Concept Cars

OP_ED: KIA Taking Major Risks with STINGER Launch Rollout

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The 2018 Kia Stinger is amazingly cool in the flesh.  Low, wide and longer than any KIA you’ve ever imagined.  It is shaping up to be a real Audi A7 rival, but with pricing that starts in the low 30s for the cheapest models.  Closer in pricing are the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 series GranCoupe — both of which kick off their pricing near where the Stinger tops out around $50k. We’re all for this new sporty KIA.  The initial drive reviews are coming back amazingly positive, and there is real buzz as the first cars arrive at …

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Design Talent Showcase – P1 Phenom Hybrid – Le Mans WingTire Concept

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  Here is an eye-popper of a design concept!  The racecar of the future packing micro turbojet engines on each side.  And tires made of carbon-fiber turbine wing blades.  Packaging of the driver within a central translucent pod / teardrop is almost the most subtle piece of this beauty. P1 Phenom Hybrid is imagined in partnership with Michelin and Embraer — tire and aircraft experts.  P1 Phenom is best in exploring how racing will look with jet propulsion: beyond axles and contact patches for traction. Cheers Carlos Carvalho! Follow him over on Behance here. https://www.behance.net/gallery/41172119/P1-Phenom-Hybrid-Le-Mans-(Michelin-top10) P1 Phenom Hybrid – Le …

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Update1 – 2017 Lamborghini Terzo Millennio

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Updated with high-res photos. Lambo just whipped the wraps off the newest, hottest Lambo yet: the Terzo Millennio.  This third wave hypercar aims to make electric exotic.  And make it sexy. Tough ask! The new Lambo TM aims to revolutionize materials and packaging to go even more mid-engined than Aventador or Centenario.  Cab farther forward.  More extreme rakes to all glass.  And extreme aero taking more precedence than beauty.  We see Lambo’s wild pipedream of what their flagship might be in 2025. Only fairly lousy images and no tech specs available yet.  Watch this space for better materials when available. …

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Designer Showcase – Changha Lee – Peugeot Lumie LMP1 Concept

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Changha Lee has created quite a storm with this molten bullet of a racecar.  Insanely long and nearly melted in its surfaces.  But full of strategic aero and functional slashwork where needed.  It is quite a fetching design story as well.  From initial ideation to engineering skematics.  Then onto photoreal renders and even a scale model. THe Lumie Peugeot design is so charming in its simplicity.  No doors with just a hinged canopy windshield to let the central driver get in position.  The flexing, superheated flow of the design extends far over the rear axle.  A super longtail with carved …

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Update1 – 1600HP, 301MPH 2018 Hennessey Venom F5 Revealed

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Hennessey has been in a two-pony race with Bugatti for the world’s fastest production car for about a decade now.  Their Venom GT easily smashed 270MPH at the NASA runway a few years ago — so we know more pace is certain for the GT’s successor. That car arrived today with a huge gasp at SEMA 2017.  The Venom F5 is fully redesigned with lighter, sleeker and stronger carbon-fiber bodywork.  It promises even less overall drag while also providing race levels of downforce. The quoted figures for power and performance are nothing short of amazing, if they are proven in …

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2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo – 1035HP Special with Track Attack Aero

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The hottest ever Ferrari just tripled its downforce and slashed its drag.  The full makeover outside brings new ductwork and streamlining — best seen from its giant real wing and central spine.  Three massive uprights are actually horizontal stabilizers for its Corso Clienti gentleman racers.  The outermost corners of the car are intense: like a shark fin slicing through the air! It is safe to assume all the aero learnings of this FXX-K Evo will go right into the next-gen LaFerrari.  For now, we can just marvel at its skills on track — there is no road version. This new …

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Designer Showcase – N.01 Autonomous Race Car Concept By Fernando Pastre Fertonani

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Gorgeous new designs out of Brazil this week from Fernando Fertonani! This fresh Masters in Transportation Design SPD Milan grad has penned out a look a driverless endurance racecar of the future. Imagine this as an LMP1 competitor and its rigid bodysides, shrouded front axle and massive wings make beautiful sense.  The open rear tires with central drive system appear to be designed for cooling – wrapped in blocky linear wings that form bodywork and tail stabilizers.  Massive electric motors inside each wheel hub reinforce the thrust this is designed to handle. Instead of a tall cockpit area and mid-mounted …

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Worst of Tokyo – 2017 ZAGATO IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo Sport

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Not one to brag about my automotive skills, mostly.  But I can see a Corvette reskin from about five miles away.  And I certainly know what cutting-edge design does and does not look like. Zagato’s New IsoRevolta IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo is fairly hideous on first inspection.  It is a dated example of surfacing with little to no aerodynamic engineering to justify its many wings. The carved bodywork and pseudo floating fenders are interesting.  How could a giant Chevy V8 fit under a hood even lower than the stock Corvette?! This VGT Sport concept is ostensibly available to buy.  Not sure who would want …

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2017 Mazda VISION COUPE and KAI Concepts Bow in Tokyo

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You know I really wanted this scoop because all these came from Mazda’s Japanese media site! The new Vision Coupe is a breathtaking, cab-backward look at a future Mazda sedan.  Its sharky nose and pert tail are almost like an MX-5 saloon car!  In the best ways. The KAI is a look at the upcoming Mazda3 refresh.  It takes sleek, slinky curves to a new level.  A fully shrink-wrapped package with sport stance like a Golf R.  But with half the roof. Both stunning.  Watch this space for updates and real photos once the cars debut on stage at the …

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2017 Peugeot L750 R Hybrid Joins Vision Gran Turismo Sport

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Second VGT Sport concept is live and trackable right now! This new Peugeot L750 R Hybrid is about 300-pounds lighter than the first0-gen Pug racer prototype — and delivers seriously scorching performance.  2.4-seconds to 60mph and a V-max kissing close to 250-mph. 580HP from the gas engine and 170 ponies from a liquid-cooled Li-ion hybrid battery pack equals some ferocious speed.  But this wont be GTR-easy to control at max attack: the L750 R is rear-drive only. Extreme aero and lightweighting make this L750 R a fun new way to explore the all-new GT Sport game title.   2017 Peugeot …

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2017 Toyota GR HV SPORTS Concept Bows in Tokyo

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Toyota is eager to transition its hybrid tech into fun-to-drive machines.  Of course, the CVT automatic is a big buzzkill.  As is the front-drive layout of any Prius variant. SO how about making a rear-drive, part-manual hybrid sports car!? Seems genius, and here we are.  The GR HV Sports is Gazoo Racing (the inhouse Toyota race team)’s take on a next-gen sport Hybrid Vehicle. To up the fun quotient, the autobox can be truly shifted like an auto-stick.  It has a standard PRND button setup on the dash – But pop the M button on dash from Drive to manual.  …

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Concept Flashback – 1990 Renault Laguna Roadster

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Concept cars serve a variety of purposes in the auto business.  They can be helpful as a grand pronouncement of new ideas — even if those are years away from the showrooms of real life.  They can also be a grand distraction.  Or a grand way to bring halo hotness to a dull lineup. And most of all, they are perfect as blank canvasses for designers to express themselves.  Take a simple idea, like a two-seat cabrio, and take it to its wildest brainstorm conclusion.  In the case of the ultra-curvy Laguna concept, this meant a mid-engine turbo four driving …

