Toyota FT-86 Concept, 2009

Toyota FT-86 Concept, 2009

The Toyota FT-86 Concept is 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,260mm high with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, giving it a compact feeling that is easy for the driver to handle while able to accommodate four occupants. In addition to being light and having a low center of gravity, the Toyota FT-86 Concept boasts the handling of a racing car as well as a 6-speed manual transmission and ADVICS brakes.

The stylish concept captures the heart with the "functional utility" of its highly-refined body. It is the creation of Toyota Europe Design Development known as ED2, which has established body lines that take into consideration a low center of gravity and aerodynamics. The interior is distinctive, featuring an instrument panel with a gray and white base, gauges with red neon lights and digital displays, and a navigation system. In addition, a zipper that evokes an image of interior lapping with minimal covering of a highly-refined body presents a striking display.

The Toyota FT-86 Concept is neither an electric vehicle nor a hybrid vehicle, but is a sports model with a gasoline engine developed to convey the essential appeal of automobiles in a new era. It is a must-see concept car that expresses TMC's desire to once again create a Toyota sports car.

The Small FR Sports Concept Vehicle that Combines Environmental Performance and the Joy of Driving

TMC seeks to develop the ultimate earth-conscious environmentally-considerate vehicle with a focus on hybrid technologies without losing sight of the appeal of cars themselves or the joy of driving.

Over the past several years, the need has been rising for motor vehicles that take into consideration global warming and other environmental issues, while there has also been concern that there have been too few new sports cars that make the heart beat faster and that the time is right for a new generation of sports cars. In response to these needs, TMC has developed the Toyota FT-86 Concept, a sports car equipped with a 2,000cc, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that evokes the joy of driving a car and the pleasure of vehicle ownership.

Scion tC Series 1.0

Scion tC Series 1.0, 2005

The Scion tC is a sports compact automobile introduced by Toyota in 2004 as a concept vehicle under its recently introduced Scion brand name. The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Generation Y market and get them locked into the Toyota brand before any other car manufacturer could have a chance.

The Scion tC uses the chassis of the Avensis which is sold in the European market, and the Camry's 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 engine. Its low price (base MSRP of US$16,715 for the 2006 model) is a major feature, as well as the pure pricing marketing style that Toyota has adopted.

The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA and xB because the name xC has already been taken by Volvo for its XC70 and XC90 models. According to Scion, tC stands for "Touring Coupe."

Specifications
* Engine: Double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 2.4 L 4-cylinder
* Power: 160hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm
* Torque: 163 ft·lbf (221 N·m) @ 4000 rpm
* Transmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
* Highway fuel economy/consumption: 35-30 mi/U.S. gal (7.8 L/100 km) (automatic); 34-29 mi/U.S. gal (8.1 L/100 km) (manual)
* City fuel economy/consumption: 29-23 mi/U.S. gal (10.7 L/100 km) (automatic); 28-22 mi/U.S. gal (10.7 L/100 km) (manual)
* Fuel tank: 14.5 gal (54.9 L)
* Brakes: 4-wheel anti-lock braking system employing disc brakes on both the front and rear
* Curb weight: 2,970 lb (1,347 kg) (automatic); 2,905 lb (1,318 kg) (manual)
* Displacement: 2382 CC

Fisker Latigo CS

Fisker Latigo CS, 2006

The BMW 6 Series 650Ci Coupe provides the base vehicle architecture for the FISKER LATIGO CS. Signature FISKER cues bring a new gravitas and balance to the luxury sports coupe - it is understated elegance at its best. As in the FISKER TRAMONTO, all electronic, telematic and safety systems remain untouched from the original manufacturer, and every original vehicle option is available.

The FISKER LATIGO CS is currently nearing production status, so final technical details are still in flux. Engine specifications call for a standard 32-valve, 4.8-liter V8 pumping 367 horsepower, and an optional V10 that generates over 550 horsepower if you choose a BMW M6 as your base architecture.

LATIGO CS DESIGN
The LATIGO CS evidences signature Fisker style, with details that can only be done by hand. "Hand craftsmanship is at the forefront of this coachbuild design. Coachbuilding is an art form," explains Henrik Fisker, CEO FISKER COACHBUILD.

