fan intakes on the bonnet are also reminiscent of the Lamborghini Jota of 1971, unique design cues are the swooshing, sweeping concave and convex lines running across the sides of the Lamborghini Ferruccio’s body.

Both version of the Lamborghini Ferruccio have been designed, including a hardtop and convertible (Spyder).

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

Lexus IS F Racing Concept Car

Lexus IS F Racing Concept Car

Lexus IS F Racing Concept car will be presented at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon, as announced by Lexus.

The Japanese car maker will also present the Super GT version of the Lexus SC430, along side with the Lexus IS F Racing Concept car.

All the major Japanese car manufacturers are offering modified versions of their stock models and it was about time for a tricked out Lexus IS F to come into the spot light.

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

Nitin Design unleashes the Dacoit concept bike

Nitin Design unleashes the Dacoit concept bike
click above for more high-res images of the Dacoit concept bike

The Nitin Design Dacoit concept bike was reportedly styled to look like a hooded man. 'When viewing the front portion of the bike, you can see an evil figure whose eyes/headlights are peeping from underneath the hood.' In addition to the masked-man motif of the front end, the seat back rest was inspired by a shark's fin. The animal theme continues: 'The back of the bike is short to enhance the 'man sitting on an engine' concept and to give it an evil Hyena-like feel.'

We're not sure the mash of design cues that makes up the Dacoit concept all belong together, but overall, we dig it. Many bikes are starting to look too similar, so we won't fault one for trying to be different. No real details are available to tell us what kind of powerplant the bike could sport, but that's fine considering that this is really just a styling exercise.

Gallery: Nitin Design Dacoit bike

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(Via Autoblog.)

Detroit '08 Preview: Mercedes GLK Freeside concept image leaked

Detroit '08 Preview: Mercedes GLK Freeside concept image leaked

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit is right around the corner, where Mercedes is anticipated to unveil the vehicle you see here: the Mercedes-Benz GLK Freeside concept. Official images and details are expected in a manner of days, but someone at Daimler headquarters has apparently let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

Like the 'Vision' concepts that Mercedes used to give us in the '90s, the GLK Freeside 'show-car' is more of a pre-production prototype than a design study, and is tipped to closely mirror what the production GLK will look like. We already got a preview of the production model when the GLK showed up undisguised on the set of Sex and the City, of all places. The 'Freeside' moniker, which seems dangerously close to the 'Freelander' named used by Land Rover, is not expected to carry over when the little truck goes into production.

This leaked photo comes at a busy time for Mercedes, which recently gave us the new SLK (and SLK 55 AMG), a teaser shot of the new SL roadster and leaked photos of the facelifted CLS-Class all in the past couple of weeks.

[Source: Carscoop]

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(Via Autoblog.)

MYBUS Concept Car

MYBUS Concept Car

The MYBUS concept car created by Portuguese designer Nuno Teixeira. The MYBUS concept car had been displayed at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show and won the ‘Outstanding Design Award’ in the 2007 Michelin Challenge Design.

The MYBUS concept car featuring: electronic stability systems, smart cruise control, brake-by-wire, rear detection systems, smart wing mirrors, and Michelin ‘Twell’ tires. The MYBUS concept car is a proposal for a passenger vehicle with an emphasis on safety, for both passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

To reduce the impact on the environment, and the danger of an explosion in case of an accident, the MYBUS concept car using an electrical power source for the energy.

Power for the MYBUS concept car is provided by batteries placed above the rear wheels, away from the most obvious impact zones. Each wheel has its own independent motor in order to improve safety, so that the onboard computer can determine the ideal power to supply them. The system reacts according to the road conditions and the type of driving, it also helps anticipate and react to an imminent accident situation. Great concept for MYBUS concept car.

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

The VFV Concept Car

The VFV Concept Car

The VFV (Very Fun Vehicle) concept car is a funky city car concept which uses large glass panels wherever possible in order to increase the sense of space inside the car. The VFV also a concept created by Nuno Teixiera (see also MYBUS concept).

In the event of a collision, safety of the occupants for the VFV concept car is provided by a strong tubular skeleton with built in crumple zones to reduce the force of the crash, and for side impacts toughened glass features on the lower portions of the door.

The VFV concept car also includes airbags, parking sensors, drive-by-wire, traction control systems and Electronic Stability Control. The VFV concept car powered with an electric motor.

(Via WWW.YOSAX.COM.)

Mazda Furai Concept

Mazda Furai Concept

Mazda released a few photos of the Furai Concept. The Mazda Furai has a three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine, which can produces around 450 horsepower. The engines runs on E100 ethanol and the word ‘Furai’ can be translated as ‘sound of wind’.

The flowing shape of the Furai was co-designed by Mazda and Swift Engineering at Mazda’s design studio in Southern California.

(Via iTech News Net.)

Tokyo Auto Salon '08: Honda Inspire Modulo Concept

Tokyo Auto Salon '08: Honda Inspire Modulo Concept

click above for more high-res images of the Honda Inspire Modulo Concept

The recently released Honda Inspire may be little more than a JDM version of the U.S.-market Accord, but Honda has infused the staid sedan with a healthy dose of bespoke kit for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon.

The Inspire Modulo Concept comes equipped with a new front and rear bumper, revised grille and Transformer-esque headlamps, along with some aluminum trim and 19-inch, seven-spoke wheels wrapped in 245/40 R19 rubber. The interior gets a combination of orange leather and black crocodile skin, with an independent audio system for all four passengers, and a duo of LCD screens mounted behind the front seats. It's a clean package that combines a healthy amount of luxury with a small bit of sport, but we doubt crocodile hide will be on the options list of most Japanese Honda dealers.

Gallery: Honda Inspire Modulo Concept

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(Via Autoblog.)