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2017 McLaren Ultimate Vision GT for PS4 Gran Turismo Sport is GO

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Always exciting to see a Vision Gran Turismo concept car come to life!  This one is official and is McLaren’s first virtual racer.  It enters the GT Sport universe as a ferocious AWD hybrid hypercar. V8TT to the back wheels and in-hub electric motors at the front channel a max of 1150HP and 1275 pound-feet of torque.  The trick power delivery and aero were specifically designed to ace a set of racing physics parameters — and will make this a hero car for those who race it in the game. The McLaren Ultimate VGT has a few unique design elements …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – SEAT, VW, Opel, Mini and Renault

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Insignia GSi causes a major double-take to get things started on the euro mass-market showfloor gallery.  A brand-new Cupra R and Megane RS are headed to buyers very soon and look dynamite.  The Mini JCW GP Concept is even cooler in real life than it was in its preshow photos.  And finally VW’s soft-skinned ID Crozz Concept is red and happy to be in the world.  Like an electric puppy. 2018 Open Insignia GSi 2018 Renault Megane R.S. 2018 SEAT Leon Cupra R 2017 MINI Cooper GP Concept 2017 VW I.D. Crozz Concept, 2018 VW T-Roc

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2018 Bell & Ross BELLYTANKER Inspired By Bonneville vMax Racers

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Achieving top speeds with piston engines is almost all about aero.  Yes, thrust is key to get you above 100-mph.  And stability is critical for being able to comfortably reach 150-mph over the flat, but actually pretty choppy, salt flats of Bonneville.  Anything over 200-mph takes a seriously slippery shape.  The drag forces rise to exponentially with each extra MPH at that point.  You really need to be in as slippery a shape as possible. During the post-war maverick days of the late 1940s and 1950s, the engineers involved had to find the most sleek, ultra teardrop shape imaginable. Military …

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Part Two – 2017 Porsche 908 RSR Vision GT Hommage Meets 919 and 917K

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Part Two: The RSR!   The crew behind the gorgeous longtail 908 VGT design have a new beast for 2017’s fantasy-cars daydream. A skilled group of professional car designers has been working on a side project after work hours for the last few years.  When not designing vehicles for a Chinese car brand, this group led by Alan Derosier has created magic in the form of not one — but two Vision Gran Turismo fantasy concepts.  They took the VGT idea to heart and applied it to one of the most storied brands in racing history: Porsche.  For licensing and …

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Porsche 908-04 Longtail – Vision GT Hommage (Part One)

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A skilled group of professional car designers has been working on a side project after work hours for the last few years.  When not designing vehicles for a Chinese car brand, this group led by Alan Derosier has created magic in the form of not one — but two Vision Gran Turismo fantasy concepts.  They took the VGT idea to heart and applied it to one of the most storied brands in racing history: Porsche.  For licensing and rights reasons, Porsche does not appear anywhere in the SONY Polyphony Digital Gran Turismo game series.  As such, they were not one …

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2017 Renault SYMBIOZ Concept Car (and House!) – Holistic 2030 Nature-Mobile

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You know we love a good Renault concept around here.  They generally present a future design language on a wild, unrealistic bodystyle. But the advent of electric cars can be really freeing.  SYMBIOZ envisions a car that perfectly fits into its environment and makes a showpiece of everything that passes by these glass windows and roof.  The flatpack battery is Tesla-style and lets the front end be cut to nothing, the overall height radically low and the width stretched to the extreme.  Advanced ultra-strong materials mean SYMBIOZ can pass crash tests even without typical crumple zones.  And with all the …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – Mercedes-Benz, AMG + Smart – Showfloor Gallery [81 Photos]

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A full dozen new machines from Mercedes for the Frankfurt auto show this year.  X-Class pickup and AMG Project One hypercar are taking a lot of headlines.  But the Maybach Vision 6 and G650 are in the house.  Plus the new EQ A electric suppository and the EQ crossover EV as well. Frankfurt IAA 2017 – Mercedes-Benz, AMG + Smart 2017 Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar 2018 Mercedes-Maybach G650 2017 Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Sedan Concept 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Truck 2018 Mercedes-AMG G-Class Exclusive 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT and C63 Racecars 2018 S-Class Coupe and Convertible 2017 Mercedes-Benz …

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2017 KIA Proceed Concept Brings Hot-Wagon Style to Frankfurt

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KIA is really movin’ on up in this world.  Their Stinger GT AWD promises some real grand touring luxury and speed when it arrives in showrooms next month.  And their Euro lineup is stronger than ever thanks to extensive tuning at the Nurburgring.  And thanks to a giant crew of German engineers poached from the top carmakers in the world. So this Proceed concept’s fast-wagon nature is not too far from reality.  Simply GORGEOUS flowing lines, great long-roof proportions and a chopped front overhang make for the stuff of dreams.  This bodystyle is headed for production, Kia strongly hints, as …

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Launch Party – 2017 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE [51 Photos]

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We shouyld have taken Mercedes more seriously when they said their new hypercar concept would be an F1 car for the road.  The cliche is so tired as to barely raise an eyebrow in 2017. But here we are: with a screaming 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged beyond all sense to deliver its 1000 ponies.  And electrified with a bombastic KERS hybrid system. The looks are right off a racetrack and promise a car vastly less practical than any 911, but much more than most racecars.  A deep, McLaren-style door opening brings the entire lower sill up and away from  the bodywork …

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Meet The Devils G-Wagen – 888HP, 3.9s BRABUS 900 G65

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  Any mortal senses when something just isn’t right in this world.  Mutant formations, though, can sometimes pack superpowers beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. This Brabus 900 is an unholy abonination.  In perhaps the most insane special-ops offroad supercar form ever. The G65 Widestar here is called the One of Ten and delivers absolutely ungodly thrust and speed.  V12TT stoked with gold-lined shields, bored-out cylinders and red-hot turbo boost.  8-piston calipers and 23-inch rubber help stick 1106 pound-feet of torque to the ground.  And will happily drift unlike any other Galendewagen in the world!  [Except maybe this one we rendered a …

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Renault Nepta

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You can always count on the French manufacturers to bring some real concept heat.  Perhaps it is the rotation between Frankfurt and Paris.  Whenever it is back in Paris, the brands really go all-out to pack the house. These concepts generally run the gamut of production-unlikliness.  From never-ever to never in a million years. So with no limits but the need to define a next-gen surface language and design theme, what kind of car would you use?  A grand cabriolet, of course! Four giant seats but just two butterfly doors.  These bring the entire bodyside up from central hinges on …

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2017 Jaguar Future-Type Concept + E-Type ZERO Revealed

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By now you have surely read that JLR is electirifying all its 2020-and-beyond car launches.  This makes sense with the latest hybrid tech that makes a e-assist as easy as a jumbo torque-converter for the the autoboxes. Jaguar is clearly going well beyond that level for its future plans, however.  To a full EV and fully autonomous future. So we have a pair of concepts to show their EV motivation: one a remake and one a wild future vision. The E-Type Zero is perhaps more enticing for its rear-drive layout and maintained weight distribtion.  Apparently the EV pack is around …

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2017 MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept – Design Analysis

