MINI Clubvan Concept

A new compact lifestyle van makes its world premiere at Geneva International Motor Show 2012 as MINI reveals the MINI Clubvan Concept, a compact van for business and leisure, and the first premium model in the small car-based van segment.

The MINI Clubvan Concept shows that style can also be practical, and that practicality can be attractive when designing a commercial vehicle. This new concept combines all of the driving fun and distinctive design for which MINI is renowned, with an increased load-carrying capability for trade users.

MINI has a heritage in producing compact vans, when just a year after the classic Mini car’s birth, the Morris Mini Van was born. With its 10-centimetre-longer wheelbase, a separate load compartment and split rear doors, it was perfectly equipped for commercial use and also provided the basis for the fully glazed, four-seat iconic Morris Mini Traveller.

MINI Clubvan rear loading

The MINI Clubvan is limited to two seats and creates a large load capacity with the flat load area (which reaches from the split rear doors right up to a partition grille behind the two seats) making full use of the interior’s depth.

There are six attachment loops recessed into the load floor that use elasticated straps to hold cargo in place, plus a fixed partition grille ensures load items stowed in the rear won’t fall into the front cabin. The side walls, floor and roof lining of the load area in the Clubvan Concept are also trimmed in high-quality anthracite-coloured cloth.

The Clubvan Concept is a five-door car, with two front doors for the driver and front passenger, two side-hinged rear doors and the rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right-hand side offering you access all-round. The Clubdoor gives you the option of loading smaller items from the side of the car as well as the rear.

The MINI Clubvan Concept is finished off in a British Racing Green paintwork, which extends to the roof, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps, while the rear side windows are opaque with polycarbonate sections. The rear doors also feature heavily tinted glass making it difficult to see into the load compartment, for extra protection.

Toyota NS4 Advanced Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car

Toyota has unveiled its new NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept car at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The NS4 concept signals a new styling direction for Toyota and the advanced power hybrid plug-in system features a reduction in size and weight, improved fuel economy, better acceleration, a longer all-electric range, while still maintaining a short charge time.

The NS4 concept has a human-interface machine (HMI) centred round a multi-touch screen that resembles a smartphone and conveys information to the driver quickly, while minimizing distractions. It also controls air conditioning, audio, battery-charge and navigation functions and even “learns” driver preferences to anticipate driver responses in a variety of situations.

Toyota NS4 Advanced Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car

Toyota has installed its latest safety system developments in the NS4 concept, including next generation pre-collision (PCS), adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights and blind spot monitor systems. Four new glass technologies are integrated into the windscreen, front and rear windows to improve driver mobility, fuel economy and electric driving mode efficiency. The new glass technologies are as follows;

• Rain-resistant ‘hydrophobic’ coating – Fluorine coated glass causes rain drops to form intosemispherical shapes for improved visibility and rain drop elimination.
• ‘Anti-fog’ coating – High performance resin material with anti-fogging characteristics and increased durability.
• High ultraviolet (UV) absorbing inner-layer – Removes 99 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays
• Anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency – Reduces the internal vehicle temperature and improves electronic device functionality

The inner and outer rear view mirrors have also been replaced by cameras displaying a panoramic view to the rear on a dashboard-mounted screen, providing the driver with a much wider field of vision compared to a normal rear view mirror.

Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept

The new Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept is being unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) , in Detroit and is an innovative petrol plug-in hybrid car. It is an electric car, economical hybrid and powerful high-performance car all rolled into one.

You can decide which mode you want to drive in by the touch of a button on the instrument panel and then select Pure, Hybrid or Power, giving you three cars for the price of one.

In Pure mode the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid has a range of around 28 miles and is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. Charging is via a normal 220V household socket and a full charge with 12A takes just 3.5 hours, or with 110V/12A it takes 7.5 hours.

In Hybrid mode (which is the standard setting whenever the car is started), the four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (powering the front wheels) is coupled to the electric motor (powering the rear wheels) and CO2 emissions are 53g/km, which provides fuel economy of around 100mpg and a total operating range of 600 miles, without refuelling.

