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Chrysler's Jeep Renegade concept is pure Halo
Let's face it, car designers need to look deeper for next-generation designs these days. In a more carefree time, you could put two nasty, rectangular hunks of metal on top of one another, stick on a few over-sized tires, mount a faux-wood steering wheel to the dash, and call it a Ford. These days, it's a buyer's market -- and you need to step up your game. Enter Chrysler's Jeep Renegade 2008 concept, a design boosted directly from the collective unconscious (namely, the minds of Halo players everywhere) that looks like a tank, yet runs on a lithium ion-powered electron motor and a small Bluetec diesel generator, giving this never-to-be a combined 110 MPG range. Roof mounted gatling gun and Covenant-destroying missiles not included.
US Army trials hybrid vehicle, sports night vision / remote weaponry
This certainly doesn't mark the first case in which the US Army has fiddled with hybrid vehicles, but the Maneuver Sustainment Vehicle (MSV) that the military is currently testing out most definitely ups the ante in other areas. The diesel-electric hybrid truck touts an insanely rugged frame designed to "sustain the concussion of a roadside bomb," and after it brushes off that weak attempt to render it immobile, the remote weapons system should inflict a fair amount of vengeance on the enemy. Moreover, the highly-spec'd machines also feature night vision capabilities, touchscreen controls, swarms of video cameras, and ballistic-grade glass to boot. Unfortunately, the limited fleet of MSVs are currently being recognized as "concept vehicles" to be used for demonstration purposes alone, but we're sure there's a number of defense contractors that could piece together a slightly less vicious version for your own garage if you've got the loot to back it up.
Aptera takes wraps off 200 MPG prototype car
It looks like last week's TED conference was the choice event for those jonesing for a more Jetson-like means of transportation, with Idealab company Aptera taking the opportunity to show off a prototype version of its sci-fi-inspired concept car. While it sadly remains grounded, the Aptera typ-1 does boast at least one significant innovation, promising to deliver a full 200 miles per gallon from its diesel-electric hybrid engine, keeping up a reasonable 55 mph pace all along the way. And while it's a one-off for now, Aptera apparently hopes that won't be the case for too long, with the company planning to sell these attention-grabbers for around $20,000 apiece. Exactly when, of course, they ain't sayin', but we wouldn't hold off any current car purchase plans in anticipation of driving off in one of these instead.[Via DailyTech]
Toyota, Honda, and Italdesign compete for attention in Geneva
Looks like Geneva's the place to be this week for those looking for a glimpse of a more fuel-efficient, sci fi-inspired future, with car companies doing their best to out-do one another with their respective concept vehicles on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Three of the vehicles unveiled so far are the Hybrid-X from Toyota (top left), the Small Hybrid Sports from Honda (top right), and the VAD.HO from Italdesign (bottom). Both the Toyota and Honda cars are based on advanced versions of the company's current gas/electric hybrid engines, which means that even if the concepts themselves don't make it to the assembly line, their innards could well find their way into some of the company's other vehicles. Italdesign's VAD.HO concept car, on the other hand, opts to use BMW's Hydrogen 7 engine, which is also equally capable of running on plain old gasoline. Sure to attract the most attention, however, is what's wrapped around that engine, with the car sporting a long and mean design with room for just one passenger, not to mention an interior equipped with joystick controls and a full compliment of video screens. Click on through for a couple of larger pics of each, then hit up the appropriate links below to check 'em out from every angle.Read - Autoblog Green, Toyota Hybrid-XRead - Autoblog Green, Honda Small Hybrid SportsRead - Winding Road, Italdesign VAD.HO
Suzuki Flix concept combines home theater and car -- your den is jealous
With an illegal seating configuration and that weird hump up top, we're fairly confident this Suzuki Flix concept car that was recently shown at the Detroit Auto Show won't be parked in your driveway anytime soon, but it's fun to look at all the same. Just like its SXBox cousin, the Suzuki Flix crams excessive entertainment hardware into an almost-believable vehicle configuration, but we're not positive the Flix quite pulls it off. That viewing angle through the pop-open roof looks crazy awkward, and the projector-housing hump kind of ruins the whole "theater in disguise" thing Suzuki has going on. Still, we're not going to deny the movie geek cred here, and those chairs look pretty tight, no matter what the DOT might think.
Up close with the Ford Airstream's 360-degree TV
We had an opportunity this week to spend a few minutes mesmerized by the tube (literally) television mounted prominently to the floor of the passenger compartment in Ford's Airstream concept van. Granted, the big news here is that brick-like aerodynamics and hydrogen power make for strange bedfellows, but the bizarre display comes in a close second. Inhabitants of the van's quarters are theoretically able to use it to watch movies, but the thought of kiddies scrambling around a pole to catch the action on the other side of the picture is going to be a nightmare come true for parents of the distant future hauling down the highways and bi-ways in this thing. For what it's worth, the images looked extraordinarily bright (perhaps disturbingly so for the interior of a vehicle) and plenty crisp, but we'll ditch the movies -- we think could stare at that faux lava lamp for hours.
