Automotive
Australian F1 Grand Prix
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March 7, 2005 The Australian Grand Prix marked the beginning of the Formula One season and once again offered intrigue at almost every turn of the wheel. In the end, the Mild Seven Renault Team had its best result since returning to F1 three years ago and clearly has the speed to be a challenger to Ferrari this season. Renault won the weekend from a team viewpoint, with Fisichella first and Alonso third, though most of the leading contenders could take some heart from the weekend’s proceedings. McLaren is clearly a contender again, Ferrari’s 2004 car was competitive (the 2005 car won’t be ready for several races yet) and Red Bull proved that small budgets and a good driver can get results with two point-scoring finishes using last year’s Jaguars as a basis. Read More
Ford Focus Vignale Concept
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March 3, 2005 A surprise star headlined the Focus collection at the Ford Australia 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show stand today - a concept car inspired by the all-new Ford Focus. Sitting alongside the all-new Ford Focus production range making its Australian debut in Melbourne, the Focus Vignale Concept explores the potential for future Focus derivatives. The overwhelming positive response to the Vignale Concept at the Paris Motor Show led to the early confirmation of a production model, due in late 2006. "We'll be watching closely to see if it receives a similar reaction here in Melbourne." ," said Ford Australia President Tom Gorman. Read More
Toyota's radical Compact Sports & Specialty Concept
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March 3, 2005 A radical Toyota sports car featuring a hybrid petrol-electric drive-train and a host of innovative interior features was one of the stars of the media day at the 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show. The CS&S (Compact Sports & Specialty) concept was designed to demonstrate the sporting potential of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, as featured in the second-generation Prius production car. With its midship-mounted next-generation Toyota Hybrid System THS II based on the Hybrid Synergy Drive concept and an E-Four (electric 4-wheel drive) system, the CS&S is designed to provide outstanding environmental performance and driving exhilaration. Read More
Pininfarina’s 75th anniversary concept car – the Birdcage
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March 3, 2005 Pininfarina’s Birdcage concept car was built as a landmark vehicle to mark three quarters of a century of one of the most prominent design company’s on the planet. Based on the Maserati heritage and on its most advanced mechanicals and realized in collaboration with Motorola, Pininfarina revives the storied theme of the true dream car now proposed in a synthesis of the vision of the three companies: exclusive design, sports DNA and technological innovation. Pininfarina’s prosperous collaboration with Maserati, marked by the great international success of the Quattroporte, is celebrated with this rolling hi-tech sculpture that evokes a new future context, imaginary but possible, while simultaneously paying homage to the strong and distinctive brand characteristics of the Tridente. Read More
Ford SAV Concept Targets New Market Niche
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March 3, 2005 Ford Europe's SAV Concept demonstrates a fresh approach in two ways. Firstly it defines a new breed of car, the Sports Activity Vehicle: a three-row mono-space that is athletic both in its appearance and the way it drives. Secondly, the Ford SAV Concept provides a suitably dynamic form to reveal the emergence of a new design direction for Ford of Europe. Sleek and purposeful, the Ford SAV Concept demonstrates new ideas for people- and load-carrying flexibility. For Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s recently appointed Executive Director of Design, it marks the first indication of a new form language for the Blue Oval brand. Read More
Koenigsegg CCR Breaks World Speed Record for Production Cars
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March 2, 2005 On February 28, the Koenigsegg CCR broke the production road car speed record, achieving a new official top speed of 388 kmh at Italy's Nardo Prototipo proving ground. The Koenigsegg CCR raised McLaren's previously unofficial mark of 372 kmh set at Nardo/Prototipo in 1993 by over 15 kmh. On top of this the CCR broke the official McLaren F1 record of 386.7 km/h, which was set on the 9 km straight line VW Ehra facility in Wolfsburg Germany. The Koenigsegg CCR is already the most powerful production car in the world and now adds the speed crown, beating out the McLaren F1 (372 kmh), the Ferrari Enzo (355 kmh), Porsche Carrera GT (334 kmh), McLaren Mercedes SLR (334 kmh) and Lamborghini Murcielago (330 kmh). Read More
Subaru's 2005 World Rally Car to Debut in Mexico