In Power mode the 280hp turbocharged petrol engine kicks in with the electric motor giving you a 0-60mph of 5.8 seconds with instant torque being provided.

Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid - rear view

The car carries a “T8″ badge which emphasises the combined horsepower of 350 hp and has other innovative features reducing the weight of the vehicle. The Integrated Starter motor and Generator (ISG) replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator and is capable of delivering an extra 45hp during acceleration, while constantly recharging the battery when braking.

The “Save” option on the car also saves battery power for later and don’t forget the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept has electric four-wheel drive (AWD) which provides excellent handling and better traction in snow and mud for example.

The muscular appearance of the car is complimented by a special white colour and 21-inch wheels. Inside the instruments are tailored to give you all the necessary information about petrol and electricity consumption, battery charge level, remaining range plus much more. The interior colours of the car features unique dark-blue leather upholstery with inlays of blue-grey wood and this concept certainly looks a winner for Volvo.

Ford concept sleigh design

Ford has created a concept sleigh design aimed at helping Santa Claus reduce his CO2 emissions this evening. The new concept sleigh would involve Santa retiring his reindeers for the evening and using Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which Ford calculates would reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent. According to Ford, Santa’s reindeers create many tons of CO2, travelling some 200,237,360 km at Xmas.

Paul Wraith, Ford car designer, said,They may look cute, but Santa’s team of nine reindeer create a staggering 214,670 tons of CO2 equivalent CO2 emissions each year, so something had to be done to help him re-discover his greener roots”.

Santa Claus was not available for comment as he is busily preparing for this evening, however Mrs Santa Claus said,”I am not looking forward to telling Donner and Blizten the news, but the polar bears in the North Pole will certainly welcome the Ford Eco-Boost-powered sleigh”.

The redesigned Ford sleigh also incorporates other cutting edge Ford technologies. Highlights include:

• Active park assist: Clever technology that first checks if a parking space is big enough, then automatically steers your car/sleigh in. Useful for Santa Claus when making those tight reverse rooftop landings.
• Door edge protector: A simple, but ingenious addition to Ford doors, helping prevent dents, dings and scratches even in the tightest parking spot. Vital to help Santa stop scratching the door of his sleigh on all those chimneys.
• SYNC: A sophisticated in-car, voice-activated technology system, that can be easily personalised.  This will help Santa Claus keep in touch with the elves back at base, stay en route with GPS navigation and enable him to listen to and change, his favourite Christmas music.
• EcoMode: In-car software that provides useful advice for drivers on achieving better fuel economy tailored to their individual driving styles.  A specially modified version of the software will include an electronic Christmas tree image. The better Santa’s green driving performance, the more of the trees branch symbols will light-up.
• Active City Stop & Blind Spot Information System: Two driver assistance technologies, the first assists drivers in slow moving traffic by detecting if the car in front unexpectedly stops and braking automatically in response, whilst the second helps detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving. Both will be useful to Santa, as he tries to avoid planes in our increasingly crowded skies.
• MyKey: Enabling car owners to encourage their teenagers (or elves) to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, with increased safety-belt usage, through a range of driver specific configurable features.
• 1 litre EcoBoost engine: As outlined, helping ensure the engine powering Santa’s sleigh is green, lean, mean and compact.

Skoda VisionD Concept

SKODA has just released images of its stunning new VisonD Concept which was first shown off at the Geneva Motor show in March of this year. This new concept clearly shows off some of the future styling cues for future SKODA cars.

The model has a longwheel base and shortoverhangs, with a distinctive and sporty design and conveys a youthful, yet contemporary appearance.

Skoda VisionD Concept

SKODA UK had a record year last year selling over 41,000 vehicles, which was up 10.5% when compared to the previous year and now has around a 2% market share in the UK. They have also been in the top ten of the J.D. Power of Customer Satisfaction for the past 18 years and are renowned for their reliability and offer fleet customers great value for money.