Ford Airstream hydrogen-powered concept: automobile or space capsule?
You know how we like to get our tricked out transportation on, and if we can emit a little less carbon in the process, so much the better. Autoblog Green has the scoop and a bunch of shots of this Ford Airstream concept car unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, which switches over to a hydrogen fuel cell when its battery charge dips below 40 percent (not that this would help you much anytime soon, unless you happen to live in Iceland). Still, if we manage to outlast global warming long enough to actually see this unit in production, it'll come decked out with a 360-degree video screen viewable from all passenger seats in the vehicle that, when you're not busy watching DVDs, can enhance your trip with a lava lamp effect or a range of other "moods." There's also a Sharp dual-view screen smack dab in the middle of the instrument panel so the driver and front-seat passenger can view a feed from the onboard camera. We hope to see this concept one day turn to reality, as we're totally convinced there's a market out there for those gull-wing doors... somewhere (alas, poor De Lorean!).
Suzuki's Xbox 360-infused SXBox concept vehicle
It's not often that companies hit it big twice in a row, but we'd say Suzuki's SXBox concept car is just as nifty (albeit in a very different manner) as its previous carpet-ready ride, the MIO. Although this is likely a case of great engineering that'll never see any real-world play, Suzuki is still tooting its own horn at the 2006 San Diego International Auto Show by letting gamers gaze at the entertainment mecca that is the SXBox. Part of the "Suzuki LIVE Series" of concept cars marketed at various realms of "enthusiasts," this whip is based on the 2007 SX4 and features a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360, which is coupled with a "close proximity digital projection system to display games or watch a HD DVD movie on the interior of the vehicle's retractable hood." Additionally, a second console is connected to two separate LCDs in the seat backs for folks riding in the rear, and there's even a retractable 30-inch rear projection screen in the trunk for the ultimate tailgating experience. And leave it to Suzuki to remember the details, as you'll also find force-feedback front seats, four wireless controllers, matching "green" color accents, a bevy of recessed LEDs, full surround sound rig, and even a steering wheel-mounted control for the haphazard driver. As expected, this ride isn't even close to being mass produced, but if you seriously need all that gaming while in the comfortable confines of a vehicle, you most certainly have formidable alternatives. You know the drill, click on through for a few more pics.[Via Xbox360Fanboy]
Suzuki unleashes 360 integrated concept car
Today at the 2006 San Diego International Auto Show, Suzuki unveiled the SXBox, a concept car with a complete integrated Xbox 360 media setup. The car features a dash integrated Xbox 360 console using a projector display. The projector actually projects the image onto the inside of the vehicle's hood which can retract at the push of a button. Another 360 runs through two LCD screens located in the seat backs of the two front seats, and a retractable rear projection screen is located at the rear of the vehicle. The front seats include force feedback, the sound is produced by a surround sound system, and all 360s are played with wireless controllers. To top it all off, the driver's control is mounted directly into the steering wheel. Why anyone would put this much crap in their car, we have no idea (we'd rather play on the couch) but if we had to have a kickass car with an integrated 360, this is definitely the one we'd pick. [Image via bikracer's Flickr account]
Renault Twingo concept car goes tech crazy
If you can manage to squeeze yourself and three of your nerdiest buddies into this tiny car, y'all are going to have the one of the most gadget-laden rides ever perpetrated by man. From the pics you can tell the Renault Twingo concept is bristling with iPod docks, and a dashboard mixer puts them all to good use, but there's plenty of other stuff going on here. The car sports USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and each seat gets an audio jack for listening to an independent source, in case the front seat DJ isn't mixing it up well enough. There's also a 15-inch LCD, which is backed by an in-car PC with internet access of some sort. When you open up the hatch, there's some chilled beverages awaiting, and the speaker system points backwards to blast sound into the quickly assembling crowd of Very Cool People that suddenly will want to be your friend. Check out plenty more pics after the break.
URGE not so elegant
We've brought you news of the URGE, Nissan's concept car with integrated Xbox 360, before; however, we never got to see any of the real interesting details. Is the 360 integrated into the dash? Can you load games using the cars DVD sytem?Nothing so elegant I'm afraid: some pictures on MSN reveal it to be a retail 360 thrown atop a box in the trunk. The good news is you could probably throw a different system in there if that's your thing, the bad news is this confirms that this silly idea was probably spawned as a silly marketing stunt timed conveniently enough to capitalize on the hype of the Xbox 360. Nissan gets all the cachet of being associated with the hottest new tech buzz this side of the iPod, while Microsoft gives people like, oh, I don't know... US, something to blog about. I said it before, "...it simply doesn't make any sense. If you need gaming on the go, there are several options, but an Xbox 360 is not one of them."If you're still have an "urge" for more URGE news, check out Autoblog's coverage of the concept car from the Detroit Auto Show.
