Concepts

This electric car rides the train

Custom carmaker Rinspeed has a history of bringing designing outlandish concept cars for the Geneva auto show. Past efforts include the transparent eXasis, the submersible sQuba, and the mutable iChange. But this year Rinspeed announced something almost pedestrian, an electric city car.

The UC, which stands for Urban Commuter, is a custom built electric car. From the outside, it looks similar in form to other two seat city cars. Its performance stats aren't particularly impressive either, with a top speed of 75 mph, torque at 96 pound-feet, and a range of only 65 miles.

But the car is only … Read more

Gah! Nissan Juke unveiled ahead of schedule

Update: We've added new info about the Juke's European drivetrain and interior photography.

Just one day after we showed a teaser image of the upcoming Nissan Juke, the automaker has released unobscured photos of the compact crossover. And boy, is it ugly unique!

Everything from the belt line up is as we expected, very Nissan Leaf-esque. However, from there on down, things get a bit dicey. Below the swept back headlamps are a second pair of large round auxiliary lights and a third pair of small fog lights. Fortunately, the rear end is more attractive, with its L-shaped … Read more

Honda shows new minivan concept in Chicago

Not prone to building outlandish or highly speculative concepts, Honda showed off a very mundane concept version of its upcoming new Odyssey minivan at the Chicago Auto Show. The real thing is coming out this fall, so the concept is fairly close to production trim.

Honda notes that the new Odyssey will be lower and wider than the current version, improving aerodynamics and fuel economy. Some versions of the car will get 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, according to Honda. But it sounds like the powerplant options will remain unchanged, as Honda says the current i-VTEC V-6, with … Read more

Copy the car: AutoVelo is no ordinary bike

Winners of the International Bicycle Design Competition will be announced in March in Taipei, and one of only three U.S. entries to be short-listed (out of 938 entries from 55 nations) introduces a somewhat novel (and in the bike world somewhat taboo) concept: copy the car.

The bike, which designer Eric Stoddard of Speed Studio Design has named AutoVelo, is an electric bike targeting riders who are more accustomed to driving cars. Mimicking the arrangement of a car's innards, the hand and foot positions, seat height, and back angle should feel very familiar to the car commuter.

The … Read more

Toyota FT-86 concept for PlayStation generation

We figured that Toyota would be trotting out its FT-86 concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon--after all, it is its home turf. However, the FT-86 G Sport concept that was also displayed features a very cool tech twist, and we're not talking about the wild body work.

The FT-86 G Sport concept is equipped with a feature called "GPS-track day" that is designed to interface with the upcoming PlayStation 3 game Gran Turismo 5. Here's how it works: You take your FT-86 to a track--say the Nurburgring or Mazda Laguna Seca--and have a good time running … Read more

GM hotrods a Buick and a Chevy

DETROIT--The Buick Regal and Chevy Aveo may not sound like cars for the racetrack, but GM decided to show how it can turn a turtle into a rabbit. The company launched two show cars, the Buick Regal GS and the Chevy Aveo RS, at the 2010 Detroit auto show. As show cars, neither is meant for production.

The Chevy Aveo RS precedes the launch of the next generation of this little car, and serves to build excitement about a model that could really use some. GM won't reveal yet how much of the body work of the RS will … Read more

BMW works toward an electric future

DETROIT--In search of what it calls a MegaCity vehicle, BMW launched a concept electric car at the 2010 Detroit auto show. The Concept ActiveE, an electric car built on the 1-series platform, will serve as the basis for a test fleet of electric cars that will further BMW's research toward its ultimate goal.

Currently, BMW is running a test fleet of 600 electric Minis, the MiniE, with vehicles in the hands of private users. The Concept ActiveE is the next car BMW intends to test, planning an even larger fleet.

Starting with the 1-series chassis and body, BMW fitted … Read more

Cadillac's XTS Platinum concept follows in Lexus' footsteps

DETROIT--Cadillac's latest concept, the XTS Platinum, looks like an attempt to compete directly with the Lexus LS 600h. Both cars have a hybrid power train, luxury interiors, LED headlights, and all-wheel-drive. If Cadillac brings the XTS to production, its competition will be ready and waiting.

One of Cadillac's stated reasons for building the XTS Platinum is to showcase its Platinum label, previously used for a special edition of the Escalade. Cadillac's Platinum cars get hand-built coachwork, with fine leather, wood, and metal. Given the European cars with which Cadillac wants to compete, this level of luxury is … Read more

GMC's Granite looks tough, is tiny

DETROIT--Of GM's four remaining brands, GMC was supposed to stick to big trucks and SUVs, but the company pulled a fast one at the 2010 Detroit auto show, bringing out a concept the size of a Scion xB. The Granite is a design study into how GMC might build vehicles for urban dwellers.

From our standpoint, the Granite looks feasible from the exterior design. The box on wheels has proved a popular shape for Scion and Kia, more recently. Not only does it have an individual look, but the interior space is very practical for a wide variety of … Read more

Toyota hatches a baby Prius

DETROIT--With few actual specifications to be had, Toyota showed off a new hybrid concept at the 2010 Detroit auto show, the FT-CH. This small hybrid would come in at a lower price than the Prius, offering an entry-level option for eco-conscious buyers.

The car came out of Toyota's European design center in Nice, France, and employs many typical concept flourishes. The LED headlights are set back from the front fenders in a configuration that would probably not past muster by most countries' regulations. The cabin has a monumental instrument cluster with graphics that look vaguely Klingon.

In a presentation … Read more