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A driverless Rolls-Royce means you can fire your chauffeur
While other electric or autonomous vehicle companies might be content to build a sensible, everyday mode of transport, noted luxury automaker Rolls-Royce is rejecting that notion entirely with its first driverless vehicle concept. In a decidedly lavish announcement, Rolls-Royce says its new Vision Next 100 car has been designed for "the most discerning and powerful patrons in the world."
BMW's most ambitious concept car is its vision of the future
If you want some idea of the crazy technology BMW is working towards, just take a look at its new Vision Next 100 concept car. Unveiled this morning as part of BMW's centenary celebration, the Next 100 includes a load of gadgetry you'd expect from a car of the future. There's autonomous driving, of course, but it also sports something BMW calls "Alive Geometry," which describes helpful information seamlessly flowing from the dashboard to the connected windshield.
Watch this Lexus NX concept roll out on wheels made of ice
Lexus isn't a newcomer to the world of bizarre vehicle concepts. Back in October, the company introduced the Origami Car, a working electric IS sedan made out of cardboard. Fast forward to today and Lexus is showing off an NX crossover with ice wheels -- yes, ice wheels. This project, aptly called Ice-Tyre Lexus NX, features a set of hand-sculptured tires created from multiple blocks of ice, each one intended to recreate the look of Lexus' alloy wheel and its companion Yokohama winter tire.
Toyota's concept car duo couldn't be more different
One car; fashioned from chrome alloy, exposed suspension and steampunk dreams. Another? See-thru turquoise-hued glass, white spiderweb frameworks, and a hydrogen-powered heart. Toyota's concept cars take very different creative routes with the humble automobile. The more rustic "Kikai" is an attempt to draw out the literal inner beauty of cars, showcasing mechanical parts that aren't usually seen. Tires and suspension take pride of place, while a tiny window in the floor the carriage lets passengers see what's going on underneath the car. Then there's the FCV Plus...
These are the coolest cars you'll never drive
Our ability to drive innovation through creative visualization has helped us explore the reaches of space, put powerful computers into our pockets and design some bad-ass car concepts. There's always been a seed of futurism in automobiles: Manufacturers and hobbyists alike have been crafting unique vehicles for decades, sometimes to test out fresh, new tech and other times to indulge in space-age fantasies. Below, we explore some of the more notable concept cars that have been created over the years, from the utilitarian to the fantastic.
17 of history's greatest concept cars will gather in Atlanta next month
Here's the beauty about concept cars: you don't need to be a gearhead to enjoy them. Their allure lies in the promise of velocity, thrills and a future that could be yours before long... which might explain why auto makers have been cooking up wild-eyed designs for decades. 17 such concepts have been rounded up to share the spotlight at Atlanta's High Museum of Art next month, mixing up vehicles that inspired models to come with a few dead-ends of automotive evolution. One of our favorites: GM's Firebird I (above), which looked more like an early supersonic jet than it did new cars in its own family tree. Aside from that kooky fuselage, the Firebird's claim to fame is its gasoline turbine engine. Despite that fact that later versions of the GM's turbine could run on just about any combustible liquid (hello vegetable oil), the tech never really went anywhere. Modern minivans can trace their lineage back to the mildly derpy looking Stout Scarab (which'll also be on display), while the 33-inch high roofline of the Lancia Stratos HF stretched the limit of car construction... not to mention human comfort.
CEATEC 2012 wrap-up: concept cars, eye-tracking tech and motion sensors galore
CEATEC, Japan's largest annual electronics show, is winding down here on the outskirts of Tokyo. We've spent the past two days scouring the halls of the Makuhari Messe, digging up no shortage of concept cars, eye-tracking technologies and even the odd Windows 8 device. The star of the show may have been Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, with its gaze-controlled prototypes and real-time translation app, but there were plenty of other gadgets on hand to peak our interest -- even if many of them won't make it to market anytime soon. Have a look for yourself by browsing our complete CEATEC 2012 coverage past the break.
Nissan NSC-2015 self-driving car with LTE and smartphone connectivity (test-ride with video)
NCC-1701 is the machine that took the world's imaginations to strange new worlds in the '60s. If Nissan has its way, NSC-2015 will be the machine that keeps us out of strange new parking lots. It's a concept car from Nissan, part of the CEATEC 2012 Smart Mobility Zero exhibit that has half the show floor covered by crazy electric-powered cars of all shapes and sizes. Nissan's Leaf is one of the more conventional looking ones, but the technology that lets it drive itself down the road is far from standard. We just took it for a spin, so please cruise down past the break to read how it went.
Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video)
Toyota is showing off its new Smart Insect prototype at the company's CEATEC booth. The fully electric car charges via a standard 100-volt AC outlet, and it's decked out with gull-wing doors and motion detection courtesy of Microsoft's Kinect. The on-board motion sensors allow the car to recognize its owner based on face and body shape, and it predicts the owner's behavior by analyzing movement and determining when to open the door, for example. (It also allows for the front and rear displays to show a welcome message when the owner approaches the car.) There's also voice recognition for opening the car door and other functions, with a speaker on the hood of the car and dashboard-mounted "dialogue monitors" on the front and back. The tech carries through to the Insect's interior, which sports a wireless charging pad, a dash-mounted monitor that connects to the driver's handset and a button for dialing up Toyota's virtual agent. As a connected car, the Insect naturally ties in with entertainment and navigation services (in this case, via Toyota's Smart Center). There's also integration with a home energy management system, which allows the owner to adjust air conditioning and lock the front door via a smartphone app. As this is a proof of concept -- and one we couldn't test out, at that -- it's unclear how well these features work, and it's unlikely that we'll ever see the prototype make it to market. Still, it's fun to dream, and you can do that by tuning into our hands-on video just past the break.
