Do you remember the 2013 Lamborghini Egoista? That very futuristic-looking single-seater V10 powered supercar, finished in jet fighter grey with an orange canopy that tilted upward, hinged at the front to unveil a cockpit-style seating possible with a very special steering wheel, only one of these Egoista was ever built, and it seems Nissan kept that idea in mind when they created their latest concept car: the Ariya Single Seater.
We’ve already seen images of the Nissan Ariya, an all-electric SUV based on the EV platform shared between Nissan, Mitsubishi, and the French-based Renault (remember the Nissan Qashqai is called the Rogue in the USA, but it’s a Renault Kadjar in Europe with some different styling), the Ariya will be available with either one or with two electric motors, hence in either 2WD or 4WD version, with the top of the line bringing a total power output of nearly 400 hp, but still have a range of 400 km (250 miles), there is a 243 hp version with an extended range of 500 km (310 miles).
Sadly, due to the shortage of semi-conductors, the launch of the new Nissan Ariya SUV in Europe and the United States has been postponed into 2022, but that didn’t keep Nissan from unveiling this exciting Ariya Single Seater Concept, taking the SUV’s powertrain and fitting it into a race-derived chassis, turning the family SUV into a monospace performance prototype.
Presented at the Nissan Futures event, the senior VP for global design Alfonso Albaisa was joined by Juan Manuel Hoyos, Nissan global marketing divisional general manager for brand and engagement to show what the future of Nissan could look like in terms of all-electric performance cars, and while some design queues from the SUV can be found on this low and wide supercar, you won’t be able to fit a child seat inside this gold and black finished concept.
“We are delighted to present the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept from our Nissan Futures event,” said Hoyos. “At Nissan, we dare to do what others don’t. With this concept, we want to showcase the high-performance potential of the Ariya’s powertrain in a motorsports-inspired package that not only hints at the design and styling of the road car that inspired it, but that also demonstrates a new and efficient EV performance language. Acting as a testbed for future technological evolution, this project can help bring excitement from the road to the race track, and also demonstrate Nissan’s expertise in transferring knowledge and technology from the race track to the road.”
The front design of the Ariya Single Seater Concept nicely integrates the ‘V’ shape found on the current road car design, but this time it’s illuminated, while the sides, which emphasize the use of carbon fiber, take the overall panel design of the Ariya SUV to the extreme, overall this concept seems to be ultra-aerodynamic, almost shaped by the wind itself.
Nissan sits at the cutting edge of EV research and design, their entry into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship does help as an inspiration of cars like this Single Seater Concept, and while no specifications have been published on this concept, they do state it’s the two-motor setup, so let’s assume they have taken the most powerful variant, the 395 hp one, with the all-wheel-drive inside a lightweight, single-seater design … this one-off will be quick off the line, and utterly fast on the straight-line.
“Nissan competes in Formula E not only to race on the track but also to support the development of compelling electric vehicles for customers,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s global motorsports director. “Our EV programs inform our Formula E program and vice versa, allowing for road-to-track technology transfer as well as track-to-road. The Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept explores the combination of the all-electric powertrain, dual motors, and revolutionary all-wheel-drive system of the Ariya with a pure single-seat racing chassis – a powerful demonstration of just how thrilling electric vehicles could be.”
December 3, 2021 / Comments Off on The Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept
We’ve seen new car building companies being founded almost every day of the year, and some come up with some amazing concepts, usually either as drawings, some as real 3D renders, but barely with a driveable concept or prototype, and most of these companies disappear into oblivion just about as fast as they were created, and Spyros Panopoulos Automotive that is the author of the car we’re discussing today might have fallen into that trap of being a ‘one-day celebrity too, as the only thing we’ve been able to find about this car is a Youtube video … from about a year ago, since then, no update, no rolling concept, no driveable production prototype … but we still wanted to share this car with you.
The no update might have been a little exaggerated, as SP Automotive, based in Greece, was planning to unveil their ‘Chaos’ Ultra Car at the 2022 Geneva Motor Show in March next year, but once again this famous European car show has been canceled, and at this point in time a four-minute teaser video is the only tangible thing we have on Chaos (you can check it out at the end of this article).
The intention by Spyros Panopoulos, when he started SP Automotive in 2019, was to build the most extreme production car in the world, with the best technology possible and as always with these new car builders, it would be the fastest in the world, very limited, built in a unique way … which translates into them charging a small fortune for a car from a manufacturer that has no pedigree, and that nobody heard from before … a perfect business plan, right?
The latest info we received states SP Automotive will be unveiling their Chaos in the very near future, with no Geneva Motor Show to go to, they intend to do a private unveiling party soon, from the video it is unclear if we are looking at some nice 3D renders, or if they actually managed to show a real car, but if we have to believe the scarce information we did find on this car, it looks really, and I mean really interesting nonetheless.
Some really expensive materials have been mentioned on the build sheet for the Chaos, how about using titanium combined with carbon fiber and kevlar for the chassis, while the body would be made from Zylon, which is a high-strength synthetic polymer with an extremely impressive tensile strength. Zylon is a lot stronger compared to carbon fiber, and it even boasts a tensile strength 1.6 times better than Kevlar, it is in fact the strongest manmade organic fiber, about 10 times stronger than steel, those are some pretty impressive figures … but with that kind of strength comes a high price tag too.
And those exotic materials aren’t even the best part, the piece-de-resistance is the engine SP Automotive is telling us about: a twin-turbo V10 with a 4-liter displacement, now I know that doesn’t sound impressive … but get this: power output in the ‘base’ configuration is said to be 2,000 hp, and it gets even better, the top-of-the-line Chaos will come with no less than 3,000 hp with a redline set at 12,000 rpm … that’s Formula One screaming if you ask me, the sound from the Inconel exhaust must be breathtaking.
This translates into some rather amazing performance figures too, a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 1.8 seconds, those tires will be having a hard time getting enough grip to put down that impressive acceleration, while SP Automotive claims a top speed of … wait for it … 500 Km/h or 310 mph! I wonder who is delivering the tires that can cope with that, Bugatti is playing with the 400 km/h barrier on their special Chiron versions, but this new company from Greece adds another 100 km/h on top of that.
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SP Automotive intends to build between 15 to 20 cars each year until the limited production number of 100 units for their Chaos is reached, so they intend to build these over a span of 5 to 6 years then it seems, and the planned to unveil date is set for November 1, 2021 … let’s see what this looks like in real life. Do you really want to know the price of this Chaos … the Base spec with 2,000 hp should be €5,500,000 or about US$6,500,000 … but that impressive 3,000 hp version will set you back a massive €12,400,000, that’s roughly $14,500,000, personally I would buy an entire garage full of Lamborghinis for that kind of money, but that might just be me.
