Kief Cars » Concept Cars

Toyota FT-86 concept car preview

Henno Kruger — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:25:09 +0000

The Japanese Auto Manufacturer will introduce this concept vehicle at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show later this month. The Toyota FT-86 has been nicknamed the “Toyobaru” because Toyota is actually developing this vehicle in conjunction with Subaru. This rear wheel drive sports car is rumored to be close to going to production. The Toyota FT-86 concept car design apparently draws from the dramatic Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports concept which was shown at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. The Toyota FT-86 refers to the Toyota Corolla AE-86 (a rear-drive coupe that became Japan’s rally car in the 1980s). The Toyota FT-86 is fitted with a 2.0-litre boxer engine from the Subaru Impreza and a 6 speed gearbox. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see this vehicle on the Toyota production line in South Africa soon.

Honda EV-N Concept to be introduced

Henno Kruger — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:02:36 +0000

The Japanese Auto Manufacturer Honda has unveiled the Honda EV-N Concept ahead of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show (later this month). This retro-styled electric car looks like something out of the 1960s, in my opinion. Honda are keeping some secrets at this stage. They have not released details about the motor and battery that will be fitted in this vehicle. A U3-X Segway-like unicycle is smartly strapped to the passenger door. One could easily mistake this for a hardcore speaker system. The Honda EV-N Concept will be part of the HELLO display for Honda at the 2009 Tokyo Motor show. This exhibit will showcase Honda products that could be part of a low-carbon society of the distant future. The Honda EV-N Concept is also fitted with a solar roof panel. This 4 seater car pays homage to the Honda N360s and N600s of the 1960s and 1970s. I will probably not be buying a car like this in the nearby future. There is no clarity if this car will be introduced in South Africa and there is no indication whether Honda will be making this part of their production line-up.

Peugeot Moonster Concept

Henno Kruger — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:29:14 +0000

In 2001 Peugeot introduced the radical Peugeot Moonster Concept. The talents behind this project were found via an internet design competition. People were asked to submit design sketches via the French Auto Maker’s website. The designs were narrowed down from 750 to 50. An online vote was then cast to find out which design users / enthusiasts found the most appealing. Marko Lukovic (from Yugoslavia) won with this design. The Peugeot Moonster Concept was introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The car’s design was presented in fluid form. No engine, transmission or suspension systems were in place. The Peugeot Moonster Concept was hand-formed from sheet aluminum and polished to perfection. This resulted in the most reflective car to date. All praise to Peugeot for the type of competition they set up. Peugeot handed over complete creative feedom to the designer and also embraced the internet to seek out talented designs. Quite impressive if you ask me. This will probably not be built or seen on roads in South Africa, but a man can still dream.

Mini Coupe Concept Preview

Henno Kruger — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:36:27 +0000

About a week ago, Mini released the first pictures of the Mini Coupe Concept, a car set to be unveiled officially at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this month. At first look this car looks almost exactly the same as it’s close cousin, the Mini Cooper. This concept car features a radical side profile, an aluminum roof with a “reverse baseball cap” appearance, massive wheels, a sporty rear bumper and dual center-mounted exhaust pipes. The Mini Coupe Concept is fitted with a 208 bhp 1.6-litre Turbo engine.

It’s unclear whether the German automaker, BMW, Mini’s parent company intends to put the Mini Coupe Concept into production. It’s also expected that this car will weigh at least 100 kg less than the Mini Hatch (most likely because the Mini Coupe Concept only has 2 front seats). It’s expected that the car should be able to reach 0 – 60 mph (100 km/h) in about 6 seconds. The Mini Coupe Concept was introduced in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Alex Issigonis’ original Mini design. I’ve always been a fan of Mini. This car truly looks stylish. Since this is not available to the public yet, I should probably look for a 2nd hand Mini in the classifieds instead. Or maybe I’ll just twiddle my thumbs and admire this Mini Coupe Concept for a day or two.

Audi R-Zero Concept

Henno Kruger — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:07:44 +0000

In 2006 Audi introduced this electric concept car at motor shows around the world, the Audi R-Zero Concept. This supercar is a good example of how perfect union of the dynamism of sports car designs and the importance and respect for the environment can be merged. The original idea for the Audi R-Zero Concept came from students at the ISD (Internation School of Design) in France. If released the Audi R-Zero sports car will be fitted with 4 engines. Each engine will be powered individually by a lithium-ion 800 volt battery. Each capable of releasing a lot of power, more than 450 watts / kg to be exact. Because of this the Audi R-Zero Concept is expected to reach a top speed of 460 km/h (286 mph). The car will be able to reach 100 km in less than 3 seconds. The Audi R-Zero Concept can put out a projected 1089 hp.

