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2012 MINI Clubvan Concept
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2012 MINI Clubvan Concept news, pictures, and informationTweetMore space for style: The MINI Clubvan Concept. Compact lifestyle van for business and leisure – First concept of its kind in the premium segment – World premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012.

Stand-out-from-the-crowd style can also be amazingly practical – and practicality surprisingly attractive. The MINI Clubvan Concept brings apparently conflicting profiles together into a single package, paving the way for an innovative vehicle concept without parallel in the premium small car §egmènt. The MINI Clubman-based concept car, scheduled for its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012, combines the driving fun for which MINI is renowned w?th increased load-carrying capability. The MINI experience will therefore find its way into new areas of life, the brand’s distinctive character gaining new popularity among target groups not previously on the MINI radar.

The closed-off load area behind the front seats and the opaque rear side windows of the new concept set it apart most strikingly from the MINI Clubman. The MINI Clubvan Concept uses its broader skill-set to open up new usage possibilities – both business and leisure. Where a business’s customers, product range and operating environment demand a particular style for its vehicles, a premium model can make the perfect delivery solution. For example, a car in the mould of the MINI Clubvan Concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or event caterer. And its abilities as an all-rounder also tick the right boxes for a photographer w?th a stack of camera, tripod and lighting equipment to ferry around during the week – and bulky sports and leisure gear to pile on board at the weekend.

The MINI Clubvan Concept pulls off the trick of blending enhanced practicality and a well-judged lifestyle focus w?th natural ease. This ability is based on the impressive adaptability that goes to the heart of the MINI brand’s heritage. Calls for maximising the load capacity of the classic Mini began as early as 1960, just a year after the car’s birth. And they were soon heeded. With its 10-centimetre-longer wheelbase, separate load compartment and split rear doors, the Morris Mini Van was perfectly equipped for commercial use. It also provided the basis for the fully glazed, four-seat Morris Mini Traveller, one of the precursors of today’s successful MINI Clubman. And so, more than 50 years on, the MINI Clubvan Concept sees history repeating itself – albeit in a slightly different order.

Two seats, five doors, endless usage potential.
Limiting the car to two seats creates the capacity its owners will need on a day-to-day basis, as well as opening up a whole new world of customisation potential. The load compartment of the MINI Clubvan Concept embodies the car’s fresh and rigorous interpretation of the principle used in the classic Mini – of providing the maximum amount of interior space on the smallest possible footprint. The load area reaches from the split rear doors right up to the partition grille behind the two seats. The totally level floor makes full use of the interior’s depth, and that allows the concept car’s load capacity to exceed the maximum achieved by the MINI Clubman.

Six attachment loops recessed into the load compartment floor use elasticated straps to hold items of varying lengths, heights and widths in place – without the risk of them sliding around. Added to which, the partition grille, which is fixed securely to the car body, ensures that items stowed in the load compartment cannot find their way into the front seats, even under extremely heavy braking. The lower section of the partition is made from solid aluminium, while the upper section consists of a silver-coloured stainless steel honeycomb grating. The side walls and floor of the load compartment are trimmed in high-quality anthracite-coloured cloth. The anthracite roof liner, meanwhile, extends along the full length of the interior. This uniform colour scheme emphasises the pure-bred, practicality-oriented character of the MINI Clubvan Concept.

Like the MINI Clubman, the MINI Clubvan Concept is a five-door car w?th a twist. Two front doors for the driver and front passenger, two side-hinged doors at the rear and the rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right-hand side create comfortable access to the interior. The Clubdoor gives owners the option of loading or unloading smaller items from the side of the car as well as the rear.

The generous levels of space on board the concept car can be exploited in a variety of ways. Commercial users will be particularly pleased to discover the scope for configuring the load compartment to personal requirements. For example, tools and goods can be stored neatly and securely in made-to-measure drawers or shelving units. 12-volt plug sockets in the rear area of the load compartment provide additional practicality.

Exterior design: shields from prying eyes, cuts a distinctive figure.

Impressive practicality and the brand’s time-honoured style lend the MINI Clubvan Concept its unmistakable character. Sharing the exterior dimensions of the MINI Clubman and boasting cleverly increased storage capacity, the concept car is the first premium model in the small car-based van §egmènt. The exterior appearance of the MINI Clubvan Concept marks it out immediately as a MINI – and therefore as a premium product. The function-led design modifications have no impact on the car’s proportions and hallmark MINI design language, but they do give customers the opportunity to combine the demands of commercial use w?th an appreciation of individual style.