October 20, 2021 / Comments Off on You have super cars, hyper cars, and then there is an ultra car
There are countless failed concepts for every production-spec supercar that we get to drool over on public roads. As with any industry, introducing a new product is a gamble where success or abject failure depends on various factors.
Market reactions, design flaws, and production costs are just some of the reasons why supercar concepts are nixed before the final production stage—and while the practice is more prevalent among boutique carmakers, the big automobile names are by no means immune. Here, you will also find a few supercar concepts from established carmakers that never quite made it to production.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #10: Yamaha OX99-11
Via Car Throttle.
There was so much potential for the development of the Yamaha OX99-11, a street-legal Formula One car for the road. The project was conceived by Ypsilon Technology, a Yamaha subsidiary, and International Automotive Design (IAD), an English Engineering outfit.
The car community was understandably excited by this, and for good reason too. The Yamaha OX99-11 supercar had a unique tandem-style seating arrangement. However, its most impressive feature had to be the Formula One-derived engine, a screaming V12 that could rev to an insane 10,000 rpm!
It looked all set to power its way into production, but sadly, that never happened. After several delays, Yamaha decided to pull the plug on the project in 1994 due to budget constraints. Also, Japan was in the midst of a crippling economic crisis, and Yamaha was not sure if it would ever find customers for the OX99-11 with an expected final price tag hovering around $800,000.
Yamaha did build three functional OX99-11 prototypes, though, and today, they offer a glimpse of what might have been if the car had made it to full production.
TVR is a British carmaker with a penchant for making extreme road performance cars with little regard for safety. That doesn’t sit too well with US regulators and explains why TVR vehicles are mostly banned in the country.
However, for a company like TVR, even the TVR Cerbera Speed 12 proved to be a little too much—and that’s saying a lot. The car initially started as a development project for a race car meant to compete in the FIA GT Championship.
However, regulation changes rendered the car obsolete before it ever got the chance to hit the tracks. The engineers changed direction then and decided to transform the Speed 12 into a road car.
At its heart was a formidable 7.7-litre V12 with an estimated power output of around 800-bhp. The carmaker accepted deposits from interested customers, and it looked like the project had the green light for production. That was until Peter Wheeler, then-owner of TVR and an experienced driver, took the prototype out on the road and concluded that the car was simply too powerful for the public roads.
It was a potential death trap; a possibility made even starker by the car’s lack of safety features. It marked the end of what could have been a real performance brute on the highways.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #8: Chrysler ME 4-12
Image via Motor1.
Conceived by Chrysler in 2003, the ME 4-12 had what it took to become one of America’s greatest supercars. Instead, we were left wondering how a car with so much potential floundered and ultimately came to an inglorious end.
The public got its first full glimpse of the vehicle at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, and Chrysler promised performance numbers that were on par with some of the best supercars of the day. The ME 4-12 was powered by a quad-turbo 6.0-litre AMG V12 that cranked out up to 850-hp. That provided enough juice for a 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph and an insane 6.0-second run time to 100 mph.
The top speed was over 240 mph, about the same as the legendary McLaren F1. The car’s performance, coupled with its eye-catching design, was the stuff of supercar dreams, but in 2005, Chrysler brought us all back to jarring reality with an announcement that the project had been cancelled.
Studies revealed that the development costs of the car, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions (US dollars), were unjustifiable at a time when Chrysler was still rebuilding. In hindsight, maybe they should have gone ahead with the ME 4-12 project, considering that they are still rebuilding today.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #7: Jaguar CX-75
Image courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The low-slung Jaguar CX-75 was the company’s attempt to reenter the supercar market after a trouble-ridden run for the Jaguar XJ220. The CX-75 was a hybrid-electric supercar concept capable of putting out a thumping 778-hp. It was developed in partnership with the Williams Formula One team.
The CX-75 had diesel-fed micro gas turbines that charged the batteries, which then supplied power to the four electric motors (one for each wheel). In May 2011, Jaguar decided to ditch this revolutionary technology and instead go for a limited CX-75 production run with a more conventional pairing of a forced induction petrol engine with the electric motors.
It was a step down from what was promised during the car’s reveal at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but even then, Jaguar could not deliver. In December 2012, the carmaker cancelled the project altogether due to the global economic crisis.
A new twist in the tale emerged recently, in March 2021. A Hungarian company, Kinscem, has promised to revive the concept as a fully-fledged production vehicle. The carmaker has set a production date of 2023, but we are not holding our breath for this one.
The Lamborghini Asterion was far from your typical Lambo supercar when it was unveiled at the 2014 Paris Auto Show. For one, it was a four-door supercar. More importantly, it featured hybrid technology, which Lamborghini had traditionally shied away from.
The powertrain comprised a 5.2-litre V10 from the Lamborghini Huracan and twin electric motors driving the front wheels. The result was a family-sized supercar that boasted a combined output of 898-bhp.
Lamborghini was prepared to take a gamble on the Asterion, but a lukewarm reception to the supercar changed all that. However, the Asterion remains a concept that might still evolve as Lamborghini repositions itself for a future that’s not wholly dependent on gasoline engines.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #5: Lamborghini Cala
Image via Supercar Nostalgia.
1994 saw the debut of the Ferrari F355, an entry-level supercar offering. Lamborghini needed a response as its own entry-level car, the Lamborghini Jalpa, was ageing and had been mediocre for most of its production life. That was when the idea of the Lamborghini Cala was born.
The concept was designed by famous Italian design house Italdesign and had a fully functional V10 power plant good for 400-bhp. The Cala was showcased at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show, and Megatech, the Indonesian-based company that owned Lamborghini at the time, seemed poised to put the Cala into production. Unfortunately, the plans were scuttled by crippling financial problems that culminated in Lamborghini’s takeover by Volkswagen Group.
This is one story that had a good ending, though. Volkswagen kept the dream of a V10 Lamborghini alive, and the Cala set the perfect foundation for the Lamborghini Gallardo. This supercar would go on to become one of the most successful Lamborghinis ever made.
The Arrow was poised to fill the shoes left by the ill-fated Gumpert Apollo. It was a big ask, but the Arrow seemed capable, with a mid-mounted, Audi-sourced, twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that put out as much as 986-hp and 737 lb-ft of torque.
The designers promised that the engine would be individually tuned to suit each buyer’s requirement but that a sub-3-second sprint and 224 mph top speed were entirely feasible. They also stated that the car would be fully street-legal, allowing the potential owners to enjoy the Arrow on open roads.