If you look at the Audi R-Zero’s design you’ll see that this concept car’s design definately was influenced by the Audi TT and the Bugatti Veyron. The car’s engine is cooled by making use of an airflow system. This also improves the aerodynamics of the Audi R-Zero. The car is only a concept. There has been no intension or announcement from Audi to indicate that they will be releasing a production model of the the Audio R-Zero. It’s still a very nice car to look at it. I wonder if I could find a replica model of this car in the classifieds. The chance is highly unlikely though and it might possibly be very pricey.

VW Concept R

Henno Kruger — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:56:50 +0000

The VW Concept R was unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. The car is a sporty 2-seater roadster with mid-engine and rear wheel drive. The VW Concept R is powered by a V6 3.2 L FSI petrol engine with a maximum output of 195 kW / 261 hp. Apparently this is strong enough to enable this sports car to reach 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. The VW Concept R was based on the VW Golf Hatchback. The car is 4,1m long, 1,8m wide and 1,2 high. The VW Concept R is fitted with a 6 speed direct-shift transmission and has a top speed of 250 km/h which is electronically limited. This concept car has a Volkswagen logo which is generated digitally by a display and begins to pulsate in the OLED screen when the ignition is turned on by the driver. The pulse stops when the ignition is activated. The seats are not adjustable at all. The correct seating position must be found by electrically moving the polished metal information block of the instrument panel, including the steering wheel and pedal cluster back or forth in order to find the correct seating position. The VW Concept R’s seats are filled with active foam. The active foam adapts to the body shape of the driver and passenger. This is a first for sports car. In 2005 VW confirmed that they intend to build a production car derived from the VW Concept R concept car. It’s 2009, no production model based on this vehicle has been released yet, but the VW Concept Blue Sport was revealed at the 2009 North American Auto Show, which is derived from the VW Concept R.

This is a very stylish looking car. No two ways about it. I doubt that this car will ever be transformed into a production car. And should this become a production vehicle its highly unlikely that it will make it to South Africa. I will keep my fingers crossed though. In the meanwhile I’ll look around in the classifieds for a 2nd hand vehicle instead. The VW Concept R probably will not be within my price range if its released here.

BMW Z9

Henno Kruger — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:03:01 +0000

The BMW Z9 was introduced as a concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1999. It was also called the BMW Z9 Gran Tourismo. The car never made it to production but many of its features did. At the 2000 Paris Auto Show, a convertible variant of the BMW Z9 made its appearance. The BMW Z9 featured a carbon fiber skin over an aluminum space frame. The styling used on the BMW E63 6 series is derived from the BMW Z9. The vehicle featured unique gull wing doors that could also be opened like conventional hinged doors. An early concept of BMW’s iDrive system was fitted in the BMW Z9, then called the Intuitive Interaction Concept. The BMW Z9 featured the first V8 Turbo Diesel engine, which was later manufactured for the BMW 740 Diesel. The BMW Z9 drive or reverse gears can be engaged with mounted lever on the dash. Steering wheel mounted buttons were also added for the Steptronic transmission. The driver can manually shift gears with these buttons.

This truly is a very stylish looking vehicle. One can really admire concept cars. They either get built or they are an inspiration and motivation for designers and future designers alike. There can’t be many of these BMW Z9s in existence, so you’ll probably never find a 2nd hand Z9 to buy in the classifieds. Guess I’ll have to look for a cheaper vehicle, since BMW has a price tag way above my pricing range for a vehicle.

Chrysler Turbine car

Henno Kruger — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:26:08 +0000

At first glance the Chrysler Turbine car looks like a classic car. The Chrysler Turbine was an automobile powered by gas turbine engines that were assembled in a small plant in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1963. The automobile was only used for consumer tests for gas turbine-powered cars. The vehicle was the high point of Chrysler’s decades-long project to build a practical turbine-powered car. The 4th generation Chrysler turbine engine ran up to 60,000 RPM. The engine could use diesel fuel, unleaded gasoline, kerosene, JP-4 jet fuel, and even vegetable oil. It could run on virtually anything. The president of Mexico put this tot the test. He ran one of the first cars successfully on tequila. Air/fuel adjustments were required to switch from 1 kind of fuel to another. The only evidence of which fuel was being used was the odor of coming out of the exhaust. Only 55 of these cars were built. When Chrysler finished the program and when public displays ended, 46 of the cars were destroyed. 6 of the 9 remaining cars engines were de-activated and donated to museums around the US. Chrysler retained the 3 remaining cars for historical reasons. The Chrysler turbine program did not die either. A re-engineered version of the turbine engine would appear in the 1966 Dodge Charger.