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MINI fatigue is undeniable lately as an enthusiast and for car shoppers alike.  The improvements are so substantive, but the design and image seems frozen in time.  Most of the time. Then rumbles up a track-attack prototype so extreme that even it hates being a hatchback.  It hates that its breadvan shape lacks the low nose of a supercar or the mid-engined silhouette. So this JCW GP concept rejects its limitations.  It says: i will create extreme downforce and aero — hatchback shape and all.  It does not accept that front-drive is a demerit on the Nordschleife. Floating external fenders …

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Concept Debrief – 2011 SAAB PhoeniX was Dead on Arrival

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  The only thing we really recalled about the final SAAB concept car was its tail. With backlit red lighting through a screen mesh, the PhoeniX reminded us of a nasty reborn Pontiac Bonneville SSEi.  Cheap body cladding and all, unfortunately. Reviewing the PhoeniX design today four years later, the look of this sports coupe is no more appealing. Put simply, this car would have flopped like a pancake on the market. Imagine comparing this with a $50k BMW 435i? It is not just the detailing that is overwrought, but all the surfaces and even the proportions. This thing is …

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1986 GEMBALLA Slantnose 911 Twins Join RM London 2017

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What becomes of high-dollar custom exotics 30 years after they meet the world? Most are not in nearly the flawless, as-new condition as these two. That is a sure thing. Nor are there many box-fresh 911s of any kind from that era.  Let alone with completely outrageous bodywork and spoilers? These two are almost twins – the white Avalanche a hardtop and the red Cyrrus a ragtop. Although they are twins in many ways, they each actually wear totally unique executions for their nose and whale tail designs.  The straked intakes along the doors and into the rear axle were …

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Concept Flashback – 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype

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The GT40 was actually a pretty derivative design – with a chassis and overall structure partially borrowed from Lola. But the GT40 as it came from Lola was not a winner right away. While the Mark I GT40 is a bit more pure, and a lot more beautiful by many eyes — it was not a race-winner. The GT40 started winning races with the Mark II GT40 with its huge air scoops, front sill spats, and other aero mutations to the overall design. But still – it is hard to argue with the clean beauty of these initial concept prototypes. …

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Concept Flashback – 1978 Jaguar XJ Spider by Pininfarina

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How advanced is this Pininfarina concept for Jaguar? It is hard to believe there is an XK under these swoopy panels, which predated anything else curvy by more than eight years. Of course, Jaguar had been rocking serious curves since the 1940s.  This Pininfarina exercise re-introduced a swoopy, flowing shape that was markedly different from the boxy production XK. Very, very impressive level of production value for a 1978 concept.  Although not adapted for sale, some vindication for the designers came when this basic surfacing template was a huge hit for the Aston Martin DB7 and even the Jaguar XK …

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Concept Flashback - 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Porsche 911 with Clear Bubble Hardtop 54

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Bubble Hard 911

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This concept from RINSPEED in 2006 is actually quite magnificent. A clear polycarbonate hardtop and a variety of innovative supplier solutions round out what is a very intriguing concept car from RINSPEED. The rear fenders and nose treatment with Ferrari 612 lighting elements are very interesting, but the RINSPEED ZaZen is absolutely hideous from the pure nose and tail angles. An unusual and sloppy mess of amateurish block shapes. Other lighting by the huge list of experimental parts suppliers are more special.  Diamond-cut glass for the brake lights is intricate, beautiful and very special.  The LED laserlight CHMSL is notably …

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217mph LUCID Alpha Speed Car + 2018 LUCID Air at Pebble Beach

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One of The most promising Tesla-killer of the next year is Lucid Motors. This beauty is packing up to 1000 horsepower and in its top trim, and a base price of $55k at the bottom. It is a dead-on hit at the Tesla Model S, but upgraded to sci-fi limo spec. Fittingly, Lucid brought out their production prototype as well as this road rocket: the Alpha Speed Car. Wearing wrapped and de-mirrored bodywork and a giant clear plexiglass wing in back, the Lucid Alpha Speed was officially clocked at 217MPH. This is one fast forward to the future!  The below …

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Updated w/ 33 Real-Life Photos – 2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

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  Here is a car absolutely perfect for the Pebble Beach concepts lawn. Ultra low.  Ground-hugging panels and exotic, exaggerated proportions.  A level of exotic eroticism unseen on 99.999-percent of all the world’s cars. This is no ordinary car.  It is a look at what a Merc rival to Bugatti might look like.  Pricing north of two mill a pop will keep them rare, while massive top speed performance potential is clear from the machine’s very shape. We have a few dozen real-life photos of the car to share, from the Mercedes House at Pebble Beach and the Concept Lawn …

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART THREE

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Concept lawn adjacent? Here we find the 2018 Porsche 911 RSR, 2018 Rolls-Royce DAWN Black Badge (World Soft Launch), and 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante by ZAGATO. Check out parts one and two for the full class of 2017 concept lawn stars. 2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART THREE 2018 Porsche 911 RSR 2018 Rolls-Royce DAWN Black Badge 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante by ZAGATO

2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART TWO

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We’re back with another round of simply gorgeous photos fresh from The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Seems our previous “all 12 cars” headline really came back to bite in the ass?! We forgot some notables. More pics of the Fux 720s, VW ID Buzz, the Italdesign Zerouno, Pagani Zonda Roadster Exclusive Evo, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, and last but not least, the Infiniti Q60 Project Black S. A few more glamor shots of the Prototype 9 and Vision 6 included for good measure. Bonus points if you can spot Horacio Pagani (aka the Head Dude at Pagani) and Gorden Wagener, the …

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN

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Wish you could take a slow walk around this practice putting green at the Pebble Beach Ritz? You are not alone! We have a terrific class of 2017 to show — including a few world premieres!  The Infiniti Prototype 9 and the Maybach Vision 6 are quite something to behold in the flesh. The Concept Z4 is also popular, as is the Fux pink McLaren 720S we’ve been featuring all weekend. A pair of Ford GT and GT40 Le Mans racers bring some real grit to the show, and set the tone for the Acrua ARX-05 racer nicely. Bentley’s gorgeous …

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2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

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  Here is a car absolutely perfect for the Pebble Beach concepts lawn. Ultra low.  Ground-hugging panels and exotic, exaggerated proportions.  A level of exotic eroticism unseen on 99.999-percent of all the world’s cars. This is no ordinary car.  It is a look at what a Merc rival to Bugatti might look like.  Pricing north of two mill a pop will keep them rare, while massive top speed performance potential is clear from the machine’s very shape. 2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

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2017 BMW Z4 Concept In 44-Photo Exclusive

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The recent design analysis we wrote up over here about the Z4 yesterday is growing.  Today handling some photo edits for JC I found a bevy of new details in the Z4. Things like the lower slash in front fender are as retro as it gets.  THe rest is sheer modern roadster.  It seems so much wider and shorter than the current Z4 in some photos.  But really this is just a product of all-new overhangs and level of rounded corner on both ends.  It is a softer shape.  But marked by a precious few design lines.  These bring the …

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2018 Acura ARX-05 Endurance Racer Bringing V6TT To Track