Sadly, the project lost steam after its 2016 debut and eventually ground to a halt as Apollo Automobili focused on creating its own separate supercar, the Apollo Intensa Emozione.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #3: Zagato Raptor
Image via Top Gear.
The 1996 Zagato Raptor was billed as the car that could help inject some new life into the ailing coachbuilder. The Raptor was designed extensively using computer-aided design equipment, showcasing Zagato’s capabilities in this regard.
It was based on the existing Lamborghini Diablo, but a carbon-fibre bodywork (and lack of ABS and traction control systems) made the Zagato almost 660 pounds lighter. That translated to more speed as the Raptor could hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds—an impressive number for the ‘90s.
The car appeared at the 1996 Geneva Auto Show, and Zagato was hoping it would generate enough interest to warrant limited production. It was supposed to be built at Lamborghini’s Sant’Agata factory, since the carmaker was interested in the project as a ‘stop-gap’ replacement for the Diablo and its planned successor. But that never happened, and the lone concept was limited to occasional appearances at exclusive car meets until it was put up for auction in November 2019.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #2: Saleen S5S Raptor
Image via Top Car Rating.
This is another Raptor that spun its wheels but got nowhere. The thrilling car featured prominently in games like CSR Racing and Forza Horizon. Sadly, its real-world appearance is limited to a concept displayed by Saleen at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.
The production-spec S5S (named for its 5.0-litre supercharged engine) was to be fitted with a 650-hp V8 that produced all of 630 lb-ft of torque. It was enough to get the supercar to 60 mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed north of 200 mph.
An expected retail price tag of $185,000 brought it within reach of a bigger segment of the supercar market than the Saleen S7, which cost a whopping $600,000. All of that mattered little at the end, though, as the S5S Raptor has remained a concept for over a decade.
Saleen still exists as a company—so the chances of seeing this in production form someday, while being an extremely long shot, may not exactly be an absolute zero.
Vaporware Supercar Concept #1: Inferno Exotic Car
Image via TechEBlog.
Mexican carmaker Inferno Automobili set tongues wagging when it announced the Exotic Car (yes, that’s the car’s actual name) in 2015. Billed as Mexico’s first supercar, the Exotic Car will get a twin-turbo V8 capable of 1,400-hp and 670 lb-ft of torque.
In terms of design, this supercar concept is as extreme as it gets, with radical styling and a revolutionary material known as Metal Foam—a zinc-aluminum-silver alloy. According to Inferno Automobili, this material will allow the car to stretch up to a hundred times its original length and bounce right back.
Minor scrapes or accidents will have nothing on this car—that is, if it ever gets produced. There is a dedicated website that includes various technical specifications and contact information, but so far, there’s little sign that the Exotic Car will ever make it to the production stage. A healthy dose of caution is advised if you consider placing a deposit for this one.
October 20, 2021 / Comments Off on 10 Supercar Concepts That Turned Out to Be Vaporware
Porsche has been involved in customer racing for over three decades by now, 31 years ago the first Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland was held, and since then over 4,400 bespoke Porsche Cup cars have left Weissach, with the latest iteration being based on the 992 model, the 911 GT3 Cup was launched just ahead of the 2021 motorsport season, but the future in automotive is electric, so Porsche now shows us their Mission R Concept for an all-electric one-make series.
But it’s not only about being all-electric, this Porsche Mission R concept is also made from natural fiber-reinforced plastics as one of the sustainable materials to be used in the future on this extremely low-slung, all-electric competition car that still showcases the characteristic lines of the sports cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
Porsche developed two new, bespoke electric motors for this Mission R concept study, which in qualifying mode can deliver up to 800 kW or nearly 1,100 PS, for now, the battery capacity is 80 kWh with innovative direct oil-cooling, and comes with Porsche’s innovative recuperation system … in the Mission R, you are able to do sprint racing without loss of output.
“Porsche is the brand for people who fulfil their dreams. This is also true in motorsports. We experience our innovative strength on the race track, demonstrate courage in pursuing new avenues and delight car owners with sporting performance,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “In addition to our involvement in the Formula E World Championship, we are now taking the next big step forward in electric mobility. The concept study is our vision of all-electric customer motorsports. The Mission R embodies everything that makes Porsche strong: performance, design and sustainability.”
The Mission R can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds while the top speed is over 300 km/h, on the track this all-electric race car performs equally well as the current Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the peak power output of 1,100 PS is only available in so-called ‘qualifying’ while the normal, constant power output is 500 kW or 680 PS in ‘Race’ mode.
There are two electric motors in Porsche’s Mission R, the front one is capable of up to 320 kW or 435 PS while the one for the rear wheels can go a higher up to 480 kW (635 PS), with the advanced 900-volt technology and Porsche Turbo Charging, the batteries can be charged from 5% up to 80% during a 15-minute pit-stop, with charging taking place up to 340 kW.
The Mission R concept also features Porsche Active Aerodynamics or PAA with Drag Reduction System (DRS) on both the front section and for the rear wing, consisting of three louvers in both side air intakes of the nose cone while the rear wing features a two-section adjustable part, other parts of the body, like the front spoiler, side skirts, and the rear diffuser are made from natural fiber reinforced plastic (NFRP), the basic material of which is made from flax fibers obtained from farming.
While the Mission R might just be a concept study at this time, there is still a complete interior found inside, with an ergonomically positioned display between the controls on the steering wheel, a second display above the steering column shows what’s behind using side mirror cameras and even an additional, centrally mounted rear-view camera, there are even action cams scattered throughout the interior for actual live-action streams during a race.
The Porsche Mission R also wants to minimize the difference between real-life racing on a track and a virtual experience on a simulator, the central monocoque of this concept can double as an esports simulator in exactly the same form, while on the real car the safety structure is made from carbon fiber composite material, the roof structure is an “exoskeleton” that combines the roof panels and the safety cage in one unit.
When compared to one of Porsche’s successful cars on the road today, the 718 Cayman, the Mission R is a little shorter at 4,326 mm, but its width at 1,990 mm is considerably wider while overall height at 1,190 mm sits well below the Cayman roofline, the Mission R offers us a glimpse at what customer motorsports will look like in the future, the show car celebrated its world premiere at the 2021 IAA MOBILITY in Munich.
