“Trexa EV Platform”; Design Your Own Electric Vehicle
Trexa is aiming to make electric car designing as easy as simply picking up parts and plugging them in your dream machine. The company has unveiled the world’s first fully electric vehicle development platform that lets users design the vehicle on their own.
The platform includes everything from a battery to power electronics. For starters, the standard platform has an acceleration of 0-60mph in 8 sec, a top speed of 100mph, a 105 mile range, and a charge time of 4 hours (based upon an efficiency of 200Wh per mile — comparable to a Prius in electric mode).The on-board batteries can be recharged in just four hours.
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Halcyon Concept Car by Ralph Tayler-Webb
The Halcyon concept car is designed by Ralph Tayler-Webb from Reflex Studio is an electric powered car that has an aerodynamic structure with covered wheels and a tapering teardrop cabin which reduces air drag.
With a structure made from porous aluminum foam, the Halcyon mimics the owl’s hollow bones and makes it surprisingly light for its generous volume. Aluminum foam also benefits from high impact and acoustic absorbency, keeping the occupants safe and (without) sound.
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2010 Dodge Challenger
Most reviewers agree that among the three Detroit muscle cars, the 2010 Dodge Challenger plays the retro card to the highest degree. Automobile Magazine calls it a “head turner,” while Cars.com refers to its “Hot Wheels” styling.
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Infinium 2009, Solar Car
The University of Michigan’s Solar Car Team pools academic disciplines, corporate backing and 3-D technology to engineer highly competitive electric vehicles. The Infinium is their tenth sun car in 20 years. In order to produce such a lean, clean and “green” machine, the 150 or so collaborators use CAD and Z Corp for efficient design, and mostly titanium and aluminium parts.
Strips of photovoltaic panels (the space-age, gallium-arsenide kind) absorb the sun’s energy along a sleek and light carbon-fibre shell, and a 16-hp electric motor in one of its three wheels propels the 600-lb coupe up to 90 miles per hour and 98 percent efficiency. Awesome aerodynamics and innovative innards apparently allow the Infinium a driving range of 200 to 300 miles without any sunlight at all.
Five-Wheeled Car by Esslam Zahra
Esslam Zahra from Egypt put a fifth wheel, mounted perpendicular to the other four, on the back of his car. The wheel can be raised or lowered, depending on if he is parking or driving. The purpose is so that he can get in and out of the very tightest parking spaces.
Via [The Presurfer]
Challenger Vapor 2009 by Galpin Auto Sports
The United States Air Force and Galpin Auto Sports teamed up to build a custom one-of-a-kind 2009 Dodge Challenger dubbed ‘Vapor’. The Challenger is 1 of 2 cars built along with a X-1 Mustang for the 2009 Super Car Tour, a tour that will travel cross country as part of a mobile marketing effort to educate young people on the mechanical and technical career opportunities available within the Air Force.
The Challenger ‘Vapor’ features some pretty kick ass stuff like biometric access (fingerprint) to open the vertical doors, custom stealth body kit utilizing a Classic Design Concepts wide body kit with jet-like enhancements and car fiber trim pieces. Other goodies featured on this one-of-a-kind vehicle include one-off carbon fiber wheels, custom stealth exhaust mode so the vehicle can run silent or run loud , shaker hood, radar-absorbing paint, proximity sensors and a 360-degree camera capable of up to a 1/4 mile range.
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Lotus Electrive Concept by Diseno-art.com
Diseno-art.com designers have designed a sports car aimed towards the Lotus brand – The Lotus Electrive. The sports car is not designed as an everyday office vehicle, but has been tailored to meet the demands of all those who need a much powerful ride on their sunny weekend outings.
2009 Gullwing-America 300 SL Panamericana
Arturo Alonso and his company Gullwing America are working on the ‘rebirth’ of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. Known as the 2009 300 SL Panamericana, the model is based on a reproduction made by Gullwing AG – who produces the closest model you can get to the real 300 SL.
Daimler Unveils Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster With Hybrid Drive
Mercedes-Benz has been toying with alternative-energy prototype vehicles for awhile now, the obviously conceptual F-CELL Roadster hearkens back to M-B vehicles of old, though the engine is far from retro.
Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is (theoretically, at least) powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. We’re told that it could reach an enviable top speed of 15.5mph, and the 217 mile operating range definitely has us salivating. Frankly, this one’s all about the design, and we can’t implore you enough to give the read link a visit for lots more high-res action.
e’mo by Stauffacherbenz
e’mo is a lightweight electric vehicle for town and local traffic, of a completely new design. Its name stands equally for electric motion and for efficient mobility. Its very low ready-for-the-road weight of only 325 kg, e’mo is very energy-efficient and thus extremely inexpensive to run. With the top folded down in summer it’s a pure joy to drive, but with the fabric top up there’s no problem even on the wettest days. Whether on the way to work, doing the shopping or for a short trip to the countryside, e’mo has room enough for most everyday needs. The cheeky little e’mo is very practical, and gives a novel feeling of carefree mobility.
Link
ArcheToys designed by Floris Hovers
Floris Hovers presented a range of handmade metal toy vehicles called Arche Toys during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven last month. Dutch designer Florish Hovers has produced some of the best looking toy cars I have ever seen.
The idea developed from a design commission which Floris has put upon himself in order to find the answer to an important question keeping him occupied: Why do grown-ups still have the desire to play with toys?
Link
Terrafugia Redefines the Flying Car
The “Transition” is a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) designed to make general aviation more practical for personal transportation.
The Scorpion, An Eco Car That Doesn’t Look Like A Fridge
Environmentally friendly car usually look ugly, but a car being is released that doesn’t look like a cardboard box and is actually stunning. Designed by Austin-based automotive design and manufacturing company Ronn Motor’s, here comes the mighty Scorpion, a hydrogen fuel injected hybrid.
Kinetic Car Sculpture at the BMW Museum
Can you imagine a wave of ondulating orbs that appear to weightlessly float? This impressive kinetic sculpture made of 714 metallic balls is exhibited at BMW museum, Munich. The balls dance, flow and the shape of a vintage motor.
Check out the video and see the installation in action.
Via [engadget]
BMW Gina: A New Visionary Concept
GINA, which stands for “Geometry and Functions in N’ Adaptations” is an inspiring new car concept from German manufacturer BMW. Its exterior is entirely made out of textile fabric that’s pulled around a frame of metal and carbon fiber wires. The core of this little beast is controlled by electro-hydraulic devices and can actually move and change its shape beneath the fabric skin. The headlights, for instance, can be exposed or hidden by the car’s skin just like blinking eyes, and the hood opens from the center as the fabric parts to expose the engine.Impressive, huh? But wait until you discover the interior, where BMW designers have made visible only the instruments that are required at a certain time, while the rest of the time the same fabric interior “blinks” them out of view. Don’t get too excited yet as the car is just a concept, meant to display the talent of BMW’s designers and engineers. But if this baby is ever to be produced, I will have to find a quick way to become a millionaire.
Watch a cool video of the GINA after the jump.
City Car, a Carbon-Free, Stackable Rental Car by MIT Media Lab
A team called Smart Cities have designed a two-seat electric vehicle which they call the “City Car” that can be “stacked” in convenient locations (say, just outside a subway stop), and then taken on short trips around urban areas. This technology is patented-pending and under design development at the MIT Media Lab.
Bentley Continental GT Speed
One the world’s hottest luxury cars just got a nice top speed surgery. The Bentley Continental GT Speed will be the most powerful car ever produced by the English manufacturer, boasting a 600hp twin-turbo W12 engine. With a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 second and a top speed of 202 mph, you’ll travel from your yacht to your castle in no time. Classy.
Mini XXL Stretch Limo
MINI is taking the craze for personalisation to extreme lengths with the launch of a six metre long MINI Cooper S limo called the MINI XXL. The six wheel, four door, six seater stretch MINI Cooper S features the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit and was built by a specialist coach builder in Los Angeles. Fully loaded with all of the toys you would expect to find in a limousine, the MINI XXL comes equipped with a retractable flat screen TV, a DVD player, CD and radio, air conditioning, sunroof, full black leather and a telephone in the rear so that passengers can communicate with the driver.
