Super Concept Cars Blog

Another eye-catching Cadillac concept will break cover on Jan. 12 at the Detroit auto show.

 Cadillac released a teaser of the show car on Tuesday, and from it we can see elaborate headlight casings, a prominent grille that follows the brand’s recent design language and impressive wheel arches. The doors and body panels appear chiseled, and the lines flow backward. The concept also will be fitted with imposing wheels.

The 2011 CTS-V coupe, which goes into production next summer, will also be revealed in Detroit, following the debut of the CTS coupe at the Los Angeles auto show.

The Detroit auto show was also the stage for the reveal of the Converj concept in 2009 and the CTS coupe concept in 2008.

Cadillac has enjoyed a product renaissance in recent years with the success of the CTS sedan. It was joined by a wagon sibling this year, as well as the redone SRX crossover.

The latest creation of Romanian designer Andrus Ciprian is the HUMMER HB, an extreme off-road vehicle with almost no front or rear overhangs, and massive wheels and tires for tackling almost any surface.

The HUMMER HB’s construction consists of a body-on-frame format with aluminium and carbon fiber being the main materials used throughout. The vehicle would be offered in two different versions. One would be equipped with a smaller windscreen split into three sections, and an array of cameras around the vehicle which relay video to screens around the driver. This model would be aimed at buyers who want greater security. The second model is fitted with a more conventional single frame windscreen and is designed more for the serious off-roader with additional lighting mounted on the roof.

The underside of the HB is protected by armored paneling which protects the drivetrain and passengers from rocks and other potentially damaging objects.

 

 

Hidden within the front bumper is a powerful winch for helping extract the HB, or other vehicles, from sticky situations.

 

The HUMMER HB is powered by a V6 engine which is biofuel capable. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Volkswagen’s Concept Blue Sports premieres in Detroit as a study in combining great fuel economy with a sporty drive and looks. The roadster measures some four metres in length but weighs less than 1200kg. VW has put a turbo diesel engine in it and that tips the performance scales even more in its favour.

The engine is a 2.0-litre TDI that makes 180hp (134kW) from 4,200rpm and a hefty torque of 350Nm made from just 1,750rpm. Said to be capable of a 0 – 100km/h time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 226km/h (140mph), the Blue Sports concept emits just 113g/km in harmful C02 gasses. It averages 4.3 litres per 100km (55mpg US/ 66mpg UK) in fuel consumption.

Not to be classified as a lightweight with no proper credentials, the car runs on massive 235/35ZR19 tyres front and 245/35ZR19 rear. The gearbox is VW’s trusted quick-shifting DSG with 6 forward gears and one reverse.

Technologies adopted are bi-xenon LED headlights outside, a touchscreen that controls infotainment sources inside and an easy-to-use top that can be removed in seconds. Could the Concept Blue Sports be pointing towards a future Scirocco cabriolet? Time will tell.

On NJ State Auto Auction  you could find what you want

2010 Audi A1 Buying Advice

If you’re thinking of a fun minicar, the 2010 Audi A1 could offer something unique in its c­lass: AWD. The Mini Cooper has front-wheel drive, and the 2009 BMW 1-S­eries will have rear-wheel drive.

2010 Audi A1 Release Date: To be announced.

First Test Drive: Is spring 2009 too much to hope for?

2010 Audi A1 Prices: They’re a long way from being finalized, but will be set to avoid stealing sales from the Audi A3, which currently runs in the $25,400-$34,000 range. We’ll go out on the proverbial limb and predict A1s will start around $22,000 and top out around $28,000 for loaded AWD versions.

Coming to the next North American Auto Show in Detroit, BMW will show a 1 Series based EV called the Concept ActiveE. This is yet another piece of evidence that all of the big auto manufacturers will be getting into making electric vehicles in one way or another. And, since this is a BMW, it looks like they’re tying to keep it as fun to drive as possible.

Let’s deal with the specifics first, and then we can talk about the potential impact after that. The BMW Concept ActiveE is rear wheel drive and that means it should be fun to drive, especially when you consider all the torque that electric motors can churn out. And speaking of the EV 1-Series is powered by synchronous electric motor that is all new and was designed and will be purpose built for this car. The motor develops 125 kW/170 bhp, and puts out a maximum torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft. The electric motor gets its juice from a lithium-ion battery pack that was jointly developed by BMW and SB LiMotive (a German electronics firm). The custom tailored battery features a new stable temperature regulating function that optimizes the battery packs performance.

Weight? Well, as for all things EV, it’s kind of on the porky side. The BMW Concept ActiveE tips weighs 1,800 kilograms or 3900 lbs. Given the size of the BMW 1 Series, that is pretty hefty, but not all that bad for an EV.

In wanting to bring the performance up to BMW standards, they have kept the center of gravity low and have kept weight distribution as even as possible. When you add this to the rear drive layout, then it’s easy to believe that the BMW Concept ActiveE ” … has everything it requires to provide the dynamic driving properties and agile handling in the style of the BMW 1 Series,” as BMW says.

Performance-wise, the little EV should scoot from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in less than 9 seconds, and tops out at an electronically limited to 145 km/h (90 mph). BMW says that the “real-world range” should be about 160 km / 100 miles on a single charge, depending on conditions.

And speaking of charging, keeping the lithium-ion battery pack topped up is handled via conventional power outlets at public charging stations or at a special wall box at home. In Europe, the battery pack can be fully charged at a 50 ampere high-current power outlet in as little as 3 hours. And in North America, using a 32 ampere continuous high-current residential wall box, the charge time is around 4.5 hours.

The ActiveE is just a concept, says BMW, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to see this one on the road soon.