If car manufacturers or entrepeneurs could find a cost-effective way of making a turbine engine it could change the face of cars and reduce the demand for oil worldwide. One can not buy the Chrysler Turbine car anywhere. A few of the old car’s engines are owned by a few private collectors and Chrysler themselves. I guess I’ll have to look around in the classifieds to find another car instead.

Honda FCX Clarity

Henno Kruger — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:59:50 +0000

The Japanese Auto Manufacturer, Honda, is pushing ahead with the mass-production of the Honda FCX Clarity which will be powered by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology. The car was named as the World Green Car for 2009 at the World Car Awards. On the Honda FCX Clarity, Honda promises that the car is fun to drive and smooth, quiet en powerful. The vehicle also features a reinforced body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).

This decision to mass-produce this vehicle comes even though there has been a slow uptake on hydrogen fuel cell technology. The Obama administration in the US, a key market for this technology, has publicly backed electric car technology and ignored hydrogen fuel cell technology. In the United Kingdom no network for hydrogen fuel cell technology exists. Honda is presently the only Auto Manufacturer in the world to offer a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle for public leasing. General Motors and Toyota have also backed hydrogen fuel cell technology adoption as one of their strategies. General Motors plans to release a fuel cell car by the year 2012. Toyota are looking to bring out a fuel cell car in the next 6 years. The problem with hydrogen, in my opinion, is that it costs twice the price of gasoline, so it won’t be that cost effective. Or maybe it could be if there is fuelling structure like the established gasoline one. It will be a while before we see these cars advertised as 2nd hand vehicles in the classifieds, probably another 5 years or so.

Related Links:
Honda FCX Clarity – Official Website

Chevrolet Orlando

Henno Kruger — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:43:37 +0000

The Chevrolet Orlando took centre stage at the Chevrolet stand at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, next to the Chevrolet Cruze sedan. The vehicle is a 7 seater part SUV, part MPV. This could probably change the shape of the MPVs produced in the near future. It has a fashionable squared-off styling and versatile cabin. The Chevrolet Orlando can easily accommodate seven adults in 3 rows of seats. This can be transformed quickly into a flat load-carrying area. The vehicle has a sloping center stack with a high-mounted gear lever, brushed metal-effect trim and blue-backlit instruments. The Chevrolet Orlando was designed by GM Holden in Australia. The vehicle has a double-deck grille and prominent bow-tie logo, with an octagonal windscreen and concave bonnet. The Chevrolet Orlando will replace the Tacoma Compact MPV. It was announced that this vehicle will go into production at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. I don’t think that there are plans to sell the Chevrolet Orlando in South Africa (my home country), but I could be wrong. Guess I’ll have to look around in the classifieds for a similar vehicle, which might be hard to find since this vehicle seems to be in a class of its own.

Related Link:
Chevrolet – Official Website

Cars in the Movies: Chevrolet Camaro (5th Generation)

Henno Kruger — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:05:27 +0000

This car is best-known for being featured as Bumblebee in both Transformers movies. The 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro is dirived from the 2006 Chevrolet Camaro Concept and 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept. Production was approved in August 2006 but has only started in March of 2009 and the car is marked as a 2010 model. When the car was used in the first Transformers movie in 2007 it was still in concept phase. A modified fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro was used in the sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009. As far as I know this car will not be released in South Africa by Chevrolet. It would probably cost a ton to import a car like this to my home country. I will probably find it easier to buy a 2nd hand Chevrolet Camaro in the classifieds, otherwise I’d simply have to go on living without ever owning one.

Related Link:
Chevrolet – Official Website

Citroën GT

Henno Kruger — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:27 +0000

The GT by Citroën made its debut as a concept car in October 2008 at the Paris Motor Show. Its rumored that Citroën will only build 6 or 8 of these. Each vehicle will cost approxamitely $2.1 million. This sports car was originally designed by Takumi Yamamoto for the video game, Gran Tourismo 5. He sold the concept to both Polyphony Digital and Citroën. This sports car is 2 seater, mid-engine coupe. Sources at Citroën say that most of the GT by Citroën’s outlandish features will make it to production, notably its carbon-fibre construction and unique interior. There is no clarity about which engine will be featured with this car yet, but it probably will not feature the hydrogen cell engine that’s featured in Gran Tourismo 5. I don’t think I’ll ever see one of these cars “in the flesh” in my home country, South Africa. I also don’t think you’ll find this car advertised in a classifieds publication or on a website (maybe a replica in a few years).

Related Link:
Citroën – Official Website