Posts Tagged ‘concept cars’
McLaren P1 Super Sports Car Debut, Geneva
February 18th, 2013 – With the Geneva Motor Show around the corner, automakers are on the verge of unveiling their new makes and models. As the press releases are rolling in, the McLaren P1 has proven to be a stand out machine, the type of car that helps the Geneva Motor Show maintain its famed reputation. This is not McLaren’s first rodeo when it comes to creating sensational hype on their new cars, so they commissioned renowned auto photographer George Williams to fly to the middle east to capture the stunning sports car in its natural habitat – the racetrack.
McLaren Automotive is a British manufacturer of luxury, high-performance sports cars, located at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey. Following the company’s global launch in 2010, McLaren Automotive launched the groundbreaking 12C and 12C Spider and plans to introduce a new model each year.
The interior of the McLaren P1™ offers the driver and passenger a cocooning, efficiently packaged, comfortable cabin. The interior feels like the cockpit of a fighter jet, complete with glass canopy overhead and, with a windscreen deeper than it is wide, visibility is optimized. This makes the car all the easier to plant on road and track.
Light weight – as with the rest of the car – is a priority, and switchgear is kept to a minimum, yet the McLaren P1 retains luxury features such as full climate control, satellite navigation and a bespoke sound system, developed from the outset with Meridian.
McLaren is a pioneer in the use of carbon fiber, and it features extensively throughout the McLaren P1, not least in the MonoCage chassis and the aerodynamically-shaped body panels, but also inside the two-seat cabin. It is the lightest possible material, while offering the strength desirable for safety and structural integrity, and is used for the dashboard, floor, headlining, doors, rockers and a single piece is shaped for the central control unit to further optimize weight. Attention to detail within the interior of the McLaren P1 is such that, to further reduce weight, the top layer of resin has been removed, to leave the carbon non-lacquered for a more natural look…and saves a further 1.5kg.
The racing bucket seats use the minimum amount of foam, are encased in ultra-thin carbon fiber shells, and mounted on lightweight brackets and runners, contributing to an overall weight of just 10.5kg each. The seat backs are fixed to 28 degrees from the vertical, but can be set to 32 degrees to make them more suitable for racing as it will give more helmet head room. The height of the seat will be custom set to suit the driver and passenger, and can be subsequently adjusted in the workshop. Fixings for a six-point race harnesses are in place, in addition to inertia reel seat belts.
The final, production-ready McLaren P1™ will make its global debut at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva, and the McLaren Automotive press conference will take place at 11.15am CET (10.15am GMT), Tuesday 5 March.
(Photography by George Williams)
The Stromlinie 75 Concept Car
February 14th, 2013 – 75 years ago dare devil race car driver Bernd Rosemeyer came to terms with his fate as he died while trying to establish a new speed record in his 1930′s Auto Union Type C “Silver Arrow”. In respects to Rosemeyer and the Silver Arrow, German industrial designer Lukas Rittwage has dreamed up a modern rendition of the classic car. The Stromlinie 75 Concept Car uses the seamless aerodynamic shape of the classic Type C but revamped it for the consumers of 2013. This one-seater sports car differs from its predecessor as the body is wider and longer, along with an added retractable spoiler. Rittwage decided to keep the famed four rings on The Stromlinie, although these now signify only Audi, and not all of Auto Union.
Peugeot’s XRC concept car
There’s a reason that little tykes are obsessed with drag racing remote controlled cars over curbs, into mud puddles and generally wreaking havoc on the neighborhood. They’re fast. They’re versatile. They’re indestructible. Peugeot’s XRC concept car is like one such coveted remote-controlled cars, only blown up life-sized and built to be rallied.
The fundamentals are similar, but the Peugeot XRC packs a punch. This baby is one of a kind, forged to surf deserts and tackle tough terrain. Dreamed up by CGI specialist Tiago Aiello, the vehicle mimics a typical RC car and yet the unique design takes on a life of its own, an almost arachnid-like quality. One thing’s for certain, if the concept car takes life there will masses of middle-aged men across America reliving their youth like nobody’s business. (Let’s just hope that they stop at the car, and don’t revert back to footie pajamas.)
The Wiesmann Spyder
If you’re looking to get frisky in a sports car this ride isn’t for you. The Wiesmann Spyder is equipped with two, completely separate front seats. The seats aren’t the only unconventional twist to the open-top car. If you notice this blue beast is lacking doors and a windshield. We have to admit, bugs in the teeth have got to be a major factor with a vehicle that can go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. The ultra-light concept car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show tops out at just under 2,200 lbs and boasts a 420-hp V8 high-speed motor. Wiesmann has yet to decide if the Spyder will be into production. If it does go into production, this won’t be before 2012. It’ll have to go on next year’s Christmas list.