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March 2, 2005 The latest evolution of Subaru's Impreza World Rally Car will debut on March 11 at Rally Mexico, the third round of the 2005 World Rally Championship. Jointly developed by the Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT), Fuji Heavy Industries (the maker of Subaru vehicles), and Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the brand's performance arm, the Impreza WRC2005 will be debuted in the hands of Petter Solberg. Read More
All-New Mazda MX-5 debuts in Geneva
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March 3, 2005 UPDATED IMAGES Sixteen years after Mazda first showed what was to become the best selling two-seat sportscar in history (the MX-5), it has taken the covers off an all-new, third-generation MX-5 at the 2005 Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva. Mazda has thoroughly reworked every aspect of the MX-5’s design, mechanical function, and dynamic response with a view to infusing more fun and driving satisfaction. The new MX-5 is more powerful, more capable, more comfortable, offers better occupant protection yet its curb weight has increased by just 10 kg. In addition to saving weight, the torsional rigidity of the body structure has been improved 47% and a true 50:50 weight distribution has been achieved, significantly reducing the MX-5’s moment of inertia about the vertical (yaw) axis. The most notable change to the MX-5’s shape is the elimination of the "Coke bottle" shape of the contours. The nose and tail are smoothly tapered, as before, but now the surfaces wrap smoothly between the wheels without narrowing. The functional benefit of this change is a wider cockpit with additional hip, shoulder, and elbowroom. In addition, the space needed for side air bags is available. Read More
Protoscar builds the Porsche 911 Estate Car
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February 26, 2005 Swiss design company Protoscar has designed some very high profile concept cars, having been an integral part of the design of Rinspeed's radical show cars of the last five years such as the Splash, Senso, Bedouin, and Presto. This year, in addition to the Rinspeed Senso, the company will show a design concept of its own with some wonderful automotive heritage - a "Shooting brake" based on the Porsche 911 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow, next week. The Shooting Brake concept evolved a century ago from European gentlemen wishing to have enough room for their guns when they were going hunting or to shooting contests yet at the same time drive their sports cars. A "shooting brake" is a modified two door coupe with an estate-wagon back crafted, rather than grafted on. Read More
Alfa Romeo's 159 - the car to replace the 156
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February 26, 2005 The car that has to replace the Alfa Romeo 156, the award-winning sports sedan that redefined Alfa Romeo and took the legendary Italian car maker to new sales records with its unique blend of performance, ageless style and Italian brio, has one of the toughest jobs in the industry. That car is the Alfa Romeo 159 and it makes its world debut at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show on 1 March 2005. Read More
Porsche's spectacular design for new museum
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February 24, 2005 Porsche is presenting to the public the entries of the ten architectural practices that participated in the competition for the planned new Porsche museum building. From today until March 6, the models will be on view daily between 11 am and 6 pm in the Meidinger-Saal in "Haus der Wirtschaft" in Stuttgart. Interested visitors will thus be able to visualise the plans for the Porscheplatz in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in detail. The new Porsche museum, which is one of the most spectacular architectural projects in the history of the sports automobile manufacturer, is to be completed in 2007 and is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors each year. Read More
The New Maybach 57 S - 6.0-litre V12 biturbo 612bhp luxury saloon
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February 23, 2005 The all-new Maybach 57 S (Special), a more powerful and individualised version of the Series 57 saloon, will be shown for the first time in Geneva next week. Developed in cooperation with Mercedes-AMG, the 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine provides impressive acceleration, powering the Maybach 57 S from zero to 100 km/h in only five seconds. This makes the Maybach 57 S the world’s fastest series-production saloon in its segment. In line with the more powerful engine, the Maybach 57 S also comes with an uprated chassis. Read More
Porsche to release new model: the Cayman
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February 23 In the course of this year Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, will be enlarging its range of sports cars through the introduction of another outstanding model. Based on the Boxster platform, the new car, given its performance qualities, will rank between the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S. This position of the new model is also borne out by its six-cylinder boxer engine transmitting maximum output of 295 bhp (217 kW) to the rear wheels. Like the power of the engine, the price of this new sports car will also come between that of the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S. Read More