September 11, 2021 / Comments Off on Porsche Mission R concept
Audi is planning to create three ‘sphere’ concept cars as an indication of how they see the future of automobiles, the first one we could admire during Monterey Car Week, called the Skysphere, was a luxury GT Roadster that could effectively ‘stretch’ her wheelbase to offer more interior space, the second one in the sphere series is the grandsphere concept unveiled at the IAA, the International Motor Show in Germany, usually held in Frankfurt, but for the 2021 edition moved to Munich.
All of the Audi ‘sphere’ concepts will come with level 4 automatic driving, we’ve seen that on the skysphere already, where the car would really transport the occupants from point A to point B without them even touching the steering wheel, as that part of the interior isn’t needed anymore in this mode, it actually folds away, out of view. And that’s exactly what we are seeing inside this larger grandsphere concept too, and it will make its return in the third car in the series, the urbansphere which we’ll be able to admire in 2022.
Audi and CARIAD, the Volkswagen Group’s global software think tank, are working together to create new technology, and their Level 4 is nothing less than changing the interior concept of a car as we know it today, still being a driver-oriented cockpit with seats for three or four passengers, but once the auto-driving mode is engaged, both the steering wheel and the pedals are moved out of sight to create a serene environment for all occupants.
Audi calls these concepts ‘spheres’ because all three are designed from the idea of the interior being the most important part of the car of the future, the occupants’ living and experience sphere while traveling, in case of this grandsphere, Audi calls it a private jet for the road, with an overall length of 5.35 m (17.6 ft.) with a 3.19 m (10.5 ft.) wheelbase that’s even longer than the current Audi A8 Long, the grandsphere is all about luxury and comfort once you open the ‘suicide doors’ found on this concept, the front doors are hinged from the front, but the rear doors open from the rear to allow much easier access into the luxurious interior as there is no B-pillar on this model.
The Audi grandsphere will also come with a pathway identification … this means the car will recognize who is approaching the vehicle, and will automatically open the doors to welcome them, but it goes way further than that, depending on who the car senses, the ambient light changes, climate control settings are restored and the seats move into their predetermined position … even the infotainment system picks up on where a passenger stopped streaming a video before getting into the car, only to resume that video on one of the displays found inside the grandsphere.
A feeling of openness and breadth is created, helped by the absence of the steering wheel and pedals, but also because of the large window surfaces on the Audi grandsphere, even the entire roof is transparent on this concept, even the side windows use a futuristic concept where the upper half gets a very distinctive angle while the widest part of the side window is just above eye level.
Because the Audi grandsphere is all about comfort and luxury, the front seats are considered first-class seating now, especially as the car will drive itself, the passengers have an amazing view over the completely clean dashboard through the fast windshield, despite the size of the grandsphere and the roominess inside, this is actually a 2+2 seater, the rear offers a two-person bench with an armrest that goes around the side, integrated as a seating option in the back when the two front seats are in their most backward position.
With the seats in their upright position, the Audi grandsphere can be perfectly ergonomically controlled when outside level 4 zones as the car has to be driven using the pedals and steering wheel, however, when in ‘auto drive’, the back can be tilted 40 degrees and passengers can relax or use the infotainment system. ultimately, with the back folded down to 60 degrees, the result is a perfect resting position. The headrest can be moved 15 degrees forward while vents emit filtered and temperature-controlled (even scented if desired) air, and then there are speakers that are inaudible to other passengers and allow for a private aural zone while being transported in the Audi grandsphere concept’s first-class cabin.
There is leather inside the Audi grandsphere, instead, you’ll find wool or synthetic textile material combined with wood and metal to offer the most pleasant touch, either sourced from sustainable cultivation or made from recycled material, and while every car needs displays, in case of this grandsphere these are actually projected onto the wooden surface, and while the car is in the automated driving mode, the entire dashboard fascia becomes a CinemaScope screen for entertainment or video conferencing.
The Audi grandsphere comes with the innovative MMI touchless response, using haptic controls and even eye movement detection to interact with the driver, this concept comes with eye-tracking, gesture or voice control, and it comes with a level of AI as the system will ‘learn’ the preferences of the driver and frequently used menus … in the end, the system will be able to offer personalized proposals to the occupant, and if you really want to ‘tune out’, there are VR glasses in the armrests.
Being a concept for the future, the Audi grandsphere is an all-electric car and should come with a 120 kWh battery module using the entire vehicle base between the axles, the massive 23-inch wheels are mounted on axles that have their own electric motor, one for the front axle, one for the rear axle, so this Audi has the famous quattro drive system … power output is an impressive 530 kW with 960 Nm of torque.
Similar to the Audi e-tron GT, the grandsphere comes with an 800-volt charging capacity, this means a depleted battery can be charged up to 270 kW almost instantly when connected to a fast-charging station, it takes only 10 minutes to add 300 km (186 miles) to the range, going from a 5% load to an 80% load on the 120 kWh battery takes less than 25 minutes, the grandsphere comes with a range up to 750 km (466 miles), and while maximum speed is limited to offer more range, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes little over 4 seconds.
I have to admit, if this is the future we are heading into with electric cars, I’m not too worried, this car looks good, a sleek 4-door GT sedan, I wouldn’t call it a supercar or hypercar like the Koenigsegg Gemera, but this Audi grandsphere is intended for a different kind of customer … the future is electric, and the Audi grandsphere is a glimpse of what’s to come in the next decade or so.
September 9, 2021 / Comments Off on Audi grandsphere concept at IAA 2021
We have only just seen the official introduction of Ferrari’s latest supercar, the 296 GTB, for 2,992 cc of displacement on a turbocharged V6 engine in the Gran Turismo Berlinetta body, the fact it’s a hybrid isn’t shown in the model designation, and while the first customers won’t be receiving their new 818 hp Prancing Horse before 2022, I’m sure Ferrari is already working on a convertible version.
So will Ferrari come up with a 296 GTS, or simply call it the 296 Spider? Whichever it will be, we bring you the first virtual renders on how the upcoming Ferrari 296 GTS might look:
Finished in Blu Corsa over Rosso leather, titanium finished wheels on Rosso calipers, and with the Assetto Fiorano option.
Finished in Blu Corsa over Rosso leather, titanium finished wheels on Rosso calipers, but without the Assetto Fiorano option this time.
Finished in Giallo Modena over Nero leather, black-finished wheels on Giallo calipers, and with the Assetto Fiorano option.
Side view of the Giallo Modena on Nero leather finished 296 GTS, black wheels over Giallo calipers.
Going for the Grigio finish of the Ferrari 296 GTB launch spec, but in Spider form also works perfectly:
Some more side views in different colors … a Ferrari 296 GTS or Spider just doesn’t have a bad looking shade:
June 25, 2021 / Comments Off on Ferrari 296 GTS or Spider coming next?