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  Acura racer… coming in hot! This new ARX-05 will race in 2018 for Team Penske in the DPi class of endurance racers — some of the fiercest competitors on US tracks. Acura’s motorsport V6TT serves here and will power the car for its Rolex 24 race premiere in Daytona. On to the design!~ It is mean.  Mean and fast. This nose tells cars in front: You’re About To Get Passed.   2017 Acura ARX-05   Acura Reveals Striking ARX-05 Prototype Race Car in Monterey; Debut Set for Daytona Aug 18, 2017 – MONTEREY, Calif. Acura to take on top …

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2017 OKUYAMA Kode 0 – Tech Specs + World Premiere at The Quail

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Here is a true dreamcar if there ever was one.  A modern expression of the Gandini wedge design ethos that ruled the supercar world for decades. But leaner, cleaner and more functional under Okuyama’s pen. This machine is ostensibly a one-off created by Ken Okuyama Cars, but a micro-batch of customer cars are possible with style like a Stratos Zero or Ferraro Modulo! It is a masterpiece of linearity.  But with nice overlapping layers that give depth to the front bumper, lower windowline and multi-material tail.  Part of this square rump is notably decorated with chrome brightwork, while the edges …

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Best of Pebble Beach – 2017 INFINITI Prototype 9 in 33 New Photos

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Updated 8.22.17 How can we give a Best Of Award already?   The Concours has not even begun yet! In terms of modern OEM exotics and concepts, the Infiniti Prototype 9 is already one of the most memorable and high-impact designs.   Absolutely stunning. High-impact but low volume!  The Prototype 9’s main drawback might be its lack of period combustion engine note….!     A 1940s racer for modern day?  How about one with an all-electric driveline and single-seater cabin? The perfect fit for the world’s most prestigious concours: Pebble Beach. Infiniti just whipped the silk capes off their Prototype …

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Concept Flashback – 1994 Renault Espace F1 [38 Photos]

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The coolest minivan of all time? A rolling, four-seat example of an F1 team doing their work joyfully? And an eclipse wall of yellow metallic …. coming in fast! The visuals of a van but the sound and speed of an F1 car do not register right in the brain.  It is cognitive dissonance at its best. Play ten seconds of the below and tell me you disagree!       Here are 38 remastered photos of the Espace F1 from its launch in 1994. 1994 Renault Espace F1

Own the 007 Spectre 2014 Land Rover Defender SVX!

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A Defender pro-mod by Q himself!  Or was this the villain car in that Alpine chase.  Oh yes.  Bond is actually driving a crashed plane at the time. This SVX machine will let its new owner be a Bond hero daily.   2014 Land Rover Defender SVX “Spectre”

Concept Flashback – 1999 DeTomaso Nuova Pantera 2000 Prototype

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Here is a detailed look at one of 1999’s most intriguing and perhaps promising concept cars.  Ultimately, this design was not enough to spring DeTomaso back to competitiveness with Lamborghini and Ferrari. As a design time capsule, this Pantera 2000 has true pedigree.  It was presented by De Tomaso himself and designed by legendary Countach (and original Pantera) man Marcello Gandini. The result is interesting, if not quite timeless.  A mid-engined GT car with wide, rounded nose and flying buttress roofline.  The proportions of the old car are laid onto a taller, blander car with no defining lowness or wedge. …

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2017 Monterey Car Week REVEALS List – Pebble Beach, The Quail & Concorso Italiano

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This is crunchtime for car writers and news junkies alike! America’s Goodwood, aka Pebble Beach, has gone from a concours to an all-out supercar auto show extravaganza.  What we learned on a trip to the event in 2014 is that Monterey Car Week is actually a full week of performance joy!  The classics and icons are peppered throughout the experience, of course, but mainly take center stage on the oceanfront fairway only on Concours Sunday. Until then, there are ride/drive events, VIP receptions, press events and media previews galore at the Quail, Concorso Italiano, RM Sotheby’s in downtown Monterey.. and …

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2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Gets Triple ZAGATO Gifts! Speedster + Shooting Brake

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A hot trio of new ZAGATO Aston Martin models just hit the web ahead of their concept lawn debuts at Pebble Beach Concours! The Vanquish Zagato Volante takes the DB-Z coupe looks to new heights.  Those taillights alone are worth their design weight in gold!  But wait, there is more.  More of Zagato’s trademark Double Bubbles in the Vanquish Volante Speedster!  Twin helmet cowls on the rear decklid add a racy touch indeed.  Just 28 of the Speedsters will be made, versus 99 of the cabrio and 99 coupes. A production run of 325 leaves another 100 cars somewhere.  And …

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2017 INFINITI Prototype 9 Makes Retro Pebble Beach Debut

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A 1940s racer for modern day?  How about one with an all-electric driveline and single-seater cabin? The perfect fit for the world’s most prestigious concours: Pebble Beach. Infiniti just whipped the silk capes off their Prototype 9.  And boy will it stop you in your tracks. Even the ‘endless road’ Infiniti badge is expressed artfully.  It now stands proud atop the hood edge like a radiator cap.  The waterfall front grille is slightly tacky on first glance but does make sense.  When viewed directly head-on, the shape of this sunken grille matches the wide jawline of the Q60 sports coupe, …

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2017 ItalDesign x Airbus Pop

2017 ItalDesign x Airbus Pop.Up – Concept Debrief

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Maybe all those ‘flying car’ dreamers and visionaries were just too smart – by half. What if a self-piloted EV road module was left behind when your drone-copter arrives?  That self-driving EV skateboard could drive itself home or to meet you later at the office.  Meanwhile, your transport pod will be under the eight counter-rotating blades of the quad-copter above you? Pretty intense in how real this fantasy traffic-avoider feels.  Thrilled to have the big brains of Giugiaro and Airbus working together to flesh out the idea. Here is a crude animation of how this will work. The insight is rock solid: …

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6 Ways the 2019 Aston Martin VALKYRIE Is Next-Gen Bonkers

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Whisper it, but Aston is on a serious roll lately. The launch sales of DB11 are strong and Vanquish is holding its own versus Bentley and Porsche.  All two dozen copies of the halo 2016 Vulcan track star sold out in days, and the future of the DBX SUV is on track for arrival in summer 2018 to stores worldwide.  From a brand new factory in Wales, of all places! Sure, Rapide and Vantage are showing some age, but will be rejuvenated fairly soon with new AMG turbo powertrains. And then we have this masterpiece.  The collab with Red Bull …

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2017 TOPCAR Porsche Panamera 971 Stingray GTR Edition

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  Never shy about modding a hot Porsche! Larte Design has a menacing makeover in store for the new-gen Panamera 971 series. This dramatic exterior makeover from the crew who make the incredible 911 STINGER is called something similar: the STINGRAY. This widebody spectacular shares nearly no panels with the stock Panamera.  The smoothly slowing fender extensions and reverse breather vents make the Stingray GTR into a super touring car!  With four doors and 24K gold interior detailing, of course. The bodywork is all available as bare or painted carbon and the kit comes in just below $30k in total. …

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200MPH 2017 Vanda Dendrobrium Joins Goodwood FoS Lineup

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  Geneva was filthy with million-dollar exoptics this year.  And at least half of those were from new brands with electric propulsion. The Vanda Electrics entry is one of the most compelling, visually, for its modern and carved track appeal.  A no-fluff machine clearly designed for laptimes!   Ground-effect aero, power doors and canopy and floating wheels?  Dreamy! Concept hypercars have a bad reputation for not being real, however.  And Dendrobrium’s lack of tech specs makes one worry a bit.   The targets are simple enough for any EV hypercar: 3.0-seconds to 60-mph, 200-mph top speed and a range of …