Mazda regenerative braking system

Mazda has developed a vehicle regenerative braking system that reduces fuel consumption by 10% and will showcase their new i-ELOOP system in the TAKERI concept car, at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show. The TAKERI concept is the next-generation mid-sized saloon that also features a range of SKYACTIV Technology and the Japanese company’s “KODO-Soul of Motion” design theme.

A regenerative braking system uses an electric motor or alternator to generate electricity as the vehicle decelerates, which then recovers a proportion of the vehicle’s kinetic energy, to power climate control systems, audio and numerous other electrical components. The capacitor in the i-ELOOP system can also store large volumes of generated energy as well.

In stop-start driving conditions, Mazda is estimating the new i-ELOOP system (working in conjunction with Mazda’s “i-stop” idling stop technology) will cut fuel consumption by 10%. The name i-ELOOP stands for “Intelligent Energy Loop” and the first Mazda vehicle in the UK market to feature the full range of SKYACTIV technologies will be the Mazda CX-5 compact SUV, which should be launched in the spring of 2012.

Nissan Juke Nismo Concept

Nissan unveiled the Nissan Juke Nismo Concept at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show and gave an idea of how a premium sports version of their highly popular compact crossover might look. The Nissan Juke Nismo is lower, wider and has a tougher stance than the standard Juke and certainly looks like a performance car.

The car is finished signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights and wears a body kit created by the Nismo aerodynamic specialists, who have already honed their skills on perfecting racecars. New parts on the Juke Nismo include a revised bumper front and rear, wider fenders and sill side skirts.

The grille style has also been changed and the tailgate spoiler has been modified with the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently, plus stylish 19-inch alloy wheels finish off the car outside. The chassis has been lowered and stiffened and power comes from a 1.6-litre direct injection petrol engine, which has also been uprated for more power and performance.

Inside the Juke Nismo Concept has special leather-trimmed buck seats, a red dial and needle has been added on the tachometer and all the other components such as the steering wheel, pedals, gear shift knob, gauges and door trims have also been completely re-designed.

Small Sports EV Concept

Honda is planning to unveil three new car concepts, three motorcyle concepts and one power product concept at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show, which takes place at Tokyo Big Sight between the 3rd and the 11th December 2011.

The three car concepts are as follows;

1. Small Sports EV Concept -  next-generation EV sports model.
2. AC-X - next-generation plug-in hybrid offering comfortable urban and long distance motoring.
3. Micro Commuter Concept - A micro-sized electric city car, featuring a HONDA MOTOR COMPO (two-wheel EV) slotted inside the vehicle.

In addition Honda will also show off the “N Concept”, a new mini type of vehicle plus the latest production models of the Accord, Insight, Jazz and CR-Z.

Volkswagen GT up!

Volkswagen has given their new up! compact-city car the Golf GTI treatment with the new GT up! concept. This small, sporty car is another variation in the “up! themes” and exudes sporting style with its wide-mouthed honeycomb grille and two chromed tailpipes.

The concept could potentially pack 100PS or more from its engine and this power is supported by ducts to provide cooling airflow to the front brakes. The wheels are 17-inch alloys and at the rear there is a deep spoiler that helps reduce lift over the rear axle, with a black diffuser at the bottom framed by an exhaust pipe either side.

Beneath the black roof lining are anthracite coloured seats with a gloss-black dashboard and upper door trim panels, offset by blue rings around the air vent nozzles, and all finished off with a chunky leather-bound three-spoke steering wheel. You can start ordering for the new up! with first deliveries for the spring of 2012.

Electric car concept

Vauxhall/Opel is set to unveil a radical electric car concept at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show this month and is targeting younger/teenage drivers with a low-cost budget. The car “has production potential” and Vauxhall thinks the concept could revolutionise urban transport, with inspiration coming from the Vauxhall Ampera. 

The battery-powered electric vehicle has a low, rakish style and should have a range of around 60 miles with a top speed of 75mph. Inside it has two seats in a tandem layout and because it is so light at around one third of a small modern car, it should be great fun to drive.