Automotive
Audi reveals 'Le Mans quattro' concept
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Friday September 12, 2003: Audi have unveiled the stunning Le Mans Quattro sports car concept study at the 60th International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Described as having inherited the genes of the Audi R8 - three-times winner of the Le Mans 24-Hours race - the high-performance mid-engined two-seater is powered by a longitudinally installed V10 'biturbo' engine, developing 449 kW (610 bhp) at 6,800 rpm and making 0 to 100 kmh in 3.7 seconds. Read More
Hyundai CCS Convertible Hardtop Concept
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Monday September 15, 2003: Hyundai's CCS Convertible study features a unique three-phase slide and fold glass roof that enables the driver to change from glass roof, to open roof to complete top-down convertible at the touch of a button. Read More
Chrysler Touring wagon concept joins 300C sedan
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Thursday October 2, 2003: The new Chrysler 300C Touring concept is the wagon version of the Chrysler 300C sedan revealed earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show. The touring version shares most of the design, powertrain, chassis, equipment, interior appointments and technical specifications of the sedan concept with the addition of all-wheel drive. Read More
Alfa Romeo's new 300kmh Supercar
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Sunday September 14, 2003: Alfa Romeo has revealed its plans for a new 300 kmh super car that will reach 100 kmh in just 4.5 seconds at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The carbon fibre, two-seater Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is powered by a 4.2litre V8 delivering over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm that together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the prototype to a top speed above 300 kmh. Read More
Amphibious sportscar transforms in six seconds
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Friday October 3, 2003: The Gibbs aquada high-speed amphibian (HSA) is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160kmh) on land and 30mph (48kmh) over water, taking just six seconds to transform from road-going sportscar to a jet-powered marine vessel. What better vehicle could be conceived for a waterside lifestyle in a place like Sydney? Read More
BMW's Electric-Booster Research Engine
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Wednesday August 13, 2003: BMW researchers have recorded fuel savings as high as 15 % and produced 1,000 Nm of torque at low revs by using a high-power electric booster motor positioned between the combustion engine and gearbox of an experimental BMW X5. Read More
Another first for Honda's Fuel Cell Car
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Monday August 4, 2003: Honda Motor Co has become the first automaker to supply a fuel cell vehicle to a private corporation with the delivery of a Honda FCX to the Iwatani International Corporation in Tokyo. While six FCX vehicles have been supplied to the public sector since its initial release in December 2002... Read More
Rinspeed Bedouin - collapsible car concept heads off-road
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Saturday August 2, 2003: Based on the Porsche 996 turbo, the Bedouin is the latest concept from Rinspeed Design, the Swiss company that introduced the Presto collapsible concept car in 2002. The all-wheel-drive Bedouin can automatically be transformed from a two-seater pick-up into a four-seater sports wagon in less than 10 seconds. Read More
BMW and MINI release Data Storage Watches
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A portable USB drive incorporated into a wristwatch - we were impressed by the idea when we first discovered the MEMIX watch, and now BMW and MINI have jointly released their own versions of a Memory Watch. Storing up to 128MB of data via an internal memory card, both watches emulate the style of the automotive namesakes... Read More
New BMW 6 Series Coup' features head-up display and glass roof
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Friday July 11, 2003: BMW has given the world a sneak preview of its second generation 6 series BMW - a car slated for its first public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The first models will be available in the Australian market from the second quarter of next year. Read More
Be seen: the Ford GloCar Concept
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Sunday July 13, 2003: Ford is taking automotive illumination to a new level with a translucent concept car that uses LED lights to change body panel colours, intensity and frequency. Read More
Citroen demonstrates in-car Wi-Fi
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Citroen has demonstrated how the latest communications technology standard, Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity, can be fitted to its cars to provide low cost internet access while in transit. Read More
Solar Challenge car to form basis of Ultra-commuter
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The UltraCommuter concept is an ultra-light weight, solar powered commuter vehicle specifically designed to meet Australian urban transport requirements. Read More
Suzuki's Twin Hybrid achieves 100 mpg
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Suzuki has launched a hybrid powered petrol/electric vehicle for sale on the Japanese market that travels an impressive 34 kilometres for every litre of fuel used - that's around 100mpg! The Suzuki Twin also features an automatic idling stop system shuts the engine down whenever the car stops at traffic lights or when stationary in heavy traffic, minimizing CO' emissions and fuel consumption. Read More
Volkswagen's 1 litre car project
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Bringing new meaning to the phrase 'running on the smell of an oily rag', Volkswagen's '1-litre' vehicle is capable of covering 100 km on less than one litre of fuel. The top secret project was first demonstrated during April 2002.. Read More
Alfa Romeo's Kamal 4WD Concept
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Alfa Romeo announced plans to enter that 4WD/Sports Utility Vehicle segment with this month's unveiling of the Alfa Romeo Kamal concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show. Read More
Australia to get 20 hand-built BMW CSL supercars