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2017 NOVITEC N-Largo Ferrari 488 Widebody

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If you ever email us here at CRD and really want your message read… here is a shortcut and sure-fire way to make it happen. Include the phrase N-LARGO somewhere in the subject header!  I would spit out my coffee and run to a desktop to see the latest Novitec widebody in highres detail. This latest example based on the Ferrari 488 and 488 Spider is certainly no exception.  This new 488 N Largo is a full 5.5 inches wider than the stock 488 at the back fenders. Slightly less extreme up front — but still shockingly different in appearance …

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2017 RenaultSport RS2027 Concept – Photo Comparo with F1 and e.dams

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Updated 5.13.17 RenaultSport had center stage for the mainstream Renault range in Shanghai this year.  The dancers and sense of occassion certainly made the new purple Espace’s debut a bit cooler. No mind.  The star of the show soon rolled on stage.  World debut of the RS2027 Vision concept.  A look at what ultimate racecars will look like in a decade. Who is RenaultSport to make the prediction? THey are the only manufacturer with top billing in F1 and Formula E, as far as we can recall.  The convergence of shouty gas turbos and buzzy electrics seems unavoidable in ten …

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BMW M4 By Cam-Shaft.de Goes Custom in Battleship Grey/Orange

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Out on the ocean they say never to mess with any grey ships — and that will be a good rule at the stoplights now too. One of the worst things about this generation M3 and M4 is the color selection.  Each of the standard colors are dull while BMW Individual shades add $5k and endless order complexity.  SO of course there is a thriving aftermarket in personalizing the machines. CamShaft out of Germany did this light stage one mod with a powerchip, KW coilover suspension and vinyl body wrap.  It is a primer grey/blue with a smooth sheen unlike …

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Best of Shanghai – 2017 Chevrolet FNR-X Concept [18 Photos]

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Chevrolet’s new FNR-X concept for the Shanghai auto show is incredibly sexy.  In fact, it is one of the coolest SUVs in a show absolutely packed with one-off showpieces.  Most of these are a million miles from the production cars on that same brand.  Is the FNR-X? Perhaps only a half-million miles.  It actually seems feasible for these design themes to come to life, as well as the Volt-inspired PHEV drivetrain. The reasons we love the FNR-X design are its gorgeous proportions, low roof and sharply carved surfaces.  Check out the three-dimensionality of the tailgate!  Or the slimline LED lamps …

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TOPCAR 911 Turbo STINGER Gen2 Carbon Edition Shows Joy of Customs

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Yes, bare carbon on supercars and hypercars is astounding.  How would it be so light, so strong and so beautiful!?   How does the weave intoxicate the eye with its perfect form? Bare carbon on a car that started with metal bodywork is somehow extra special.  It just confirms that the unibody in question is now 10X as strong and only a third the weight. Imagine the performance to be gained! TopCar’s carbon fiber skills are ridiculously advanced in 2017.  This is a firm that has made CF accessory production possible in any shape imaginable.  Mostly spoilers and accent pieces, of …

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2017 RenaultSport RS2027 Vision – Active-Aero F1 Prototype

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What would F1 cars be without their giant wings?  Faster and more futuristic, if the RS2027 Vision is any indication! The latest RenaultSport concept takes a look at where F1 will be in a decade from now.  The result is a gorgeous expression of the open-wheeled racecar.  The future-tech is nose-to-tail, with intriguing details being the side-hinged driver canopy, open-mesh cockpit walls and the streamlined tail with integrated rising wing.  Not as wild about the idea of a transparent helmet for the drivers, or the web-connected and public telemetry data the RS2027 shares with fans in realtime. The RS2027 looks at …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz Concept A – Debuts Fresh Design in Shanghai

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This new Mercedes-Benz concept feels a bit disingenuous.  On the one hand, we have a clear look at the next CLA-Class compact sedan.   But on the other, we have a heavy-handed effort to link this piglet with the 4-door AMG GT Concept.  Aka, the full hog. AMG GT CONCEPT Actually, we take most of that back.  The look of this Concept A is endlessly charming.  Its new LeMans-type grille with vertical slats meets ultra slimline LED headlights.  Wide intakes below leave no doubt as to how turbocharged and speedy MB’s always are. Could the LEDs up front be even …

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2017 VW ID Crozz Concept – Goofy Preview of Future E-SUV

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The tsunami of EV crossovers in development from all brands is starting to worry us.  Where will demand for these E-SUVs (trademark!:) come from when these all arrive together in late 2018?! Automakers near and far are sure that these vehicles are the way forward.  Expensive vehicles as a way to offset the giant costs of the battery packs needed for 300 miles.  The same size batteries would be needed for a compact size car, but who would buy that?  As such, EV crossovers do make some sense, and will let carmakers in the US keep selling a load of …

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Update1 – 2017 Audi e-Tron Sportback Concept – Previews Q5-Sized 2019 EV

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Audi’s astounding sales growth is slowing to a near halt lately.  The firm needs to expand its range horizontally as well as vertically with new model sizes.  The horizontal expansion will add hybrid variants and EVs to similar sizes of Audi’s we know and love today. Unlike just swapping engines, these e-tron models require to be unique platforms from the ground up. There is simply no other way to incorporate flat-pack batteries (a la Tesla) in a conventional chassis. A fresh hint at Audi’s new mission is the 2017 E-Tron Sportback concept.  This full EV just bowed in Shanghai with …

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4.0s, 400HP Jaguar I-PACE Concept – Design Analysis: Is It Sexy?

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The Jaguar I-Pace has a hard name to overcome.  And when it was first shown in silver, it had a mountain to climb for good style, too. Too generic EV, they said. FastForward two months and the I-Pace is back in striking red paint with dark details.  More fitting, perhaps, for the first credible Model X rival. Going full electric for the i-pace means the proportions are radically rethought.  Yes, this is crossover territory, but with a chopped (and hard to digest) nose and nonexistent overhangs.  A lower roof and much lower ride height than F-Pace.  But looking wide as XJ and …

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Best of NYIAS – 2017 Toyota FT-4X Concept

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Welcome to Toyota getting hip with the kids! Since Scion was politely folded into the Big T proper, there are many products in the pipeline that still embody that wacky Scion spirit. The FT-4X is one of those, and looks set for arrival to showrooms within about a year at the most.  This machine is a heavily redesigned and off-road-optimized version of the sexy new C-HR subcompact crossover.  The FT-4X is far more than just a tall-roof variant.  (Although that is its core nature). From a tread perspective, the FT-4X rides far higher, with grippier rubber and longer-travel suspension.  Likely-standard …

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2017 Subaru ASCENT Concept is Jumbo, 7-Seater Outback Headed to Showrooms Next Year

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Subaru has been hinting and teasing its 3-row intentions for years now.  Since the Tribeca bowed out gracefully, in fact, we’ve seen VIZIV concepts galore.  We lost track. Maybe six concepts on that Viziv badge.  Refining what a seven-seat Subaru might be. A new approach was needed, and we now have a 98-percent look at the finished, production product.  The high roofline adds nearly a half-foot of air inside the cabin versus the 5-seat Outback.   An all-new platform drops the floor dramatically in the second row too, giving what looks like amble wayback access and big captains chairs for …

