Italdesign Quaranta

The Italdesign Quaranta was designed to celebrate Italdesign Giugiaro’s forty years of business in styling and technological research. The concept was inspired by the Bizzarrini Manta concept from 1968. But in reality the Quaranta has a lot more in common with the Volta concept created by Italdesign for Toyota in 2004.

The Quaranta uses a 3.3 litre V6 Toyota engine with Hybrid Synergy Drive to provide 268 horsepower and 212 lb-ft of torque. The innovative aspect of this engine lies in the ability of the electronic control system to regulate the power distributed by the electric motors to the wheels, making the clutch-gearbox-transmission block superfluous.

The batteries which power the electric motors are located between the engine compartment and the cockpit. These are replenished by the solar panels positioned on the roof and through regenerative braking. The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system also includes the E-CVT Electronic-Continuously Variable Transmission, an automatic planetary gear transmission with ratios varying infinitely as speed changes. This power source and transmission system gives the concept a rapid 0-60 mph time of just over 4 seconds as well as a massive 621 mile range.

Access to the Italdesign Quaranta’s cabin is “step-in” via an upper door incorporating the side ones. At the touch of an electric button, the door opens upward while regulated by proximity sensors for safety.

Inside, the most striking features are the central driving position and multi-control steering wheel which houses all the vehicles driving and control functions on the spokes.

The dashboard has been conceived with a sporting, modern look, with clean-cut details matching the style of the exterior, and equipped with a vast array of instruments. These are organized on two levels: the screens of the side and rear TV cameras are positioned on the upper level, with particular attention to the left-hand view mirror, useful when overtaking; the lower level is dedicated to the management of the vehicle. The drive-panel also includes a visor for X-ray sensors for night driving.

A company planning to build a hybrid car plant in Baldwin County today made a pact with a well-known Italian firm to design those vehicles during a splashy ceremony in Montgomery.

Representatives of Hybrid Kinetic Motors and Italdesign Giugiaro signed a contract for the styling and engineering of a line of hybrids that are slated to be produced in Alabama starting in 2013.

Italdesign Giugiaro has worked with major automakers around the world and has developed more than 200 car models over the past 40 years.

Red carpet, spotlights and music marked Tuesday’s ceremony, which culminated with the unveiling of the Quaranta concept car designed by Italdesign Giugiaro to mark the firm’s 40th anniversary. It’s a 156 mph supercar powered by a hybrid system.

The Quaranta was shown in Montgomery as an example of the style and engineering that will be a part of the Alabama-built hybrids, said CT Wang, CEO of Hybrid Kinetic Motors.

Many people think hybrid vehicles are small with limited horsepower, but “the hybrid can be exciting,” he said.

Media from Europe and Asia attended the ceremony, along with local and state leaders including Gov. Bob Riley and Lieutenant Gov. Jim Folsom.

Hybrid Kinetic Motors’ founder and chairman is Yung Yeung, a former Chinese auto executive.

Audi presents the highlight of the IAA 2009: the e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric drive system. Four motors – two each at the front and rear axles – drive the wheels, making the concept car a true quattro. Producing 230 kW (313 hp) and 4,500 Nm (3,319.03 lb-ft) of torque, the two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 4.8 seconds, and from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 – 74.56 mph) in 4.1 seconds. The lithium-ion battery provides a truly useable energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours to enable a range of approximately 248 kilometers.

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.

Hyundai i10 Electric

Hyundai says electric cars are crucial if it is to meet its target of bringing down the average CO2 emissions of its range to 95g/km by 2020, but it plans a low-key start with the battery-powered i10.

Limited production of the car will begin late next year, with vehicles going on trial with Korean government departments and domestic fleets.

Hyundai i10 Electric

However, UK importers have expressed interest in conducting tests with the car. ‘We would be very interested in taking it,’ said a Hyundai UK spokesman.

The British importer believes the plug-in i10 could do particularly well in London, where Mayor Boris Johnson wants to create the electric-car capital of the world.

Hyundai says it is unlikely that the car will have any significant presence in Europe until 2012 at the earliest.

‘The problem is that there would be a very high cost for the batteries alone – perhaps €10,000 (£8000),’ says Hans-Ulrich Goebel, Hyundai’s European product planning manager.

‘It is likely to be some time before we could expect to see acceptance of such a cost by private customers, but there is potentially a big market for electric small vans.’

Allan Rushforth, vice-president of Hyundai Europe, added: ‘The threshold of what is acceptable varies from country to country and is dependent on what incentives governments are prepared to offer motorists to take up such systems, but ultimately, the customer will have to pay.’

Hyundai i10 Electric

Performance and range
The electric i10 is driven by a 49-kilowatt (65bhp) electric motor powered by a 16 kw/hr lithium ion polymer battery.

Hyundai claims a range of 100 miles on a full charge and a top speed of 80mph.

Recharging takes five hours using a standard domestic socket, but the batteries can be restored to 85% of capacity in 15 minutes through an industrial (420V) power point.

Renault Twizy Z.E. Concept

Renault will produce in Spain Twizy ZE concept car based on the electric car. Renault has a huge program, it will in 2011 to market a complete a series of zero-emission vehicles, but this car is only one of them.

Twizy Z.E. Concept

Twizy Z.E. Concept is an all-electric vehicle aimed primarily at busy city dwellers who need to pick their way through the urban jungle. Every day, they juggle work commitments with a busy social life, so efficiency, speed and simplicity are key.

