Concept Cars
Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz BlueZero E-Cell Plus Plug-in Introduced
Mercedes-Benz introduced its BlueZero E-Cell Plus concept car at the Frankfurt Auto show. The plug-in electric Hybrid can travel up to 100km (62 miles) on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, enabling an extended range of 600km (373 miles). The engine is a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder powerplant producing…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept Gets 170 MPG, Production Planned for 2013
As Germany’s largest automaker, Volkswagen had big news at the Frankfurt Auto Show today with numerous new models that boast impressive fuel-economy. But even the BlueMotion Polo has nothing on the fuel-economy of the L1 Concept, a tiny two seater that uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km – that’s 170 mpg. And…
Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris Hybrid Concept Revealed
Toyota is planning to offer hybrid versions of all of its vehicles by 2020 and the next step in that process is a Hybrid Synergy Drive version of the Corolla-based Auris hatchback sold in the U.K. Toyota unveiled a prototype of that vehicle, the Auris HSD Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show today. The Auris…
Frankfurt 2009: Audi E-Tron Electric R8 is For Real
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After plenty of rumors, denials and leaked images that looked like a photoshop hack job, Audi has officially taken the wraps off the E-Tron Concept, an electric R8… of sorts. And if you still find it all hard to believe, it might take some convincing to accept that the car’s power output numbers are for…
Frankfurt 2009: BMW Officially Unveils Vision Efficient Dynamics Plug-In Hybrid Turbo-Diesel Concept
On of the Frankfurt Auto Show’s best kept secrets has now been fully revealed. The new Vision EfficientDynamics Concet is a mean-looking 2+2 sports car that uses both a turbo-diesel three-cylinder engine as well as two electric motors in a full plug-in hybrid layout. BMW says the goal of the project was to build a…
Official: Mercedes Confirms Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid for Frankfurt Debut
After information and photos of Mercedes’ plug-in hybrid S-Class emerged last week, Mercedes has now officially confirmed the car will debut tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Better yet, Mercedes R&D boss Dr. Thomas Weber says the technology is likely to debut in production form in the next generation S-Class. “Although it will…
Breaking: Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept Photos Leaked
So much for private unveilings. Just a day after Bugatti displayed its next supercar at an exclusive event in Molsheim, France, pictures of the super-sedan have wound up online. Previously thought to be named the Bordeaux, the car’s actual name is Galibier – which refers to a difficult stretch of road in the Alps that…
Frankfurt Preview: Toyota Auris HSD Concept Revealed
Notoriously good at keeping secrets, Toyota has decided to blow its own cover and has released a smattering of details on the Auris HSD Concept that will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow (September 15th). Designed specifically for the U.K.,the Auris HSD Concept uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive powerplant as found in the…
Report: Toyota Officially Confirms Prius Plug-In Hybrid Concept for Frankfurt Debut
After much speculation, Toyota has finally confirmed that a concept version of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid will appear at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week. Designed to take on the Chevy Volt, there is no word on when full public sales of the Prius PHV start, while the Volt is scheduled for sale in early…
Report: Mercedes Bringing S-Class Plug-In Hybrid Concept to Frankfurt
Mercedes will debut a plug-in hybrid version of the S-Class at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week. The car, apparently labeled the Vision S500 PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle), will be powered by a V6 gasoline engine, connected to an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. The uber-saloon will be able to travel up…
Breaking: Lexus LF-Ch Concept Revealed Ahead of Frankfurt Debut
After several teaser images, Lexus has finally released a full selection of exterior and interior images of the LF-Ch Concept, which will officially debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 15th and head into production next year. Set to compete in the premium compact segment against cars like the Volvo C30, BMW 1 Series…
Report: Lexus Reveals LF-Ch Hybrid Hatchback Concept