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Animated Debut – 2017 Infiniti QX80 Monograph Concept

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The newest Infiniti is upon us!  It is dubbed the QX80 Monograph. That term is defined as a singular passion project – and shows the lux truck business is important to Infiniti. Very important. This design study upgrades the design of the QX80 immeasurably.  The glasshouse feels familiar, as does the nose. But they are slippery, sexy new expressions on this frame.  The bodysides take a similar space-future upgrade to their look, too, naturally.  The silhouette-racer description is apt.  Minus the giant mirrors of the current model. This beauty uses camera stalk embeds.  Stance is seriously low, with massive rubber …

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Audi Q8 Confirmed for 2019 Modelyear [22 New Photos]

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We love the designs of both Q8 concepts seen so far: the original in blue at Detroit and this new Q8 Sport Concept from Geneva and NY auto shows.  The bodycolor intake flares in front are gorgeous, the new nose and tail are shockingly cool and fender flares always win friends.  We only dislike its slightly nerdy roofline in profile. After the deeply dull A4/A5 and Q5/Q7 refreshes lately, Audi is showing some design elan with their new Q8 concepts.  This four-seat plugin hybrid (Q8) promises supreme comfort for four.  A platform share with the Q7 moves the back seat …

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3.2s 2017 Renault ZOE e-SPORT Concept Is Geneva Highlight

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RenaultSport has found itself at the apex between F1 and Formula E in 2017.  They also produce one of the biggest range of EVs available.  No one is better prepared to take track-fast electrics to the street. The new Zoe e-Sport promises just that.  With a widebody style like the iconic Renault rally rockets, and a matte blue paintwork that happily recalls past Clio V6s. 460HP is the power allowed for this hatch smaller than a Ford Fiesta.  With almost a third of the total vehicle weight as batteries, this ZOE e-Sport might even have some midengine dynamics to add …

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1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype Speedster at Amelia Island Concours [28 Photos]

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    A barchetta speedster as a racecar!?  This car is inspired by the top can-am spyder style LMP1 racecars of its era — all giant wings and scoops galore.  A simple rollbar and twin plexiglass cowls instead of a windshield means this is a helmets-on affair at speed.  The pure definition of street speedster cool! This flowing and curvy design style was the anti-wedge.  Counter-programming versus the sharp Countach and Esprit look, perhaps.  Curvy panel surfaces like these would take decades to go mainstream.   1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype

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267MPH 1987 Oldsmobile AeroTech at Amelia Island Concours [36 Photos]

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What the Oldsmobile AeroTech lacks now and arguably lacked then?  Brand appeal. But what it brings today 30 years after its rollout and stunning 250-mph plus top speed runs?  Importance. This is an important machine.  An extreme aerodynamics, tire and engine prototype, the AeroTech showed the world what it would take to cross into seriously dangerous speeds.  Its tires, brakes, cooling and streamlined underbody taught General Motors important lessons.  Most significant?  The move to shrouded lighting, smooth surfaces and wind tunnel testing. Beyond just showing off as a very ambitious GM prototype, the AeroTech has now even outlived its Oldsmobile …

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2.5s, 1020HP 2019 Artega SCALO SuperElletra By Touring Superleggera

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Here is a surprise for the 2017 Geneva show!  A full-electric supercar that is headed for production — and hell-bent on beating the Tesla Model S P100D’s acceleration. Tesla loves to take their jumbo hatchback sedan to dragstrips to make fools out of the hottest gas-powered metal anyone can find.  And with its very-annoying Ludacris mode much ballyhooed as a unique Tesla trait. But what about a real EV supercar that is designed from the start as a speed demon? Enter the latest project from Touring SuperLeggera and German supercar startup Artega. They call it the SCALO SuperElletra.  The showcar …

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2017 Fittipaldi EF7 By Pininfarina – Geneva Debut LIVE

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What if Sony’s Gran Turismo physics engine was SO GOOD at predicting which cars would win races… that you could designa car expressly to excel in Vision GT and have it be a world-challenger right from the start? That is the idea behind the Fittipaldi EF7 by Pininfarina.  This concept car launches the new Fittipaldi Motors today in Geneva.  Aiming to rival Ferrari and McLaren and the rest, the EF7 takes a design-led approach that is holistic: light and ultra strong chassis, race-levels of grip and speed, and aerodynamics to make the EF7 unbreakable on any track surface. We love …

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2.8s 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Concept – LIVE Geneva Debut in 40 Pics

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Does this car live up to its preshow hype!?  YES! A four-door fastback supercar with the space of Panamera but the speed of 911 Turbo? Quite a potent blend. The concept wears much body adornment and even a hybrid ERS powertrain teaser.  But this shape is certainly en route to buyers VERY SOON with the standard (!) turbo V8s we have come to know and love from AMG. Look for pricing around 200k when this car makes its way to showrooms about a year from today. Worst thing about it so far?  The name?  This is the AMG GT … …

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2017 Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept – Geneva Debut w/ Video

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We can’t wait for the next generation of ‘small’ Bentleys to start arriving!  No longer saddled with its Audi and VW platform, the Bentley range is set to take a big leap up the performance charts. The revolution started with the Speed 6 concept and now continues with this hybrid Speed 6e cabriolet. Its beauty is nothing short of a stunning!  Still a high bathtub shape in profile, but look closer.  Intricate details like the lower sills and even the hood are carved out, scultped for aero and cleanly proportioned like no recently Flying B. The cabin of this two-seater …

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2017 INFINITI Q60 Black S Concept

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Buckle up, bros! THe hottest-ever Infiniti just debuted with the Black S badge.  This race-ready M4 GTS rival is packing ERS hybrid tech to rocket the machine out of corners — even faster than stock!   The Red Sport 400 — aka the red S in the Q60S badge — is already a hero over here.  Adore.  SuperCoupe of the Year. SO this variant with its extreme aero, grip and powertrain upgrades? Nothing short of elation. More details to follow. 2017 INFINITI Q60 Project Black S Concept     Mar 3, 2017 Introducing Project Black S – an exploration of …

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2017 Maserati LEVANTE By Brabus-StarTech

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Levante is pretty intense in the flesh.  A macho chin and shark nose up front, but ultra low roof tapering to nothing in the back. But how to take some of Maserati’s trim and style choices up a few big notches? StarTech to the rescue.  This Brabus brand has a full line of Levante parts available for shipping worldwide.  Pick a few or go for the works…! Granted, finding tires for the 23s on this Geneva showtruck might be tricky.  Such is life… in the fastlane.   Scratch that: this truck runs centerlock 21s.  More info below the gallery. 2017 …

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MANSORY Geneva Showstoppers – Top Five Wildest One-Offs

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If you ever ask yourself, ‘ Hey, I wonder what Mansory has been up to lately,’ you are in for some fireworks. Mansory’s exotic customs are some of the most lavish and exclusive in the world.  And the latest set does not disappoint! Most striking are the cars they use as their starting points.  Seriously special metal to begin with… then gilded and leathered and ostriched to the max! Gatorskin cabin? Cobalt inlays? Diamonds to match? They do it all. For 2017, Mansory is bringing their new Rolls-Royce Dawn, Bentley Bentayga, AMG GT and a pair of G-Wagens.  Their G63 …