FISKER COACHBUILD works with a hand-picked team of classic car body builders, wheelers, panel beaters, wing makers, and fender manufacturers who are highly skilled in their work with aluminum, steel, stainless steel, carbon fiber and magnesium alloy.

The lines of the car bear a tension - like an arrow pulled back in the bow. C-pillars have been redesigned to flow in a more sculptured manner, sitting solidly over rear wheels. Dimensions front and rear have been shortened. A sculptured power dome highlights the hood. Overall, brilliantly balanced proportions lend a solid, unmistakable presence to the FISKER LATIGO CS, while advanced aerodynamic sculpting creates a shape that is virtually invisible to the air.

Exterior detail highlights include:
+ Low ground-hugging stance
+ Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber and steel define the outer shape
+ Sculptured power dome highlights the hood
+ Slim, beautifully proportioned head lamps tie together the strong front graphic
+ Fog lights inset with carbon fiber bezels on the lower front spoiler
+ Fisker family resemblance with distinctive, black powder-coated grille
+ 3-dimensional milled aluminum and hand painted badge
+ Side indicators set in a chromed aluminum bezel
+ Clean, unbroken lines
+ Carbon fiber rear diffuser sits above twin stainless steel round exhausts
+ Integrated rear bumper design creates a sculptured look and feel
+ C-pillars are designed to sit proportionally correct over rear wheels
+ Lightweight, purpose-designed, 10-spoke, 3-piece 20" wheels

LATIGO CS INTERIOR DESIGN
Inside the FISKER LATIGO CS you see the true art form of custom coachbuild craftsmanship. Interior fit and finish are distinctive. The touch of the finest materials can be felt everywhere. And sumptuous, hand-stitched leather surrounds.

FISKER COACHBUILD has partnered with Distinctive Industries, the American-based leather interior experts, to produce a high-performance, high-luxury environment that is deceptively spacious. Every technological feature remains intact, including the home-theater quality Logic7 audio system and the optional heads-up display.

The creature comforts of the base architecture are all still available - and then some. A myriad of hand-crafted upgrades creates a new level of luxury you'll be sure to notice.

Interior detail enhancements include:
+ Spacious, high-performance and high-luxury environment
+ Aluminum sill plaques engraved with FISKER COACHBUILD, which sit on the polished carbon fiber sill panel
+ Soft, hand-stitched leather throughout the car, including seat backs
+ Hand-stitched three-spoke steering wheel
+ Unique numbering system on an aluminum plaque atop center console
+ Hand-stitched leather headliner
+ Sun roof cover lined with Alcantara leather
+ Milled aluminum accents on the sun visor around the vanity mirror
+ Milled aluminum enhancements to the BMW "iDrive" components
+ Gear shift knob with aluminum and leather incorporates aluminum FISKER logo
+ Driver-facing center console design

Fiat 500

Fiat 500, 2008

Dante Giacosa's Fiat 500 was launched on July 4, 1957, as a cycle of rebirth was closing after the devastation of war, and a period of radical renewal of the company's product range was also coming to an end, opening the way for a cycle of successes in the coming decade, a period that we can consider one of the brightest in the brand's one hundred year history. The parallel with the new Fiat 500 is clear; it concludes the cycle of extraordinary rebirth of recent years, but thanks to its stylistic and technological features, it also represents the spark of a lasting process of expansion. And this is where history starts again.

Fiat's goal has not been to design a car that 'looks like' a 500, but one that 'could be' the Fiat 500 again. The new Fiat 500 opens the way for an innovative process in a number of environments that are very significant for today's customers, clearly outlining where its ambitions lie in relation to the future positioning of the Fiat brand. The Fiat 500 respects the original concept in its shape and function, as you expect in these cases, so that it can evoke all the emotions and memories that make all 'icons' eternal, raising them beyond the limiting dimension of their category.

But first and foremost it is important to underline the innovations that the new model is able to bring to this class of product for the first time.