The MINI Clubvan Concept comes w?th British Racing Green exterior paintwork, which extends to the roof, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps. As is usual for vehicles charged w?th transportation tasks, the rear side windows of the MINI Clubvan Concept are opaque. Polycarbonate sections – their outer surfaces painted in the car’s body colour – and heavily tinted glass for the rear doors make it difficult to see into the load compartment.

The unbroken paintwork along the car’s flanks offers extensive scope for individualisation, which the MINI Clubvan Concept highlights to eye-catching effect. The sealed side windows bear the logo of a sign design company based in the MINI’s native Great Britain. The hand-applied graphics lend the vehicle a personal look. Indeed, the ultra-versatile MINI carries both its cargo and the company’s promotional message w?th a uniquely stylish verve. The MINI Clubvan Concept presented in Geneva lends this form of customisation a piquant authenticity – on two fronts. The British company that has literally left its stamp on the MINI Clubvan Concept creates similar vehicle graphics for its customers. And the MINI Clubvan Concept showcases how these might look when applied to a MINI van.

Source – MINI
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Mazda is presenting the TAKERI concept, a vehicle that gives us an idea of how the Mazda6 replacement will look like and will make its debut at the Tokyo Auto Show on November 30.

The mid-size sedan uses the carmaker’s new KODO – Soul of Motion design language, but this is so much more than just a visual statement, as it features Mazda’s SKYACTIV tech (it is powered by a SKYACTIV-D diesel unit), including the company’s first regenerative braking system.

Here’s what Mazda had to say about the development: “Combined with the new SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, Mazda i-stop, new lightweight structure, aerodynamic and chassis technologies, regenerative braking – enables the Mazda TAKERI to achieve excellent fuel economy together with vigorous performance and a comfortable high-quality ride.”

When the new Mazda6 hits the US market at the end of next year, this will also arrive with diesel engines, a first for the model in America.

In addition to that, Mazda will also brings the CX-5 compact crossover to the event, which combines the same KODO design language and SKYACTIV Technology engines with new body materials.

Unlike any other auto show on the planet, the SEMA Auto Show isn’t so much about the glitz and glamor of concept cars and world debuts like other shows. SEMA is about seeing some of the latest tuning projects from the world’s best auto aftermarket companies be displayed in all their audacious glory. One such vehicle that fits that description to a tee is this custom Ford F-150 Raptor by Street Concepts. The modded pick-up is part of Toyo Tires’ four-vehicle contingent and since its headed to the event, you can be sure that it comes packed to the brim with some of the latest tuning parts available on the market. Among the many additions to the F-150 Raptor, the most obvious is the the custom Snow Camo vehicle wrap that was added in by Street Concepts. There are also new bumpers, a new lighting set-up, Brembo brakes, and a new suspension system courtesy of Icon Vehicle Dynamics. Inside the pick-up, the modifications include a carbon fiber-wrapped interior that’s accented with luxurious black Alcantara. There’s also a comprehensive audio system that was supplied by Kenwood to give some more oomph to what already looks like a beastin’ machine. Under the hood, the F-150 Raptor comes packed with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque.

Built to brand aerospace technology with their image, Holden of Australia commissioned this radical concept in the 1960s. At that time, Hurricane was one of the most expensive experimental cars, and helped the company sell one million cars from 1969 to 1974.

Finding the ”feasibility of applying aerospace techniques and materials to the manufacture of future Holdens” was the companies’ motivation for the project. However, this rhetoric held little weight, and only the production-worthy engine found its way into the road cars. With this engine, the Hurricane started a trend that would have 500 000 Holden’s feature Australian-designed V8s.

What made the Hurricane special was elements that didn’t make it to assembly lines: it’s styling, electronics and engineering.

Probably the most experimental aspect of the Hurricane was it’s styling. The low wedge shape was an upcoming trend for the period and was copied in previous years; the 1970 Bertone Stratos Concept, 1970 Ferrari 512S Berlinetta Speciale and 1972 Maserati Boomerang all share the Hurricane’s lines.

Inside, Hurricane had an array of extraneous instrumentation to convince any onlookers that the driver car could pilot to moon. Of these, the most notable was a ‘retro-gps’ system called Pathfinder. It used magnetic signals built within the road to alert the driver of upcoming turns. Other electronic amenities included digital instrumentation, a rear view camera, lifting seats and an automatically opening one piece door.

At the core, the Hurricane used a tubular space frame, supporting a new Holden V8 and covered in an impressive fiber glass body. The engine sat mid-ship in the chassis and was attached to a four speed transaxle. Very GT40. A distinct feature of the chassis was the oil-cooled disc brakes. Used on the front, these discs used oil, and oil coolers to dissipate heat.

In conclusion, the Holden Hurricane might be the most exciting car made in Australia. Its motor sport engineering, glorious styling and funky electronics complete a concept that can still impress forty years later.

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