2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

Born out of the 2010 LA Auto Show’s Los Angeles Design Challenge, in which automotive designers are given free range to envision the future of transportation, the Biome is meant to blend seamlessly into the planet’s ecosystem. That means all components of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept car are “grown” organically, and it emits pure oxygen and is fully compostable at the end of its service life.

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

The basis for the Biome Concept is a vehicle that "grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery." Not only that, but it's powered by a combination of the sun and a chemical bond from an imaginary liquid dubbed BioNectar4534. It's all natural, all organic and all science fiction.

"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" according to Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad.

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

This year the competition had called for the creation of a vision of a safe and comfortable 2+2 compact car featuring good handling and a first-class design, and weighing only 1,000 lbs (around 454 kg/kerb weight).

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept symbiosis vehicle is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre and tips the scales at just 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). This material is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust than steel. BioFibre is grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery, where it collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534.

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept is powered by BioNectar4534, which is stored in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In addition, Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with special receptors which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it into BioNectar4534. This creates a direct link with nature's energy sources and acts as an incentive to cover mobility energy requirements through more trees and at the same time maintain natural resources.

The Los Angeles Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles conference, taking place from 17 to 18 November 2010 as part of the Los Angeles Auto Show.

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sport Cars Biome Concept

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

Today introduced the first prototype of the Spyder version of its all-new second-generation sports cars, the Spyker C8 Aileron. Spyker Cars, manufacturer of exclusive, hand-crafted sports cars since 2000. The 2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder was unveiled at the Spyker lounge on Peter Hay Hill on Saturday, and subsequently displayed on the concept lawn at the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday.

Zeewolde, The Netherlands (4 November 2010) – The Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder concept makes its UK debut today at MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show at Earls Court in London. For the first time, British motoring enthusiasts visiting the annual celebration of performance motoring will be able to lay their eyes on one of the most exclusive cars in the world.

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

The Spyker C8 Aileron is an advanced mid-engine, two-seat sports cars, featuring a longer wheelbase than Spyker's existing sports cars, the C8 Laviolette and convertible C8 Spyder. The Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder sports a high-quality, semi-automatic canvas soft-top. The roof's operation is electric/hydraulic, secured by one central latch operated manually.

The 2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder uses the Audi 4.2 litre V8 engine, delivering 400 bhp and is available with two transmission alternatives. The first one is a 6-speed Getrag manual gearbox, with ratios perfectly matched to the V8 engine. A ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox is optional, which comes standard with paddle shifts behind the steering wheel. Both transmissions retain Spyker's trademark exposed gear change mechanism.

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

The 2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder features an all-aluminium V8 engine producing 400 bhp and generating 354 lbs of torque at 3,400 rpm. The engine is paired to a manual six-speed gearbox, driving the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. For the first time, Spyker is offering an optional automatic transmission on the C8 Aileron. The Aileron delivers a top speed of 300km/h (187 mph) and accelerates from standstill to 60 mph in a mere 4.5 seconds.

The 2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder is fitted with a brand new front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension system developed by Lotus. The new suspension system includes a new kinematic layout of the front and rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, mono-tube dampers, coil over damper steel springs, anti-dive and anti-squat setup for improved handling properties.

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

All Kharma sound systems are developed, assembled and tested in the Netherlands, with the utmost care by a team of highly engaged specialists. These characteristics of high-quality products and exclusiveness are fully in line with Spyker's brand values of craftsmanship and exclusivity.

Spyker Cars has announced the development of a C8 Spyder convertible spoiler at the Geneva Salon in March, at the launch of the 2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder version of the series. The car is now the first prototype for the convertible model, the production in the first half of 2010 will begin.

The Spyker C8 Aileron comes with an unlimited 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Price: $210,000.

2010 Spyker Sport Cars C8 Aileron Spyder

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

This is the Cadillac Aera (Aero + Era) launches Cadillac's philosophy of "Art and Science" into new territory by taking an innovative and stylistic approach to ultra-light weight vehicle design. LOS ANGELES – The Cadillac Aera concept vehicle won the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, tying with Smart and besting entries from seven other automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Maybach. GM Advanced Design has now won the honor more times than any other design team.

General Motors advanced design California has come up with a concept cars zero-emission vehicle as part of this year’s LA Auto Show Design Challenge. Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car is a 1000 lb, 2+2 touring coupe, with a range of 1000 miles before refueling; attributes achieved without compromising size, capacity and safety. With an ability to seat four, the vehicle uses a body structure made from mono-formed 3D lattice that is extremely sturdy.

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

This marks the third time that the group from General Motors has won this challenge, giving them the most wins out of all automakers that enter. The Cadillac Aera Concept hit on all areas that the judges were looking for and, despite the futuristic styling, still carries some recognizable lines from Cadillacs of today.