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A limited production run of just 20 BMW M3 CSL supercars will reach Australia later this year. The fire-breathing M3 CSL boasts an output of 265 kW (81.5 kW per litre) and a 10% improvement in power-to-weight ratio over the standard M3. Read More
Alfa Romeo Brera is 2003 Concept Car of the Year
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January 11, 2003 The Alfa Romeo Brera has been awarded "Concept Car of the Year" by influential motor publication Automotive News, which chose the Brera because it represented the leading innovation, production feasibility, production cost and consumer value of all the cars displayed at international motor shows around the world over the last 12 months.The judges said this year's competition was the closest - this was the fifth annual event - with the Alfa Romeo coupe beating GM's Hy-Wire concept by just a single point. Third place in the Concept Car of the Year want to the Renault Ellypse. Read More
Supercharged Ford Thunderbird concept
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Ford introduced a Supercharged Thunderbird concept car as a possible future addition to its Living Legends line of automobiles at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show. Read More
Ford Model U Concept
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Designed to emulate the Model T in the 21st century, Ford's Model U concept is powered by a supercharged hydrogen internal combustion engine, equipped with a hybrid electric transmission and applies eco-friendly materials and processes. Read More
Renault's Ellypse concept promotes environmental harmony
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November, 2002 A blend of environmentally friendly design, a new-generation low emission diesel engine, 42-volt electrics and advanced drive-by-wire technology, the Ellypse concept unveiled by Renault at the 2002 Paris Motor Show is one of several new projects aimed at promoting harmony between automobile and environment.Ellypse showcases the intuitive Touch Design technology that first appeared on Talisman concept and the multi-function central control fitted to the bottom of the dashboard operates many of the onboard features such as air-conditioning, GPS navigation, extensive real-time diagnostics, plus an electronic maintenance manual and log book. Read More
Citroen Pluriel - 5 cars in one
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September 2003 Citroen showed a vehicle at the Paris Motor Show with an immensely practical design - named the PLURIEL, the car can be quickly transformed into five different body styles. The practical new Pluriel is set to go into immediate production, having been shown to favourable public response at major auto shows in 1999 and 2000.
C-Airdream - Citroen's stylish fly-by-wire concept
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Citro'n unveiled the C-Airdream at the 2002 Paris International Motor Show as a signpost to future design and technology directions the auto manufacturer intends to take... Read More
Hermes carving fuel cell three-wheeler
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It's not a car and it's not a motorcycle, in fact there's not yet a word to describe the type of vehicle envisioned by the Hermes; a three wheel self balancing concept manoeuvred by intuitive steering that redefines the sensation of single person transport... it offers low trajectory flight without leaving the bitumen. Read More
Mitsubishi visualises in-car office
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Mitsubishi recently showed the OMNI concept - a vehicle which quickly transforms into a mobile office. Read More
Five Cars in One - The Citroen C3 Pluriel
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Citro'n has shown a new vehicle at the Paris Motor Show which may have long-term ramifications in its revolutionary design - named the PLURIEL, the car can be quickly transformed into five different body styles... Read More
19,000 RPM BMW Formula One engine
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Though Ferrari dominated the F1 in 2002, the engine with the most horses was the Williams V10 BMW. Read More
Willys2 Concept Vehicle at Sydney Motor Show
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Continually reinforcing its brand values, the Jeep name is to be further enhanced with the showing of a stunning concept vehicle at the Sydney Motor Show next month. Read More
Eco-Friendly Australian Concept
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The Skipee concept motorcycle is constructed from predominantly recycled materials and powered an electric engine housed in the rear wheel. Read More
Suzuki Super-Mini Concept
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Suzuki's Concept-S is among the many gems promised for the Paris Motor Show later this month. Fitted with a powerful, light and compact 1.6L DOHC aluminium engine (4 cylinder, 16 valve) with a six speed gearbox and aluminium uprights, the new Concept-S appears closely related to Suzuki's GSX1300 motorcycle. Read More
Tom Cruise's Toyata Lexus concept car from Minority Report
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In the recent Tom Cruise film Minority Report, Tom drove a 2054-model Toyota Lexus. In creating the film, Stephen Spielberg, a Lexus driver himself, approached the company to provide him with its concept of what a car might look like in fifty years time... Read More
Volvo Safety Concept Car wins Concept Car of the Year Award
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Volvo's Safety Concept Car won the 2002 Concept Car of the Year thanks to its variety of technologies that enhance personal security and improve passive safety. Read More
Porsche Carrera GT
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For Porsche enthusiasts, this car is "the business." Porsche first showed the high performance Carrera GT at the 2000 Paris Show and based on positive public reaction, announced earlier this year that it would go into production but only 1000 units will be built! Having made the transition from concept to future production car, the Carrera GT will produce more than 400kW from its 5.5 litre V10 motor when it hits the showroom some time in 2003. Read More
Dodge SRT-10 500BHP Pick-up
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When Dodge USA decided to spice up its pick-up range, it didn't need to look past the motor of the Dodge Viper - the new RAM SRT-10 now has an engine-bay full of brutal 8.3 litre V10 Viper motor giving it the largest engine in a factory pickup truck and a pick-up billed by Dodge as the "boldest, baddest and fastest pick-up truck in the world." Read More