Introduced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Rimac C_Two, also referred to as the Concept Two, boasted some really impressive figures: 1,914 hp with a top speed of 412 km/h (258 mph). Rimac calls it the new breed of hypercar, with acceleration figures of 1.85 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill, this might be the closest thing to launching a jet fighter from an aircraft carrier on the road.
But it seems we will finally be seeing the actual production version on June 1, 2021, when Rimac will also unveil their name for this amazing new hypercar, Rimac Automobili released a 40-seconds teaser on YouTube with the caption “More extreme performance, new official name, immersive features, extraordinary technology, and exceptional engineering in its final form.” … so will there be even more power for the final production version?
Rimac has been talking about figures like 1,914 hp already for years now, with a top speed of 412 km/h (258 mph), they call their C_Two a new breed of hypercar, with acceleration figures of 1.85 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill … have they used the additional year of development since their intention to unveil the car at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show to up these statistics even more?
We’ll have to wait and see what the official release will be on June 1, but until then we can check out their teaser below:
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May 30, 2021 / Comments Off on Rimac C_Two gets its name
It hasn’t been an easy time for SSC lately, first, they declare to have set a world speed record with their Tuatara hypercar in October 2020 when they published a top speed of 316 mph (508.73 km/h) over two runs in opposite directions, on a stretch of the State Route 160 outside of Las Vegas near Pahrump, where the Agera RS made history in November 2017, race driver Oliver Webb took the wheel of the SSC Tuatara to pulverize the world record for the fastest street-legal production car.
But that record quickly got questioned by just about everybody, especially on YouTube, and it forced SSC to do a second attempt to put all the rumors to rest, but they weren’t going back to Texas again, for this second run the Tuatara was taken to the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds at Space Florida’s Shuttle Landing Facility, and they would make sure to have every kind of measurement system and witnesses to make their point, the SSC Tuatara will be the fastest car in the world.
The second go at the record was performed on January 17, 2021, but this time by the owner of the car. Dr. Larry Caplin, as required by regulations, to qualify for an official world record the car has to travel the same track twice, once in one direction, and once in the opposite direction … this time the SSC Tuatara managed to get to 279.7 mph (450.1 km/h) in the northbound direction and subsequently reached 286.1 mph (460.4 km/h) on the southbound way, for the record this came down to an average speed of 282.9 mph (455.2 km/h) … the current world record for production cars.
But things turned for the worse when the transporter that was carrying the rare #001 record-setting car was involved in an accident, it appears a strong gust of wind flipped the trailer with the car inside on the I-15 while the car was heading to Florida for a second record-setting run mid-April because at the second attempt described above they didn’t reach the magical 300 mph barrier, so they wanted to try again … sadly the car never made it to Florida in one piece. SSC did release a statement after the incident they will still do a second attempt, and possibly even with this very car, as the damage is purely cosmetic according to Shelby, the chassis, drivetrain, and suspension are perfectly fine.
The SSC Tuatara is powered by a Nelson Racing Engines, twin-turbo 5.9-Liter flat-plane-crank V8 engine that develops 1,750 horsepower on E85 and 1,350 hp on 91 octane, but if you would expect SSC to simply repair their crashed Tuatara, or perhaps build another one, you are sadly mistaking … they just released information on ‘the next step’, it seems they deem 1,750hp isn’t enough, and now intend to release two new Tuatara variants.
The SSC Tuatara Striker will come with improved aerodynamics, their release states an increase of 300% compared to the original car at 160 mph, thanks to a massive rear wing together with a vertical stabilizer and a new diffuser, at the front the splitter and dive plate further push down the car, the split is to be 45.4% to the front and 54.6% for the rear, adding even more carbon fiber and Alcantara on the interior will reduce weight … even with the current 1,750 hp (1,305 kW) this should mean the Tuatara Striker is even faster.
But that’s not all SSC has in the pipeline … how about 2,200 hp (1,641 kW)? That’s right, the SSC Tuatara Aggressor will come with the same modified aero and weight savings as the Striker, but with a massive power increase, the latter one will not be street legal it seems. The Tuatara Aggressor can also be customized with special exhaust tuning, performance options, and bespoke aesthetics … but there is a catch, SSC only builds a very limited number of these cars.
The intention is to build 100 units of the SSC Tuatara, now they will add 100 units of the new SSC Tuatara Striker … but only 10 of the SSC Tuatara Aggressor will be available, no official pricing has been published by SSC for either of these new evolutions, but I guess the clientele for these hypercars doesn’t care for a million more or less, it’s all about having the fastest, most exclusive hypercar for these customers.
May 27, 2021 / Comments Off on SSC reveals a 2,200 hp Tuatara Aggressor
Horacio Pagani and his team are hard at work to put together the first customer car for their limited series Huayra R, the track-only version for the stunning Pagani Huayra, but for now, they only put together a 1 on 1 scale mockup vehicle so they can evaluate the modifications done from the 3D computer designed model, over at least two 1/5 scale models, into real-life proportions … no interior yet, and no engine fitted either, but this satin silver metallic Huayra R with the famous orange stripe just looks so impressive, even standing still inside a studio.
There will be 30 units of this stunning Pagani Huayra R available for clients, but these can only be used on a closed track, heavily inspired by one of Horatio’s favorite classic race cars, the Porsche 917, the design for the Huayra R has been radically modified from the regular street-legal version, in the end only very few parts are the same … rumor has it only the exterior rearview mirrors and some screws on the chassis are the same as those found on the streetcar, that’s impressive for a limited production run of only 30 units.
The new Pagani Huayra R will come with a new V12 engine too, codename ‘R’, this engine will be naturally aspirated instead of the turbocharged V12 found in the streetcar, but this beast will come with 850 hp and 750 Nm of torque, inside a car that comes with a dry weight of only 1,050 kg … imagine the acceleration this Huayra R will be capable of.
Because the Pagani Huayra R does not have to comply with legislation for road use, Horatio could go all-out when designing this car, but he did still restrict himself to FIA regulations for GT cars, might a career in racing be on the horizon for these cars? The Huayra R does come with its own, bespoke carbon-fiber monocoque, instead of adding a roll cage to the existing Huayra monocoque, Pagani just created a new one with an integrated roll-over cage.
Take a look at the video Shmee150 was allowed to make featuring this satin silver metallic 1/1 mockup for the Huayra R:
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May 24, 2021 / Comments Off on Up close with the Huayra R
GTO Engineering has confirmed that Squalo will be the production name for its new car and has revealed the final exterior design updates and a first production-ready look of the new 4.0-liter quad-cam engine.