Audi cancels A1 and A2 EVs due to pricing concerns (update: not exactly)
Audi's A2 and A1 EV concepts have been floating around for a while now, but it looks like neither will make it past the exploratory phase. According to Car Magazine, the auto maker is cancelling production of the two models due to concerns about pricing. The projected cost is apparently just south of $50,000. That's not to say that Audi is giving up on developing EVs entirely, though -- it's still pushing the A3 e-tron pilot program announced earlier this year. Update: As it would turn out, Audi states it never actually announced it would be producing these vehicles, thus there is nothing to cancel. The Audi A2 and A1 are concept vehicles only. To say that "production was cancelled" isn't accurate. The A2 concept was meant to provide a preview of electric driving in the mega-cities of the future. Audi hasn't commented on possible series production. With the A1 e-tron, Audi has demonstrated an approach to electric mobility that combines an electric motor with an internal-combustion motor as range extender. The A1 e-tron is currently undergoing testing under everyday conditions within a fleet trial in Munich. Based on the results from the fleet trial, Audi will decide on a concept that is aligned as closely as possible with the needs of customers. Audi has not commented on speculation as to decisions on volume production.
Nissan's showing off the Pivo 3, another EV-concept we wish it'd sell us (video)
Nissan's unveiled the Pivo 3, the latest version in the formerly egg-shaped Pivo line of Concept EVs. Ditching the spherical, independently moving cabin for a boxier, sharper look, the zero-emission car retains the roomy 1+2 configuration of it's forebears (all the better to pretend you're driving a McClaren F1) and motors mounted on each of the wheels. It's designed for the urban environment, with a tiny four-meter turning circle and automatic parking (it'll also come to you if you summon it with a smartphone). As much as we want one of these on our driveway, the company is still pondering putting it into production, and if it does arrive, it won't be until 2017 at the earliest, by which point we'll all be riding Rynos. Watch footage of the car in action, including it's snapping turning abilities at the video we've got for you after the break.
Audi announces A2 electric concept car, uses lasers to ensure safety of future humans
Lasers make everything better, including (but not limited to): microphones, kidneys and Audi's electric A2 concept. This newest flight of fancy uses a laser diode as the rear fog lamp, which projects a red triangle onto the road to let other drivers know you're there. The German car-maker has tricked out the rest of the EV's lighting system as well by implementing matrix beam technology using LEDs and microreflectors -- giving it high resolution, non-glaring beams and intelligent tail lights that change in intensity based on weather conditions. Claiming other state-of-the-art features like gesture controls instead of keys, and brake lights that glow brighter the harder you press, it sounds like this would be a pretty sweet ride -- if it ever makes it to market. No word on the other, insignificant details (ya know, like what actually powers the thing) but there's plenty more about the car's lighting system in the PR after the break.
Audi's Urban Concept heads to IAA Frankfurt, tickles our EV sensibilities
The Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) Frankfurt looms on the horizon, meaning its time for another round of bodacious concept cars we want, but sadly can never have. We've already seen BMW's entry and now it's Audi's turn to show off an electric city-dweller. Dubbed the "Urban Concept," this latest e-tron is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and wields a door contraption that'll put Lambos to shame -- assuming it ever makes it to market. And it just might, seeing as our friends over at Autoblog caught it slumming around Berlin in prototype garb. We'll hear more from Ingolstadt come September, but in the meantime more sketches and snaps of the development mule await you at the source links below.
Lotus outs wild Evora 414E Hybrid plug-in concept car
Concept cars are like unicorns -- they're so prevalent and vaporous, they're hardly worth remarking upon. Every so often, though, one pops out into the ether that's really worth a second look. Lotus' Evora 414E Hybrid concept certainly fits into that category.This plug-in car boasts (or would boast, should it come into existence), 1.2 liter, three-cylinder engine, independent electric motors for the rear wheels, with a range of about 300 miles. The glass engine cover pictured above, however, is just one of the features we find ourselves double-taking here. The Evora 414E would also pack some 'vroom vroom' noises by way of its audio system to take care of the ever-pressing danger of silent auto engines. The engine can operate on alcohol-based fuels or regular old gasoline, and the battery-only range is in the neighborhood of 35 miles. The Lotus Evora 414E hybrid will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
Peugeot's PGR4 finalists for concept contest revealed
Back in September we briefly reported on Peugeot's contest to design a concept car for them to use in the upcoming Bizarre Creations title, Project Gotham Racing 4. Well, the contest is now closed, and they are currently displaying the top ten finalists, complete with multiple angle shots and words from the designer on their inspiration. Not only will the winner's car be used in the upcoming racer, but Peugeot will be making a scale-to-life version to put on display for the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Click the "Read" link to be taken to a translated (you're welcome) page showing off the selected designs. Which one do you want to rack Kudos up with the most?[Via Gaming Bits]