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2017 Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Shows Razor-Sharp New Design Direction

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Vmotion 2.0 is Nissan’s big concept reveal at Detroit this year, and it is pretty mouth-watering! This is wholly a design and automated-driving prototype — one that does not directly preview any particular production model.  More than that: it actually previews all of them.  The Altima is next up for a big refresh from Nissan, and it is likely to wear much of this chic new style when it materializes as a 2019 model. Will it also integrate the ‘Nissan Intelligent Mobility’ tech that is at the core of this vehicle?  Namely, the ProPILOT auto-driving functions? Yes, yes it will. …

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2017 Audi Q8 Concept – Near-Production SUV Limo Shows Face in Detroit

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  Finally!  Some fresh design from Audi! After the deeply dull A4/A5 and Q5/Q7 refreshes lately, Audi is showing some design elan with their new Q8 concept.  This four-seat plugin hybrid limo promises supreme comfort for four.  A platform share with the Q7 moves the back seat rearward and focused on backseat comfort for just the second row.  No third row, then. A stonking 516 pound-feet of torque ensure a rapid getaway for the lucky four-some.  And a silent one too!  The machine promises 37-miles of pure EV driving range. What this limo indicates is that Audi’s model expansion has …

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CES 2017 – Top 10 Big Reveals + Showfloor Gallery

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Many semi-cool reveals at CES this year.  And thankfully, they are not all wearing the same shade of Apple-knockoff white plastic for bodywork! Oh wait, all the cars are the same silver this year?  Delightful. This biggest headlines were undoubtedly for the Faraday Future FF91, a Tesla Model X rival that actually seems super smart and innovative.  If not exactly sexy, the design is certainly unique and practical.  This FF91 flagship is production-bound with a direct-to-consumer sales model that also takes great inspiration from Tesla. The Toyota Concept I is silly fun, while the Chrysler Portal is slightly more serious.  The …

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2017 BMW i Inside Future Sculpture Previews HoloActive Gesture Controls

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Has BMW i just gone off the deep end entirely?  The iPerformance range in the 3 series (330e) and X5 40e is smooth and creamy — literally — on the road.  Yet the plugin hybrid electrics do drive like normal, high-speed BMWs. But my word.  Getting past the clutter of the “BMW i” language and descriptors, not to mention their designs and prices, mean these new innovations are definitely still in their infancy. Case in point? The below press release, which is virtually unintelligible.  It is so up its own a** that you have a hard time knowing the CARS …

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2017 BMW M2 Convertible!?! Dahler GmbH Makes Dream Real

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  In the BMW order books, the M2 is always described as the “M2 Coupe.”  This is a strong indication that a cabrio may be in route.  Otherwise, why specify? Dahler Teknik of Deutschland has beaten BMW to the punch with the first-ever M2 Convertible. How did they achieve this?  By upgrading the bodywork and mechanicals of an M235i (now M240i) or chopping the top off an existing, and genuine, M2 Coupe? We do not know the exact answer to this. But what a specimen to behold regardless. If BMW wasn’t sure about the potential for an M2 Convertible… this …

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2017 Faraday Future FF91 – Updated with Live Photos/Video

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The saga of Faraday Future has been a roller coaster ride ever since the company was first formed especially with the recent defections of several top Faraday executives. However, the company chose to put these rumors to the wayside with the unveiling of the FF91 EV. The FF91 is a key offering for the mysterious upstart company, and on paper at least, the crossover-esque vehicle is a potent beast. The car will come equipped with a 200 kW fast charging capacity, which works in tandem with the 130 kWh battery pack to deliver a 378 mile driving range with the …

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2017 BMW M6 GTLM – 19th BMW Art Car by John Baldessari Will Race DAYTONA

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The BMW Art cars are best as real-world racers. Taking corners in a future legend has appeal today just like it did when the first BMW Art Car emerged from the Paris office around 1973. This latest racing artwork, the 19th in the series? A 2017 M6 GTLM, naturally. The biggest, baddest BMW racecar ever made.  A vehicle so shouty on throttle that the artist put the letters F A S T right along both flanks. 2017 BMW M6 GTLM – 19th BMW Art Car by John Baldessari World premiere of BMW Art Car by John Baldessari at Art Basel …

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Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concepts Preview 2017 Production Pickups!

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An ultra-strong ladder frame, big straight-six engines and Mercedes drive manners? Mercedes today previews its future ‘crossover’ and first-ever pickup with the Concept X-Class.  This will be less of a crossover but a smart combination of MB’s truck and car resources.  Those Unimog genes and grip… now in a $70k luxury size! Two models are shown: a posh AMG-style look in shimmery white.  Low suspension and performance stance are hot.  The nose is actually pretty sexy, but has nothing on its gorgeous LED tail.  A swirlly ribbon of red LED is the brake light in back. THe other truck is …

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1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi – RM Monterey 2016 Highlight

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One of the first-ever midengine Ferrari racers went across the block in Cali this August. Looks like it was a no-sale, curiously. A high bar was surely set: we’d estimating the reserve was around $25-million.  Perhaps 35. So it is still seeking a new home.  Home for its freaky beauty, snarky nose intakes and special-prototype LMP1 provenance. Sold or not, we’re elated to see this 1962 268SP in the sunlight in all its glory. RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 Lot 240 1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi Chassis no. 0798 Engine no. 0798 Gearbox no. 6 Estimate Available Upon Request Please note that Internet …

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2016 BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100

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Welcome to the final piece of the BMW Next 100 mosaic: the Motorrad Vision concept. This gorgeous bike is the only one of these far-future-looking vehicles that actually seems cool.  The rest are quite a sight for sore eyes. This Vision Next 100 is not, though.  It is dark and menacing and clearly dripping in high-tech solutions.  Its integrated chassis flexes intelligently, replacing typical suspension systems with a full-body take on the theme.  A sport shoe is the idea: breathing and moving over bumps in perfect harmony of grip and smoothness. The driver is not sidelined, either, in this EV …

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2016 Rolls-Royce Concept 103EX Lands in California

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The extremely provocative 103EX Rolls Royce just landed in the States for the first time! A glitzy gala at the Santa Monica airport will introduce this striking vision of future luxury to well-qualified buyers this week, along with the Dawn and Ghost II that are available to buy today. Why is this concept so freaky?  Or, to put it even more bluntly, “ugly” as many Facebook.com/carrevsdaily fans noted? Part of the reason its design is so striking and such a shock to the system?  The Vision Next 100 premise. This is not a 10-year look into the future, but aims to …

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World Debut – 2016 GLM G4 is Four-Door HyperEV Out of Japan

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One of the most stunning vehicles at the Paris motor show?  This unknown entry from a Japanese startup called GLM. Their debut model is dubbed the G4, an all-electric supersedan with stellar performance and untouchable style. Think of the size of a Lamborghini Huracan or Gallardo, but stretched lengthwise and integrating four doors.  Still an ultra-low roof and brutal, mid-engine proportions… but expressed for a new era.  This is a car that competes with the Tesla Model S, but is a cool half-foot shorter and far more extreme overall. The closest spritual predecessor of this model is surely the Fisker/VLF …

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Ram Unveils 575 Horsepower Rebel TRX Concept