Squalo, meaning shark in Italian, has been chosen for GTO Engineering’s all-new car due to its shark-like look, instincts, and speed. The team, who were previously using the codename Moderna for its all-new, sub-1,000kg, V12-powered car, has been working behind the scenes on updated surfaces and production-ready engine alongside a completely bespoke wheel and tire package.
Now gaining momentum and pace as it works towards the production-ready car, GTO Engineering and its design team has signed off on the all-important exterior aesthetics including the door handles, wing mirrors, as well as working on a bespoke alloy wheel, which will be available in 18”. The tires, which will be produced by a leading manufacturer in conjunction with GTO Engineering are also in development.
The GTO Engineering Squalo will stick to the same principles since the car was announced: sub-1,000kg, with a manual gearbox, inspired by the Sixties sports cars of old but with modern engineering principles and materials. The Squalo will be powered by a bespoke V12 engine, in keeping with GTO Engineering’s ethos, and both engine and the complete car will be built completely by the firm from the ground up at its UK HQ.
The engine has been announced as a quad-cam V12, but following the last update in February, it has had significant aesthetics and light-weighting engineering upgrades including the surround of the carbs removed to ensure you can see the open trumpets when the bonnet is opened. More news on the engine’s capacity calculated bhp figures, as well as a target weight for the engine, will be revealed next month.
“There’s been an outpour of admiration for what we’re doing here and we realize a little bit of skepticism whether we’re actually making this: a V12-powered, sub-tonne sports car with a Sixties feel but modern reliability, enjoyment, and manufacturing quality. We’re here to hopefully set the record straight to say yes, it’s happening and we’re sticking to our original ethos for the car as well as timing promises for production. We are also delighted to have early adopters and customer orders received already, and we thank them for the trust in our vision and business,” said GTO Engineering Managing Director and Founder Mark Lyon.
“It’s often the small parts of a car that take the longest time. We’re now at a stage where the design models are being created here in the UK and soon we will announce our technical partners working with us on the exterior manufacturing and interiors, as well as wheels and tires. In all my years working in the automotive]industry, I’ve never been as excited about the creativity of manufacturing and design as I am now.”
This update follows the initial renderings and intentions for the new vehicle, which was initially announced in November 2020. Since then, the team continues to grow with in-house and external consultants collaborating together, all working on the same goal to create one of the most exciting enthusiast cars of the decade, with the first customer deliveries in 2023.
April 23, 2021 / Comments Off on The GTO Engineering Squalo
Audi is giving us the four-door Audi A6 e-tron concept at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show as a preview of the future, fully electric luxury cars, taking their new “Premium Platform Electric,” or PPE for short, into production for new Audi cars on the horizon, for 2022, the first production cars using the PPE will be launched in the C-segment, later to be joined by models in the B-segment, and Audi also intends to extend their PPE platform to both SUVs and dynamically styled models with a lower ride height, such as the upcoming Audi A6 e-tron.
The Audi A6 e-tron concept to be shown at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show represents an entirely new design concept, the only thing it has in common with the current A6 are its dimensions, at 4.96-meter-long, 1.96-meter-wide, and 1.44-meter-high, the concept’s body was designed as a Sportback, and its lines are an obvious reflection of the systematic advancement of Audi’s current design language.
For its part, the PPE technology will ensure that what the car’s lines imply is actually translated into dynamic driving performance and everyday suitability befitting use as a primary vehicle. Specifically, this means that depending on the selected drive system and model version, an Audi A6 e-tron is expected to boast a range of more than 700 kilometers (based on the WLTP standard) in the future – and the most powerful member of the family is anticipated to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.
Large 22-inch wheels and short overhangs, the flat cabin, and the wide coupe roof arch give the vehicle proportions distinctly reminiscent of a sports car. The absence of hard edges results in smooth transitions between convex and concave surfaces throughout the body, as well as in soft shadows. The Audi A6 e-tron concept appears monolithic, as if from a single mold, particularly when viewed from the side.
Heliosilver is the name of the technoid-looking color of the paint, which in turn adds aesthetic presence and functionality to the appearance of the Audi A6 e-tron concept. The paint accentuates the shapes of the body with a three-dimensional depth effect, which is particularly visible in the area around the quattro wheel arches. In the front end, the Singleframe grille, also in Heliosilver, forms a striking contrast to the deep matte black color of the frame. This stark contrast also accentuates the horizontally oriented proportions in the rocker panel sections on the sides of the vehicle.
The heart of the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s drive technology, and that of all future PPE models, is the 800-volt charging technology. Like the Audi e-tron GT before it, this ensures that the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s battery can be charged with up to 270 kW in a very short time at public DC fast-charging stations. This revolutionary technology will enter the high-volume mid-range and luxury segments with the PPE for the very first time.
This technology makes charging times possible that come close to a stop to refuel a car powered by a conventional engine. Just 10 minutes at a public DC fast charger are enough to charge the battery to a level sufficient to power the car more than 300 kilometers. And in less than 25 minutes at a public DC fast charger, you can charge the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s 100 kWh battery from 5 to 80 percent.
Together with an expected range of more than 700 kilometers, depending on the selected drive system and power output, the Audi A6 e-tron concept is uncompromisingly suitable for use as a primary vehicle. Furthermore, its range and charging speed keep pace with those of combustion engines, making it the perfect universal car for everyday needs, from short trips to the store to longer road trips when going on vacation.
April 19, 2021 / Comments Off on Audi A6 e-tron concept
It has been only a few days since we published the first renders on the brand new MG Cyberster concept car they intend to unveil at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, but today we can already show you actual photos of the dark red metallic concept they will be showing on the MG stand in China later this month.
Developed by the MG Advanced Design Centre in London, the new MG Cyberster will be a two-door, two-seater sports car taking inspiration from the legendary MGB Roadster, but with a modern twist with high-tech features like an interactive gaming cockpit and 5G connectivity.
To take the MG brand into the future, this new Cyberster is fully electric, thanks to a new, intelligent architecture MG lists an autonomy of 500 Miles (800 km), thanks to the lightweight construction acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62mph) is below the 3 seconds mark, as a reminder to their heritage, the large MG logo is fitted at the front, but in this case, it doubles as an air intake.
The round headlights are another blast from the past, but on the MG Cyberster, they come in the form of interactive ‘Magic Eye’ headlights that open when switched on, another striking detail of the MG Cyberster is the ‘laser belt’ LED strip down the side of the car and around the outline of the door, which follows the direction of the LED strip.