First of all, the widespread involvement in the development of the model and of the marketing plan, with the participation of over 3,000,000 enthusiasts who have submitted their ideas to the project, through the www.500wantsyou.com website. This initiative is a new cultural approach to relations between manufacturer and client, making Fiat one of the most open organisations, close to the expectations of the public. 'The 500, the car of the people, by the people': this slogan sums up the philosophy behind the development of a project which, in the best Fiat tradition, 'democratises' access to contents and technologies that have never been offered in this segment before.

The first time that a car has been launched with the full range of engines (69 bhp 1.2. 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet with DPF and 100 bhp 1.4 16v) ready to meet the emissions limits set by Euro 5 standards, more than two years before the legislative deadline, a tangible sign of Fiat's determination to reaffirm its leadership where the environment is concerned.

The first time that a compact car (3.55 metres) has been built to achieve a 5-star rating in the EuroNCAP impact tests, and it is ready for the 6-star test if and when the new rating is introduced.

Safety at all costs, with no impact on prices, a bold decision, which confirms Fiat's intention of extending its strategy of leadership to vehicle protection, totally consistent with decisions taken in recent years as regards the Panda and the Croma, right through to the Grande Punto and the Bravo.

It is a safe product, not only for its structural sturdiness, but also because of the choices made in the construction of the range of outfits and services: 7 airbags as standard equipment (it is the only compact to offer a kneebag), and an advanced ESP available with all engines (standard on the 100 bhp 1.4 16v), are absolute novelties in this segment.

The first 'small' car to offer so much in the way of content: 4 specification levels, 3 engines at the launch, 12 colours, including 6 vintage colours that will bring the 1950s and 1960s to mind, plus tri-coat white produced by a process that is usually only adopted on luxury cars, 15 types of upholstery including luxurious Cordura and Frau Leather, 9 types of wheel rims, and 19 types of stickers, making a total of more than 500,000 variants (549,936 to be precise); the most interesting include the electric fragrance diffuser, with a choice of 3 different fragrances, and coloured key cases, an approach similar to that in the mobile phone market that lets you match the colour of the key to that of the bodywork, or to select another pattern of your own choosing. There has never been such a lavish array of accessories on such an accessible car.

The Fiat 500 is an inclusive not an exclusive concept and Fiat felt that this was the best way to meet the tastes of all its potential customers, without distinction, from the most minimalist to the most eccentric. The idea of creating a product that could adapt to the needs of the individual was also expressed in the decision to surpass all the competition in the process of incorporating electronic technologies into the passenger compartment (Plug In). A second generation Blue&Me is available, and an iPod can be easily incorporated thanks to the socket and the battery charger. A new portable navigator was developed specially for the Fiat 500 with Magneti Marelli, which is fitted directly on the dashboard and connects to other vehicle functions.

The concept of customisation is not limited to the product, but extends to the world of services and forms of payment. For example, with the '500 Cents' and '50to500' formulas from Fiat Group Automobiles Financial Services, the customer will be able to purchase any version of the Fiat 500 including customisation, for ¤ 5 a day, and with no down payment, or to pay 50% of the sum immediately and the remainder after 2 years.

Plenty of offers and possibilities, because the Fiat 500 must be the car for everyone: it is the car of the people, made by the people, for the people. The Fiat 500 is the 'New Fiat' and the 'New Fiat' belongs to everyone.

For the company, the birth of the Fiat 500 represents the start of a new chapter, a declaration of the role that Fiat aims to interpret in the future on the market and in society. The stimulus to a new model of conscious consumption. A model for the exploitation of experience in the automotive field that focuses on quality and emotions, on uniqueness rather than on mass-production, where simplification does not mean doing without. The Fiat 500 is the tangible synthesis of these aspirations.

With the 500, Fiat smiles at the future.

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept, 2008

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.

The LF-A Roadster is powered by a high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a "front-mid" configuration.
The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.

Styling is rooted in the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, conferring the LF-A Roadster's front end with a compact, low-profile, aerodynamic shape. Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing.

These grilles vent the heated air from the car's two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A Roadster's aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large intake ducts mounted just above the rear wheel wells. This aft radiator positioning not only allowed the designers to keep the car's front profile low and tight but also aided the LF-A's chassis engineers in their search for optimal weight distribution.