genX concept car has an inbuilt pop-up bed
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February 19, 2005 One of the most radical concept cars we’ve ever covered, EDAG’s genX show car has inbuilt suitcases and a bed to cater for what EDAG designers call, “the modern lifestyle.” We’re not sure if that means having a bed without having to drive home, being able to drink without having to drive or sleeping in your car permanently. The genX premiered at the 2004 Geneva International Motor Show. Read More
The Lamborghini
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February 19, 2005 The House of the Raging Bull has shown the first photos of a new concept car it will display at the Geneva Motor Show - the Lamborghini "Concept S." Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo, the "Concept S" is a spectacular expression of the Lamborghini brand, inspired by the classic single-seater racing cars of the past. Created at the Centro Stile Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese by Luc Donckerwolke, Head of Lamborghini Design, the "Concept S" is his extreme interpretation of an "open car". Read More
EDAG and Rinspeed present the 600 horsepower Chopster SUV
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February 19, 2005 Last November Gizmag released the first information about the Porsche Cayenne-based Rinspeed Chopster and at the time we commented that the beautiful Cayenne was a most unlikely vehicle to mess with. The new 600 horsepower Chopster SUV will debut at the Geneva Motor Show and interestingly, it somehow got a lot better looking in the last three months. A collaboration between two of the most innovative automotive companies in the world, the Chopster offers 800nM of torque and costs around 325,000 Euro. Read More
Rinspeed's Senso: the car that senses the driver
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Automotive innovator Rinspeed has done it again. Each year Rinspeed releases one or more prototypes that push the edge of the automotive design envelope. This year, the company delved into the future again, with a car that senses the driver and reacts accordingly. The "Senso" actually "senses" the driver by measuring his (or her) biometric data, and then exerts a positive effect on him with the help of patterns, colors, music and fragrances. A person who is relaxed and wide-awake simply drives better and more safely. Read More
Toyota's FJ Cruiser SUV goes from concept to production model at 2005 Chicago Auto Show
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February 12, 2005 Toyota unveiled the all-new FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show this week. Like so many other concept vehicles greeted by a positive response, the FJ Cruiser concept of two years ago has catalysed a production version. The all-new production model retains much of the design details of the original concept. "The FJ Cruiser effectively fills a gap in the Toyota lineup which was once our core heritage - capable, affordable and durable vehicles that are youthful, fun-to-drive, aggressive and tough," said a Toyota spokesperson. "The FJ Cruiser will deliver true off-road ruggedness, image and performance at a very low price, making it highly accessible for a large volume of young buyers." Read More
BMW's new 130i - six into 1 really goes
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February 12, 2005 It had to happen. When BMW announced their diminutive 1 Series, it fitted perfectly with the upmarket, luxury, high-tech image of BMW in almost every way except one - where was the performance model? So it was no surprise when the enthusiast element at BMW shoehorned the new high performance in-line six cylinder engine into the vehicle to produce the widely anticipated 130i. Boasting a power output of 190 kW, with an awesome 300 Nm of torque, performance figures of 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h are the tantalising results. The BMW 130i will make its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Read More
Renault Z17 Urban Concept car for Geneva Show
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February 11, 2005 Renault has released a photo of its upcoming concept car due for release at the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed the Z17, the concept is based around a premium vehicle for the urban environment so common in Europe, with the accent on "genuine motoring pleasure." Apart from being as cute as a button, not much more is known as Renault intend releasing the details when the Geneva Auto Show opens on March 3. Renault's only released statement on the Z17 reads as follows: "Z17 is a vehicle designed for city life. It has been shown that cars carry only 1.4 people on average, but two seat interiors are perceived as a constraint. Z17 is therefore a genuine three-seater complete with a boot located behind the driver's seat, all built into a compact architecture."