The MG Cyberster boasts a ‘Kamm tail’ rear design, where it almost looks like the tail has been cut from the car in an almost vertical manner, naturally, the taillights on this new MG are LED units too, in a rather typical design to mimic the UK flag.
On the inside, we find ‘Zero Gravity’ seats with a floating headrest, also note the stunning MG logo on these headrests, and what MG describes as a ‘Digital Fibre’ design theme, still a driver-centric layout with a separation from the passenger, there is a display in front of the driver, behind a very stylish steering wheel, and a second display on the central console.
Carl Gotham, Director of SAIC Design Advanced London, said: “The Cyberster is a bold statement that looks strongly into MG’s future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our technology and advanced design. Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us.”
There hasn’t been a price mentioned yet, and more details on the specifications and such will also only be available once the car is unveiled to the public at the Shanghai Motor Show that runs from April 21 to 28, 2021.
April 9, 2021 / Comments Off on First photos of the MG Cyberster
We all think about Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini when someone mentions ‘Italian supercar’, but there are many more car builders in Italy, like FV Frangivento, located in Turin, and they just introduced their latest creation, the FV Frangivento Sorpasso, and while the ‘base’ model is called the Stradale, they also have a GTXX model, and it’s this one that comes with an interesting option.
As a special customization option, you can opt for the FV Frangivento Sorpasso GTXX to come with your choice of numbers for the ‘XX’ in the name, so you could have it as GT40, or GT63, or whatever number you like, and that’s not even the best part … there is also Programma Sviluppo and Programma Ego, this will give you 30-day access to the stylists at FV Frangivento to actually design you very own Sorpasso Stradale or Sorpasso GTXX.
The car in these press renders is in fact the FV Frangivento Sorpasso Stradale, the more elegant supercar, in this case, finished in ‘Grigio Hermes’, the Sorpasso GTXX will come with a GT3 inspired, more aggressive design and boast two-tone paint finish, for the interior a combination of Alcantara and leather is possible, and FV Frangivento lists an optional Avatar Driving Assistant. Which should become an AI technology-based co-pilot or travel assistant.
The FV Frangivento Sorpasso comes with four-wheel drive and a V10 engine, while the Stradala makes do with 610 hp, the GTXX will get a supercharger installed to raise the power output to 850 hp, the latter will be able to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.9 seconds and won’t run out of breath until her maximum speed of 345 km/h (215 Mph) is reached.
No pricing yet, but FV Frangivento already has orders in, and plans to have the first of their latest Sorpasso delivered to their clients by July …
April 4, 2021 / Comments Off on FV Frangivento Sorpasso
MG Motor UK Limited just published the first images for their upcoming MG Cyberster, a new concept for a sportscar that reminds us of the classic MG roadsters, the intention is to unveil this concept at the Shanghai Show later this month.
Developed by the team at the MG Advanced Design Centre in London, the MG Cyberster will be a 2-door, 2-seater sports car, featuring the classic-looking round MG headlights, together with a slim grille design, along with interactive ‘Magic Eye’ headlights that open when switched on. Another striking detail on the MG Cyberster Concept is a ‘laser belt’, an LED strip along, the side of the car and the outline of the door, which follows the direction of the LED strip.
The side profile MG Cyberster shows a distinctive two-stage shoulder line, together with a ‘kamm tail’ rear design, and LED taillights that clearly show MG’s British heritage by their design inspired by the UK flag, the Union Flag.
Carl Gotham, Director of SAIC Design Advanced London, said:
“The Cyberster is a bold statement that looks strongly into MG’s future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our cutting-edge technology and advanced design. Sports cars are the lifeblood of the MG DNA and Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us.”
The MG Cyberster will be an electric vehicle, with the new intelligent architecture MG intends to offer an EV range of up to 800km (500 miles) while acceleration figures from 0 to 100km/h time (0-62mph) will be below the three seconds mark. Detailed specifications will only be made public after the unveiling at the Shanghai Motor Show (April 21-28, 2021).
Introduced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Rimac C_Two, also referred to as the Concept Two, boasted some really impressive figures: 1,914 hp with a top speed of 412 km/h (258 mph). Rimac calls it the new breed of hypercar, with acceleration figures of 1.85 seconds to reach 60 mph from standstill, this might be the closest thing to launching a jet fighter from an aircraft carrier on the road.
Using butterfly doors Rimac avoids having wide sills, getting into the C_Two, which will not be the name used for the production version, is made a lot easier by a cut out in the roof too, this might be a very practical ultra-high-performance car when customers finally receive their cars.
And this is where things get complicated it seems, some sources state the limited production run of 150 units sold out quickly, but Rimac’s CEO and founder Mate Rimac recently put an interesting post on is social media. It seems only the first year of production is actually sold, not all 150 cars, and furthermore, most of the cars that are on the books will go to dealers, not customers.
Mate Rimac clarifies that while many people are extremely interested in this fully electric hypercar, not many are willing to commit to the $2,000,000 price that has been mentioned, before being able to actually test drive the car. That’s right, there isn’t a Rimac C_Two available at this time, a few hand-built prototypes are finished and have been going through intensive testing … but there isn’t a single car ready for possible customers to touch, feel, and drive.
And this is where according the Mate Rimac the big issue comes from, and anybody who wants to put a Rimac C_Two in his garage is still able to get his name into the order book, probably even on the pages for the first year of production, so don’t worry, it isn’t too late … yet.
January 24, 2021 / Comments Off on The Rimac C_Two could be yours for about $2 million
ARES Design is based in Modena, Italy, and you might know them for the reïncarnation of the De Tomaso Pantera, which they call the Panther Progettouno, a stunning, 21st-century remake of that amazing Lamborghini Countach competitor from the Eighties (the Pantara was built between 1971 and 1993 by the way).
But ARES Design also created a very impressive concept car, the S1 Project, a mix between the looks of a hypercar, the speed of a supercar with the accessibility of a sportscar. All while taking inspiration from racecars from the Sixties and Seventies. ARES Desing’s Centro Stile made extensive use of CFD studies to create the best possible aerodynamic body, naturally made from carbon fiber, with a very low front splitter, stylish wheel arches that hold massive, bespoke wheels. The rear spoiler on the S1 Project is adjusted dynamically, while the exhausts come out of the engine cover, this way the entire tail section is extremely clean looking and boasts one single taillight design from left to right.