The front tires are 265/35R20s, while the rears are 305/30R20s. Like the LF-A coupe, the brakes consist of 14.2-inch cross-drilled, vented discs up front, and 13.6-inch cross-drilled, vented discs at the rear. The front brake calipers are six-piston units and the rear calipers use four pistons each.

Hummer H1 Alpha Concept

Hummer H1 Alpha Concept, 2001

The Hummer H1 is a civilian vehicle based on the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), popularly known as the Humvee, which was created by AM General.

History

Originally released in the civilian market in 1992, the Hummer H1 owes its birth to the popularity of photos from Operation Desert Storm and the enthusiastic campaign from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who personally owns several variants of Hummer vehicles. GM announced that 2006 would be the last model year for the Hummer H1 with production winding down in June 2006, due to a new emission laws for Diesel engine vehicles which take effect in 2007. No version of the Hummer H1 ever produced would meet these new standards. AM General currently has orders for an excess of 50,000 new HMMWVs to be produced between 2006-2009 for the United States Military. AM General will continue to produce the H1, just not the Alpha. These vehicles will be sold through Fleet sales. The next H1 will most-likely bear a refined version of the prior 6.5L Turbo Diesel engine, but that has not been confirmed. Selling the H1's through fleet sales will allow the AM General to not be subjected to the new emission rules and regulations. AM General has sufficient fleet orders to produce 600-800 units per year right now.

Specifications

The Hummer H1 has three common variants: a convertible-like soft top, a four-door hard top pickup truck and a Wagon body version. Other less known variants include a two-door pickup truck and a four-door slantback. The convertible/soft top and the station wagon versions are the only ones available in the mass market. The 2 door and 4 door pickup versions are only available in fleet livery.

5 engine types and three automatic transmission types can be found in Hummer H1s. The common engine/transmission combinations are:

• 6.2 L Detroit Diesel V8/GM TH400/3L80 3-speed
• 6.5 L Detroit Diesel V8/GM 4L80-E 4-speed
• 5.7 L Vortec 5700 gasoline V8 TBI/GM 4L80-E 4-speed
• 6.5 L turbo Detroit Diesel V8/GM 4L80-E 4-speed
• 6.6 L Duramax LLY turbo Diesel/Allison 1000 5-speed (model year 2006)

The Hummer H1 shares some common driveline parts with its HMMWV brethren. Items like brakes, differentials, frame and major body panels (hood, tailgate and quarter panels) are identical between the HMMWV and the Hummer H1. All Hummer H1s and HMMWVs come off the same first stage assembly line, and then are separated midway to either become a military HMMWV or a civilian H1.

Hummer H1s are unique in the way they handle off road. They are inherently very stable, thanks to their wide stance. They also can ford 30 inches (76 cm) of water, climb a 22-inch (56 cm) step, have a stock ground clearance of 16 inches (41 cm) (thanks to its design of tucking driveline components inside a channel, which subsequently intrudes into the cabin space of the vehicle), have approach/departure angles of 72/37.5 degrees and most H1s are equipped with Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), which enables the driver to increase or decrease the tire air pressure at will.

Hummer H1s have many unusual features. They use inboard brakes. They have geared hubs, allowing the drivetrain's half shafts to be up high for greater clearance. The radiator is up high, sloping back over the engine. Rather than using simple runflat tires, aluminum or rubber inserts are an optional feature for runflat ability. A central tire inflation system is available as an option. Chemical warfare resistant paint is available only on the military version.

Price
Price is projected to be around US$129,399 for the open-top, and US$140,796 for the wagon.

Dacia Logan

Dacia Logan, 2009

New Dacia Logan introduced across the majority of Western European markets from July 2008. In most cases, its entry level price remains unchanged, making it a more appealing proposition than ever.

More contemporary looks
New Dacia Logan stands out as a modern saloon with more contemporary exterior lines which reflect its robust, quality build. The grille, which first appeared on Dacia Sandero, is bigger and features the brand's new logo, plus a chrome upper trim as standard (except entry level version). The new front bumper is flush with the bodywork for a more integrated, harmonious feel, while the headlights are bigger and the fog lamps come with elegant carbon colour surrounds (depending on version).