Portico concept for Next Generation of Family Transport
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February 10, 2005 -- CHICAGO -- Hyundai today introduced its new Portico concept vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The Portico features seating for six passengers and roomy, flexible cargo space. Created to provide a look at the future of family transportation, the Hyundai Portico is designed to be a versatile vehicle that will adapt to the changing needs of modern families. The Portico is neither a sedan nor an SUV, but it provides the benefits of both designs with a car-like ride and a large, versatile and "family friendly" interior. Portico combines the functional benefits of current family vehicles in a stylish package with better drivability. Read More
Alfa's 2003 Concept Car of the Year to go into production
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February 9, 2005 In 2002 the Alfa Romeo Brera, a concept car designed by the Italian design maestro, Giorgetto Giugiaro, stole all the limelight at the Geneva International Motor Show and in January 2003 it was awarded the 2003 Concept Car of the Year Award. That's a hard act to follow, but the Brera will have an encore performance at the 2005 Geneva Show in the first week of March when the show-stopping concept car finally surfaces in production form. Read More
Third-Generation Mazda MX-5 Roadster at 2005 Geneva Auto Show
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February 7, 2005 The Mazda MX5 has been one of the most popular open top sports cars of the modern era since the public first glimpsed its distinctive shape at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. Despite a meagre 90 bhp 1600cc four-cylinder engine, the car became a best seller and despite only one major redesign, has remained so for a decade and a half. Now comes the news that Mazda is planning to breathe new life into the evergreen favourite with a third generation of the MX5 to be unveiled later this month. Read More
Lexus Introduces RX 400h, the World's First Luxury Hybrid SUV
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February 1, 2005 Lexus today announced the launch of the all-new 2006 RX 400h, the world's first gas/electric hybrid-powered luxury vehicle, which will go on sale in April 2005. Based on the best-selling RX 330, the RX 400h delivers greater performance, improved fuel efficiency and significantly reduced emissions while sacrificing … nothing. Read More
Nissan previews Gullwing SUV concept at 2005 Geneva Motor Show
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February 3, 2005 The evolving shape of the automobile took an interesting turn today when Nissan revealed a preview of their 2005 Geneva Motor Show line-up, including the Zaroot SUV concept car. The Zaroot is Nissan's vision of how sporty SUVs could look in the future. It combines traditional SUV values and serious off-road ability with futuristic, sports oriented styling. Retaining the traditional design cues of an SUV, the Zaroot's appearance is squared-off, solid and tough looking. It implies strength and security, yet combines these familiar themes with something a little different - a pair of gullwing doors. Read More
Naro tilting car concept
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January 29, 2005 Global automotive technology developer Prodrive has developed an exciting vehicle concept that can best be described as a four wheel motorcycle. The "Naro" is just 2.5 metres long, the same as a Smart car, but the width of a motorbike and the height of an MPV. Its high centre of gravity means that it must be leaned like a bike to go round corners, but unlike a bike it has four wheels and the two occupants (one driver and one passenger) sit enclosed within a body with all the comforts of a car. Read More
George's new car - Cadillac ONE
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January 27, 2005 No-one knows exactly what George W Bush's new car can do. At least, no-one who really knows is telling. TV news reports say it's missile-proof, which is probably isn't true, despite unconfirmed reports that the body armour is five inches thick (cos the windows obviously aren't). Indeed secrecy is so tight around the new hand-built Presidential limousine that no-one can say how much it cost, how many there are, or anything more than the following "cleared information." Read More
Aprilia Magnet: Hybrid three-wheeler with supercar performance
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January 22, 2005 Take a Formula One driving position, three wheels, a high-power 550cc v-twin engine designed for motocross, put an additional electric motor into each wheel, and an ingenious tilt system. Finnish student Heikki Naulapaa designed this vehicle as the main project in his design degree at the Royal College of the Arts in London. It landed him a dream job in the design department at Aprilia and maybe, just maybe, the adventurous company might build this excitement machine. With specs like that and a low aerodynamic profile, the hybrid would match any 1000cc superbike in performance and blow a Ferrari into the weeds. Read More
