Diamond studded Maybach 62S unveiled in Cannes

Diposting oleh Unknown on Jumat, 27 Mei 2011


The Cannes Film Festival might be a big platform for meaningful cinema, but it is also an ultimate party with the luxury car models. For instance, look at the Cannes Film Festival: the legendary de GRISOGONO party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, which can be attended by invitation only. And at the high-profile cocktail party followed by exclusive dinner, the official event partner Maybach and GRISOGONO, a Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches and jewelry, will have a special treat in store. Touted to be an “automotive highlight”, which will be celebrated by the likes of Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, the highlight really is the brand new Maybach 62S Saloon.

The set up is “studded with precious-carat diamonds to a gathering of around 1,000 guests from the international jet set, film industry and show business”. The guests can find the stunning gems on the rear center armrest for now, but de GRISOGONO and Maybachare looking for more room on the inside for additional diamonds and other gemstones, like the shift lever, steering wheel, or seats.





Read More

Concept vehicle art by John Frye

Diposting oleh Unknown on Selasa, 24 Mei 2011

John's blogspot. John will have some work in the new Masters Of Chickenscratch book.













Keywords: concept automobile vehicle design illustration gallery by john frye features from masters of chicken scratch vol. volume 2 two 1 one book collaboration automotive artists tron extended front chopper motorcycle steam powered racer buggy reflection car
Read More

The Lies in Saab’s Future

Diposting oleh Unknown on Kamis, 19 Mei 2011


Saab is in trouble. With mounting debts and limited capital investment, the Swedish company is a prime candidate to go the way of the dinosaurs. The troubled automaker has not built a single vehicle since the 1st of April, and a much touted deal with China’s Hawtai Motor Group has fallen through. They did however sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with another Chinese company called Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. Ltd, earlier this week, but we will have to wait and see if the deal goes through.

In light of this, I’ve thought up four plausible (though unlikely) scenarios for Saab. These range from the hugely cynical all the way to the brazenly optimistic. After all, isn’t it better than Saab has some future rather than no future at all? Without further ado, here are your options:


· Saab Becomes Chinese: Saab rebadges a Chinese-built sedan (think of the Great Wall Tengyi C30) as the new 9-3. The world’s motoring press find it to be poorly built, unpowered and overpriced. It is a massive flop in its native Europe, and Saab is declared bankrupt once again.


· Saab Is Bought By Tata: Ratan Tata of the Tata Group buys them and somehow manages to turn the brand’s fortunes around. Ian Callum reworks the 9-3 into a stylish, A5 Sportback-imitating sedan, which receives high praise but continues to be a poor seller for the Swedish brand. Despite this, Saab’s renewed focus on customer service and top-notch engineering is winning a lot of fans.


· Saab Is Bought By Fiat: Sergio Marchionne of Fiat buys Saab and immediately begins rebadging Chrysler 300s as the Saab 9-9. The brand’s 200 becomes the new 9-3 and an entry-level 9-1 model based on the Fiat Punto appears at the 2012 New York Auto Show. Saab’s future looks bright...but only as a cynical tool concocted by a soul-sucking, Italian businessman.


· Saab Becomes The New Audi: With backing from a group of concerned businessmen a la Premier Automotive Group, Saab builds a Nouveau 900 that wins the hearts and minds of journalists and automotive enthusiasts everywhere in a valiant return to its glory days. The Nouveau 900 Turbo is voted Best Performance Car and goes on to outsell Volkswagen’s Golf GTI.


· Saab Saves Itself: Against all odds, Saab manages to reorganise itself by cutting its losses, hiring a new executive management team and producing a truly world-class vehicle in the form of the new 9-3. Though it continues to lag behind its Germanic competitors, sales are returning to 2003 levels and the brand is regaining respect in both Europe and the United States.


So there are your choices. Admittedly these are very fanciful, but I think they’re better than the (what I consider very likely) future of, “Saab bumbles along for a few more desperate years before shutting up shop for good”.

Soure: Car Scoop

Read More

Hybrid Car Batteries Raise Concerns

Diposting oleh Unknown on Rabu, 18 Mei 2011

By

Is your hybrid aging gracefully?

Since hybrid first exploded onto the scene at the turn of the century, fears of spending tens of thousands of dollars to replace the advanced batteries used to power the hybrid system have haunted buyers, potential buyers, and PR executives at auto makers. As the first cars on the market start to hit the 100,000 mile/ten year mark and beyond, the demand for replacement batteries has skyrocketed and the price has shocked many hybrid owners.

