Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tiguan HyMotion

Volkswagen has shown off its Tiguan HyMotion Fuel Cell Concept for the first time in California. The five-passenger SUV, based on the Volkswagen Tiguan, features a hydrogen fuel cell powering an electric motor. The electric motor may also pull power from a 6.8 Ampere-hour lithium-ion battery that is recharged by recuperating braking energy. The VW hybrid generates 107 horsepower under normal conditions. With assist from its auxiliary energy battery, the total output increases to 134 horsepower. According to VW, that is enough power to push the Tiguan HyMotion to 60 mph in about 14 seconds and a top speed is 93 mph.

While the performance is less-than-stellar, you have to remember that the Tiguan HyMotion produces zero tailpipe emissions. Yes, the only thing coming out of the pipe is clean water vapor. It's a concept, however, so don't expect to see it in showrooms anytime soon.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Toyota Aygo Crazy

What happens when you take a mundane Toyota Aygo microcar and mate it to the go-fast parts of a Toyota MR2? You get the Aygo Crazy (Get it? I-Go-Crazy). While this one-off concept will never see production, it does offer us car nuts some insight as to what fun manufacturers can have with automotive inbreeding and some serious coin.

At best, the stock Toyota Aygo putts around with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine under its front hood that is good for about 67 horsepower, and a 14-second crawl to 60 mph. The engineers at Toyota spent about £100,000 (close to $200,000) ripping the wheezer out and replacing it with a mid-mounted turbocharged 1.8-liter engine. With the new powerplant cranking out 197 horsepower, and a manual transmission sending it to the rear wheels, the 2,200-pound Aygo Crazy sprints to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. If the go-pedal is held to the floor, the genetic experiment will top out at an estimated 127 mph.

Not to leave the job half-done, Toyota flared the bodywork and added a wheel/tire package to accommodate the power. The interior has been fitted with a cage, racing seats, harnesses and a Sparco steering wheel. The seats and doors have also been trimmed in suede and leather. According to those who have driven the Aygo Crazy, the balance of the car has been upset with the engine now mounted over the rear wheels. Snap oversteer is the rule -- much like in another econocar-turned-mid-engine-monster from 1990.

UPDATE: Full gallery of high-res pics and official press release from Toyota added.

[Source: Toyota]

Click above for a gallery of screen shots.

BMW is gearing up for the online unveiling of its latest design study, the GINA Light Visionary Model. Unlike the BMW M1 Homage concept, this one's actually a runner, as evidenced by the video posted below the fold, showing the concept being driven from the studio into a car carrier then unloaded at the BMW Museum in Munich.

No details about the roadster are available from the BMW-web.tv site, but judging by the open cockpit and massive width, we're expecting something akin the M1, sans roof and sporting many of the design cues found on the homage. Check back for more when the BMW GINA Light Visionary Concept is unveiled on June 10th.

High energy costs and growth in emerging markets have automakers scrambling to downsize their product plans, and ultra-small transportation like the VW up! is bound to bring low-cost city cars to the masses. Mazda intends to be a serious player in this burgeoning segment and will unveil the Mazda1 concept in Paris this fall, expected to look like the sketch above and influenced by the Nagare design language.

Mazda promises that the production vehicle will be more "radical" in production trim, though it likely won't carry fuel cells and batteries like the concept. The automaker does plan on offering amenities like navigation, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and the micro will have sliding doors and seats to make getting in and out easier. Mazda engineers are also working hard to make sure the Mazda1 is environmentally friendly, which means low emissions, small powertrains, and low weight. Fortunately, those very same attributes will also help keep costs down, which should help Mazda offer the vehicle everywhere from India and China to more developed regions like Europe and the US.