The side profile of the S1 clearly shows how far forward the cockpit sits in this design, creating an aggressive look, while still maintaining a very ‘flowing’ style and offering the maximum downforce possible with the least possible drag coefficient
A concept design like the ARES S1 Project wouldn’t be complete without a bespoke, futuristic interior. A central console that runs from the top of the dashboard all the way down between the two seats, containing the HMI naturally, it seems the dashboard cluster will be made out of LCD displays anyway. Luxurious Alcantara will be combined with the finest Italian leather to create a perfect match with the carbon fiber used on various panels, there’s even an LCD in front of the passenger in the S1.
At this moment there isn’t a price set yet, and as far as we know, the S1 is still in the project stage, not even in the prototype stage … but it does look amazing nonetheless.
Some more photos of this amazing concept:
January 17, 2021 / Comments Off on The ARES Design S1 Project
Areas that are close to bodies of water are usually prime locations that some architects love to work with. Perhaps it’s the potential for crafting various awe-inspiring views that anyone will be the envy of everybody. Moreover, when the designer chooses to build a structure that does not take away the beauty of the scenery, the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
We recently featured a concept called the Türlersee Lake House, that is set on the shores of a majestic lake. However, we’re thinking the Atelier Monolit Beach House concept is our new favorite.
We’ve seen a lot of nature-inspired houses and we’ve noticed that curves play a big part in its aesthetics. This is understandable because, in a natural setting, it’s almost impossible to see a straight line. On the other hand, the Romanian studio is deliberately taking a different route with their latest project.
Their proposal starts off with a panoramic beachfront property that sits along a rocky shoreline. On this location will rise a modern geometric retreat that calls out to those who love the sea. We can already imagine chilling out with the sound of the waves as our background beat.
You can see that the Atelier Monolit Beach House comes with two floors. Taking into account that the tide occasionally comes in, the structure is elevated with stairs leading up. The first floor houses the kitchen, dining area, and a living area that faces the ocean. Climb up to the second level to enjoy the rooftop pool and lounge space that would look even better in the evening. For now, this exists only as a computer render, but can quickly become reality as long as you have the money.
Based on the Huracán EVO, the Huracán Sterrato Concept is the off-road vehicle that you only see in dreams, movies, and children’s drawings. There have been some wild ideas for concept off-roaders, but the fact that Lamborghini decided to actually build a concept car is amazing.
The Sterrato Concept still has most of the Huracán EVO’s bits, including the 5.2-liter V10 that makes 640 hp. The drive systems have been recalibrated to handle the rigors of off-road terrain. The vehicle has all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and torque vectoring.
The car sits up only 0.3 inches higher, so it’s more of a desert sand-slinger rather than a rock-crawler. Approach and departure angles were improved and the decks widened by 1.18 inches. The car receives 20-inch wheels wrapped in off-road rubber. The car gets some added underbody protection and exterior enhancements to protect it from the elements. It gets stone-deflecting protection around the engine and air intakes. There are also various LED lighting additions include a large light bar and LEDs added to the bumper.
While this might not be the typical Lamborghini, it sure is interesting. Who needs a Urus when you can have this? Oh, right. You can’t have this because it’s a concept, but you know Lambo would sell them if you could.
June 5, 2019 / Comments Off on The Huracán Sterrato Concept is the Off-Road Lambo You’ve Only Imagined
Audi’s Electric Grand Tourer Green-Lighted For Production
Showing that they are fully committed to a future with EVs, Audi unveiled its electric grand tourer earlier this quarter at the 2018 L.A. Auto Show. Audi believes that the broad appeal of the e-tron GT will give the automaker mainstream status as an EV manufacturer.
This is huge part due to its emphasis on sleek styling, which takes the form of a four-door coupe/fastback silhouette. Audi intends to use this as a differentiator in the EV market, where the majority of vehicles – past and present – are either bland, peculiar looking, or lacking the charisma needed to captivate customers at first sight.
In short, the Audi e-tron GT is an EV with sex appeal with the cosmetic underpinnings of the Audi A7. “This is a very low car with big wheels. It still has classic proportions, but gorgeous proportions.” according to Marc Lichte, Head of Audi Design.
The Audi e-tron GT shares the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, though Audi and Porsche are said to have been in regular correspondence to ensure that both cars would take different design paths and deliver distinguishable end products. The e-tron GT will have similar range as its e-tron SUV which offers 248 miles on a single charge, based on the new standardized WLTP test.
Aside from its design, the e-tron GT will also be steered more towards performance than its SUV counterpart. Rumoured to be at around the 600-horsepower mark, the e-tron GT will set its sights on its intended rival – the Tesla Model S P100D – which does 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
Audi has set a target of having 12 EV models in its line-up by 2025, and intends for the e-tron GT to become its flagship vehicle. The car will be in production by 2020 and will not be far off from the Concept. The e-tron GT is certainly not deprived of marketing fanfare either, as the car is set to feature prominently in the upcoming ‘Avengers 4: Endgame’ movie, as part of the illustrious fleet of vehicles and gadgets owned by Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.).
Audi e-tron GT Image Gallery
January 8, 2019 / Comments Off on Audi e-tron GT Concept
With the rise in popularity of sleek, streamlined four-door coupes, BMW responds by revealing a concept to compete in the 4-door sports luxury segment.
Sporting the ‘Gran Coupe’ moniker, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe debuted in Geneva Motor Show with a slight glimpse of what the future holds for BMW.
With a more aggressive design language, the silhouette that the M8 has revealed a lot of where the company wants to go: masculine, very upfront almost bull-like nose, and a sleeker backside. It pulls off a sexier look than the more contemporary rivals like the Audi 7-series, or the S-Class Coupe… But with more doors.
Don’t ask us how these segments work because we’re just as confused as you are. While these are concept cars, we hope that the car goes into production with the same dichromatic paintwork called ‘Salève Vert’. I think that means a shade of green.
What’s funny are the stock photos look to be a nighttime rendezvous on top of a frozen lake, so that means that the M8 concept is cooler than what you have? Or a nod to James Bond and Die Another Day?
What’s probably going to happen is it will definitely have a Gran-Turismo vibe so it’ll have an old-school automatic transmission rather than the jolting DSG dual-clutch, maybe XDrive, and cross fingers, working quad exhausts(!)
Here’s to hoping our prayers get answered. Are you listening, Bavaria?!
March 7, 2018 / Comments Off on Concept: BMW M8 Gran Coupe
Sporting the ‘Gran Coupe’ moniker, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe debuted in Geneva Motor Show with a slight glimpse of what the future holds for BMW.
What’s funny are the stock photos look to be a nighttime rendezvous on top of a frozen lake, so that means that the M8 concept is cooler than what you have? Or a nod to James Bond and Die Another Day?