'concept car'

Lexus today teased fans with the promise of a new concept vehicle that will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, 2012.

The concept car was designed by Calty, the company's design studio in Newport Beach, California. Calty also designed the FT-SX, Scion t2B, Scion FUSE, FT-HS, A-BAT, and Lexus LF-Ch concept vehicles.

No other details were revealed in the press release.

The 1969 Holden Hurricane combined futuristic technology--for the time. Now some of that technology is being used in 21st century vehicles. Holden Australia recently restored the original Hurricane--tech and all.

The midengine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat sports car used a pre-GPS navigation system that relied on magnets embedded at intersections along the road network to guide the driver along the desired route. The Hurricane also had a dash-mounted panel that told the driver which turn to take by illuminating different arrows, and sounding a warning buzzer.

The Hurricane had some surprisingly advanced systems such as electronic digital instrument displays, station-seeking radio, … Read more

Ford's Evos concept car isn't on display at the IFA show in Berlin, but Ford's chief technology officer is there to discuss the vehicle, which will be "permanently connected to the cloud."

In a recorded interview (scroll down to listen), CTO Paul Mascarenas said that with Evos "being connected to the cloud, it can access data and information that allows the vehicle to understand your preferences as a driver." It could automatically play the type of music you like and even adjust the suspension, breaking, and routes based on your preferred driving style.… Read more

Russian automaker Yo-Auto's concept for the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt auto show features a sleek design that will likely never see a public road. It has small digital cameras in place of side mirrors. Like most concepts, it's probably motivated by some bombastically improbable hybrid power train that gets a million miles per gallon. It's certainly not what I think of when I hear the words "Russian automobile." However, none of that is what's piqued my interest in this Yo-Mobile concept. I'm interested in the doors.

Yes, the doors, which, as you'll see … Read more

From Paris to New York, automakers showed off their latest concept cars over the last seven months. These design and technology explorations were intended to incite buzz among auto show goers and demonstrate the future direction of their creators.

Many concepts, such as the Kia Pop, are odd-looking vehicles that will never see production. Then there are concepts such as the Jaguar C-X75 that we dream about night after night, despite the fact that Jaguar doesn't plan to build it.

The Ford Vertrek concept, and others like it, represent a future design idea for a specific model. Then there'… Read more

What with gasoline prices at the pump well past $3 a gallon--and edging ever higher--drivers understandably are pining for the day when technology will come to their rescue.

If you're willing to wait a couple of years, Volkswagen may have what you're waiting for.

At an auto show in Qatar this week, Volkswagen showed off a proof-of-concept car that will get 261 miles to the gallon. The XL1, a two cylinder, two-seater made from carbon fiber, is expected to go into production sometime in the next two years. If the auto's fuel efficiency lives up to the advance billing, VW likely will be able to say it makes the world's most economical car. … Read more

Terrafugia, a developer of "roadable aircraft"--otherwise known as flying cars--released a scale model and computer-generated mockups of its redesigned "Transition" vehicle on Monday that the company says bring it a step closer, engineering-wise, to a deliverable product late next year.

The design tweaks, Terrafugia explained, were based on the results of a successful test flight last year at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. Some of the improvements include a touch-screen cockpit interface and better-optimized wings with a new folding mechanism that helps them retract for road driving. It'll still run on gas station … Read more

Researchers show cars can be hacked wirelessly. OnStar strikes back--can it use Android to whip Ford Sync? The latest Garmin Nuvifone is minus the fone part. The most powerful Porsche. Ever. And we drive the Infiniti FX35 "High-StyleUV".

• Researchers take control of a car wirelessly

• OnStar hopes Android will allow it to beat Ford Sync

• Garmin Nuvi 295W is a Nuvifone without the pesky phone

• Porsche GT2 RS is the most powerful ever.

• 17 hottest concept cars so far in 2010… Read more

With its Gran Turismo, BMW took the 5-Series sedan and beefed it up into something of an SUV/wagon hybrid. With the Gran Coupe concept, the automaker has done the opposite to its 7-Series, carving away at the upright proportions of the sedan and leaving us with a very sexy and coupelike profile.

Revealed at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, it's unclear whether the Gran Coupe is a design study for an upcoming BMW four-door coupe that will challenge the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide for your people hauling dollars or a thinly veiled sneak … Read more