Twizy Z.E. Concept

 The ultra-compact dimensions of Twizy Z.E. Concept (2.30m in length, and just 1.13m wide) ensure that it is nimble enough for urban use. The four-wheel arrangement, open bodywork and a seat format which puts the driver and passenger behind one another express Twizy Z.E. Concept’s distinctive character.

E-Wolf Car Standard

E-Wolf does not meet the E1 results in order to concept cars with E1 as the Frankfurt Motor Show this year, appeared in front of us the E2 two-seater electric concept car, has also released the first official map, and will be officially listed in 2011.

E-Wolf E2 electric concept car

E-Wolf E2 electric concept car

E2 electric concept length 5000mm × width 1900mm × high-1200mm, learned in the appearance of many classic sports car design, and their. The exaggerated front air intake resembles Ferrari Enzo, while the wedge-shaped lines will have to reminds us of the Lamborghini, to the tail while showing a hint of Broadcom Mantide taste. As a zero-emission electric vehicles, vehicle quality and only 900 kg, is really something to raspberry.

E2 is full of electric power can be an ultra-endurance running 300km, while the use of fast charge, then half an hour you can reach a certain level of power, E2 lithium battery design life of at least 10 years. It is learned, E-1 will be on sale in early 2010, while the projected 2011 sales of E-2 may be better brought back everyone’s interest.

The new wave of concept cars: Rechargeable electric cars

Nissan Launches ‘LEAF’ Electric Car

Nissan has just unveiled a new zero emissions vehicle that is slated to go on sale in Japan, Europe and the United States next year. Called the LEAF, this C-segment (sub-compact) car is powered by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery packs. Nissan says it will be able to drive 100 miles on a single charge. The batteries will be able to be charged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes with a special quick charger, or in roughly eight hours through a standard 200V outlet. Nissan says that through extensive research the 100 mile range will be suitable for 70 percent of car buyers.

Output from the lithium-ion battery packs is rated at 80kW/280Nm, (107-hp and 207 ft-lbs of torque), which should make this sub-compact a sporty little car.

Pricing has yet to be released but Nissan aims to give the LEAF an MSRP competitive with well-equipped C-segment cars. That should put it near the $20,000 mark. The car will also qualify for government rebates and tax incentives desigend to help promote the sale of fuel-efficient cars.

“Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-sized, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility,” said the LEAF product boss Masato Inoue.

The first LEAFs will be built at Nissan’s plant in Oppama, Japan with plans to also start production soon at the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant. The LEAF is the first of three electric vehicles that Nissan plans to launch in the next few years.

 ”The Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment – one in with all Nissan employees can take great pride,” said Nissan President Carlos Ghosn. “We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality – the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced – emissions. It’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.”

BMW’s Green Four-Door Coupe

BMW’s plans for the Frankfurt Auto Show are coming into clearer focus this week as prior reports of a green-themed Coupe have been shucked aside by the company’s PR folks.

While BMW plans a 50th-anniversary celebration for the MINI brand, a worldwide reveal of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost, and a new generation of the venerable BMW 5-Series sedan, it’s also planning a stunning four-door coupe concept that could go green–in the form of a small three-cylinder turbocharged engine, according to a speculative piece today in AutoExpress.

The angular coupe, they report, is dubbed the EfficientDynamics Vision. A sleek drawing predicts what could show up on the BMW stand in Frankfurt, but there’s nothing to prepare showgoers for the unexpected drivetrain underneath the hood.

The new concept will sport a three-cylinder turbocharged engine, as the story goes. It’ll also have hybrid power to propel it.

If it pans out, the new concept and its drivetrain would likely share its lithium-ion battery pack with the new BMW 7-Series Hybrid also due at the Frankfurt show. It would also provide the German automaker with a cohesive green theme–particularly if those other reports about an “i-Setta” electric city car prove true.

TheCarConnection and Motor Authority will be in Frankfurt to show you more from the show floor; you can bookmark our Frankfurt Auto Show tag and come back here often for previews and updates prior to show week.

Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car

Mazda added lightness to this speedster-style Miata that will appear at Frankfurt.

To celebrate 20 years of selling the world’s most popular roadster, Mazda has built a special version of the Miata to display at this year’s Frankfurt auto show.

The idea is to emphasize the lightweight nature of the MX-5, and to that end the Superlight wears neither roof nor windshield. Instead it’s a sexy speedster-style iteration of the iconic roadster with smooth body lines and roll bars integrated behind the headrests. The bare interior is home to racing bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel . . . and not much else.

The concept of motor vehicles not placed under the hood, but along the road on the following

Played a lot of people from the track of a child car

 This means that you can use the traditional road race car, at the same time, but also the use of rapid transport system.

Christian Loya  – German designers will learn from  toy car, design a concept car with magnetic. The concept of motor vehicles not placed under the hood, but on the following along the road.

Speedway Transport System concept of a network of linear motor to drive the electric vehicles on the highway, he said. In accordance with his vision, we can drive a small engine with dual-mode electric vehicles in urban areas with traffic. As we prepare to leave the city, there is no mechanical contact with the magnetic field will take advantage of linear motor-driven vehicle for long-distance travel. He said that the linear motor can be run in the existing road network, the existing automotive technology is a useful complement, not replace it.

In addition because this particular design, the car’s front and rear lights as well as the intake grille is reflected in the colorful; At the same time, the design so that passers-by easily identify the car at night, thus ensuring the safety of pedestrians.

Although this concept car is with color science fiction, but part of D7 applied technology has been currently used in A series of models, so we are looking forward to this model can be in the near future can become a reality.