[Source: Auto Express]

The Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center, first opened in 1983, is credited with penning the Plymouth Prowler concept (pictured above), Dodge Challenger concept, Jeep Compass, and Dodge Intrepid concepts. Unfortunately, the Design Center closed earlier this year as Chrysler streamlined operations. Now, Mercedes-Benz will bring it back to life as they move their design studio from its current 13,000 square foot location in Irvine, to the larger 35,000 square foot former Chrysler location in Carlsbad, California. While both parties have confirmed the pending sale, terms and move-in dates have not been released.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Click the image above for more hi-res pics of the Ferrari Concept 2008

We realize that not everyone will agree with us on this one -- passions seem to run highest over the cars that the fewest number of people will drive -- but if the Ferrari California looked like this concept, we'd put down a deposit right now. Once someone else gave us the money to do so.

Sure, from the A-pillar forward is pure Maserati, and there's no way a front intake like that could or should make it onto a Ferrari. Still, it's a good looking front end, and we don't mind design elements going up as well as down. Besides, a couple of keystrokes can get a proper Ferrari nose in place.

But from the A-pillar to the rear... those are the kind of aggressive, subtle lines we like in our Ferraris. Which is not to say we don't like the California -- we just like this a little better... A coupe, please. That color.


[Source: Sefsdesign]

So you're a customs officer in Beijing, and out of the trailer you're inspecting is hauled a... a what? The Japanese people who have accompanied it, who claim to be from Mazda, also claim that it's a concept car. Frankly, it could also be a submarine, or it might eat people -- or it could be an elaborate ruse for hauling drugs or bombs. So the officials at Beijing airport let the dogs out to sniff for, well, probably everything. Finding nothing, the Taiki was allowed to roll on to the Beijing Auto Show. Nothing in there but coffee grounds, sir, just coffee...

[Source: The Tycho]

Well look at that, the quarter panel vent from the new Focus can look good! No need to complain yet that this is but another Ford we'll never see, as it may not happen on any continent. Auto Bild has gone to press with shots of a new Mercury Capri concept that is rumored to be the work of an extremely skilled PhotoChopper. We're also unsure if the details they cite about the car being a sub-3,000 pound 2+2 with 140-250 horsepower and a production date of 2012 are fanciful or rooted in truth, but none of that matters. This thing is off the hook to our puppy-dog enthusiastic eyes. Mercury has nothing badass in its lineup, and while it'd be weird to be proffering this car with KISS makeup next to an entire lineup of handsomized Fords, we think it might be a way for Ford to reel in some new blood to the brand. Just don't call it Cougar. Cougars drive Mercurys - though probably while smoking Capris. Call it whatever, just put it on sale.

[Source: carspyshots.net]

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

Suzuki has been teasing us over the last few months with its duo of highly stylized concepts, the Kizashi and Kizashi 2. While it was obvious that cues found on both those concepts are going to inspire the styling of future models, it wasn't clear how Suzuki would implement some of the more extreme features of this design language. Today in New York, Suzuki showed what elements were making the cut with the unveiling of the Kizashi 3 concept.

Sporting a toned-down version of the gaping maw found on the first two concepts, deeply drawn headlights and recessed fog lamps, the fascia has made the successful transition from design exercise to down-to-earth concept. While the profile and rear end is a little less dramatic than the view up front, the 21-inch wheels add a healthy amount of visual weight down below. Underneath the hood is a 300-hp, 3.6-liter V6 that drives all four wheels through Suzuki's intelligent AWD system.

Suzuki made it very clear that the Kizashi 3 is a close representation of the production model that will arrive in the U.S. by 2010. It's a serious step to shore up market share in a segment rife with competition, but if the Kizashi is executed as well as the concept, there could be another serious contender coming out of Japan.

Click the image above for a high-res, albeit very red, gallery of the Kia KOUP.

Kia was kind enough to invite us (and the rest of the media types braving a monsoon in NYC) down to an art gallery this evening to check out this newest concept before its official unveiling tomorrow morning. The KOUP (we're unsure if it's pronounced "coupe" or "coup") is the next major step for Kia to evolve its current design language into something more palatable than what we've been endured in recent months (ahem, Kee Coupe Concept). From the details we saw in the awkwardly lit gallery, it looks like the designers could be on the right track, but we'll have to wait for the official reveal at 9:40 AM EST tomorrow to be sure.