Jussi Timonen, lead designer for the project shared: „The Cadillac Sports Cars Aera concept was designed to continue the forward-thinking imagination of Cadillac’s ‘art and science’ philosophy. It’s designed as a small city urban vehicle, but we approached this 2+2 touring coupe very much from the brand’s luxury perspective. Every detail of the Aera was conceived to minimize the vehicle’s environmental impact without sacrificing the style, comfort and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the Cadillac cars brand.”

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

The Aera is powered by compressed air via a highly efficient Pneumatic Drive System that has a 10,000-psi composite air storage tank with capacity for a 1,000-mile range. Flexible, pressurized air cells in the exterior skin, similar to material developed for the NASA Mars Rover airbags, enhance passive safety and interior comfort. The flexible polymer skin optimizes aerodynamics and functions as an ultra-lightweight alternative to conventional body panels and glass.

Additional technologies include an All-In-One (AIO) wheel system, combining rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions. A drive by wireless system decreases the mass of electrical components. Vehicle to vehicle communication (V2V) promotes active safety. The Cadillac Aera embodies a stylistic, lightweight, minimalist approach to long distance luxury touring.

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference and has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Design Los Angeles connects those working in the design industry with well-known automotive design industry leaders. Los Angeles is home to the world’s largest concentration of manufacturer design studios, representing automakers from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also the home of Art Center College of Design, one of the world’s foremost transportation design institutions where many of today’s leading automotive designers began their careers.

2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept

2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept

At the Los Angeles Design Challenge Competition, Volvo took the open-air experience at a whole new level with its ‘lighter than a Formula 1 racing car’ study project – the Volvo Air Motion. Besides its strong yet ultra-light body structure, the Air Motion concept cars vehicle further adds to its superlatives eco-friendliness, as it is not using a single drop of gasoline while driving wild.

Volvo Air Motion is a sports cars that runs on powerful, yet simple compressed air motors that, unlike an internal combustion engine, cools down under load rather than heat up. The air tank is centrally mounted and receives compressed air through wind-powered air replenishment sites that float 1000ft in the air. Its beautiful Scandinavian body is designed like a clam shell and sculptured from ultra light carbon fiber.

2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept

Tipping the scales at under 1,000 pounds (453 kg), the Volvo Air Motion Concept is lighter than a Formula One car and employs a similar open-wheel configuration.

2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept

The 2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept was developed around the idea that minimizing the weight and complexity means maximizing driving enjoyment. Volvo built the cars with fewer components and replaced the heavy internal combustion engine with powerful, yet simple, compressed air motors.
To compress the air needed for the centrally mounted air tank, Air Replenishment Sites are used. Powered by air turbines floating 1,000ft in the air they harness the power of the wind and convert it to electricity to provide the compression. The motors cool down with increased load, instead of heating up, which eliminates the need for cooling systems. The chassis, interior and suspension employ an integrated design which brings a notable contribution to the lowered weight.

Aimed at the driving enthusiast, by a company synonymous with safety and environmental care, the Volvo Air Motion Concept demonstrates the beauty and purity of Scandinavian design and delivers a guilt free, raw driving experience.

2010 Volvo Sport Cars Air Motion Concept

2010 VolksWagen Cars Beetle Bio-Bug Powered by Sewage Waste

Mohammed Saddiq, general manager of GENeco, has another idea, which would take something that's normally thought of as waste, and turn it into a way to power a vehicle. The prototype  2010 VolksWagen Cars Beetle Bio-Bug is powered by methane gas which is produced from human waste at sewage works. Another environmentally friendly car has been shown to the world today by Wessex Water in England.

2010 VolksWagen Cars Beetle Bio-Bug Powered by Sewage Waste. The Bio-Bug is a project from Wessex Water, a sewage treatment company in England. Now there’s Bio-Bug, a VW Beetle that runs on the methane gas generated at a sewage treatment plant, reports The Telegraph. Wessex Water, near Bristol, England, says that human waste from the toilets of 70 homes can power the Bio-Bug for a year.

2010 VolksWagen Cars Beetle Bio-Bug Powered by Sewage Waste

GENeco believes that more gas will be produced at its Avonmouth site when the company embarks on its latest green venture to recycle food waste. Mr Saddiq said: “Waste flushed down the toilets in homes in the city provides power for the Bio-Bug, but it won’t be long before further energy is produced when food waste is recycled at our sewage works.