Newsweek reports that sales of replacement batteries for hybrid cars were up 58% last month, despite the significant costs associated with battery replacement. However, both Toyota and Honda, the two largest manufacturers of hybrid cars say that only a small numbers of dead batteries have been reported once the cars' 100,000 or 150,000 mile warranties have expired. When I say small, I mean 1% for older models and fractions of a percent for the more updated technology found in newer hybrids (basically, after 2004).

But for those who are out of the warranty and facing the reality of having to replace the battery, what is the cost? Just a few weeks ago, the cost was much higher than it is now. As demand rose, hybrid manufacturers realized that if the prices didn't come down, things could get ugly. So Honda and Toyota slashed battery prices to $1,968-$3,000 - a substantial savings over what they were prior to June 1, 2008 ($3,400-$5,500). Hybrid owners who still have a while on their warranties can also breathe easy; new plants to mass-produce replacement batteries are in the works, which should bring the prices down even more.

Anytime you buy a used car, you run the risk of not finding a potential problem that could end up costing you a lot down the road. And anytime a new technology is introduced, the early adopters are willing to risk paying a higher price and being the guinea pigs for the new product. In the case of hybrid cars, these two scenarios are simultaneous, which is unfortunate for those first buyers, but without them and their willingness to take risks, the hybrid industry would not be where it is today.
 
Jeff Carey is a green vehicle enthusiast who manages a portfolio of more than 60 hybrid and electric blogs. Learn more and subscribe to his monthly newsletter at http://www.hybridkingdom.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Carey
Read More

Scion FR-S Sports Coupe Concept Car

Diposting oleh Unknown on Senin, 16 Mei 2011





Scion FR-S Sports Coupe Concept Car









April 20, 2011 - New York - At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Scion unveiled the rear-wheel drive FR-S Concept sports coupe today at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The concept, which sets out to stimulate the souls of true driving enthusiasts, will be at the Scion display through May 1. The Scion Concept Car - FR-S Sports
Read More

BMW Concept M5 Sports Sedan 2011

Diposting oleh Unknown


 

BMW Concept M5 Sports Sedan 2011










When the first-generation BMW M5 arrived in the U.S. in 1987, it essentially created a new class of high-performance sedan. Just unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show is the 2011 BMW M5 concept. The super sports sedan concept continued to evolve reaching the point where the last-generation M5 came with a Formula 1-inspired V-10 engine, but its
Read More

Aurelien Francois concept vehicle

Diposting oleh Unknown on Jumat, 13 Mei 2011

Concept art by Aurelien Francois. Cool new automobile company Local Motors is holding Terra Prix 2085, a Concept Art Design competition, will challenge the imagination of designers and celebrate great conceptual design. It is the first Local Motors design competition that will be judged by a panel of judges, and who better to judge the competition than Scott Robertson, Syd Mead, Harald Belker and Daniel Simon!



Keywords: digital concept ship blimp automobile advert advertisement concept art by aurelien francois for local motors terra prix 2085 competition for designers build and design an automobile local manufacturer
Read More

Le Professionnel Car Chase (1981)

Diposting oleh Unknown on Rabu, 11 Mei 2011


Georges Lautner’s 1981 action-thriller Le Professionnel is about a French Secret Service agent betrayed by his employers and left to rot in an African prison camp. After breaking out and returning to his native France, the agent which played by Jean-Paul Belmondo begins plotting his revenge against the people who set him up. In this scene, Belmondo is trying to outfox the French Secret Service agents following him.

Belmodono is driving a red Fiat 131 Supermirafiori while his rivals's car is the black Peugeot 504. There are a couple of 180 degree turns, a handful of nice pit manoeuvres and the prerequisite shot of the Eiffel Tower for the non-Gallic viewers. The chase eventually moves to the grounds of the Palais de Chaillot, where we discover just how overused that, “driving a car down some stairs,” thing was before Jason Bourne got around to it.

Source: Car Scoop and Youtube
VIDEO

Read More

Concept vehicle art by Nick Carver

Diposting oleh Unknown on Senin, 09 Mei 2011

Nick's blogspot. Check conceptships and tanks.







Keywords: digital tablet heavy industrial vehicle equipment concept art by nick carver mechanical technical industrial design concept all terrain steampunk vehicle design gopher rotor till mobile mass harvesting unit
Read More