World Premiere of Suzuki's First-Ever Midsize SUV Concept at 2005 North American International Auto Show
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January 10, 2005 Representing the next chapter in its ongoing SUV success story, American Suzuki today unveiled its first-ever midsize SUV concept vehicle - Concept-X - a daring sport-utility possibility intended to put a fresh perspective on the midsize SUV segment at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Commissioning its designers to immerse themselves in the lives of Suzuki's spirited SUV customers in order to re-evaluate the sport-utility market from the ground up, the automaker took the wraps off a bold new concept incorporating the five key ingredients buyers say they really want in a midsize SUV: versatility; functionality; safety; "infotainment," a seamless blend of navigation, music, news and information; and performance. Read More
Lexus Unveils 500-Plus Horsepower, 200 MPH Sports Car Concept
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Detroit January 10, 2005 Lexus unveiled the LF-A sports car concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) today. The two-seat concept blends the performance of an exotic sports car with the luxury refinements of a Lexus. Designed to express a bold new direction in styling for the Lexus brand, the LF-A concept is a vision closely aligned with the company's Formula One commitment to achieving superiority among its rivals in speed, quickness, agility and reliability. Read More
SYN US concept for secure urban parking and driving
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Detroit January 7, 2005 Somewhere between an armoured car and a sporty bank vault, the Ford SYN US concept is compact enough to manoeuvre through congested streets and tough enough to deter even the most ardent intruder. It was designed as an exercise to see what the urban vehicle of the future might look like, with a strong emphasis on security, as the majority of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2010. the nice thing is that when you park this baby, no-one will break in, thanks to the shutters that guard the windows. Read More
Mitsubishi Design Concept encompasses L.A. lifestyle
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Los Angeles January 7, 2005 Mitsubishi today unveiled a futuristic design concept at the L.A. Auto Show that is designed as the perfect Los Angeles-area vehicle. Portrayed in the form of a special two-dimensional "Ultimate L.A. Machine" sketch, the design concept is entered as part of the show's first annual Design Challenge. "Los Angeles is one of the few places where within a one hour drive you can go surfing at the beach, hiking in the desert, snowboarding in the mountains, and still make it out for a night on the town in the infamous L.A. club scene," said Jon Hull, a designer from Mitsubishi Design America, "so we decided to design a vehicle that can take advantage of all that L.A. has to offer." Read More
Rinspeed Senso - an intelligent and sensitive concept car
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December 22, 2004 Cars that monitor the driver's key biometric indicators so they can respond accordingly are on the horizon. Innovative Swiss automobile design studio Rinspeed has collaborated with plastics giant Bayer MaterialScience to produce a vision of the next generation of cars with the "Senso" concept car. Few details have been released at this stage as the car is being readied for the European 2005 auto show circuit, but the idea behind the car is that it will sense and adapt to the driver's mood. The car apparently uses a combination of biometric and other information to assess the driver's mindset, then assists the driver to reach an optimum state of mind by altering ambient light, and "feel, smell and sound." Read More
Bentley to produce limited run of Arnage limousine concept
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December 20, 2004 Bentley Motors is to produce a limited production run of the Arnage Limousine concept created by its Bentley Mulliner coachbuilding division for the 2004 Geneva International. The resultant car will be truly one of the most exclusive in the world - only 20 individually designed, handbuilt and numbered, bespoke Arnage Limousines will be commissioned, with each customer having access to a personal Bentley Mulliner designer and account manager. Pricing will begin at £270,000 (US$535,000). Read More
Mazda MX-Crossport Concept hints at possible future design direction
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December 16, 2004 Mazda has released details of a new concept vehicle scheduled to be shown in public for the first time at the 2005 North America International Auto Show next month in Detroit. The MX-Crossport design concept represents a new direction Mazda is considering as it works to expand its line-up. The MX-Crossport is a crossover-type vehicle that combines the strong, sports car styling motif of the company's flagship RX-8 with the more practical packaging of a sport-utility vehicle. Read More