At first glance, the Beetle appears to be a publicity stunt for GENeco, which owns a number of waste treatment sites in the U.K. But consider this: A single sewage treatment plant in Bristol, England generates 18 million cubic meters of biogas each year. The Bio-Bug squeezes out 5.3 miles per cubic meter of biogas. So just one sewage treatment plant could keep cars running for 5,400,000 miles each year, according to the British Daily Mail.

The Volkswagen Beetle dubbed the “Bio-Bug” was built for GENeco by UK’s The Greenfuel Company. The Bio-Bug’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was converted to run on biogas and still hit about 114 miles per hour. However, the Bio-Bug uses regular unleaded gas to start, then switches over to methane automatically once it’s running. GENeco, a company owned by Wessex Water, supplied the equipment to treat the gas. “If you were to drive the car you wouldn’t know it was powered by biogas, as it performs just like any conventional car,” said Mohammed Saddiq, general manager of GENeco, in the release.

Mr. Saddiq explained that GENeco had been supplying treated compressed methane gas to generate electricity for the plant site and exported to the National Grid. The fuel for the Bio-Bug was surplus gas “we had available” and “we wanted to put it to good use in a sustainable and efficient way.”

The Bio-Bug was built by the Greenfuel Company, which specializes in converting gas cars to run on liquified petroleum gas.

2010 VolksWagen Cars Beetle Bio-Bug Powered by Sewage Waste

“The choice of car was inspired by students who took part in a workshop. They thought it would be appropriate that the poo-powered car should be the classic VW Beetle Bug because bugs naturally breakdown waste at sewage works to start the treatment process which goes on to produce the energy.”

Brilliant! Now, that’s a great marketing hook.

2011 Infiniti Cars M35h Sports Sedan The "Driver's" Hybrid

The “driver’s hybrid” from Infiniti, the M35h sports sedan, will introduce world-first steering and braking technologies when it goes on sale in the USA and Europe in 2011. The company calls the M35h a "driver's hybrid," with innovations in both steering and braking technologies designed to blend fuel efficiency with driving feel. As the first in-house hybrid from Nissan/Infiniti, the M35h is pretty unassuming. Indeed, although the test cars we drove in Japan were covered with decals advertising their gasoline-electricness, small “hybrid” badges on the production models’ front fenders will be the biggest powertrain giveaway once the cars arrive stateside next spring.

The Infiniti’s single electric motor is located between the engine and automatic transmission, in place of a conventional torque converter. The 67-hp motor is connected to the crankshaft via a wet-plate clutch. This allows the M to use its 1.3-kWh, 340-volt lithium-ion battery pack for electric-only propulsion at speeds up to about 60 mph as long as the driver keeps throttle application below 20 percent.

The 2011 Infiniti sports sedan M35h uses a 3.5-litre petrol V6 and a 68 PS (50 kW) electric motor for propulsion while power is put to the ground via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The brakes are similarly designed primarily to suit sports sedan buyers’ needs, but at the same time contributing to the lower carbon footprint of the M35h, low CO2 champion of Infiniti’s all-new M Line sports sedan line-up.

Central to this is its one motor/two clutch system. The first clutch is installed between the naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 and the electric motor, which is embedded within the automatic transmission. The electronically controlled clutch allows the full decoupling of the V6 when the car is in electric drive and power regeneration modes. Decoupling the V6 reduces mechanical drag and boosts the efficiency of the electric motor.

Aided by an exceptionally fast charge/discharge response from the lithium-ion battery pack, the result is a hybrid that’s electrically powered for more of the time, and at higher speeds, than conventional hybrids.

Infiniti’s sports sedan first hybrid, the M35h is the low CO2 star of the all-new M Line which also includes petrol and diesel models and which is the first M ever to be sold in all of Infiniti’s 34 world markets.

 2011 Infiniti Cars M35h Sports Sedan The "Driver's" Hybrid

Among the Infiniti M’s many other claims to fame are the world-first Blind Spot Intervention (BSI), state-of-the-art Forest Air climate control and Active Noise Control, while comfort and luxury are taken care of with double-piston dampers and the availability of semi-aniline leather in the spacious cabin.

Extensive details regarding these two innovations are available in the press release and Inifiniti said it will sell the M35h sports sedan on all of their 34 world markets. M35h sports sedan sales start in spring 2011, depending on market.

2011 Infiniti Cars IPL G Coupe With New Performance

Nissan's luxury division has unveiled the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe, with new performance coupe, and for those that want to see the car in the flesh should attend the 60th edition Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The first production vehicle from this group, the 348-horsepower 2011 Infiniti Performance Line G Coupe. It joins the Infiniti line of performance luxury vehicles at Infiniti retailers nationwide in December. Infiniti is heading down the road already strafed by the likes of BMW's M division, Mercedes-Benz' AMG sub-brand, and Audi's S and RS offspring, with a new performance badge dubbed IPL.