The Bertone Mantide
Generally, flashy red sports cars are reserved for balding, middle-aged men having mid-life crises. The Bertone Mantide is a whole different beast entirely. Stile Bertone’s flashy one-off echoes elements of modern aerospace and Formula One racing. The futuristic design utilizes the mechanics of the Corvette ZR1 and boasts a LS9 engine that provides a total 638-hp. The vehicle aims to be the world’s greatest street legal performance car and is said to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph. Taking cues from sensual Italian sports cars, the innovative and beautiful lines of the Mantide are driven (pun intended) by performance: the low-slung nose, jet fighter style teardrop canopy and ‘gull wing’ doors, as well as the air inlets and exhausts for maximum air efficiency. Aging baby boomers can only dream.
(Photography: EGM Car Tech)
The Citroen Taranis
Looking like a wickedly futuristic Batmobile prowling the streets of Gotham, the Citroen Taranis is actually a hybrid vehicle – part car, part bike. Created by British-born video game designer Peter Norris, the streamlined, charcoal grey fairings are interrupted by sleek ‘gullwing’ doors and sits like a tarantula, poised to pounce. The vehicle’s moniker was borrowed from the Celtic god of thunder, which is fitting seeing that the car is powered by electric motors within each wheel hub. With the motors sitting at a lower center of gravity, the design allows for improved handing, not to mention the double-jointed swing arms that provide unparalleled turning abilities. Taking design cues from Hollywood crime-fighting vehicles there’s no arguing that the Citroen looks like it drove right off the set of Transformers 7.
Fall In Love With Renault’s DeZir
It’s not simply the cherry red color of Renault’s sleek, new electric car that gets our blood pumping but it’s that the ‘DeZir’ is proof that eco-friendly initiatives and a passion for cars can go hand in hand.” Laurens van den Acker, the leader of Renault’s Design Department, spearheaded DeZir based on three simple words that describe Renault’s brand best; ‘simple’,'sensuous’ and ‘warm!’
These three words launched Acker’s vision of creating a seamless vehicle with soft, gradual curves, coated in a vibrant red lacquer. Acker also had a personal concept behind the creation of the DeZir; falling in love. He explains the “implementation of the strategy based on the notion of ‘life cycle’. The first step involves falling in love, an experience that is perfectly illustrated by DeZir’s powerful, sensuous styling and bright red finish; red being the color associated with passion.”
The two-seater coupe is powered by an electric motor mounted in a mid-rear position to optimize weight distribution over the front and rear wheels. Acker wanted the vehicle to be lightweight for power performance and agile movement capabilities which led for its body to be made from Kevlar, while its tubular steel frame is similar to that employed for Mégane Trophy race car. Acker explains “DeZir’s suspension also shares certain features with that of Mégane Trophy – including a double wishbone arrangement – to deliver a particularly high standard of handling precision.” And did you check out the butterfly doors? (Swoon!)
THE NEW CFS BY SOLIF DESIGNS
Here at Knstrct, we don’t drive. We take the train, bicycle, bus, taxi or water taxi. Every now and again we come across a car that makes us want to close our eyes, snap our fingers, and click our Pierre Hardy heels three times in order to make it magically appear. The CFS is that car.
The CFS is currently a concept car designed by rising Russian transportation designer Mikhail Smalyanov, head creative of Solif Designs. The unique design of the car is not surprising for Smalyanov, but the historical Mid-20th Century design references are. Smalyanov is a modern and futuristic thinker and his designs reflect his point of view. Many of his pieces, including the CFS, are a mixture of retro style with twists of cutting edge features.
AUDI’S CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT CONCEPT AWARD GOES TO….
Jason Battersby, Canadian transportation designer, has just been honored by Audi with their Cultural Achievement Award for the One concept car he designed….Welllllll not quite, Battersby’s fictional Audi award is all part of his concept for his thesis project at Umea Institute of Design in Sweden. Knstrct spoke directly to Battersby who explained “I created the award/vehicle to celebrate cultural hero’s, and is strictly conceptual, this award does not actually exist.” Originally, when we got word about this Award given by Audi, even we were fooled! along with many other websites and publications who wrote articles about it. Battersby turned out an amazing design and he elevated his design onto a luxury platform by packaging it as an Audi given award. The very talented Battersby is a designer on our radar, The concept of this car is truly eye-catching and is a whimsical representation of the future. Enjoy!
WORLDS FASTEST HYBRID
James bond can now go green in style! The worlds fastest hybrid, The ItalDesign-Giugiaro Quaranta concept car, was recently retrofitted with a meter, white paint and a dome light to shuttle fares around the Italian capital. Quaranta comes nothing close your normal car, it can reach speeds up to 155 mph and can fly 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. Powered by the Toyota Synergy Drive found in the Lexus RX400h, it’s complete with 3.3-liter V6, electric motor, continuously variable transmission and supplemented by front mounted solar panels. This eco-friendly automobile was car created to mark the ItalDesign-Giugiaro’s 40th anniversary.