Last week Lexus teased us with a back shot of its upcoming hybrid hatchback and now we finally get a glimpse of what this new model will look like from the front. Called the LF-Ch Concept for now it is expected to be called the CT200h when it finally makes its way to production in…
Report: MINI Coupe Confirmed for Production, Along with “Mystery” Model
MINI has confirmed that a vehicle based on the Coupé Concept, as well as another model will go into production in the near future at the company’s MINI Plant Oxford. As for what that mystery model will be, it has been widely reported that a Roadster, also based on the Coupé Concept, is in the…
Report: Mercedes BlueZERO E-Cell Plus Plug-in Hybrid Concept Coming to Frankfurt
We’ve already seen a pre-production electric B-Class concept and a hydrogen fuel-cell B-Class concept. Now Mercedes is readying a plug-in electric hybrid based on the B-Class chassis, which will debut in a more complete form at the Frankfurt Auto Show in just a few weeks time. Called the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus Concept this model can…
Official: Lexus LF-Ch Concept Revealed in First Official Photo
The first official photo of the upcoming Lexus hybrid hatchback concept car has been released. The new car, expected to be called the CT200h when it finally makes its way to production in 2010, is being called the LF-Ch by Lexus for now. Originally designed specifically for the European market, which will not get the…
Breaking: Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept to Debut at Frankfurt Auto Show
We’ve been hearing from General Motors about the Chevy Volt for what seems like an eternity and now it’s Toyota’s turn. The Japanese automaker will reportedly debut a concept version of the Prius plug-in hybrid at the Frankfurt Auto Show in two weeks time. Toyota has yet to officially announce the debut, but that is…
Report: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is a 356hp Plug-in Hybrid Turbo-Diesel
BMW has kept the world guessing about a concept car that would epitomize the company’s corporate Efficient Dynamics philosophy and now it is here. The new car is mean-looking 2+2 sports car that uses both a turbo-diesel three-cylinder engine as well as two electric motors in a full plug-in hybrid layout. BMW says the goal…
Report: BMW Efficient Dynamics Concept Teased
BMW has just released a single teaser photo of its upcoming Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept that will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month. The German automaker is keeping tight-lipped about the upcoming vehicle, but it is expected to be a serious performance car that utilizes all of BMW’s current Efficient Dynamics approaches. That…
Report: MINI Roadster to Join Coupe for Frankfurt Debut
When MINI officially debuts its Coupé Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month, that model will be joined on stage by a Roadster Concept as well. According to Inside Line, both models will see production for the 2011 model year. MINI also plans to offer both models in all of its international markets. The…
Report: Land Rover LRX Hybrid to Debut Next Year
Land Rover’s smaller, fuel-efficient SUV model based on the LRX Concept, is expected to debut next year as a 2011 model. Several drivetrains will be offered including a hybrid powerplant – a first for Land Rover. The date for the unveiling is expected to be June 17th, which will mark 40 years since the original…
Breaking: MINI Coupé Concept Revealed
At long last, it’s here. Rumors of some sort of even-sportier MINI model have been bouncing around for years and finally, with the debut of the MINI Coupé Concept, there’s reason to believe MINI will actually take action and bring a sporty two-seater to market. The debut comes exactly 50 years after Alec Issigonis showed…
Report: MINI to Debut Countryman Crossover, Speedster Concept Online This Week
Due to the number of models that BMW and other automakers will be debuting at the Frankfurt Auto Show in a few weeks, MINI is reportedly getting ready to launch two new models online later this week. The first of the vehicles is the Countryman crossover, which has been spied several times. The second vehicle…
Report: Scion iQ Mini Car to Arrive in U.S. in Late 2010
First shown as a concept (above) at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Scion will reportedly bring the iQ to market by the Fall of 2010. After receiving an excellent reception at the show, Scion’s VP, Jack Hollis has said he is fighting to get the car to market. One large Toyota dealer,…
Gallery: The Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach
While the real stars of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance are the vintage autos, the Concept Lawn is a special place where future show-stoppers are put on display. While some of the models are actually concepts, many are rare coachbuilt models and a few are full-production cars. In the concept category there was the luxury…