The IPL G Coupe's enhanced performance comes from the synergetic effects of three technology areas – engine tuning, dynamic tuning and sound quality/acceleration feel tuning. Engine performance modifications were selected not only for increased horsepower and torque levels, but also for acceleration feel and exhaust sound without compromising fuel economy or noise standards.

The IPL G Coupe's advanced VQ37HR 3.7-liter V6 engine management system has been recalibrated through air-fuel mixture and ignition timing optimization, raising the maximum horsepower output point to 7,400 rpm (from 7,000 rpm). To obtain a natural acceleration feel, the torque curve from low revs to the maximum torque point (5,200 rpm) was tuned for linearity. As a result of both the exhaust system and engine management changes, the IPL G Coupe generates 348 horsepower – an increase of 18 horsepower over the non-IPL models – and 276 lb-ft of torque (+6 lb-ft).

For better handling and road grip the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe also comes with a stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes with ventilated discs on all 4-wheels plus aluminum-alloy 4-piston brake calipers at the front and 2-piston opposed rear calipers.

"When you drive the IPL G Coupe, the first thing you notice is the surge in sound and acceleration feel. The inspiring swell of sound is in complete harmony with the acceleration feel as engine speed increases," said Poore. "The sound is clean and inspiring, adding to the fun-to-drive sensation provided by the 348 horsepower under the hood.

2011 Infiniti Cars IPL G Coupe With New Performance

The closest G to the IPL in today’s lineup is the G37 Sport, which comes similarly equipped to the new IPL G Coupe and starts at $41,275 with a manual transmission. The IPL has more standard features and the more powerful engine, which leads us to believe that it will wear a price tag just north of $46,000 when it goes on sale in December.

2010 Volkswagen Cars Up! Lite Diesel Electric Hybrid Concept Car

The Up Lite concept car is the harbinger of Volkswagen's new small car platform that should bear fruit in the form of a production Up Lite as early as the second half of 2011. The Up! Lite concept car ontinues the Volkswagen strategy of offering high-tech and high-end quality in all of its vehicle classes, making progress affordable for every car driver. The Up! Lite was designed to be a versatile vehicle that makes trips into the city, commutes to work and naturally long trips as well significantly less expensive and more eco-friendly.

The new concept car, based on Volkswagen’s New Small Family (the Up! models), incorporates a variation on the two-cylinder TDI hybrid powertrain from the L1 concept car unveiled earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This small turbo-diesel hybrid possesses a small physical footprint--being much smaller than the VW Golf--and a super small carbon footprint, reaching an astronomical 70 US mpg fuel economy on the EU testing cycle. Volkswagen staged  the world premiere of the Up! Lite concept car at the LA Auto Show.

Naturally, on the Up! Lite there is nothing lacking in comfort or safety. ESP is on board, airbags are on board, ample space is on board, highly advanced information and control features are on board, and it is good to know that occupants are enclosed and protected by a highly innovative safety frame of aluminium, steel and carbon fiber.

The Volkswagen concept car has a top speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) and accelerates to 100 km/h in a respectable 12.5 seconds (0-60 mph in 12 seconds). The Volkswagen Up! Light with its extremely efficient engine might be the perfect example to exemplify this. Ultra light (less than 700 kilograms / around 1,500 pounds) it achieves a mileage of 2.44 liters for a 100 km (70 MPG).

The centerpiece of the Up! Lite powertrain is the newly designed 0.8 TDI two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with a power of 38 kW / 51 PS. Furthermore, the electric motor (10 kW) – designed as a pulse start module (starter, alternator and E-drive) – also reduces the load of the TDI, provides added propulsion (boosting) and works to recover kinetic energy (regenerative braking). During boost phases – e.g. in a quick passing maneuver – the TDI and E-motor combine for a total power of 48 kW / 65 PS. Incidentally, a version of the TDI used in the Up! Lite was also used aboard the L1 concept car that Volkswagen presented in September at the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt.

2010 Volkswagen Cars Up! Lite Diesel Electric Hybrid Concept Car

In two of its operating phases, the hybrid drive of the Up! Lite was designed to operate without any TDI propulsion at all. First phase: In so-called coast-down, activated by the driver taking his or her foot off the gas pedal (car coasts, TDI engine is shut off). Second phase: Over shorter distances, e.g. in residential areas, the E-motor can power the Up! Lite all by itself. In this case, a lithium-ion battery supplies the energy. Since it is capable of pure electric driving, the configuration is classified as a full hybrid. Shifting work is handled by a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) like the one used in the new Polo. Moreover, the Volkswagen is equipped with a Stop-Start system.