The rear design of New Dacia Logan has been updated, too. The design of the new boot lid, which can be trimmed with a lower chrome strip, is more streamlined and its lines have been carried over to the revised rear lights. The rear bumper, too, is now flush with the bodywork and incorporates reflectors and a towing hook complete with concealing cap.

An even more pleasing interior
New Dacia Logan sets out to be even more appealing than ever. The new dashboard, which first appeared on Dacia Sandero, is modern and functional, while the design of the door panels also contributes to the cabin's modern feel thanks to their more practical pull handles and elegant trimming (depending on version). The upgrade in range has seen the introduction of two finishes for New Dacia Logan's dashboard, plus a choice of four upholsteries (depending on countries).

Drivers will appreciate the practical controls, and special care has gone into ensuring that all dashboard information is easy to read. The driving environment itself has been made even more comfortable and driverfriendly thanks to a new driver's seat adjustment control (depending on version) and a height-adjustable steering column (depending on version). Rear visibility has been improved through the fitment of a comma-type central rear headrest and large format door mirrors. These have been carried over from Dacia Logan MCV and are standard equipment on New Dacia Logan.

An exceptionally roomy interior
New Dacia Logan's generous dimensions ensure outstanding cabin space which continues to be unmatched in the three-volume saloon category of the B-Entry segment. Indeed, its size is more akin to C-segment norms, since the newcomer's overall length has been increased to 4,290mm (up 40mm compared with the previous version Logan), while its width is 1,740mm. Cabin space is one of New Dacia Logan's most salient features and three tall passengers (more than 1.90m in height) can be accommodated comfortably in the rear thanks to rear headroom of 873mm. Rear shoulder room is a remarkable 1,428mm too, a figure more readily associated with larger saloons. Last but by no means least, the boot volume of 510 litres is unequalled by any of New Dacia Logan's rivals in its category and the boot layout itself permits loads of very different shapes and sizes to be carried with ease.

The accent on safety
New Dacia Logan features the same safety features and equipment that enabled the model to achieve a threestar Euro NCAP crash test rating.

New Dacia Logan can be equipped with the latest generation Bosch 8.1 ABS complete with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist (EBA), a new feature which debuted on Dacia Sandero. The latter detects when the driver brakes in an emergency situation and acts on the hydraulic circuit to increase the effectiveness of the ABS by applying maximum pressure the instant the driver hits the brakes.

Front and rear tracks of New Dacia Logan have been widened 7mm either side, which reinforces the roadholding capabilities of the vehicle.

New Dacia Logan features a new honeycomb structure for the dashboard which reduces the severity of impact to the knees. In addition to the materials it employs, the dashboard's very design takes safety into account thanks to the curves of its lower section which match the form of the tibia, enabling impact loads to be spread out evenly in case of contact. The driver and front passenger also benefit from further lower limb protection thanks to underfoot padding.

All New Dacia Logan's seats are equipped with three-point seatbelts and headrests, while the new car is delivered as standard with two controlled-deflation airbags (depending on countries), driver and front passenger, the pressure of which diminishes following deployment in order to limit the load applied to occupants.

A comprehensive range of proven powerplants
New Dacia Logan comes with the same proven petrol engines and diesel engine that have contributed to the Dacia range's success.

The 1.4 MPI 75hp, 1.6 MPI 90hp and 1.6 16V 105hp all comply with the criteria of cost, robustness and ease of maintenance that are a feature of the Dacia brand. They combine generous torque from low revs with thrifty fuel consumption: 7.0, 7.2 and 7.1 litres/100km respectively.

The 1.5 dCi stands out as a benchmark in the diesel engine field thanks to the use of such advanced technologies as second-generation common-rail direct injection which delivers both high performance and extremely low fuel consumption. The 1.5 dCi is available in 70hp form and a punchier 85hp version, while CO2 emissions of 120g/km point to the 1.5 dCi 70hp and 1.5 dCi 85hp engines' ecological credentials.