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Amid all the glitz and glamour that the Paris Motor Show provided this week, an unveiling at the Texas State Fair by Ram almost flew under the radar. However the brand’s Rebel TRX concept truck could signal that Ram is finally getting serious about unveiling a future Raptor fighting model. While some folks might have assumed that the RAM 1500 Rebel was the solution to this dilemma prior to its NAIAS debut last year, it turned out to be more adept at navigating backwoods trails versus being an outright sand assault vehicle. The TRX on the other hand completely flips …

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Best of Paris 2016 – Renault TREZOR Concept in 66 Photos + Video

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The most breathtaking silhouette of the year? With a one-piece front clamshell door rising proudly to greet you?  Its unique and ultra-flowing fades versus firm, artless lines. The Trezor concept is a car whose beauty makes one sit down, suddenly weak in the knees. Luckily for us, this vehicle will be the guiding light in next-gen Renault designs.  Which are a bit in need of passion these days.     Concept Car Embodies French Design and Easy Life The TREZOR marks the beginning of a new cycle of development that explores design language and technologies for Renault’s upcoming models. The warm styling and …

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2016 Volkswagen ID Concept

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This is it! A near-production EV platform that VW will take global in three dozen flavors. Promising tech and ambition for a company still neck-deep in trouble. Some elements of the ID are more production-ready than others.  Details like the shrouded mirror-cams and roof sensor pods are actually farther out than the core architecture. The ID EV runs a flatpack battery and spaceframe chassis, a la tesla, but with a price that is hopefully a bit more Model 3 than Model S. The cabin is now enormously roomy for a Golf-length car.  Slightly formless elements of the design are aero-dynamic …

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2016 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 – Paris Debut GALLERY + Render

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I love this car.  I love its viciously post-modern take on a low-drag monstercar. The design is quite spectacular, if overshadowed by its final finishing.  Imagine this machine without red wheels, blasting by you in the fastlane… just a lightbar *flash* and it’s gone from view in front.  2016 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 – Paris Debut GALLERY Study of an ultra-stylish luxury-class coupé: The ultimate in luxury: Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Stuttgart/Pebble Beach. Every August classic car fans from around the world converge on Pebble Beach in California for a very special beauty contest. This gathering of magnificent classic cars is the perfect …

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2016 BMW X2 Concept – Live Paris Photos/Analysis of Intriguing New Design Language

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Interesting new look for the 2016 BMW X2 Concept today in Paris!  The X2 is smoother and softer than the traditional X3/X5 design feel, but is still quite macho and aggressive.  We love the nose detailing, long and low roofline like a fastback, and the pert rump. This concept X2 hopes to broaden the crossover appeal of cars in the VW Golf size class, with minimal tradeoffs when scaling skyward.  As such, it appears about half-way between the normal BMW aesthetic and the latest X-model appearance. This becomes clear with the ultra smooth bodysides and minimal fender flaring, in contrast to …

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Updated with Live Photos – 2016 Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration Concept

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Second look at the Infiniti QX Sport concept — but the first time outside of its debut in Asia! This stylish number is widely thought to preview an upcoming QX70 replacement.  Or perhaps a pair of them! A long-wheelbase, seven-seat variant of the model is likely. We’re unclear on the basis for this vehicle.  It may be an evolution of the Q50 platform, or could share its underpinnings with the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.  If the latter, this would be the second deep partnership between Infiniti and MB — after the just-launched Q30 and QX30 models. 2016 Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration Concept …

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The Escala Concept introduces the next evolution of Cadillac des

World Debut – 2016 Cadillac ESCALA Concept

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Yes, Cadillac’s new video ads are appallingly bad.  Yes, a CT6 in slow-motion down a brick street in Manhattan is ridiculous. It looks like a high-fashion version of those anti-texting PSA’s, where the beautiful couple/friends/family’s lives are shattered by a huge crash.  No overt carcrash in the Caddy ads.  But they are a trainwreck. But Cadillac does have a vision these days, even if little of the product lineup really matches that look into the future. The Escala is the third “glamour” concept from the marque, after the Ciel and the Elmiraj from 2011 and 2013, respectively. This machine is all …

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BMW 2002 Hommage 14

2016 BMW 2002 Hommage Concept Slides Into Villa d’Este + VIDEO!

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Not really sure what to say about this M2 reskin that is the BMW brand’s big debut at this year’s Villa d’Este concours in Lake Como, Italy. It certainly has some expressive lines, deep shaping and a deconstructed aesthetic.  It is fabulous to see versus the absolutely repulsive BMW Vision Next 100 from a few weeks ago.  Both in style and substance. But while deconstructed, in a way, the design of this upgraded 2-series is a wide miss.  It feels like a fiberglass redo OVER and above the existing design, versus a holistic exercise in itself.  A frozen glasshouse, doorlines …

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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Concept_07

2016 Aston Martin Vanquish ZAGATO Concept

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For years now, the car world has collectively wished for a new-looking Aston Martin flagship. Do we finally have one? Yes, yes we do.   2016 Aston Martin Vanquish ZAGATO Concept ASTON MARTIN UNVEILS VANQUISH ZAGATO CONCEPT AT VILLA D’ESTE 20/05/16   20 May, 2016, Cernobbio, Italy: Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato are proud to announce the Vanquish Zagato Concept, the latest creation from their long-standing partnership. The Vanquish Zagato Concept will make its global debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, held at Lake Como in Italy from 21 – 22 May 2016 The Vanquish Zagato Concept …

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2014 W Motors Lykan Hypersport in 40+ Amazing New Wallpapers, Including MegaLux Interior 32

7 of the Craziest Looking Dashboards and Interiors – By Scott Huntington

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    You wouldn’t spend all your time drooling over the sexy exterior of your favorite sports car without taking a peek under the hood and looking through the windows to check out the interior. Some cars, though, might give you a shock when you take a look at the interior — futuristic dashboards that look like someone pulled them out of your favorite science fiction movie are not a new idea, but they have certainly gotten cooler over the years.   Here are seven of the best, or at least craziest-looking dashboards and interiors ever, pulled from past and …

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VIDEO: 2017 Ford Focus RS RX – Project RX Episode 1 – Design and Development

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            FORD PERFORMANCE RELEASES “PROJECT RX”: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE FORD FOCUS RS RX DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY The Ford Focus RS RX was designed to be the ultimate rallycross vehicle in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Collaborating with UK-based M-Sport and Hoonigan Racing Division, Ford Performance engineers implemented the same high-tech instruments and procedures used on production vehicles to develop the Focus RS RX for competition. The first of a four-part documentary, episode one of “Project RX” highlights the design and development of the vehicle between Ford Performance headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, and the M-Sport …

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ItalDesign GIUGIARO Parcour – DIY Design Contest Entry Materials + 100 Renderings

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ItalDesign is taking new looks for its Parcour super-truck this month — with the winner scoring VIP passes to a giant gala in Valentino Park. The examples they’ve provided are pretty cool, but will take work to revamp stylishly.  A plan view from all sides, plus six PDFs of letters.  These outline what GIUGIARO does best. The DIY Design Contest goal is a new Livery, not just color and look.  So that likely includes some kind of wrap or graphics. But we’ve stuck to more of a colorblock type of fashion for most of the 110 renderings below.  Custom wheel …

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